Today, there are movies and TV shows dedicated to Christmas and even some to Hanukkah. But what about Kwanzaa?

The weeklong U.S. celebration honoring African culture and heritage begins Saturday, and there is a one-hour special on cable station TV One at noon ET Saturday.

Created in 1966, Kwanzaa celebrates seven principles: unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith.

Poet Maya Angelou narrates the TV special about the 2009 documentary "The Black Candle," directed by author M.K. Asante Jr. The DVD was released this month.

"I wanted to make a film that would bring people together and illuminate the principles," said Asante, who is a professor at Morgan State University in Baltimore. "We brought together many of today's great thinkers and have them discuss what the holiday meant to them."

NFL Hall of Famer Jim Brown, hip-hop legend Chuck D of Public Enemy and Kwanzaa founder Dr. Maulana Karenga are among the celebrities who took part.

Chuck D said today's athletes probably don't even understand the struggles that African-Americans have endured.

"This is a story of our people. So many voices. So proficient. They are speaking about our past, present and future," Chuck D said. "All we do today is sit on front of a TV watching reality programming. We listen to the radio and iPods. We need to penetrate the weapons of mass distractions and focus on the principles of Kwanzaa."

Mitchell Layton/NHLI/Getty ImagesWashington Capitals co-owner Ted Leonsis is interviewed by sportscaster George Michael in 2002.

Fans of a certain age should save a grateful toast this holiday for George Michael (the sports anchor, not the pop star), who died Thursday at the age of 70.

Before YouTube, before Web Gems, before "SportsCenter" became omnipresent, George delivered sports highlights to famished fans who didn't even realize their stomachs were empty. We're so inundated with this sort of thing now that it's difficult to remember how captivating his "Sports Machine" was at the time. The old Machine may seem quaint and old-fashioned -- even the term ''machine'' is dated -- but you have to remember, this was the mid-'80s, when it was still considered almost miraculous to get more than two college football games on TV a week, a baseball game from out of your market or a football highlight without Howard Cosell's voice.

Plus, we were easily impressed by simple technology back then (see: the Commodore 64, RCA's videodisc player, "Alf'').

Back then, the "Sports Machine" was better than owning your own satellite dish -- and not just because you received his show free, over-the-air. George would stand there every Sunday evening like a seasoned game show host, say a few words to whet the appetite, then press his palm down on a button the size of William Perry's helmeted head and transport us to astounding video after astounding video. He called it the "Sports Machine" but it was more like a trip to Sports World.

The "Sports Machine" may not seem like much compared to the sports riches we have at our command today, but in leaner times, it was special and very welcome.

Thanks for the highlights, George.

AP Photo/Joel Ryan Actors Robert Downey Jr., Rachel McAdams and Jude Law are in Sherlock Holmes. Go watch it Friday.

10. Reading the Internet -- Congratulations, you already have begun working your way through the list!

9. Watching the Heat at Knicks (noon on ESPN) -- This jumps way up the list if you happen to be LeBron James and are trying to decide where to play next year. In fact, they should go ahead and call this the "Bron Bowl."

8. Watching the World Long Drive Championship (2 p.m. on ESPN2) -- Dad just got his new driver, so give him something to aspire to. If he ends up screaming at the top of his lungs and dancing for an imaginary crowd, forgive him, it's Christmas.

7. Eating -- Thanksgiving gets all the attention, but Christmas is really where it's at because you get to eat brunch food in addition to the big dinner. Plus, candy is introduced to the mix. French toast casserole with a side of malted milk balls? Yes, please!

6. Watching the Celtics at Magic (2:30 p.m. on ABC) -- Nothing brings a family together quite like booing J.J. Redick.

5. Go see a movie -- If you happen to catch "Sherlock Holmes" today, please come back and tell me what shirtless, bare-knuckle boxing has to do with solving mysteries. And shouldn't he still have to wear the hat and smoke the pipe in the ring? I feel like he should.

4. Watching the Cavaliers at Lakers (5 p.m. on ABC) -- This would probably be No. 1 if the celebrities in the audience were required to exchange gifts with their families at halftime. It would be fun to watch Lamar Odom try to focus in the second half after Khloe Kardashian locks herself in a bathroom because Heidi Montag's diamonds were "more sparkly."

3. Watching the Chargers at Titans (7:30 p.m. on NFL Network) -- By keeping this game on their own network, the NFL has given us the greatest gift possible: an excuse to go to a bar on Christmas night.

2. Opening presents -- The main event on Christmas Day. Watching young kids dump out all the expensive plastic to play with the box is one of life's great joys.

1. Online shopping -- Gift cards are burning a hole in your pocket, and let's be honest: You are definitely returning that sweater. The in-laws are gone and the kids are asleep, go ahead and put the "ME" in Merry Christmas. You've earned it.

Need a last-minute gift idea for the sports fan on your list? Don't have time to head out to a store? Completely broke?

AP Photo/Chris GardnerWonder what's in the boxes?

Well then, does Page 2 have the perfect gift for you!

Just grab an empty box, wrap it up, slap a bow on it and you're done!

When your friend or loved one opens the box and asks why there's nothing inside, tell them you gave them the greatest gift of all … the gift of INTANGIBLES!

Yes, intangibles. More precious than gold or silver, more important than strength or athleticism, it's INTANGIBLES! Now your loved one can be just like Derek Jeter, Tom Brady or Tim Tebow!

But don't take our word for it!

"I got intangibles for Christmas in 2000 and went from an awkward, candy-armed college quarterback to a Super Bowl champion! Thanks, Page 2!" -- Tom Brady

"Intangibles work off the field, too. I'm a weird-looking guy with a terrible haircut, yet I can get any woman I want. Thanks, intangibles!" -- Derek Jeter

"Without any training, my intangibles allowed me to circumcise boys in Indonesia!" -- Tim Tebow

Intangibles: more than absolutely nothing! Available at any retailer.

