Shaq spotted at All Star festivities with Hoopz by his side... And no protective boot on. Phew!

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Here are Shaq and Hoopz last night, pictured at Shaq's All-Star comedy Jam. No boot on Shaq's foot, and he seems to be in high spirits. But can we just talk about how tall Shaq is? And how short Hoopz is? 

I just remembered why I hate All-Star weekend.

A couple of years ago, being the dork that I am, I wrote an email to the Celtics voicing my discontent in the cheerleaders (or Celtics dancers, whatever they want to call them) who had suddenly appeared on the parquet floor at the Garden. Red Auerbach was famously opposed to cheerleaders, because he said they detracted from the basketball game. He's right. They do. If you're at a game, you're supposed to be there to see the best of the best duke it out for forty eight minutes... Not to watch a squad of scantily clad, spray tanned, sub par dancers shaking it to cheesy music that's too loud (how old did I just sound? Oh jeez...). But seriously, the point of it all is to watch basketball. I want to know how cheerleaders, T-Shirt giveaways, jumbotrons and noise meters became intertwined in the experience of going to a basketball game. Going to an NBA game now a days is like going to the circus. When I go to see my high school play, the experience of being in a real gym, with one guy on a crappy microphone announcing the starting line ups, sitting in uncomfortable bleachers stuffed to the brim with excited on lookers, watching a game where guys aren't consumed by their own stat line, is a refreshing experience and feels much more authentic and satisfying.

If going to your run of the mill regular season NBA game is like going to the circus, All-Star weekend takes that and magnifies it times 100. It's not that I don't think the best of the best deserve recognition. These guys work incredibly hard and possess an amazing amount of talent, and for the amount of happiness and excitement I, along with millions of fans around the world derive from them, I'd say they certainly deserve recognition. I   I'm even willing to say that it's a fun idea, to have all of the best guys come together for one night and play against each other. The problem is that the actual playing of the game is at the bottom of the agenda. It's about press conferences, camera time, seeing and being seen, and flashy, selfish play. It's about artificially manufacturing TV friendly, 30 second clips that ESPN can flash on Sports Center, while the talking heads babble away mindlessly about everything except the game.

What's sad about it is that it's all unnecessary. The story lines are already there: we finally get the chance to get a glimpse of what it would be like if Miami's Big 3 played with a real point guard, in Derrick Rose, and for the first time since 1975, there are 4 Celtics on the team, to give a couple of examples. Frankly, I find the whole spectacle to be an insult to my intelligence. I'm an informed basketball enthusiast. All I need to be entertained, thrilled and moved is the game, and I know that there are hundreds of thousands of basketball fans around the country who echo these same sentiments.

P.S.- this does not mean I won't be watching the three-point contest. Excuse me- I mean the Footlocker three point contest. How could I forget the all important sponsor?  I didn't even touch on how it's all about money... That's a rant for another day.

Lebron parties with Drake for the debut of his new cartoon called... "The Lebrons."

Yes, Lebron really has a cartoon and it's really called "The Lebrons." It will air in four parts on You Tube, and will feature each of the four different versions of himself presented in the Nike commercials from last year. It's a must see if I've ever heard of one. Heeheehee...

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While I generally enjoy fashion forward men, and while the one thing I actually like Lebron is his choice in clothing, I can't give this outfit a go. He's too big a guy to wear the fedora and cropped jacket. Everything looks squished in. I always love Drake. Rock that Jew-fro.

The Celtics have interest in Anthony Parker. Too bad the Cavs have lost their mind.

Marc Stein reports:
The Celts covet an extra playoff-tested shooter/defender as much as the Bulls, with Marquis Daniels out indefinitely and Delonte West missing much of the season so far. Yet it remains to be seen whether either of the two teams is willing to meet Cleveland's asking price.

The Cavs are seeking a quality draft pick or a young big man with promise in exchange for Parker, who’s averaging 11.5 points and shooting 47 percent on 3-pointers in February.

 Sure, the Celtics have young, big men with promise. In fact, there are several: Kendrick Perkins, Glen Davis and Semih Erden. Out of those three, Semih is obviously the person that the Celtics would most easily part ways with... But not in exchange for 35 year old, 6'6 Anthony Parker. Not happening. Parker is a high basketball IQ, sturdy player. He would be a good fit for both the Celtics and the Bulls, and the Cavs probably think they can set the bar high because they see there are some desperate teams out there. Try again.

The trade deadline is 6 days away. Will the Celtics make a move? Is Richard Hamilton a possibility?

The rumors that the Celtics are looking to make a move have been swirling for weeks now. The team has been linked to many names, from Richard Hamilton, to Troy Murphy, to Anthony Parker. 

