9. Let it rain. Is it just me or are NBA players getting PAID? Boozer – 5 years for $80 million. Rudy Gay – 5 years for $84 million. Amar’e 5 years for $100 million. Joe Johnson – 6 years for $120 million. Apparently that’s the going rate. Minus LeBron who of course signed for less, to play alongside two strong players. Way to take one for the team.

8. Jeremy Lin > John Wall (In summer league anyway), but that’s still something to be said for this now-signed Golden State Warrior. He’s garnered some attention, referred to as this summer’s sensation and cult figure, an Asian-American kid who brought his A-game to make some headlines. This Nor Cal native, 6’3 200LB guard out of Harvard chose to play for the team he grew up cheering for, GSW. Yao who? I kid.

7. Wait, Wall is by no means in anyone’s shadow. Prepare for John Wall, people. We are def excited to embrace the next best phenom.

6. Andrew Bynum to get knee surgery. Maybe this isn’t news to most. OK that pesky knee has always been troublesome for Bynum to be at full strength on the court, Laker fans, if you’re hoping for a 3peat, send him your get well wishes. With Phil back for another year, Laker fans are still optimistic that yet another back-to-back-to-back championship may be in their cards. Agree or beg to differ? Captions on Slam, check it out.

5. Kobe ties Tiger Woods for favorite sports star. You know when you see those signs hanging in restaurant windows that say VOTED BEST STEAK OF THE YEAR or whatever? Yeah, my reply to that is always, according to who? So it turns out 2,227 people polled online from June 14-June 21 courtesy of Harris Interactive say Kobe and Tiger are the cream of the crop when it comes to popularity in sports. Not too far behind are: Derek Jeter, Brett Favre, Peyton Manning, LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Dale Earnhardt, Jr.

4.  #TheDECISION If you haven’t heard this news, what’s it like under that rock? LeBron leaves Cleveland to go to Miami to form the new big three with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. Whether you’re sad to see him go, sorry Cleveland, we sympathize, or disappointed because it’s something you never would’ve done if it was you as Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley would frown upon with disdain, or you’re happy to see him pursue his new quest with some fellow high-caliber players, this was THE buzz of the summer.

3. Is comic sans the most hated font in the world? Well, is it? No insult to the developer of comic sans, since it is almost as famous as Times New Roman, and since it was the chosen one by Cavs owner Dan Gilbert (or at least the cavs site developer) to express his blatant feelings on the whole matter.  Of course,  Dan Gilbert would get slapped with a nice $100,000 fine by the Commish, not for using comic sans, but for his quick-to-fire remarks. Ah, and don’t forget Reverend Jesse Jackson adding fuel to the fire, with his comeback comparing Gilbert’s words to “personifying a slave master mentality”. Now who’s putting whose foot in whose mouth? [Read the full letter here]

2. Chris Paul wants out. Will there be a #DecisionPart2? Magic? Knicks? Lakers? Mavs? Blazers? Not if Commissioner Stern can help it. He’s been a little busy lately. Gotta keep Kahn in check for publicly speaking about Beasley’s former marijuana use.

1. Go USA! We still have a few months ’til the regular season kicks off. The end of October can’t come soon enough. Til’ then, USA Basketball and FIBA will do. Here’s a schedule in case you’re interested. 

Honorable mentions: Where will T-Mac go? Stint that Penny might make a comeback. Stephon Marbury is NOT going to the Heat.

Forget the most interesting man in the world. Wipe that slate clean. Because today, we’re pleased to present THE MOST RIDICULOUS MAN IN THE WORLD (for Vitamin Water). And we’d like to award Hoopiquity’s “Best NBA Actor of All Time” to none other than..Steve Nash!

who can now add bat exterminating onto his resume. In case you’re wondering, Spurs did snag a win that night, defeating the visiting Kings 113-94, so maybe the bat wasn’t so unlucky afterall. Just when you thought you had seen it all..

11/4/09. So what do the new characters on the back of the head mean, we wondered?

photo via @ThugRaider37

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Charles exclaimed at a certain age, a man shouldn’t be allowed to have carvings on his head.  Something along the lines of , “What is the age where you can’t carve crap in your hair?”  And did C-Webb just guess they are hieroglyphics?

In case you were under a rock Tuesday night and somehow missed Ron Ron’s hair and Laker debut, here are a few shots (from @thugraider37’s Twit Pic stream) to give you a better idea.

Side 1.

Chinese.  For “Champion”  冠軍

Side 2.

Laker Logo. Suffice it to say, this is his new home now.

Side 3

Chatty, to honor his close friend Mike Chatfield, who Ron believes to be one of the best basketball players he’s ever played with.

Everyone’s entitled to their own opinions, and we certainly respect and enjoy whatever Ron decides to do with his hair.  Let’s get this straight, it’s HIS hair, and he’s entitled to do what he wants, so long as it’s not offensive.  People get inked all the time, what’s not to love about hair carving? Speaking of love for hair, don’t forget our collection of Best Hair in the NBA.

Take a look at what the rest of the Twitterverse had to say about it.

Like it?  Love it?  Or Don’t?