Gossip shows Oden his infamous photo from DrunkAthlete.com and the #1 pick says, "Drunk Athlete? I wasn't drunk. I was perfectly sober. She was just backing up real good." As soon FanHouse starts printing t-shirts, that'll be the first one.
Scroll all the way down for a graphical examination of Rashard Lewis' eight-figure deal with Orlando.
Sports Biz:The Debriefing: David Beckham Is Going to Change ... Probably Nothing: I've read that he's a sensitive and intelligent fellow, and I'm not saying I don't believe it, but I've rarely seen evidence of it. I was moved (very, very slightly ... really, I can't emphasize how slightly) at his selfless desire to play for his country, but this burning intellect remains hidden to me.
Deadspin Shames Mike Greenberg; He Stops Begging for Cash on Web Site: I'm an unabashed Greenberg fan -- I think he's second only to Bob Costas at what he does -- but there is something a little unseemly about a guy who probably makes seven figures asking for donations from people who mostly make five figures. It's nice to see that Deadspin made Greenberg see the error of his ways.
How Much Steve Spurrier Will $100 Buy You? So according to GoGamecocks.com, when SpurrierHBC.com goes live next week (July 16), South Carolina fans will be privy to "'inside news and photos,' archived broadcasts of Spurrier's TV and radio shows and a question-and-answer feature" ... for a price. A hefty price at that. Try $99.95 a year hefty.
Boomer Esiason Could Replace Don Imus: There is one wrinkle in all this, though: Newsday is reporting that Imus's radio career might not be dead yet, and that some insiders think he's going to get his old job back. That is extremely hard for me to believe, but the mere speculation is enough to keep Esiason in limbo.
NFL:
So, Yeah... Brady Quinn and Poison: Brady, well, he looks... awkward. Which is natural. If I found myself on stage being harassed to sing Poison songs by Bret Michaels I would be awkward too.
Brian Urlacher on Texts to Ex: 'I'm Not Sure if I Sent the Message or Not': I dunno. I kinda think I'd remember if I sent my ex-girlfriend a text message calling her a "f------ fruit cake," or calling our 2-year-old son "a little p---y."
Tank Johnson Lied to Police About Drinking, Failed Field Sobriety Test: Johnson submitted his blood test, which revealed a blood alcohol level just under the legal limit, "more than an hour later," meaning Johnson was almost certainly legally drunk at the time the officer originally saw him speeding. And Couch notes that Johnson was "not showing respect to coach Lovie Smith," which is an important part of why the Bears got rid of him.
MLB:
Juan Uribe Talks to His Bats: I tell them: 'Do your job and if you don't do your job, I'm going to have to go back to the Dominican Republic,' " Uribe said in Spanish. "Sometimes they listen; sometimes they don't."
NCAA Football:
Oklahoma Must Forfeit 2005 Season: Wow. The NCAA dropped the symbolic hammer on OU for the Bomar/Quinn fake jobs thing.
NBA:
Ron Artest's Brother Makes Strong Impressions at Summer League: Daniel is quite a character you see, dude's close to 300 pounds, and still looking to get into the league at age 24. It's quite a fun read, but here are my favorite parts when asked how he is compared to current NBA players.
Rashard Lewis Won't Let Gerald Wallace Eat: Earlier, Rashard Lewis signed with Orlando for something over $110 million for six years. Then, Charlotte signed Gerald Wallace for $57 million for six years. To ensure I was not going insane, I created a visual cue to compare the signings. I will now share it with you.
