One of the great international disputes of our time has happily been settled - Maria Sharapova finally agreed to do a photo shoot.

The tennis titaness caused a stir earlier in the month when she complained about doing a shoot the day before the Italian Open. Sharapova wasn’t pleased about participating in a four- to five-hour photo op right before a big tournament. Meanwhile, the WTA was ready to fine her $700,000 if she didn’t show up.

Luckily, a compromise was finally reached. Read more…

• NEW YORK NEWSDAY’s Neil Best hears that the NFL Network gig vacated by Bryant Gumbel could be filled by - Al Michaels?!

• Stephanie Stradley of AOL FANHOUSE knows what the Vikings’ Kenechi Udeze is going through, as her sister had her own fight with leukemia.

• ON THE BASELINE follows up that Maria Sharapova is still mad about a forced photo shoot, so she plans to dig up some dirt on behind-the-scenes at the WTA.

• RANDBALL catches Nick Saban embracing new technology to get around NCAA rules created specifically for him.

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It would seem odd that tennis champ Maria Sharapova would take issue with any kind of publicity shoot. We could expect that much from someone who has posed for SPORTS ILLUSTRATED’s swimsuit issue and done extensive endorsements for Nike and Canon, yes?

So why would the WTA be threatening to fine her $700,000?

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Guess there are some Boston baseball beauties that can knock your sox off.

• Avery Johnson now has time to attend all those Josh Howard parties.

Will Mark D’Antoni also be available for appearances?

• Some grouchy media dinosaurs use Bob Costas’ HBO show to growl about the sports blogosphere.

• But they don’t understand the true power of the Internet, as in the case of a small-college football player using YouTube to get himself drafted by the Eagles.

• Maria Sharapova finally meets Anna Kournikova - about 3-5 years too late for most of the media to care.

• Sisters are doing it for themselves - especially when it comes to softball sportsmanship.

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Moscow’s PRAVDA reports that amazingly, until last month Anna Kournikova and Maria Sharapova had never met.

(Happier, hotter times)

Then again, since Anna hasn’t played competitively in years, and is apparently “jealous” of Maria, we suppose it shouldn’t be that big a surprise.

Anna is terribly jealous of Maria’s incredible earnings (about $18 million a year), whereas Anna herself does not make much on advertising anymore. Nevertheless, it seemed that the girls were glad to see each other.

Pic of the two together after the jump.
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• KISSING SUZY KOLBER rings up congratulations to the Bell Sisters, as all three lovelies landed spots on the Philadelphia Eagles cheerleader squad.

• The MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL knows the Brewers sure have a fun following. When it’s not the Honky Tonk Man showing up at Spring Training, it’s Larry the Cable Guy coming out for batting practice. We expect nothing less from a fan base that can create a 12-man beer bong.

• WALKOFF WALK hears that Ernie Banks wants his statue outside Wrigley Field to feature his voice welcoming fans to the Friendly Confines.

• If Aaron Rodgers is going to be the Packers’ main man, LARRY BROWN SPORTS isn’t sure why Green Bay would draft a QB in the 2nd round.

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