Kareem Abdul Jabbar...chopped liver? Basketball star statue controversy!

Is Kareem Abdul Jabbar chopped liver?

According to the basketball star, that's what the powers-that-be think!

Yesterday, Jabbar was quite adamant at a press conference that the reluctance of the league to erect a statute in his honor not only reflects that, but underscores their lack of respect.

"I've not only not on the backburner, but not even on the stove," he lamented to sports writers who gathered for a career update on the high-profile athlete.

Jabbar is known for his celebrated "hook" shot.

Undoubtedly, any statue commemorating Kareem, would also be a monument to that signature move which he perfected over the years while on the court.

Although Jabbar has taken to twitter and other far-reaching rich media to express his disappointment that the Lakers have overlooked him (Oscar de la Hoya, Wayne Gretzky, Magic Johnson, and the late Chick Hearn are all set in polished bronze in front of the Staples Center) the once-celebrated basketballer sniped that he is not griping.

"I don't understand it," Abdul-Jabbar lamented to Sporting News.

"It's either an oversight or they're taking me for granted. I'm not going to try to read people's minds, but it doesn't make me happy. It's definitely a slight."

"I am highly offended by the total lack of acknowledgment of my contribution to Laker success. I guess being the lynchpin for five world championship teams is not considered significant enough in terms of being part of Laker history."

If that weren't bad enough, Jabbar also pointed out that he was forced to take a pay cut for his role as special assistant coach in 2009, which didn't sit well either.

In contrast, high-profile smoozer Magic Johnson has been amply rewarded by the Lakers for his loyalty and ballplaying over the years.

Johnson was even blessed with a part-ownership, which he later cashed in on when he sold his chips last year.

Jabbar - a strapping man who registers in at 7 ft.-2 inches tall - also claims the team made him coil up in a cramped seat on one flight back from a game in spite of the fact there were roomier seats available in the area where players and other coaches were lounging.

This man just doesn't get any respect, according to the aging athlete, that's for sure!

Will the lakers kiss and make up?

Personally, I am of the opinion that an "honor" should be just that, an "honor".

A statue should be erected because there is an outpouring of love and respect by management, fellow team players, and the fans.
The statue should not be erected because it has been "demanded" by a grumbling sports hero.

News at 11!

http://www.thetattler.biz

Justin Bieber...Most Valuable Player in NBA Celebrity Basketball match!



Justin Bieber dazzled fans - and athletes alike - with his performance on the court over the weekend in an NBA celebrity basketball match.

The kid - hot-to-trot - turned out to be an exemplary team-player to the surprise of a handful of sports enthusiasts gushing on the sidelines.

Bieber scored eight points, landed four assists and scooped two rebounds - for the West team - which ended up losing 54 - 49 to the East.

In spite of the fact the "Bieb's" team lost, the young pop star was named MVP (Most Valuable Player).

Go figure!

Just betcha, critics of the flavor of the month thought he was just a cream puff - and a flash in the pan, to boot - eh?

Bieber's got all the right stuff!

But, that new "do" - gracing the cover of Rolling Stone Magazine - was something else altogether, wasn't it?

Uh-huh!

http://www.thetattler.biz

Star Athlete!

President Barack Obama...reporter probes Barry "O" Bomber! Jump shot shakey...

With his feet planted firmly on the court at the White House, the President chatted with a reporter one-on-one seemingly without a care in the world.

The interviewer was keen on getting a glimpse of a Barack Obama that is rarely in plain view over the news airwaves.

When the reporter mentioned Barry "O" Bomber - Barack's nick-name in High School - it brought a smile to his face.

The President was bestowed with the awesome moniker because of his sizzling jump shot.

Barack Obama allegedly hung out with a posse of kids known as the "Rat-ballers" who were obsessed with basketball.

The President noted that when he enrolled in University he placed his focus on his studies - hence - his basketball skills fell by the wayside a tad.

"When I got back to the court, I'd lost my jump shot," he joked in so many words.

 in recent days, Mr. Obama has endeavored to stay on top of his "game" (time permitting).

"He just had something about him. He had this charismatic nature," noted of the rat-ballers after looking-back.

In spite of the fact he dresses elegantly, and walks the corridors of power, old friends joke that he's just Barry to them.

"Barry is skinnier, though. He looks good," another pal chirped in.

