Basketball Page 983 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights

The WNBA, Becoming More Like Little League Every Day
In a move to Europeanize America, the Phoenix Mercury will no longer have the team or city name on their jerseys after striking a deal with LifeLock, an identity theft protection firm. Hey, that's ironic! The WNBA President calls it "innovation." More like "doing anything to not go under." [NYT]...

No, We're Suing You!
University of Kentucky is countersuing Billy Gillispie saying that he's a stupid head who can't even write his own name. (Also something about jurisdiction and picking the wrong defendant.) Gillispie's lawyers plan to counter with the popular "takes one to know one" defense. [ESPN]...

Billy Gillispie Isn't Done With Kentucky Either
As if Kentucky didn't have enough to deal with from their current coach, the guy they fired to get him, Billy Gillispie, is now suing the athletic department for the $6 million he says they owe him on the contract that he never actually signed. Legal mumbo jumbo awaits.......

Memphis Accused Of "Major" Recruiting Violation
Hey, John Calapari! I know you were very eager to pack up your stuff and get down to your new, better gig at Kentucky, but I think that in your haste you may have left something behind in Memphis. An NCAA investigation into a fraudulent SAT test!...

John Calipari Wins At Wall Ball
John Wall, the most talked about basketball recruit in the country, will join Calipari at Kentucky. Enjoy what little time you have left with him, Wildcat fans. [Rush The Court]...

USC Athletics Not Entirely Above Board
Are you sitting down for this? It seems that USC—the Trojans!—might not be the most outstanding citizens in the world of college recruiting. Set your faces to stunned....

Is EA Sports Robbing College Athletes?
The college version of EA's Madden juggernaut does not use actual players in their game (wink, wink), but there are some who think the amateurs are getting screwed out of that sweet video game money....

Sorry Ladies: Bruce Pearl Is Off The Market!
Hearts are a-breakin' all across the Smokies today as Bruce Pearl has announced that he's affianced to lady friend Brandy Miller. Do they sell creamsicle-colored tuxedo shirts? [Knoxville News Sentinel]...

John Wall Declaring Early For Life Of Crime
Number One basketball super recruit John Wall has not yet decided what college he will pretend to get an education at for one semester, but perhaps he just needs trespassing time to think about it....

Isiah Thomas Gets Right To Work Crushing Young Men's Dreams
High school forward Chris Rozier was set to sign up with Florida International's basketball program until a change came in the coaching staff. That new coach's first order of business? Withdrawing Rozier scholarship offer....

The Loyalty Of Greg Paulus Is Now In Question
First he wants to play football for some Big Ten school—now Duke's posterboy is being photographed holding a baby in Carolina Blue? Or maybe he's about to eat it? [850Buzz, via RTC; explanation here]...

Stephen Curry Breaks Blogger's Heart
Stephen Curry will forgo his senior season at Davidson and enter the NBA Draft, raining tears all over the Southern Conference—and also breaking a special promise he made to one little blogger....

Jeremy Tyler Is Too Cool For School
Sorry Rick Pitino; Jeremy Tyler will not need your services in 2011. In fact, not only is the 6-foot-11 center bypassing Louisville to play in Europe, he's even skipping his senior year of high school....

Tom Izzo To Make Musical Theater Fans <i>Les Miserables</i>
Look...I love Tom Izzo and I hate cancer, but if a Broadway-style musical extravaganza starring an undersized Yooper doesn't have Bad Idea Jeans written all over it, I'll eat my tap shoes....

Even Kansas Is Somehow Benefiting From John Calipari's Move
The Henry brothers—high school senior Xavier and his Memphis Tiger sibling, C.J.—are both enrolling at Kansas. (Sources say!) Way to kick a Door when it's down. [Fox, via RTC; more @ SI]...

Karen Sypher Speaks (Sort Of)
Karen Sypher, the woman at the center of the bizarre Rick Pitino extortion thingy wants to give her side of the story. Her vague, paranoid, possibly disturbed side of the story....

Andy Kennedy Avoids Another International Incident
Mississippi's fun-loving, cabbie-punching basketball coach pleads guilty to disorderly conduct for his drunken police adventure and will not serve jail time. Hopefully, that means Mrs. Kennedy will finally get some release. [ESPN]...

Hasheem Thabeet Has Checked Out
The junior center will give up his final year at UConn—as if this image didn't already scream, "Your amateur athletics bore me." [SI]...

Isiah Thomas Is Florida International's Problem Now
Florida International stinks at basketball, so I guess they figured—if we're going to stink we might as well leave a spectacular stench all over the basketball world. That's the only explanation for hiring Isiah Thomas....