Steve & Barry’s to pay Venus Williams $250,000. Venus Williams will get $250,000 from the bankrupt Steve & Barry’s LLC apparel chain under terms of her clothing line contract. Williams’ Eleven designs were licensed with Steve & Barry’s, but the company hopes to sell itself at an auction this month. A bankruptcy court has determined that the corporation can pay Williams who’s expected to wear the apparel while competing in the Olympics, just as she wore the designs while winning her recent Wimbledon title. Judge Allan Gropper determined the settlement. NBA player Ben Wallace is also owed cash by the company.

Joint NFL practice results in scrap between players.

Titans, Rams have pre-season skirmish. Tennessee Titans and St. Louis Rams players are starting their rivalry in the pre-season. The teams had a scrap Wednesday during a joint practice after Rams receiver Reche Caldwell reportedly grabbed cornerback Cortland Finnegan and threw him to the ground. The teams have a history of tense, joint practices dating back to 2000. Two more plays during the practice found Rams and Titans lashing out at each other on the St. Louis field. But receiver Torry Holt calls it a healthy sign: “After a while, it kind of got excessive as far as the banging and guys trying us. We needed that. That’s something we’re trying to build on is…our mental toughness.” No one was hurt in the skirmishes.

Celtics will face Lakers on ABC. The NBA has announced its highly rated Christmas Day game schedule. Of five contests, the highlight ABC broadcast will be a rematch between the defending champ Boston Celtics and the team they defeated for the title in June, Los Angeles. The Lakers will try and redeem themselves for the beating they took against Boston in one of the most traditionally fierce championship rivalries. Maybe Kobe can play well enough to keep Shaq from performing another freestyle.

Paul Pierce thinks he’s a better player than MVP Kobe Bryant.

Boston Celtics forward Paul Pierce feels that he, not Kobe Bryant, is the best player in the NBA. Is Pierce out of his mind or is he indeed better than the reigning MVP? Get answers at Playa Hater.

Boston’s renewed NBA rivalry with Los Angeles stirred excitement among more than just the players and fans who filled both arenas. The ABC network reports that the Celtics’ blowout of LA this week earned a 10.7 viewer rating, the highest TV response since Indiana’s 2000 finals game six against the Lakers. Last year’s entire series between the Spurs and Cavaliers averaged only a 6.2. Ratings are based on the total percentage of homes with TVs tuned-in to a specific program.

Miami’s Jason Taylor sought by Green Bay. The Green Bay Packers reportedly have been checking on Miami Dolphin Jason Taylor’s availability. Despite Taylor’s having said he’s willing to play in Miami this coming season, The Green Bay Press-Gazette and Milwaukee Journal Sentinel newspapers relay that queries have been made on the defensive end. The Dolphins won’t comment, but it’s reported that they may be willing to deal the recent “Dancing With the Stars” contestant for a second-round draft pick. Following his “Dancing” debut, Taylor has said he’s considering an acting career.

Barkley to participate in poker tournament. Charles Barkley, who claimed he was giving up gambling, will participate in a celebrity poker tournament at the 2008 World Series of Poker. Where are the proceeds going? Read more at Playa Hater.

NBA champions plan to celebrate in Beantown today.

The NBA champion Boston Celtics will receive a formal fan celebration today at 11 a.m. Players from the 2008 squad that crushed the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 6 of the finals Tuesday night will appear on 16 World War II amphibious “duck boats” in a rolling rally through downtown. Former Celtics greats, team dancers and championship trophies from Boston ’s previous glory years will ride on two flatbed trucks. Boston is celebrating its first NBA title in two decades.

A-Rod first got advice from Cincinnati Reds great back in ’06

Alex Rodriguez and retired baseball great Pete Rose have shared a running dialogue about hitting for more than two years. Since their first meeting in January 2006 – when A-Rod asked Rose, “How’d you get all them hits?” – the pair reportedly has formed an unlikely bond. Rose says he told A-Rod that he got 4,256 career hits without watching a single frame of film. The Cincinnati great claims that he remembered every pitch ever thrown his way, while Rodriguez has relied on the wonders of technology to perfect his batting. Yankees star A-Rod remains among the top hitters in the Major Leagues.

Bengals’ Johnson expects quick recovery from procedure

After keeping teammates and coaching staff guessing about his plans for the season, following trade talk, Chad Johnson’s disappearing again. But this time it’s for ankle surgery. The Bengals star will undergo the procedure before Cincinnati ’s camp begins next month. He’s expected to report on time, following a full recovery.

Boston wins its 17th NBA championship by defeating Kobe’s L.A.
The Boston Celtics destroyed the Los Angeles Lakers 131-92 in Game 6 of the NBA Finals to capture their league-high 17th NBA championship. Why did the Lakers fail to show up? Playa Hater has the blow by blow.