The faded photograph above reveals "Barry" in his former incarnation.

The yearbook entry captures a chubby Obama shoulder-to-shoulder with his basketball team mates.

Barrack attended Punahou - the largest private school in the country in Honolulu - which caters to the high-and-mighty (cultural elite) of Hawaii.

The tuition was beyond Barack Obama's reach; but fortunately, the President landed a sholarship which afforded him the opportunity to pursue a quality education.

Honolulu

http://www.thetattler.biz

Barack Obama...Scott Brown challenges Prez to basketball match!

How about a flex competition?
(oil up those dudes!)

The health care issue has dragged on for too long.

Maybe it's time to settle the score with the Republicans the old-fashiioned way, eh?

Scott Brown has challenged the Preisdent to a two-on-two basketball game to 21 points.

According to the Senator - who just picked up the slack in Massachusetts - it may be a great ice-breaker.

That's the problem wth laying your cards down on the table, Barack;  the oppostion doesn't have a poker face to deal with.

Even still, the Commander-in-Chief may give the once studly (former Cosmopolitan nude lay-out model) a run for his money.

Although the Prez may come off a bit goofy on his bicycle when he hits the trails at the crack of dawn - in contrast - his moves are pretty smooth on the court.

Obama is pretty sly - which fathoms into determining how he landed in the White House - in spite of the fact the well-oiled machinery of the Clinton clan was breathing down his neck on the election trail.

"We'll be having our meeting on the court instead of  in the caucus room," Brown chuckled.

Senator Brown intends to pair up with his daugher (Ayla) and invites Barack to rustle up the female of his choice.

Barack better choose wisely, though;  after all, Brown's daughter is a scholarship player for Boston University.

Play ball!

Go get 'em Prez!

http://www.julianayrs.com/

Sasha Vujacic...Laker's pact splits hairs!

When I was a youth, there was one thing that separated the men from the boys.

Hair!

The studly athletes generally sported buzz cuts or closely-cropped styles that underscored Virility! Manliness! Nothing sissy, dude!

The longhairs were fags, potheads, drop-outs or good-for-nothings!

Forget about the nerds!

Actually - when Bill Gates moved up in status and became one of the wealthiest men on the planet - a couple of my old school buddies moaned that in retrospect they wish they'd learned a little computer-speak in those pimply-faced teen years!

So, when it was reported that Sasha Vujacic stipulated that his new pact with the Lakers exclude a "haircut clause", I was a little flabbergasted.

Like Samson before him, were his lustrous locks the source of his stamina?

No matter, it wasn't the hair that bothered the General Manager Mitch Kupchak.

"It was the net or whatever that is. The hair's OK actually."

Well, it's great that Vujacic managed to secure a contract he's content with.

Otherwise, the Laker star would have been shipped off to Russia where he'd be freezin' his n**ts off in sub-zero temperatures.

Talk about stranded!

That's the long and short of it.

Barack Obama...say what? Senior analyst disassociates with sports tied to African Americans!

Barack on the "down low"...
(pictured left)



Just when we thought issues pertaining to the race card were dealt a final deadly blow - and tucked away into the good night - another wild zinger zips out of the Barack Obama camp!

At media outlets around the Nation, the morning papers were running photographs of Obama sprinting about the basketball court, underscoring his vim and vigor at the tender age of 46 big ones!

Heh, judging by comments from the ring-siders, Obama put the competing players half his age to shame!

Some have scratched their heads and wondered why Oprah's good buddy hasn't capitalized on the athletic image, especially in view of the fact some whine that Senator John McCain is too old to run for President.

According to the Senator from Illinois, age is not an issue.

A bit of diplomacy on his part, perhaps?

And, when asked why there weren't any press junkets booked around his favorite past-time, the presidential candidate stressed that when he's on the court - it's his downtime - and one of those rare occasions when he is able to relax out of the political spotlight.

In view of a comment made by his Senior Analyst - on the heels of the Obama revelation - one has to wonder...surely that's not entirely true?

After all, in one of those jaw-dropping moments, the aide allegedly let is slip that the reason there were few photo ops - or in-your-face reports from the stands - was due to the fact there was some reluctance on the part of the Obama team to show the candidate playing a sport heavily associated with African Americans.

Oops! Someone put their foot in it...

Hoop nightmares, do ya think?