Over the years, I’ve come to expect a lot from 2K Sports. Their games are always top-notch, ultra-realistic and super-connected to the actual sports the games emulate. So it was no surprise when I strolled into 2K’s offices this morning to find the most realistic looking video game I’ve ever seen: NBA 2K10.  (more…)

With Plaxico Burress having just been sentenced to two years in jail for possessing and discharging a firearm in a public space, we are reminded that these masters of the field and the court are just people, too. They make mistakes, and have to pay for them. However, sometimes the mistakes they make are so hilariously idiotic, we can’t help but make fun of them. Here are the 12 Dumbest Convicted Athletes. (more…)

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 week, highly coveted Orlando Magic free agent Hedo Turkoglu visited the Portland Trail Blazers, and apparently left the Pacific Northwest after agreeing to a 5-year, $50M deal. Or so they thought.

Over the next 48 hours, Turkoglu backed out of his verbal commitment to Portland and instead agreed upon a five-year, $53M deal with the more Euro-friendly Toronto Raptors organization. But why this sudden change of heart?

Yahoo! Sports sources believe that Hedo’s wife may be the culprit for this blatant reneging of his deal in Portland. Apparently, his wife refused to accompany the talented small forward on his recruiting trip to Portland, sending him alone to make his own decisions.

Upon hearing that he had made an agreement to sign there, she insisted that he choose to sign in a more cosmopolitan city that is littered with European diversity that will provide the couple with a bevy of Turkish shops, restaurants, and fellow inhabitants.

Can you blame a guy for exercising his right to use free agency as an opportunity to move to a city where he’d rather live for five years? No.

But you can blame a guy for agreeing to be a key cog in a team’s quest to build a contender, then backs out of a deal with his tail between his legs, all because his wife stole his manhood and forced him to go to another city (of her liking) that he didn’t even visit on a recruiting trip!?  I think the answer is yes.

The Detroit Pistons fired coach Michael Curry after one disappointing season that saw the Pistons fall from six consecutive Eastern Conference Finals appearances to a 39-43 record and a treacherous four-game exit in the first round of the playoffs.

There is no debating this decision by the organization’s point man, Joe Dumars, especially after Curry’s questionable benching of team leader, Richard Hamilton, and the league-wide perception that he lost the respect of his entire team by season’s end.  But could Joe D look to his former teammate to fill the coaching void in the Big D?

Bill Laimbeer mysteriously stepped down from his WNBA head coaching position just three games into the season on June 15, 2009, citing the fact that he wanted to become an NBA head coach.

After watching the Pistons embarrassing season from the girl’s locker room, perhaps the three-time WNBA champion coach of the Detroit Shock knew the writing was on the wall and considered that maybe his former two-guard would be willing to pass him the ball with a shot at his dream job.

Under the current rules, Kobe Bryant and LeBron James would have played at least one season of college basketball before they joined the NBA.

Those two went straight to the pros. Potential had to be evaluated at the high school level.

But when the NBA changed the rules to require at least a year before entry into the NBA, the college game changed.

Suddenly, there were a rash of “one-and-done” players, guys who came into college as highly-recruited prospects and the intention of staying only one year.

Read all about how draft rules changed the game!

It’s not a Kobe/Lebron matchup as many fans (and NBA commissioner David Stern) may have pined for, but tonight, the Los Angeles Lakers and Orlando Magic square off in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. While the Lakers may be the favorite to win the series, they did come up short against the Magic during the regular season–dropping both meetings. So who will get their first NBA title…Adam Morrison or J.J. Redick? Let’s find out as we preview the 2009 NBA Finals. (more…)

For a man who is obsessed with having the last word, there is no possible worst-case scenario for Shaquille O’Neal than watching either Kobe Bryant or Stan Van Gundy hoist up the Larry O’Brien Trophy as the champion of the 2008-09 season.

For years, Shaq has claimed that the only reason Kobe won three titles was because he had The Diesel stationed in the paint.  It looked like his sentiments were true when Shaq was traded to Miami, and wasted no time by bringing the first-ever championship to South Beach with the help of Dwyane Wade.  Since O’Neal’s departure from LA, Kobe was found middling in mediocrity until Pau Gasol was hijacked from Memphis – and The Big Fella couldn’t have been happier. (more…)

Six time NBA champion. Seven time All-Star. Olympic gold medalist. Scottie Pippen is one of the most famous NBA players of all time. COED recently sat down with the international basketball legend as he tries his hand in something a little different… movies. (more…)

LeBron James vs. Carmelo Anthony. Bragging rights among the consensus top two picks in the historic 2003 NBA Draft. And yes, I realize that Detroit hilariously and mistakenly took Darko Milicic second overall instead of Melo.

LeBron was the mega-star coming out of St. Vincent’s St. Mary’s High School in Ohio. Melo was fresh off winning a national title at Syracuse. Who went with first overall pick? LeBron.

The two new franchise faces went head-to-head for the 2003-04 NBA Rookie of the Year Award. Who won? LeBron.

Each guy puts winning as a team ahead of himself. But who was the first to take his team to the NBA Finals? LeBron in 2007. (more…)