Will an NBA superstar give it all up for Greece?

Three years, $60 million. Could it be enough to send one of the NBA’s marquee players packing for Europe? A New York Times article announcing that the Greek organization Olympiacos plans to fish for American free agents has led to rumors that Kobe Bryant is among those who might hit the hardwood overseas. But the Lakers star is still under contract for the rest of this year. He could opt out of and test the market by next summer, but best guesses have it that he’ll re-sign with the L.A.James Blake loses for fifth time in Spain. After five appearances at the Madrid Masters, James Blake’s luck is unchanged. The tennis phenom is 0-5 after his latest appearance in the Spanish tournament and loss Tuesday to Gilles Simon. Simon won 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 to send Blake home for the remainder of the competition.

NBA team makes magic for Wish Foundation youth. Five children suffering from various illnesses recently rode aboard the Detroit Pistons’ jet Roundball One with a special destination. The youth, who are affiliated with the Make A Wish Foundation that caters to children with often terminal afflictions, were treated to a Disney World Trip. Pistons center Kwame Brown played the main host to the children, though he admitted to chickening out of taking some of the amusement rides. Parents accompanying the youth expressed gratitude, some tearfully, for the team’s kindness in providing the experience.

Tigers slugger remains shy of 500 home runs. The Detroit Tigers recent loss to the Tampa Bay Rays leaves its star hitter in limbo. Gary Sheffield had hoped to break 500 career home runs this season. But after failing to nail one versus Tampa in the Rays’ 8-7 victory, he’ll have to settle for 499. The outspoken designated hitter lost time at bat this season due to suspension. He did, however, manage to hit the 250,000^th homer in Major League history.

NBA player is latest athlete to face housing market struggle

Denver Nuggets guard Allen Iverson is offering a $1 million break on his Villanova, Pa., home. The 14,000-square-footer has six bedrooms, his-and-hers marble bathrooms, a 12-seat movie theater, pool house and four-acres of land. But after at least a year on the market, Iverson and his wife, who bought the house together in 2003, have generated little interest. The price is down to $3.9 million. So get out those checkbooks.

Coach says Ed Johnson won’t play this week, following incident

Super Bowl-winning coach Tony Dungy (above) says the Colts’ Ed Johnson won’t suit-up this week following Johnson’s drug arrest early Wednesday. Cops say Johnson was pulled over for speeding in Indianapolis about 1 a.m. and was later charged with marijuana possession. The lineman was released on bond from the Hamilton County Jail. Team management says the incident will be further investigated to determine if any action is taken. The NFL says the matter will also be reviewed under the league’s substance abuse policy.

Puncher hit with claim of contract violation. At this rate, Floyd “Money” Mayweather could wind up known as Floyd “Need A Loan” Mayweather. First, he had $7 million in jewels stolen from his house and now he’s the target of a lawsuit. A Florida real estate dealer says the boxing standout wiggled away from an $8 million property purchase after signing a contract stating that his company put $1.7 million into escrow toward the buy. But the developer claims Mayweather never properly established the account before trying to move into the spot. Mayweather’s being sued for damages and costs associated with the seller’s having taken the property off the market.

Pro sports agent is suspended for a year

The NBA Player’s Association’s disciplinary committee has suspended a sports agent for one year. Calvin Andrews faces the punishment in connection with unspecified improprieties for recruiting former USC baller O.J. Mayo. Mayo has been the subject of media attention connected with alleged violations he may have committed while playing hoops at the Cali college.

Devean George to remain with Mavs. After briefly making himself unpopular last season, small forward Devean George will make Dallas his NBA home for two more years. George has agreed to a $4 million extension with the team after he refused to be included in a February trade to bring Jason Kidd from New Jersey to the Mavs. The deal was re-worked, but cost team owner Mark Cuban an additional $11 million. George, 30, cited a little-known NBA rule that let him stay in Dallas because of his, at the time, one-year contract. Fan resentment toward him eventually subsided. George won a championship ring with the Lakers in each of his first three years as a pro.

Umpires want re-vote on replay. Major League Baseball and the World Umpires Association aren’t seeing eye to eye – possibly the problem to begin with – on instant replay. Already, replay monitoring equipment is being installed away from the field in nearly every major ballpark, but umps say the league wants to limit the number of officials who can review monitors. The Umpires Association voted this week to boycott a conference call with league administrators. But the administrators say they canceled the call because the union doesn’t have an agreement to discuss the policy. “A lot of the procedural issues necessary for instant replay to be implemented need to be worked out,” World Umpires Association spokesman Lamell McMorris says. “Major League Baseball needs to step up to the plate and iron out these issues.”

Troubled Bengal is close to return

Despite a four-game suspension and five arrests in three years, the Cincinnati Bengals are close to signing a deal that would reunite them with wide receiver Chris Henry. Why the sudden interest in Henry? For answers, go to Playa Hater.

USA enters hoops quarter-finals Wednesday. The USA men’s basketball squad begins its final chase for gold medals tomorrow at the Beijing Olympics. Having beaten Germany this week, the American “Redeem Team” takes on Australia. Quarter-finals begin the determination of which remaining teams will receive bronze, silver or gold medals in the elimination match-ups. Team member LeBron James, who scored 18 points in the win over Germany, has guaranteed a gold for the USA.

