Editorial Sketch of the Week: When millionaires collide

© Drew Litton, Chicago Tribune & ESPN.com

Iconic Shot: Magic & Bird

Original source is indeterminable

The NBA lockout is now in its 100th day with no end in sight. As players and owners haggle over the details of a 50/50 split in the diminishing revenue of a corporate franchise that continues to lose nine-figure sums each year, longtime fans often reminisce back to the good ol' days when two guys from opposite ends of the spectrum essentially saved the league.

Different in background, position and style, it was their similarities – and resulting mass appeal – that endure the most. Larry Bird and Earvin "Magic" Johnson first met when Michigan State and Indiana State met in the 1979 NCAA national title game. Magic's Spartans were victorious, but both would make their mark on the next level in a way that only Michael Jordan would ever equal.

Magic's career numbers through his 13 seasons are impressive: 17,707 points (19.5 PPG), 10,141 assists (11.2 APG), 6,559 rebounds (7.2 RPG) and 1,724 steals (1.9 SPG). A 12-time All-Star and two-time All-Star Game MVP, Johnson also led his Los Angeles Lakers to five NBA championships en route to being named the league's Most Valuable Player three times.

Larry Legend's stats over his 13 years are equally notable: 21,791 points (24.3 PPG), 8,974 rebounds (10.0 RPG), 5,695 assists (6.3 APG) and 1,556 steals (1.7 SPG). Also a 12-time All-Star, Bird also led his Boston Celtics to three NBA titles en route to being named the league's Most Valuable Player three times.

These men typified the game in every way. Unfortunately for the NBA, their impact may never be duplicated.

Sunday's Quote: The power of her posterior

Your first impression of Kim Kardashian was probably the same as mine:

Pretty face.

Why is she famous?

Whoa, that booty can’t be real.

Think whatever you want about the most prominent of the Kardashian offspring, but Kim's mojo is undeniable.  Known as much for her socialite exploits as her gravity defying rear-end, the legend of "reality" television's highest paid star has reached a magnitude that now expands well beyond the arena that ultimately made her fodder for tabloid headlines.

Once modestly recognized as both the daughter of attorney Robert Kardashian (part of the O.J. Simpson defense team) and the stepdaughter of Olympic gold medalist Bruce Jenner, Kim transitioned seamlessly into becoming an impresario of sorts whose success is only surpassed by her status as perhaps America's most amicable sex symbol.  And bearing in mind her string of past romances with equally famous athletes and entertainers, her recent engagement to Kris Humphries (pictured) should also come as no surprise.

Life with Kim has been good for Mr. Humphries.  A member of four teams in his eight-year NBA career, the formerly obscure journeyman averaged 10.0 points per game and 10.4 rebounds per game (a "double double") for the New Jersey Nets en route to his best statistical season thus far – an accomplishment he clearly attributed to Kim with the purchase a 20.5-karat diamond behemoth for his now-fiancé that's reportedly worth $2 million.

True love has a place in the conversation.  But(t) make no mistake, it all starts with that unbelievably awe-inspiring caboose.  If you think a woman of Kim's considerable enormity can't make an average man leap tall buildings in a single bound, think again.  Indeed, so commanding is Kim's allure that it even caused another no-name pro athlete – NFL defensive back Bret Lockett in this case – to openly lie about Kim cheating with him, only to later confess than he had never even met her.

It's almost hard to blame the poor guy.  Heck, I'd marry Kim without even thinking about it.

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"Cultivate your curves.  They may be dangerous but they won't be avoided."

– Mae West (1893-1980), American actress and icon in her own right

Did You Know (or Care): Athletes and their families

Former University of Nebraska cornerback and New York Giants first round selection Prince Amukamara has five sisters.  They are named Passionate, Peace, Precious, Princess, and Promise.

Also, a recent feature about Utah Jazz forward Andrei Kirilenko – a dead ringer for Ivan Drago – and his unbelievable back tattoo (pictured) led me to an ESPN magazine story from 2006 about Andrei’s wife Masha, who allows her husband to have sex with another woman once per year.  Says Masha, "Male athletes in this country are extremely attractive.  They get chased by women.  It's hard to resist.  It's the way men are by nature."

Fascinating, I suppose.

List Fest: Greed kills

Amid losses totaling as much as $400 million, the National Basketball Association is considering a number of potentially drastic measures to keep the league from financial collapse.  The following is a list of 25 places where Commissioner David Stern can begin the inevitable cuts:

Highest NBA salaries, 2010-2011

1. Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers, $24.8 million
 

2. Rashard Lewis, Orlando Magic, $20.5 million
 

3. Kevin Garnett, Boston Celtics, $18.8 million
 

4. Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs, $18.7 million
 

5. Michael Redd, Milwaukee Bucks, $18.3 million
 

6. Pau Gasol, Los Angeles Lakers, $17.8 million

6. Andrei Kirilenko, Utah Jazz, $17.8 million
 

8. Gilbert Arenas, Washington Wizards, $17.7 million
 

9. Yao Ming, Houston Rockets, $17.6 million
 

10. Zach Randolph, Memphis Grizzlies, $17.4 million
 

11. Vince Carter, Orlando Magic, $17.3 million

11. Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks, $17.3 million
 

13. Carmelo Anthony, Denver Nuggets, $17.1 million
 

14. Amare Stoudemire, New York Knicks, $16.8 million
 

15. Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic, $16.5 million
 

16. Joe Johnson, Atlanta Hawks, $16.3 million
 

17. Kenyon Martin, Denver Nuggets, $16.0 million

17. Elton Brand, Philadelphia 76ers, $16.0 million
 

19. Predrag Stojakovic, New Orleans Hornets, $15.3 million
 

20. Chris Paul, New Orleans Hornets, $14.9 million

20. Deron Williams, Utah Jazz, $14.9 million
 

22. LeBron James, Miami Heat, $14.5 million

22. Chris Bosh, Miami Heat, $14.5 million
 

24. Jason Richardson, Phoenix Suns, $14.4 million
 

25. Carlos Boozer, Chicago Bulls, $15.0 million

Sources: Altius Directory & The Wild Investor

On This Day in History: February 2

A lot happened on this particular day.  These are some of the more notable events:

1653 -- The Dutch colonial settlement called New Amsterdam is established.  The area is known today as New York City.

1790 -- The Supreme Court of the United States convened for the first time in Philadelphia's City Hall.  The bench consisted of Chief Justice John Jay, and Associate Justices John Blair, William Cushing, James Iredell, John Rutledge, and James Wilson.  The Court itself did not get a building of its own until 1935.

1876 -- The National League of Profession Baseball Leagues, better known today as the National League (or "Senior Circuit"), is formed in New York City.  It remains the world's oldest extant professional team sports league.

1887 -- With origins throughout Europe, the first Groundhog Day is observed in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania.

1922 -- Initially serialized in numerous portions by The Little Review from March 1918 to December 1920, the novel Ulysses by James Joyce is published in its entirety.  It is widely considered the greatest fictional work of the 20th century.

1967 -- The American Basketball Association (ABA) is founded.  Its freewheeling style over the league's 10-year existence led to, among other things, the slam dunk competition.  Several dozen players continued successful careers in the National Basketball Association when the two leagues merged in 1976.  Additionally four ABA teams joined the NBA, but its most dominant team -- the four-time champion Indiana Pacers -- have yet to win another title.

1974 -- The F-16 Fighting Falcon took flight for the first time.  Entering service for the U.S. Air Force five years later, the Falcon has been kicking enemy ass whenever and wherever it is called.