FanHouse Nba

NEW YORK -- It felt like a recruiting trip, the one he never had when he bypassed college for the NBA. Only this process involved the world's most glamorous arena, a 10-story Nike billboard out on Seventh Avenue and a hip-hop mogul like no other, ready to tell LeBron James that New York is a "concrete jungle where dreams are made of ... there's nothing you can't do.'' Every time James plays Madison Square Garden, with rapper homeboy Jay-Z sitting in the front row with other celebrities, the scene transcends sports and becomes an entertainment blowout.

It certainly doesn't suck to be Sasha Vujacic. After hitching his star to Kobe Bryant, he and the rest of his teammates became the envy of the NBA, helping the Lakers win their 15th championship in franchise history. And now? After reportedly hooking up with Maria Sharapova, he's become the envy of men, period.

Before we get too far ahead of ourselves, I should note that Sharapova has yet to be seen at a Staples Center courtside seat wearing a Vujacic jersey (they sell those, right?), but the two were seen "cuddling up" in public at a recent U2 concert, as reported by CNBC's Darren Rovell. Clearly, that's enough to go on, right? OK, maybe not, but whatever is going on, Vujacic is in no hurry to set the record straight.

Sometimes, you hear rumors about NBA players doing crazy things with women. That's just part of the game, though. Do you know what I am saying? But still, when I heard that Dwight Howard allegedly (bold = important, obvs) whipped out his, ahem, member at porn star Mary Carey while in the bathroom of N'Sync member Chris Kirkpatrick's house, well, let's just say I was shocked.

But that's the story she was preaching on the radio earlier this week.

Hasheem Thabeet's NBA career is off to an uninspiring start. In his Grizzlies debut, he managed zero points and only two rebounds in 12 minutes of action. Bleh.

But the UConn product is already bringing plenty to the Memphis community. Recently, Thabeet appeared on Fox 13 to lend a hand forecasting the weather. And if he could pick up the intricacies of the NBA the way took to the newsroom, Thabeet will be holding down the paint sooner than expected.

Chicago native and New York Knicks center Eddy Curry has 16 of his tattoos. After the jump, he talks about every one of them. Along the way he also offers advice to teenagers thinking of getting some ink ("A mom and dad tat" can help the parents come around), explains that the "Angels and Demons" tattoo on his calf took two six-hour sessions and was "excruciating ... I'm talking about pretty painful." (Duly noted.)

The best part: Curry's retelling of Bulls guard Anthony Roberson's tat.

That and the video below.

CLEVELAND -- He always has a rapper's catchphrase for everything and everyone, primarily himself. And while Shaquille O'Neal really should adopt The Big Hypothermia -- an ode to a bone-chilled, unemployment-scarred town that couldn't be farther from Hollywood if it were on Uranus -- it's typical that he would produce a more creative, applicable nickname.

"I'm the Big Witness Protection Program," he said, playing off the Nike ad extravaganza for LeBron James. "I've come here to protect the King."

Works for me. Given their collective magnitude in pop culture, it's hard to fathom that Shaq, maybe the greatest entertainer ever known to sports, has arrived in middle-market Ohio to join hands with James, who soon will push aside old man Tiger Woods as the most prominent athlete in the land, if not the world. But this is the unusual bond that happens when the Cavaliers feel extreme urgency to win an NBA championship for James, so he doesn't flee next summer for New York -- and the Phoenix Suns only feel urgency to watch their bottom line. Shaq is shipped to Cleveland for a few pierogies, and, suddenly, a beleaguered town that hasn't won a major sports title since 1964 becomes pro basketball's epicenter.

When you get left hanging, there really isn't any way to play it off without looking ridiculous. You have basically two choices: pretend it didn't happen and try to look busy. Or (and this is your best option) acknowledge it, make a joke, and move on.

Lakers head coach Phil Jackson opted for the former, and then we all had to suffer through him pretending like his fist really was taking the long route to the side of his face.

Moving pictures evidence after the jump.

Dennis Hof is a poor man's Hugh Hefner. Who? Exactly. Perhaps it would be easier if I just said, "Air Force Amy." (NSFW, obviously). We're talking about the fat "not really a pimp" guy from the Bunny Ranch specials on HBO. Excellent.

Well, turns out, he has no problems going on the radio to talk about the people that roll through his little legal brothel. And one of those people is Lakers owner Jerry Buss! (Sort of.)

Elie Seckbach, the Embedded Correspondent, brings his exclusive video reporting to FanHouse. Check back regularly for more videos.

In what many people found a surprising move, Lamar Odom recently married Khloe Kardashian after just three weeks of dating. In this video we talk to someone who is an expert on dating, actress comedian Luenell. You may remember her from the movie Borat. She says she knows how Khloe got Lamar.

Check out the video after the jump.

Elie Seckbach, the Embedded Correspondent, brings his exclusive video reporting to FanHouse. Check back regularly for more videos.

Actor and comedian Cedric the Entertainer is a huge sports fan who tells us that he use to be a boxer and these days he enjoys golf. In this FanHouse exclusive we talk to Cedric at the Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks, California (not to be confused with the Sherwood Forest -- home of Robin Hood). Cedric who hangs out with lots of top athletes tells us about the time he was doing Vegas with Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods and Charles Barkley.

Check out the video after the jump.