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Yao Ming is set to retire from the NBA, according to a Yahoo! Sports report. 

Yao played eight seasons in the NBA, but last year he only played in five games. So how much will the NBA miss him? 

The 30-year-old center won't be missed all that much. When he first entered the league the NBA loved having him. He helped the league expand in a global aspect, and nobody will ever forget that. 

However, Yao missed a huge amount of time throughout his career because of injuries. His first two seasons were the only years of his career that he played a full season.

Yao has been a non-factor in the league for years now because of injuries. It became a staple to guess how long Yao would last for the season.   

Rafer Alston, a point guard for the Rockets from 2005-09, told Adrian Wojnarowski that Yao could have been one of the best ever. 

If he was never injured, he would have been one of the greatest centers ever. You can’t guard him. You had to foul him. He’s 7-6, so he has a height advantage. He had the jump hook over the shoulder.

If he was healthy we would have gone far. He would have been one of the greatest centers of all-time if he was healthy.

He's right, Yao could have been the greatest centers to ever play the game. Standing at 7'6", 310-pounds, Yao was a dominant force in the NBA.

It's a shame injuries ruined his career. Is he a hall of famer? That is quite debatable. He did wonders for the game in his early years, but knee injuries halted his career. 

Altogether, Yao missed a total of 170 games in his career. Most people forgot about him last year, and they won't miss him that much next season. Well, if we even have a season next year that is.   

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A year ago today, LeBron James announced his decision at "The Decision". It changed the NBA in a huge way last season, and it could still have an affect on the future of the league.

July 8 will go down in history as the day LeBron did something ridiculously stupid. I'm not saying leaving Cleveland to play in Miami was a dumb move. Hello, the Heat made it to the NBA Finals this past season; it was a great idea for LeBron to team up with Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh.

What I am saying is that LeBron should regret doing "The Decision". Yes, he raised a lot of money for The Boys and Girls Club, which was a fantastic move on his part. But raising money for charity is something LeBron can do anytime of the year.

Holding an hour long special to tell the world were you're going to play basketball next season was way over the top. Fans were told in the first 15-20 minutes we would hear LeBron's choice, but they were forced to wait a half hour. They sat through painful and pointless television before they finally heard his decision.

Although he said he never would, LeBron left Cleveland to go ring chasing, and I can't blame him for that. The goal of every NBA player, let alone superstar, is to win a NBA Championship. LeBron tried to do so in Cleveland, but the Cavaliers never gave him the help he needed.

So LeBron went and found his own help. Judge him all you want for it, but it doesn't make him an evil person, nor does it make him less talented.

Wouldn't you want to be working with the best possible people so that you're always on top? That's exactly what LeBron did. Granted, they lost the finals, but everyone now knows that this team is a huge threat. 

My only beef is how LeBron handled things 365 days ago. A simple press conference would have been just fine, but a prime time nationally televised event was just ludicrous. 

"The Decision" is where most of the LeBron hate stemmed from, and it all could have been avoided. Of course Cleveland fans were going to despise LeBron no matter how he announced he was leaving, but the rest of the country wouldn't have bashed the man as much if he held a mid-day press conference stating he was leaving and then opening up for questions.

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Plaxico Burress is a free man, but he doesn't have home. The former New York Giant wants to return to the NFL, but the current lockout is preventing him from signing with a team. 

Despite not having played for two years, there are a few teams that will be vying for Burress' services next year. The team that Burress would love to play for is the Philadelphia Eagles, which would be the best fit for him. 

Burress was asked via Twitter how long it would take for him to sign with the Eagles once the lockout is over. His response: “As soon as they will have me!”

He could have been just making a fans day by tweeting back at them, but this is something to take note of. Athletes and celebrities are asked a ton of questions on Twitter everyday. They can't respond to all of course, but the nice ones try to do their best to answer as many questions as possible. 

Asked daily about where he'd like to play, Burress' first answer back happens to be about the Eagles. It's obvious that he wants to play for them, but will Philadelphia sign him? 

The New York Jets are another team that Burress has thought about, but it wouldn't be the right place for Burress. Yes, he might see more playing time and be a more featured player, but being back in New York is not where he needs to be.

He needs to start fresh somewhere else, and not in the same city that he was arrested in. With the Eagles he will be with a close friend in Michael Vick, as well as a position to catch a lot of touchdowns.

The Eagles need a red-zone target, and at 6'5" Burress would definitely give them that. The Eagles would give Burress a place to start anew and get his life turned around. If he wants to play there, then the Eagles need to make it happen.   

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Deron Williams has agreed in principal to a deal with Besiktas, a professional basketball team in Turkey. According to Chris Broussard the one-year deal is worth up to $5 million. 

So will other NBA stars follow suit and agree to play overseas should the NBA lockout ruin the coming season? Will players take the risk of playing internationally just to keep playing?

 Yahoo's Adrian Wojnarowski reports that Besiktas wants Kobe to team up with Williams. I doubt it will happen, but it shows that these international teams want the NBA stars to come play for them.  

