SPORTS: Kobe Bryant Could Miss All-Star Game

February 9th, 2010 | By Rick From Chicago

Ric Bucher talks about Kobe Bryant’s ankle injury and the chances he will play in the All-Star Game

TELEVISION: Conan O’Brien to NBC – Drop Dead

January 13th, 2010 | By Rick From Chicago

Conan O’Brien to NBC: Drop dead.

O’Brien broke his silence on Tuesday with a lengthy statement that left no doubt about his unhappiness over NBC’s plan to move “The Tonight Show” to 12:05 a.m. — declaring he could not “participate in what I honestly believe is its destruction.” But the host did leave doubts about his next move given NBC’s stated determination to move the show.

Insiders said O’Brien had no intention of resigning and would continue to show up for work and do his show. Biz observers said that NBC and O’Brien now appear to be in a game of chicken, with NBC trying to force O’Brien to quit, while O’Brien appears to be looking to force the network to fire him if it proceeds with the 12:05 move. How O’Brien’s contract is settled out is likely to vary greatly depending on whether he quits or is let go.

O’Brien’s release of the statement adds another bizarre chapter to an extraordinary public drama that has unfolded during the past six days, ever since word surfaced of NBC’s plans to reroute the failing “Jay Leno Show” from its nightly 10 p.m. berth to back to his old 11:35 p.m. time- slot, albeit in a half-hour format.

“For 60 years the ‘Tonight Show’ has aired immediately following the late local news,” O’Brien wrote in the statement addressed tongue-in-cheek to “people of Earth.”"I sincerely believe that delaying the ‘Tonight Show’ into the next day to accommodate another comedy program will seriously damage what I consider to be the greatest franchise in the history of broadcasting. The ‘Tonight Show’ at 12:05 simply isn’t the ‘Tonight Show.’”

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SPORTS: The NBA Suspends Gilbert Arenas Indefinitely

January 7th, 2010 | By Rick From Chicago

NBA suspends Gilbert Arenas indefinitely without pay for bringing guns into locker room

More discussion on the NBA’s decision to suspend Gilbert Arenas

VIDEO CLIP: Watch Kobe Bryant’s New Years Day 2010 buzzer beater vs. the Sacramento Kings

January 4th, 2010 | By Rick From Chicago

I’m a little bit late on this but….Kobe Bryant hit yet another buzzer-beating 3-pointer and finished with 39 points as the Los Angeles Lakers overcame a 20-point deficit to beat the Sacramento Kings 109-108 on Friday night.

SPORTS: Check out Kobe Bryant’s game winning buzzer beater shot vs. the Miami Heat

December 6th, 2009 | By Rick From Chicago

It’s Kobe Bryant, the game’s best in the business. End.

VIDEO CLIP: Kobe Bryant Hits Shot From Behind the Backboard

November 24th, 2009 | By Rick From Chicago

Kobe Bryant shows his shooting touch, sinking from behind the goal during Sunday’s game versus the Oklahoma City Thunder.

SPORTS: Allen Iverson clears waivers, no longer with Memphis Grizzlies

November 20th, 2009 | By Rick From Chicago

Allen Iverson has cleared waivers and is free to sign with any NBA team. That was a short lived stint in Memphis.

JEWLELRY: Check out the Los Angeles Lakers’ 2009 NBA Championship Ring

October 28th, 2009 | By Rick From Chicago

The gold is of limited edition 15 karat variety to represent the 15th championship earned by the organization.

Per the request of Dr. Buss, there are 14 diamonds surrounding the top of the ring symbolizing the previous 14 franchise championships, with the Larry O’Brien trophy in the middle to represent the 2008-09 title.

On the inside of a Player ring rests an etching of their respective jersey number. In addition, as requested by Fisher and Bryant, there is a player image on the side of player rings.

The Los Angeles skyline is an element unique to non-player rings in place of the player’s image.

The ring is two toned, with white gold representing the Lakers Sunday whites uniforms that honor legendary broadcaster Chick Hearn.

Each ring is authenticated by a serial number, and to further protect the authenticity, there are hidden etchings of the Lakers logo.

Kupchak contributed the idea to include the varying records of every individual playoff series on the side of the ring, which was done in addition to having the season record to capture the journey of the entire season.

Click on this link for more images on the Los Angeles Laker’s 2009 championship ring.