Congratulations to Kobe Bryant for scoring his 22,000th career point against the Indiana Pacers last night. Your reward? A total fourth-quarter collapse by your team’s defense and a head-scratching 118-117 loss. Personally, as I gift I’d rather receive a pair of socks, or even a gift certificate to Arby’s than that.

(Sasha - wha’ happened?)

The reason the Lakers blew a 15-point fourth quarter lead was simple: they stopped playing defense. They gave up 32 points in the quarter and six offensive rebounds, the last being Troy Murphy’s tip-in that gave the Pacers the victory. It’s the first Lakers loss to a bad team this season, but knowing the team’s recent history of falling victim to seemingly overlooking bad teams. (Between them and the USC football team, there must be something in the LA water.)

Meanwhile, Dallas Stars winger Sean Avery’s mouth has gotten him in trouble yet again. He’s been suspended indefinitely for “inappropriate public comments” after running his mouth before a game against the Calgary, specifically targeting Flames defenseman Dion Phaneuf, who happens to be dating Avery’s ex, hottie actress Elisha Cuthbert.

Here’s Avery’s comments. If you look closely, you can see his teammates praying for an errant piece of Sputnik to come crashing down on him:

A class act, that Sean Avery. USA TODAY breaks down some of his recent “greatest hits“, including his swipe a few years ago at French-Canadians. This is Avery’s first season with the Stars, but he’s already managed to alienate his team. Dallas owner Tom Hicks said that the team would have suspended Avery if the league didn’t, and teammates like Marty Turco are already sick of his act. And we know how opponents feel about him.

• WITH LEATHER wonders if either SI Sportsman of the Year Michael Phelps had his head shrunk post-Olympics, or if his head was just Photoshopped for the cover.



• UConn running back Andre Dixon might not have to worry about where the Huskies are playing their bowl game, as the NORWICH BULLETIN reports that his participation is in doubt after being arrested for a DUI.
• If you are Thomas Cole, a former assistant girls high school basketball coach in Orange County, and you are accused of having sex with a minor, you might not want to text her. The ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER says that apparently Cole felt otherwise.
• Could the Army vs. Navy game be moving to the Midwest? The INDIANAPOLIS STAR says that the Colts’ new home of Lucas Oil Stadium is on the short list of potential homes for the game.
• Vidal Hazelton went from USC’s leading receiver in 2007 to a little-used player this season to the latest Trojan to transfer out of the program, according to the LOS ANGELES DAILY NEWS.
• JOE SPORTS FAN gets into the world of sports humor videos, and they’re already ahead of the Sklar Brothers in terms of making something funny. Their first topic: EA Sports’ Adult Mens Softball 09.
• THE WORLD OF ISAAC takes you inside the equally bizarre world of probable Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson by recapping some of his greatest “Rickey being Rickey” moments.
• To the surprise of some, the ACC/Big Ten Challenge has actually been a challenge so far, with each conference winning three games. Duke won the marquee match-up last night, rolling past Purdue 76-60 in what FOX SPORTS’ Jeff Goodman calls an especially impressive performance.
• The lawyers representing Vikings defensive tackles Pat and Kevin Williams (not related or married) tell the ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS that they are going to sue over their clients’ suspensions over banned weight-loss substances.
• With a season-ending loss to Oregon, THE REGISTER-GUARD reports that Oregon State likely knocked themselves from the Rose Bowl to a trip to lovely El Paso and a possible Sun Bowl date against Notre Dame. Needless to say, the fans are far from pleased.