Nike has a new MVPuppets snippet titled "Dunking On Reindeer". They actually jacked Blackstar's chorus on "Definition" for the intro, and Santa showin' how to ball it up. Perfectly themed for the holidays - MERRY CHRISTMAS, everyone! On a side note, peek an update sometime soon... after I enjoy 5 NBA games and a NFL one tomorrow while making some Turkey and good stuff for the fam. Have a Happy Holiday!



Click HERE for the YT video of "Dunking On Reindeer".
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EH

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After news that Tiger's taking an "indefinite" leave of absense from golf, I found this clip...lol. Skip to 4:17 though to get over the boring crap I had to sit through before I got to the juicy stuff. "Tiger need to quit eatin' out!"



Click HERE for the clip!
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EH

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MVPuppets from last season's playoff run built up the hype of a Kobe vs. LeBron showdown for the finals fell off when the Magic beat the Cavs, but that didn't stop Nike from continuing these hilariously funny clips featuring puppet versions of LeBron and Kobe living together, but as soon as Kobe and the Lake Show won the finals, these commercials were sadly over.

But, as the title says, they're back! A new ad of a Lion vs. Black Mamba debate is brought onto the table...what's your take? The sting and poison of a Black Mamba or the furciousness and power of a lion?



Click HERE for the YT video of "We're Back"!
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EH

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Kobe Bryant. 12-25, 2-3 3 Pointers, 7-8 free throws made, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, 33 points. Versus Miami Heat. 108-107. Normally sounds like a great game, except...

Game winner 3 point shot made. Wait, what??? With 3.2 seconds left and Artest giving him a loose ball from the sideline. And a fade-away banked 3-pointer. Seriously, did you ever doubt that he isn't THE greatest player playing right now? LeBron can wait his turn, Kobe's got the crown now. Lakers are now 15-3, with the best record in the league. Noice!



Click HERE for the YT video of Kobe's Amazing 3-Point Buzzer Beating Shot.
(*NOTE: I do not provide/host these files, click on your own discretion!)

EH

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Kobe Bryant makes work of not only a double-team, but a triple-team and shows why this simply isn't fair for anybody who faces him. He made work of the Knicks tonight (again) as the Lakers win it 100-90, since his last trip (where he made 61 points) and made 14-20, 1-4 3 pts, for a total of 34 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists. Lakers are now 11-3, and have way too many games at home.



Click HERE for the YT video of the left handed step through through triple dummies...damn!

And he's done it before. Highlight #5 - 1:01 in. Check it. Damn!



Click HERE for the YT video of the Top 2009 Kobe Bryant Plays.
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EH

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Seriously, Kobe does it again yesterday with this amazing shot off the...well back side of the basket. And peep the interview from the New York Times that they have with Kobe Bryant...



Click HERE for the YT video of Kobe doing it up again.
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EH

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Skullcandy x NBA team up for their special edition of the Hesh headphones, titled the NBA Player Series featuring 8 players and team colorways. Included is Kobe Bryant, Dwayne Wade, Dwight Howard, LeBron James, Kevin Garnett, and more...check out the jump for more.







Click HERE for more Skullcandy x NBA goodness...
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EH

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Kobe Bryant and the Lakers received their championship rings and raised a new gold banner to the top of the arena prior to their season-opening winner against the Clippers.



EH

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What has been a frustrating, up and down time these past 4 weeks with every Lakers fan (and, pretty much the rest of the NBA and their fans) holding their breaths waiting to see what would happen with Lamar Odom, the 6'10" point forward who can play as a starter or 6th man and dribble, shoot, post, move the ball, bring the ball up, defend, and create huge mismatches. It went from quiet negotiations to flirting around with Miami Heat, to Dr. Jerry Buss pulling the offer, to resume conversations after a week of not talking to each other (sounds like your on and off again girlfriend?), to reduced deals because of the bitter spat, to Pat Rielly and Dwayne Wade going to LA to try to convince Odom, to finally, a rumor saying a deal will be done by the end of this week. It's been an annoying (okay, f&*#ing annoying) past 4 weeks but today, it finally paid off.

Lamar Odom and the LA Lakers have just reached an agreement in principle (read: haven't signed the papers yet but have a verbal commitment/agreement) to sign on for $27 million guaranteed. Although it is $3 million short, the deal would come out to $25 million for 3 years, and a $2 million bonus regardless if they keep him on for a 4th year or not (which will be another 8.3 million if they do so).

It would have been nice to give Odom some more money, but Dr. Jerry Buss doens't play ball like the rest of us - its his court or ... well his court. Did Odom lose out trying to get more? Yes, but this way if Lakers get some more rings during his stay in Lakertown he'll be sure to chalking up some more cash along the way.

