ESPN NBA

• This is the website of the bar where the latest Pacer trouble occured. A friend sent the link wondering what were the Pacers doing there? It's a Western bar. But then I read on that website that if your birthday is in February, you and five friends get in for free: "Here is how it works, if your birthday is in the month of February, you and five guests get in free. In addition to free admission you also recieve a bag of candy and a picture of you and your group." Jamaal Tinsley was born on February 28, so he must have been all kinds of excited--until he read the fine print that the special deal is only valid tomorrow night. That fine print can be very frustrating.
• The basketball gods exact their revenge on Tyrus Thomas.
• Chris Sheridan has a comprehensive look at the John Amaechi situation, complete with quotes from other out athletes like Martina Navratilova and former defensive lineman Esera Tuaolo. "'What John did is amazing,' said Tuaolo, who came out in 2002. 'He does not know how many lives he's saved by speaking the truth.' Tuaolo said coming out would be a relief to Amaechi. 'Living with all that stress and that depression, all you deal with as a closeted person, when you come out you really truly free yourself,' Tuaolo said. 'When I came out, it felt like I was getting out of prison.'" Sheridan also cites a section of the book in which Amaechi tells that Andrei Kirilenko apparently deduced that Amaechi was gay, and expressed unabashed support.
• Isiah Thomas on coming out of the closet in the NBA, as reported by David Picker: "Asked if he thought an openly gay player would be accepted in the league today, Thomas said: 'I think he will and I think he should. We’re a diverse society. We preach acceptance.'" He then goes on to say that he would "make damn sure" there wasn't a problem in his locker room if someone came out of the closet.
• Dwight Jaynes says it's only fiction, then trots out a theory that Paul Allen intends to move the Blazers to Seattle. Miss Gossip e-mailed me the same notion last week. Me? I find it very far-fetched. There are simply an insane number of hurdles to cross (getting out of Portland, league approval to move from a city with a history of very strong NBA support, new arena in Seattle). And, if the Blazers were going to do that, why would they go out of their to make David Stern, and the mayor of Portland, both look like idiots by quoting them in their press release last week saying how great it would be to have the Blazers in Portland long-term?
• Damon Jones is apparently among the NBA players who can tie his own tie. Roscoe Nance reports: "What sets guys apart and puts me way ahead of everybody else is my great shirt and tie combinations. The biggest fashion mistake is trying to reach my level. That cannot and will not happen. No one will ever be able to put clothes on the way I do."
• The Pistons are getting really good, apparently just to make me look stupid for announcing that signing Chris Webber wasn't going to do much for them.
• A first look at how the Sonics propose to fund their stadium with tax dollars. The gist is to extend existing taxes that are paying off the other Seattle arenas. One thing that has to be super discouraging to Seattle taxpayers: reportedly they are still paying off the Kingdome, which was demolished in 2000. A bunch more detail from SonicsCentral.
  
  
• PETA on Ron Artest.
• Vince Carter, pretty good dunker in his day.
  
  
• The Dirk Nowitzki for MVP campaign reaches MySpace. I know, he hasn't captured the nation's imagination like some other players, but why shouldn't he be MVP?
• $400 Jordan replica jersey anyone? It comes in a wooden box.
• Roger Mason's new tattoo.
• Brian Windhorst on the three-point contest: "I watched Jason Kapono practice off the racks after the Heat's practice today. Umm, yikes, I can't see him losing."
• Claim: Michael Jordan agreed to be at All-Star because it's in Las Vegas.
• Ira Winderman checked with the league: "If the No. 5 seed has a better record than a division winner that gets the No. 4 seed, then the No. 5 gets homecourt in the first round." Which makes the #4 seed sort of a ceremonial thing.
• Neal Pollack:
  
  

"We're not getting a new dog," I said.

"Oh yes we are," said Regina.

"He lives with a professional dog trainer who's putting him up for adoption. He's a Boston Terrier."

"Do you really want another dog?"

"It's either that or another baby," she said.

"Hmm," I said. At that moment, Elijah screamed from the bathroom: "I'M READY TO WIPE!!!!!"

"Let's do the dog," I said.

Regina showed me the dog's picture.

"His name is Shaq," she said.