• Oh, Dennis Rodman, what mischief have you gotten into now? The LOS ANGELES TIMES is more than happy to tell us.

• AWFUL ANNOUNCING wishes there wasn’t a screen behind home plate for once, as this cell phone gabber gets quite a surprise during a Rangers game.

• WICKED GOOD SPORTS ponders the possibility of this year’s All-Star Game at Yankee Stadium having no Yankee starters.

• HUGGING HAROLD REYNOLDS wonders if Barack Obama’s b-ball photo up with the Tar Heels was in violation of NCAA rules.

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Phoenix GM Steve Kerr is trying to squash rumors that Mike D’Antoni is already on his way out as Suns head coach.

Paul Coro of the ARIZONA REPUBLIC reports that Mike & the management plan to meet before the weekend to discuss the Suns’ situation. Steve spoke out about the D’Antoni dilemma after hearing the coach was reportedly already removed: Read more…

Multiple reports suggest Mike D’Antoni has unleashed his last exasperated sigh at another Shaquille O’Neal turnover or failed post play by Amare Stoudemire. He could be out as Phoenix Suns coach as early as today, though no official word can be found and the multiple reports spend a lot of time referencing each other.

(Enumerating the number of years he will be a general manager)

Still, one has to be impressed with the force of will likely to be imposed by General Manager Steve Kerr and owner Robert Sarver here. The team can’t win as currently constituted (though they looked awfully capable last season but for the want of a thicker line around the court), so a tremendous gamble will be made on a past-due Shaq.

And if it fails? Hell, must be the coach. The plan looked great on paper.

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Oh, what a day of games, friends! That LeBron James is truly a marvelous athlete! What truly wondrous dunk shots that young knave can make! Quite the start to the National Basketball Association 2008 Playoffs!

(I dance when I’m happy.)

Behind Sir James’ 32 basket points, the Cavaliers of Cleveland toppled those Washingtonian Wizards. A valliant effort by Gilbert Arenas went for naught as the Cavaliers proved victorious in the final minute of play. Twas the sword that proved mightier than the tongue in this duel. Read more…

For once, the WNBA will have the upper hand on its b-ball brethren, as the league of ladies will be the ones to play the first outdoor pro basketball game on the American mainland.

THE SPORTS NETWORK reports that the New York Liberty will host the Indiana Fever on July 19 at Arthur Ashe Stadium - a tennis venue better known as the home of the U.S. Open.

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As Shaquille O’Neal arrived in Beantown for tonight’s game against the Celtics, Jackie MacMullan of the BOSTON GLOBE caught a few words from the Suns star about his new & old teams.

While the Big Cactus said he enjoys being with Steve Nash, coach Mark D’Antoni and the rest of his Phoenix pals, his reaction to his former Miami Heat teammates was a little more cold: Read more…

The Phoenix Suns go to all that trouble to bring in the Big Cactus, and now Steve Nash says he doesn’t even care if he gets a title.

The Suns star spoke with Michael Wilbon on ESPN’s Sunday Conversation, and told the Worldwide Leader that it wouldn’t bother him if he ended his NBA career ringless:

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After the Suns dropped to 3-6 in the Shaquille O’Neal era following a 126-118 loss to the Utah Jazz, coach Mike D’Antoni told the ARIZONA REPUBLIC they’re still a better team with the Big Arid-Stottle.

“I don’t think there’s any doubt. Not play-wise, but on paper and what we see. We can be a better team than we could ever be with the little guys running all over the place. We may not be as pretty, but we’re going to be much more efficient.”

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