Plus, now Kobe can sign his extension and everything is perfect for the Lakers - and the rest of the league can now figure out how to stop the (nearly impossible to beat) Lakers...good luck!


From ESPN:

Free agent forward Lamar Odom will return to the Los Angeles Lakers, an NBA source said Thursday.

One source with knowledge of the talks told ESPN.com the four-year deal is worth $33 million if the Lakers exercise the final season.

One source close to the process said Odom will come away with a guaranteed $27 million from the new contract, matching the original value of the three-year, $27 million deal Lakers owner Jerry Buss pulled off the table earlier this month.

It's believed that the structure of the new deal calls for Odom to earn $25 million over the first three seasons, with the Lakers owing him $2 million in the fourth year if they elect not to pick up their team option.

Reached Thursday evening, Odom's agent Jeff Schwartz declined to discuss specifics but confirmed that the sides have an agreement in principle.

Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak declined comment.

Odom's signing was the most significant free agent move left to play out this summer, as it restores a pivotal piece to the Lakers' championship team. The versatile, 6-foot-9 Odom averaged 11.3 points and 8.2 rebounds during the regular season and 12.3 points and 9.1 rebounds during the playoffs, despite injuring his back in a fall during the Western Conference semifinals against Houston.

Odom's destination for the 2009-10 season had remained in doubt after the Lakers pulled an initial offer of a reported $27 million guaranteed over three years off the table. As the other franchises with significant salary cap space spent their money elsewhere, the Miami HeatPortland Trail Blazers emerged as a serious contender for Odom's services. On Tuesday, the also got into the mix.

With Dwyane Wade publicly lobbying for Odom to rejoin him in South Beach, the Heat offered a deal worth up to $34 million over five years. The fact that Odom didn't jump at it despite the cooled tone of negotiations with the Lakers indicated his desire to return to Los Angeles, and the longer the saga dragged out the greater the chances seemed that he would be back.

With Odom back in the fold the Lakers would have their top five scorers and top four rebounders from the 2009 championship on the roster to begin the title defense. The only significant loss is forward Trevor Ariza, who left to sign a contract with the Houston RocketsRon Artest. after the Lakers signed former Rocket

Click HERE for the story.
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EH

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It finally leaks - LeBron James getting dunked on (its not as epic as we imagined but still funny how it all went down afterwards...)


Click HERE for the YT video of LeBron's "Slamgate".
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EH

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OKAY I HAD TO COME BACK TO POST THIS UP, WHAT THE F*** are you thinking Odom?!!!

Lamar Odom's offer from the LA Lakers has been taken off the table, according to sources. He was offered $9 Million a year over 3 years (he wanted $10 million over 5), and the Lakers were upset that he was in talks with Miami Heat and Dallas Mavericks (both teams who can only offer $5.8 million a year) so Buss, team owner pulled the deal. Even if this amount of money would make him the highest paid 6th man (yes, in front of Manu Ginobili), and most likely giving him a 3rd year player option, Odom and his agent Schwarts failed to contact the Lakers about the deal.

Lakers owner Jerry Buss is upset that Odom and his representative, agent Jeff Schwartz, haven't made contact with the organization regarding its $9-million-per season offer for three years. The source also said Buss was not happy that Odom and Schwartz have been having talks with the Dallas Mavericks and Miami Heat about a deal, but have refused to talk to the Lakers..."

Although this may seem like the end of Odom, there was some light at the end of the tunnel.

"Yes, we have taken the deal off the table," Lakers spokesman John Black said Tuesday. "Talks have broken down for the time being." Asked if talks could resume, Blacks said, "That's within the realm of possibility."

Hopefully Odom and his agent get their heads out of their asses and talk to the brass at the Lakers front office. If anything, this is a media stunt to get Odom to sign before Dallas or Miami picks up LO...

Source @ LA Times


EH

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Well, a couple clips about the Lakers - first up, ex-Laker Trevor Ariza showing up to Kobe's academy to see what's up with Kobe Bryant - and shows that Kobe ain't got no beef with Ariza, and that David Lee should go fall into a ditch somewhere and die.


Click HERE for the YT video of Ariza and Kobe still got love for each other.

Next, Kobe addresses LeBron James's Slam-gate scandal with the simple phrase: "You ain't dunking on me at my camp!"


Click HERE for the YT video of Kobe poking fun at LeBron James.
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EH

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This week has been a hectic week - at least for me at work, and trying to keep up with the various sporting activities I do with my weak ankle (twisted it a week and a half ago) has been strenuous, at best, hellish at worst. I'm just glad the week's over, so I can finally get some rest time before the work week begins again.



