BIZARRE INDIE CHEER SQUADS GIVEN BENIGN TREATMENT: NEWSWEEK has a big web piece today on the rapid growth of independent cheerleading squads across the world.

Teams from Europe, South America and Asia are now participating in the annual World Championship of Cheerleadering. But if a mag like Newsweek is covering this, you knew something has to […]

• THE BIG LEAD asks: Has Keith Olbermann been fuegoed from Dan Patrick’s show?

• ESPN turning into ESoaPNet? KISSING SUZY KOLBER gets the dirt on Stephen A. Smith and Mark Schlereth delving into weekday drama.
• Need an opponent for Thursday Night Football? THE WIZARD OF ODDS suggests Georgia Tech is your team.
• In the […]

MLS THINKS YOU CAN LIVE IN NYC ON $12,900 PER YEAR: The WASHINGTON POST reports on one of the surest signs MLS is in sterling shape for the future: “The average guaranteed salary in MLS is $115,432, but drops to $82,901 without the four designated players.”

The WP’s Steven Goff reports David Beckham will make $6.5M […]

RILES NEVER WORRIES ABOUT THE DOOR ON HIS WAY OUT: Attention residents of The Apogee in South Beach:

The MIAMI HERALD reports Pat Riley has purchased a penthouse in the building for $13.5M, and he’d like you to meet your new doorman:

NEWSBREAKER - JOGGED NASH NOGGIN CROOKED ALREADY:

BLOATED ONE BORES BASEBALL WORLD OUTSIDE BRONX: Favorite reax to the bloated one grandstanding again in the Bronx:

Schilling: “It would have been nice to have him, but we didn’t need him – we don’t need him.”

David Wells on Clemens’ practice of joining a team mid-stream: “I don’t think I would ever do it because of […]

OSCAR SCORES $25M+ IN SCRATCH WITHOUT A SCRATCH: It was a Cinco de Mayo to remember for boxing fans here in Los Angeles last weekend as our favorite son, Oscar De La Hoya, once again proved why he is such a universal favorite in the hard-scrabble streets of East L.A.

Any boxer who can steal swing […]

SbB Girl Jessica at SbB Gig #136 in Santa Monica, California:

DANIELS MIGHT GUEST ON LARRY KING; SCORE BOOK DEAL: LOS ANGELES TIMES transsexual sportswriter Christine Daniels, who is likely to appear on Larry King (and may have a book in the works), polished up her public relations act last weekend on radio, appearing on KLAC-AM with Lee Hamilton.
My favorite part of the interview was […]

• After falling out of step against the Jazz, FREE DARKO laments that Tracy McGrady needs a hug.
• WBRS SPORTS BLOG piles on the big Quinn dump, that’s why Brady is a Chump.
• Are you evil enough? OUR BOOK OF SCRAP is on the lookout for the Best Villains in Sports.
• SIGNAL TO […]