Shawn Kemp to ball overseas. Former NBA scoring threat Shawn Kemp has announced that he’ll play in Italy beginning in November. “I am happy that a player that has made basketball history would come to Montegranaro,” says coach Alessandro Finelli, of team Pemiata Montegranaro. Kemp, 38, played most of his NBA career with Seattle , averaging 14.6 points and 8.4 rebounds over 14 total seasons. He last played in the NBA in 2003

Golf star gains Forbes magazine’s No. 1 rank.

Golf star Tiger Woods tops all takers in earnings from June 1, 2007 to June 1, 2008, according to Forbes magazine. Woods pulled down $115 million in competition earnings and endorsements, making him the top-paid pro player in the world. Others making the men’s top-earner list include retired NBA star Michael Jordan, who heads the Charlotte Bobcats, banked $45 million over 12 months, still snatching checks from his Nike brand endorsements. Male athletes out-earned female athletes by a collective $483 million compared with the women’s $118 million, according to Forbes.

Opening Olympics ceremonies begin today. It’s not only D. Wade, Kobe and King James who’ll hold court at the Beijing Olympics, which host opening ceremonies today. Elite Black athletes will compete in sports as diverse as track and swimming. The Williams family’s presence will be felt in women’s tennis, as Black stars appear among 11,000 athletes from 205 nations. You can follow BET.com to see who’s a contender and who brings home the gold.

Expansion team’s choice appears to be Thunder. The former Seattle Supersonics has apparently become the Oklahoma Thunder. But the new franchise’s name appeared on the Web without an official NBA announcement. Not long after the “Thunder” leak surfaced, the nickname was removed from the league’s site. Last month, the NBA had included Thunder among its potential choices after the city of Seattle let the team go to Oklahoma over complications with an arena lease.

The NBA referee who admitted to taking thousands of dollars in payoffs from a professional gambler has been sentenced to 15 months in prison.  Donaghy’s 13-year career with the league came to an abrupt end and shortly after the revelations came news that his wife of 12 years had filed for divorce. Two of Donaghy’s associates were sentenced last week. James Battista, a professional gambler who paid for Donaghy’s tips, received 15 months in prison. Thomas Martino, who was the middleman in the scheme, was sentenced to one year and one day. Get more at Playa Hater.

NBA stars prepare for international play
The U.S. men’s basketball team has reached China and has begun preparing for the Olympic Games next month. The United States players are “trying to be very confident, but that doesn’t mean overconfident,” says Coach Mike Krzyzewski. “We don’t have nothing to be complacent about. We haven’t accomplished anything yet.” LeBron James, who practiced with a taped right ankle, having sprained it last week, joined the squad in Macau, China on Monday. “Every time we step onto the court, we know we have the talent and we know we have the strength to go out and be the best team on the court,” James says. “The chemistry right now is really good.” James guarantees a gold medal for the USA in a Time magazine interview. The United States players will face China in their first contest Aug. 10.

Commissioner clears Buffalo Bills starter on hit-run
Buffalo’s Marshawn Lynch won’t be disciplined for any violations of the player code of conduct connected to a hit-and-run. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has announced the decision, following Lynch’s recent suspension of his license for the spring incident. Investigators waited weeks for the player to submit himself to police for questioning after Lynch struck a pedestrian in downtown Buffalo. The woman was bruised and treated at a hospital for her injuries. Lynch eventually told a court that he’d just avoided hitting another person with his SUV and didn’t realize he’d struck anyone. Cops were unsure whether Lynch had been driving on the night of the accident, but found his vehicle damaged and parked at his home hours later.

NBA star gives big bucks to Obama
Cleveland Cavaliers star LeBron James donated $20,000 to Barack Obama’s Presidential campaign. What would the response have been if LeBron had donated to John McCain instead? Read more at Playa Hater.

NBA star tells Time US will win

In a recent issue of Time magazine, LeBron James guarantees that the USA will return to its past Olympics glory at the coming Beijing games. Comparing the anticipated thrill of taking the gold medal to opening gifts at Christmas, the NBA star is asked if he’s promising the top prize. “Absolutely,” James states twice. The Cleveland Cavaliers star sat out last Friday’s practice game with a sprained ankle, but he is expected to recover in time for the China competitions. The USA hasn’t taken gold in men’s basketball at the Olympics since 2000.

Kardashian expects proposal from Reggie Bush

The most recognizable, non-Black Hollywood personality who’s still known for her special physical assets says she expects an eventual proposal of marriage from NFL star Reggie Bush. Kim Kardashian tells an LA radio show hosted by “American Idol’s” Ryan Seacrest that she’s preparing for a wedding to Bush, who’s been dating her for about a year, though they’re not yet engaged. She’s planning ahead, she says, so that “whenever I get asked, there won’t be any drama.” Wonder if Reg knows he’s going to be asking.

New NBA franchise will choose from six options. The team formerly known as the Seattle SuperSonics has moved to Oklahoma City and needs a new ID. The NBA has filed for trademark rights to six nicknames for the Oklahoma City franchise: Barons, Bison, Energy, Marshalls , Thunder and Wind. The NBA and the team have refused to discuss possible new names publicly, until an official announcement is made. The league assigned Oklahoma City the former Seattle franchise that has boasted superstars such as Shawn Kemp and Ray Allen, after a court case resulted in the Sonics’ release from their agreement with Seattle ’s KeyArena.