What's been bugging me (and that's an understatement) and probably a few other million fans is that we STILL don't know what the word is on Lamar Odom, versatile 6th man who was instrumental in the Lakers championship run this past season. What the word is that with the looming 2010 free agency coming up, as well as a decline in projected salary caps for next year, Odom isn't getting as many offers - and will (most likely) take on the Lakers $24-26 million deal over 3 years (8-8.7 million a year) which is still nothing to sneeze at, especially if you get a few more rings on the way (again likely). Either way, Odom and his Agent have been pretty quiet about this whole ordeal - unlike the public tactics (that failed) done by David Lee for his client, Trevor Ariza.



But if one thing can comfort me (and Lakers Fans) is this Kobe Bryant interview/report done by Elie Seckbach, who's covered tons of NBA-related stuff. We already knew that Bryant and Ron Artest were friends - now we have a confirmation about it.



Other then that, I will be taking a mini-break from STREAKING LIGHTS blog for the weekend since I'll be road tripping down to Seattle. I'll try to put up some links and posts on my trip, but since Robbers, er sorry I meant Rogers doesn't have any USA roaming data plans I'll be disconnected (the horror :( !!! ) unless I get WiFi at a starbucks/blenz/hotel I'm staying at.



I hope y'all have a good weekend, and check back Sunday night for some updates (for sure at least) and hopefully, Lakers will have signed Odom by the time I get back.

Oh, and on a side note - I will start deleting any old tracks from my FTP - links will still be there, but you will not be able to preview songs that have been posted for over a month. It just keeps my server nice and tidy. Plus its expensive :(

Some of you know I work for a marketing company called Premier Productions - and I've decided to do a little plug for them here 0:-) lol. We have a trip coming up for the next reading break, and if you are interested in going to Cancun join the Facebook group.

EH

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As the title suggests, Kobe and Lil Wayne did a photoshoot/interview.


Click HERE for the YT video of Kobe & Lil Wayne.
(*NOTE: I do not provide/host these files, click on your own discretion!)

EH

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As the title says, apparently during a pick-up game after the LeBron Skills Academy for the top 80 prospects, Jordan Crawford, an Xavier player, dunked on LeBron James. Shortly after, LeBron went to a Nike representative and that Nike rep went around confiscating the tapes.


Can you say, helloooo PR damage?? Why not let the kid have his 15 minutes of fame, and then it dies? Instead, now you have people like ESPN reporting on it - and it doesn't look pretty for LeBron James. Seriously, after the shirts, the NY gear, and uncertainity of your future I'm surprised the Cavaliers and all their stubborn stupid fans keep kissing his ass - and that's a stat you can check on. Expect LeBron to move in 2010.


Click HERE for the article on "LeBrick".

and, to add more fuel to the fire, remember this LeBron?



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EH

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LOL this was just too funny to pass on:

As reported by CBS:

Kobe said that after the Lakers lost game six of the ‘08 NBA Finals in Boston by 39 points, he was alone in the shower, just fuming. He heard somebody walk in and assumed it was one of his teammates, or maybe a staff member. Instead, he looked up, and it was Ron Artest (to this day, Kobe has no idea how Artest got into the locker room).

“I want to come help you,” Artest said. “If I can, I’m going to find a way to come to LA and give you the help you need to win a title.”

Get out of ma faceee.

EH

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It's been reported that Ron Artest is now signing on with the Lakers... If that's true, I guess Trevor Ariza's less than loyal move about not being paid enough stung with the Lakers' front office - more news as the story develops.

UPDATE x2*
Looks like it was the LAKERS who did Ariza dirty - read this on ESPN - Apparently Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak told Lee (Ariza's agent) to shop around and come back to the Lakers, and then they will *perhaps* match their offer (like a Restricted Free Agent). Apparently Ariza was mad and then with Artest being signed...well, sorry to say - he should have gone to Cleveland.

UPDATE*

Looks like its official - a 3-year, $18 million dollar deal for Ron Artest to come to the Lake Show. As ESPN puts it: 'In a text message to ESPN.com on Thursday night, Artest wrote: "I am happy to say I am goin' to L.A."'

When asked about the money (which is why he didn't sign with Houston again) he said:

"I've made money over my time in the NBA, I lost money when David Stern suspended me [in 2006 for his role in the infamous Pacers-Pistons brawl]," Artest told ESPN. "I'm not playing for the money anymore."

He apparently switched over to the Purple and Gold because he wanted to win a ring. However, what nags me (and I'm surprised there isn't even MORE fans with the same reaction), is that, DON'T WE HATE ARTEST IN LAKER TOWN??? Yes he's a great defensive player, and with maybe working with Kobe he could improve his shooting to a more consistent level, but I'm just wondering how much we lost out on the potential growth of Trevor Ariza - and how badly Ariza must be feeling now that he lost out on being with the Lakers again as a contender. As well, what could have been a bigger basketball rivalery coming next year (Artest Vs. Kobe, Bynum Vs. Howard, LeBron & Shaq vs. Lakers, etc...) has a huge change-up - and I can't help but wonder how much chemistry is going to be affected with Artest on the Lakers now.

