Several times over the course of Saturday’s surprisingly exciting Game 1, the ESPN camera crew showed Pacers GM Larry Bird sitting about nine rows up in Chicago’s United Center. Just chillin’ among the people. No biggie. How long after he got to his seat do you suppose it took the guy to Bird’s left to notice he was sitting next to one of the 10 all-time greatest basketball players?

It’s been more than a week since NBA’s All-Star Weekend and the subsequent sham of a dunk contest, but I’m still mad about it. I should let it go, but Kia won’t let me.
Sometimes the best way to make a point is to add colorful shapes and numbers. Below are a handful of arguments that should be considered settled from now on.
Much has been made about the comments made by lovable D.C. Wizard wackadoodle Gilbert Arenas. Early last week, ol’ Gil said part of his job was to “teach John [Wall] the ins and outs of the game, and then eventually go on and move on – on my way.” That’s a lot of ons Gilbert is planning. It wasn’t Arenas’ redundant grammar that threw the media into a tizzy, but for as far off the point as most media outlets have been on this story, it might as well have been.
The 2010-11 season is a ways off and TIPs will do its best to be the bridge to the end of October. (Bridge to the End of October is also the name of Oprah’s next book club recommendation – housewives unite!) For the next few months, we’ll be isolating a handful of sleepers and dissecting their worth to your team. Think of us as your fantasy “Antiques Roadshow,” with 50 percent fewer decorative ceramics.