A poll among coaches and players determined that Kobe Bryant has the highest basketball IQ among active players.  Speaking of Kobe Bryant, he (among other athletes) wore red laces (that looked orange) for the Lakers‘ game against the Hornets last Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Ron Artest claims he drank Hennessy at halftime during his Bull days.  Chicago Bulls, that is.

Wow, Zen Master Phil Jackson succumbs to the lure of acting.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is being treated for a rare form of leukemia.  He was diagnosed last December with chronic myeloid leukemia, he told The Associated Press on Monday.

The doctor didn’t give any guarantees but stated Kareem has a very good chance to live and does not have to make any drastic change in his lifestyle.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is taking an oral medication for the disease and is a paid spokesman for the Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis, which makes a drug that treats the illness.

Kareem wants to bring awareness to the illness the same way Magic Johnson did for HIV.  Allegedly, this form of blood cancer can be fatal if left untreated.

LAKERS FANS ABLE TO BE A PART OF THE MEMORABLE 2008-2009 CHAMPIONSHIP AND OWN A PIECE OF LAKERS HISTORY

Championship Expressions, the first sports championship memorabilia opportunity of its kind, has premiered its first exclusive piece, the Lakers Championship Trophy Photo Experience, it was announced by Tim Harris, SVP, Business Operations/CMO of the Los Angeles Lakers and Herb Cohen, CEO of Championship Expressions.

Lakers fans at upcoming home games played at STAPLES Center will have the opportunity to have their picture taken holding the 2009 NBA World Championship Trophy which will then be mounted in an exquisite custom frame, accompanied by a handmade gold-embroidered emblem of the Lakers logo and an authorized reproduction of the 2009 NBA World Championship Ring. » read more

Remember the Lamar Odom – Khloe Kardashian wedding?  Allegedly, a pre-nup was signed :

• a flat sum of about $500,000 for every year they were married
• $25,000 a month in general support
• their new house
• a new luxury vehicle at the end of every lease cycle
• $5,000 a month for shopping
• $1,000 for beauty care
• courtside Laker tickets for everyone in her family!

Forget everything else.  I’ll take those courtside Laker tickets anytime.