I'm pretty sure that most of the Lakers team saw it as betrayal that Ariza didn't agree to sign up with the Lakers again - he could have said 'yes, I'm only sticking with Lakers but I want more money - or at least more increasing every year' - but instead he said "he was looking around." UMMM, HELLO??? The Lakers just won a championship, and 5.6$ million is nothing to sneeze at - Ariza could have done a two year, 3rd year option and with the economy probably picking up, and would have made it a good time to ask for a huge bonus, with the Lakers happily obliging (especially if they win a few more).

When Ariza was asked about how much he wanted to be a Laker, his agent (David Lee, that dumbass) said, '"If you cut him, he bleeds purple and gold," Lee said. "The issue is whether the Lakers want to pay him."'

I think getting an extra $2.6 million (from about 3.1$ million to 5.7 (give or take)) is nothing to sneeze at, especially since you only had one break-through year... And as Lee puts it, 'Ariza already has firm offers from several other teams, according to Lee, and will begin speaking with opposing coaches today. Asked if he could envision Ariza accepting a deal from another team without speaking to the Lakers again, Lee said, "Yes, we have no choice. That's the position they've put us in."'

All I can say is... wow. As reported by ESPN, Ariza agreed to a 5 year, $33 million dollar deal - just about 6.5$ million a year, about $450,000 more per year to play with Houston. Did he really make a smart move? I'm pretty sure Ariza's kicking himself in the foot right now when he screwed up his chance to win another ring...or be a starter. If I were him, I'd fire Lee and get myself a new damn agent.

Either way, have fun in Houston Ariza, with two injured all-stars and a lazy-ass town now with Artest gone. It was a good run, but once you turn your back, the city ain't got no love for you Ariza - just look at how Shaq turned out.

EH

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*UPDATE: Vince Carter heading to Magic; Courtney Lee, Rafar Alston, Tony Battie gone to Nets (I wonder why? Nets have approx. ~$29 million signed for 2010-2011... hellooooo free agents!)

Admist rumors that the Phoenix Suns were shopping their future hall-of-famer Shaquille O'Neal, there has been an announcement today that the Cleveland Cavaliers are going to pick up the 4x NBA champion, 3x Finals MVP All-Star for their upcoming campaign for the title in the 2009-2010 season.



This is a huge gamble, for both O'Neal's career and the Cavs, as O'Neal is reaching the end of his career (may have a few more years left) and is in need to post up some huge numbers in order to ride out his NBA life until retirement, as he has one year left on his contract and is looking to re-sign after the next season.


As for the Cavs, they risk disrupting their team flow, as LeBron James has yet to play with someone who likes to start the offense through him first, and takes up so much valuable paint space that James likes to invade. But, this can pay off in the long run as the Cavs have clearly shown they need a stronger presance in the paint (during their exit out of the Eastern Conference Finals to the Orlando Magic). This can also pay off, as a title next year will (most likely) guarantee James either staying through his contract or re-signing with the Cavs during the 2010 mega-free agent market. But, with so many potential contenders (Lakers, Celtics, Magic, Nuggets, Rockets (pending on Yao Ming's foot) and a handful of teams that can upset any of these teams), the Cavs may just lose out on James despite what happens...



For those who follow this blog, you know that I am a HUGE L.A. Lakers fan - and this could spell trouble (as well as most likely seeing a Lakers Vs. Cavs Christmas Day 2009 game) for the Lake Show and Kobe Bryant - but if Andrew Bynum, their budding center sticks true to his word about him and Dwight Howard working out together in the summer, O'Neal and James may actually be looking at a (few deadly) dagger(s) coming at them.



Plus, with Kevin Garnett and the Boston Celtics back in the picture and Howard viving for revenge, the Cavs better make some smart summer moves and secure some scorers on the wing...unlike Mo Williams who was supposed to be James's partner-in-crime but failed to show up.



We'll see what happens come fall of 2009 - its going to be an interesting season!

Click HERE for the full article from ESPN.
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EH

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Okay so I've given up trying to predict when this will be over - we all know about the Nike Basketball MVP (Most Valuable Puppets) ads they've been doing with Kobe Bryant & LeBron James for the past month or so... this time they be talkin' about how much % is mental (basketball). Check it!


Click HERE for the YT video of Shootaround.
(*NOTE: I do not provide/host these files, click on your own discretion!)

EH

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