For the second time in the past four years, “Whiny” Tim Thomas has been bought out of his contract by the Chicago Bulls. Thomas was traded by the New York Knicks to the Bulls for Eddy Curry in 2005, and again sent by the Knicks to the Bulls for Larry Hughes in 2009.

The fact that this is the second time a Bulls/Thomas buyout has come directly after the Knicks plopped him into their laps as part of a salary dumping trade makes this situation comical.

But what takes this to maximum comedy levels is the fact that his 2005-06 buyout was approximately $15M, and this week’s buyout will cost Da Bulls another $6.5M.

So for those scoring at home, that means that the Bulls have paid Thomas a grand total of nearly $21.5M to NOT be a member of their team.

Breaking it down even further, Whiny Tim has basically gotten as much money from the Bulls to go home and play video games as the 2008 Florida Marlins paid their entire team of 25 guys to play 162 games (Their team payroll was approximately $22M).

Last summer, Ben Gordon was offered a 5-year, $50M contract extension from the Chicago Bulls but whined that as the team’s leading scorer, that wasn’t enough.  Now its only a few weeks from camp and Gordon’s contract status is still in limbo.  He still thinks he deserves something similar to the $71M deal the Bulls recently gave to Luol Deng, but the Bulls disagree.

As a restricted free agent, his options are limited.  He can sign an offer sheet with another team – which the Bulls can match – but no one with ample cap space remaining (read: Memphis Grizzlies) is willing to pony up for his services.  Or he can force a sign-and-trade, but again, no one wants to pay him a penny more than the Bulls already offered and he rejected.  It appears his contract demands are too absurd for any NBA team to consider for the streaky combo guard from UConn. (more…)

Story of the year thus far: a squirrel in suburban New Jersey gnaws on an electric wire, bursts into flames, plummets down into an unsuspecting car’s engine compartment and blows it up. (NJ.com)

Cocktail Psychology: what does your drink say about you? (College Candy)

USF Bulls have become the underdogs to watch in college football. (The Big Lead)

Britney Spears runs over a paparazzo’s foot. This marks the first time in months that Brit’s not the most hated person in a story about herself. (YouTube)

Deaf rapper Terry Richards throws up different kinds of signs. (Stuff)