Or not. Because it's nothing.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- This is a basketball town.

Don't believe us? Guess who was elected mayor last year.

Sacramento takes great pride in the Kings, the team which made it a major league city upon its arrival in 1985. At a time when the community has been hit hard by home foreclosures and the team has struggled mightily on the court, attendance at Arco Arena has flagged in recent years. Rumors swirl that the Kings could move away if the city doesn't build a replacement for Arco. Yet the energy in the building remains palpable at a big game -- such as when LeBron James and the Cavaliers rolled into town Wednesday night.

Remember, Kings fans once made Arco the loudest arena in the NBA and sold out 354 consecutive games even though Sacramento is one of the league's smallest markets. The game experience at Arco remains organic, similar to New York or Golden State. Scoreboard gimmicks and promotions don't seem overdone. Fans in the lower bowl aren't too cool to whoop and holler. The game doesn't feel like a sideshow to the event.

When the Kings were at the zenith of success and popularity, I was taken aback by the unabashed passion of the team's fans. In my only previous trip to Arco, in December 2001, almost no one left the building early during a blowout victory over the Suns. I distinctly remember the crowd's erupting en masse when two of the last guys off the bench, Mateen Cleaves and Gerald Wallace, connected for a thunderous alley-oop in garbage time.

The core of that passion was still evident during Wednesday's 117-104 overtime loss to the Cavs. There were far fewer LeBron jerseys in the crowd than I expected to see, and the buzz usually reserved for a college game hovered in the building. Shaquille O'Neal was booed lustily, evoking his years of toiling for the hated Lakers, and questionable calls drew massive responses. Even as LeBron performed effortlessly to the tune of 34 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists, the Kings stood toe-to-toe with one of the best teams in the NBA. Budding superstar Tyreke Evans scored 28 to lead Sacramento, which doesn't have a starter older than 23. As the Kings were outscored 13-0 in overtime, some fans headed to the exits a few minutes early.

Still, the NBA needs to find a way to remain in Sacramento. The community and the team are more closely intertwined than almost other any city and franchise in the country. What happened to Seattle shouldn't happen here. An irreplaceable part of the NBA's soul resides in Sacramento.

Just when you think the recession is over, when you think the financial crisis is about to take a turn for the better, this happens.

AP Photo/Chuck BurtonMichael Jordan has sued 2 grocery stores but why?

NBA Hall of Famer Michael Jordan has filed lawsuits against two grocery stores in Chicago, claiming they unlawfully used his identity in their advertisements.

Really? Grocery stores? Has it really come to this?

Now I'm pretty sure anyone who is reading this would agree that the one person who would not have been affected by the state of the economy would be Michael Jordan. True, he's not making the cheddar that he used to, and the divorce hit him kind of hard, but did anyone think he'd go this low to collect a check?

(The fill-in: At the time of Jordan's Hall of Fame induction, the two food stores -- Jewel and Dominick's -- ran print ads using images of MJ that appeared in a special commemorative Sports Illustrated issue. Based on that, Jordan and his attorneys figured the stores were suggesting Jordan was endorsing the grocery stores. The price of the lawsuit: $5 million per store for false endorsement, consumer fraud, deceptive trade practices and unfair competition.)

Now maybe Jordan and his people are just trying to make a statement. Maybe they are trying to set a precedent and put fear into other companies who think they can use Mike to boost sales.

But for one of the richest athletes in the world, going after two grocery stores seems petty.

AP Photo/Keith SrakocicIs former Denver Broncos coach Mike Shanahan coming back? We have some ideas on where.

Thanks to an anonymous hookup, Santa gave us a preview of what Mike Shanahan will find in his stocking this year.

It appears several teams slipped St. Nick a little something on the side to try to sway the two-time Super Bowl champion coach toward their head-coaching positions.

Here is what we found:

• A copy of the Redskins' playbook with a lighter taped to it. And a gift certificate for $100 million from the "Free Agent Market" with a note attached saying, "Go on a little spree! D. Snyder."

• A copy of the 2009 Dallas Cowboys team picture with Shanahan's face superimposed onto Wade Phillips' body with "Wish You Were Here" inscribed.

• A copy of the Buffalo Chamber of Commerce's official welcoming pamphlet titled, "Buffalo -- It Ain't So Bad."

• A mini-helmet featuring his picture on the side. Attached note says, "Forget Paul Brown. Cleveland Shanahans has a nice ring." And a handwritten coupon saying "IOU 1 QB -- M. Holmgren."

• A mix CD with the Raiders' logo on the cover. Songs include "Prodigal Son," "Reunited" and "I Want You Back."

Well, that's it!

Page 2 has finally come to the end: the 12th day of Christmas!

And it seems appropriate to pick out who has the most wonderful life: New York Yankees shortstop Deter Jeter.

Rookie of the Year. Five World Series Championships. All-Star Game MVP. World Series MVP. All-Star 10 times. Four gold gloves.

And he has dated Mariah Carey, Jessica Biel and Scarlett Johansson.

Sounds like a wonderful life to me!

See the whole holiday collection here.

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With Hannukah just behind us and Christmas just around the corner, I'm in a gift-giving mood. I feel blessed to be able to do this job, and all of you make it possible. Without your continued clicks, podcast downloads and TV watching there would be no interest or need for me to be here. So, I thank you for your support of myself and ESPN Fantasy, and wish you a happy and safe holiday season.

My gift to you is that I am here for you. Holidays and fantasy football playoffs are stressful times and I am here for you, no matter what you need.

Maybe you need someone to blame for your season. …

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