It seems that Murphy might have to be taken out of the equation.Talks between New Jersey and Denver have started again andMurphy would be included in any deal that sent Carmelo to New Jersey. it's okay with me if the Celtics don't get him, he's not my number one choice. 

My number one choice is already in a Celtics uniform, and that's Marquis Daniels. I'm holding out hope that Marquis is able to make a comeback. There has been no work from the Celtics on the status of Marquis, other than that he won't be coming back any time soon. I'd say it's safe to assume that whether he's able to make any comeback at all is still very much up in the air. With that in mind, Peter May compiled a list of potential trade candidates. This list includes Josh Childress, old friend James Posey, Richard Hamilton, Troy Murphy and Ramon Sessions. 

We've already discussed how Murphy won't be available, and I'd also cross Sessions off that list. I'm assuming that the Celtics are looking for a 3 man and some size in any deal that they make, and Sessions is a 6'3 guard. He's a sturdy basketball player, and can put up points, but it's just not what the Celtics are looking for at this point in time. I'd also take Childress off the list- May explains that while the Celtics could send Robinson and Daniels to Phoenix in exchange for Childress, Childress has 4 years left on his deal after this one. The Celtics will need to re-sign Glen Davis and Kendrick Perkins, and I don't think they'd want to jeopordize those signings but tying up money investing in Childress for anything after this year. So.... Next! The most enticing name on this list to me is Richard Hamilton. It's highly unlikely that Rip will end up in a Celtics uniform, but May lays it out: 

If Hamilton goes anywhere, it probably won't be for a while, but his name is out there because he basically has been euthanized by the Pistons. He has appeared in one game since Jan. 12. Hamilton earns $12.5 million this season, the same in 2011-12 and has a $9 million buyout in 2012-13. No one with that kind of contract gets bought out now. Additionally, there is going to be an ownership change in Detroit, so everything can be viewed to be on hold. Plus, why would the Pistons cut Hamilton a $20 million check when he still has some value around the league? Sure, he would be an ideal backup in Boston. And, remember, Joe Dumars owes Ainge. Seven years ago, when Dumars was desperately trying to get Rasheed Wallace from Atlanta, he needed a third team to make it work. Ainge stepped in and made it happen, getting a No. 1 pick out of the deal along with some flotsam and jetsam (Chucky Atkins, Lindsey Hunter). Dumars has always said that if that deal had not gotten done, the Pistons would not have won a title.

That's right Joe, so pay up and send Rip over. I just have to say that the way the Pistons are treating Rip is WACK and way beyond disrespectful. The man still has some basketball left in him and could be a contributer. Free Rip!!!

After the cut, May makes a case for James Posey.

Tony Parker wined and dined a mystery brunette on Valentines Day. Where was Eva Longoria?

Tony Parker was spotted in New York City having a grand old time:

San Antonio Spurs star Tony Parker celebrated Valentine’s Day, a win over the New Jersey Nets — and his divorce — by canoodling with a brunette at Tao on East 58th Street. Parker was dining and drinking champagne with friends while “kissing and hugging the girl at the table,” said a witness.

The ex-husband of Eva Longoria and the beauty continued partying at Greenhouse, where onlookers saw more flirting and kissing. Parker and the mystery woman left separately near 4 a.m. Parker’s rep said, “He had a fun night out with friends.”

Where was Eva? I don't know, but don't worry about her... She's doing just fine. She's been dating? Rebounding? Galevanting? Pick your choice, but she's been seen out and about with Eduardo Cruz, younger brother of Penelope Cruz.

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Am I wrong for being completely Team Eva on this one? I always thought they seemed like a really nice couple. Eva was ever present at Spurs games and seemed to be his number one fan.

And then come to find out he was having some kind of weird sexting relationship with Brent Barry's soon to be ex-wife. Team Eva all day.

According to Ray Allen, Paul Pierce is talking a whole lot of trash about how he's going to win the 3 point contest during All Star week.

I can only imagine what "top form" sounds like... Because Paul Pierce talks maaaaaaad trash. It's hilarious, and part of his charm and part of why we love him, but he undeniably holds nothing back when it comes to bigging himself up and talking the competition down. In honor of the upcoming 3 point competition, I have compiled two of my favorite instances of Paul Pierce speaking his mind: 

Definitely an instant classic: 

Zing! And,

Paul with his three point trophy.. And some lovely commentary:

"If I just sat outside and shot 3s... I would probably be more known as one of the greatest shooters in NBA history." And no, he did not mean the NBA today. He said in history, and he meant it.

Obviously, these are only 2  many instances where Paul let it fly... But these are two of my favorites. I think he says the over the top stuff just to piss people off... And because he honestly believes everything he says. There's no doubt in my mind that Paul believes he's one of the greatest shooters in NBA history. I love the man for that confidence.