What's interesting in the deal for Williams is that he will be paid by a mysterious team sponsor, according to Besiktas head coach Ergin Ataman. If these teams are capable of dropping big money left and right then it may entice stars to sign a deal. 

NBA players will be hesitant to join international teams right now, but if this lockout continues to last we may see more and more players agree to terms on a deal with a team from overseas. 

All of these players are going to want the same clause that Williams received. The Nets point guard is allowed to leave as soon as the lockout comes to a close. It was one of the major reason he agreed to the deal in the first place. 

These international teams know that they're taking a risk by bringing over the NBA players. At a moments notice the NBA guys could be gone, but at the same time they could be there for the entire season. 

Either way, NBA stars going overseas would make these international teams a good deal of money. It will be interesting to see if other players mimic Williams, and if they are able to get a similar deal.  

In the end, we won't see that many players agreeing to play overseas. It's too risky for some of these players, plus most wouldn't enjoy being away from the United States for an extended period of time.

Of course, all of this will change if the lockout pushes well into the winter months.  

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The NBA lockout has players looking for new work. There are threats that the lockout will ruin the coming NBA season, which is why a lot of players are heading overseas. 

Kobe Bryant is considering an exhibition tour in China, but now a team in Turkey is vying for the rights to one of the most talented players in the NBA. 

Besiktas, the Turkish team that landed Deron Williams, is hoping to acquire Kobe. Yahoo's Adrian Wojnarowski reports that Besiktas wants Kobe to team up with Williams. 

It's a huge longshot, but Kobe is one of the few American NBA players that actually likes life overseas, which helps Besiktas' chances.

Another thing that helps Besiktas is that Kobe has a mega  endorsement deal with Turkish Airlines. 

Besiktas head coach Ergin Ataman made his plea when he told the media that, "If Kobe doesn't want to miss a whole season if there's a lockout, and likes to live in one of Europe's greatest cities, in Istanbul, and wants to play with Deron Williams, why not?" 

Something that hinders Besiktas is that they wouldn't be able to pay Kobe all that much. It would give Kobe a chance to play at a professional level against good talent, but that's the only benefit Kobe would have. 

Of course playing with Williams would be great, but it doesn't benefit Kobe that much. If anything it would hurt him because he would adjust to playing with an elite point guard, which is something the Lakers don't happen. 

Kobe is coming off of a platelet-rich plasma therapy, according to an ESPNLosAngeles.com report. I doubt he would risk playing in Europe, but you never know. 

If it plans to play overseas at all it would benefit him more to play in the exhibition tour in China. He wouldn't have to play night in and night out, plus he would be paid much more.

In the end, Kobe won't be heading to Turkey because it's too risky. China is also risky, but it's his best bet if he really truly wants to play internationally.

Let's hope the NBA lockout doesn't ruin the season so the NBA stars never set foot in an overseas game.  

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Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Roy Williams has to be embarrassed. Everyone is busting his chops for proposing to former Miss Texas Brooke Daniels through the mail.

Williams sent a package to Daniels that contained $5,000 for bills, a baseball for her brother and a recorded marriage proposal with a $76,000 engagement ring.

Daniels of course turned Williams down because who the heck proposes through the mail? She kept the ring, which resulted in a lawsuit from Williams. After all, that's one expensive ring, which makes this story even crazier because he sent it thorough the mail. My question to Williams is, was it USPS, Fed Ex or UPS? 

To avoid any legal issues the holder of the ring, Daniel's father, returned the ring to Williams. He told reporters that, "I want to wash my hands of it. It's just a hassle. I'll take care of my daughter. I don't need him." 

By returning the ring, the lawsuit has now been cancelled. I really hope that Williams' friends, teammates, coaches, trainers, etc. all rip him for the entire 2011 season.

Williams has yet to speak about the incident, and you can't really blame him. His proposal was pathetic, and even non sports fans have judged Williams hard for it.

If Williams really truly loved Daniels enough to marry her then he would have met her in person to propose. Who knows, she might have actually said yes if Williams were sincere about the event. 

Proposing through the mail just says you don't really care. It happened around Valentines Day this past year, and which means the NFL was already in the offseason. A real man would have went to Daniels' house, dropped to one knee and asked for her hand in marriage. 

Williams doesn't deserve to get the engagement ring back because of this pitiful proposal. Anyone who knows Williams should make it their goal to make sure Williams never lives this down.  

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One year ago LeBron James made "The Decision" that changed the NBA. July 8th will go down in history as the infamous day LeBron announced that he would take his talents to South Beach, Miami. 

Several people hated that event and his decision, but a different sport could save July 8 from being a negative day in sports history.

If the NFL were to end the lockout today then July 8 would officially be known as "The Decision Day". Sports fans everywhere would rejoice that the NFL is back on, and that it would forever overshadow LeBron's decision.   

Unfortunately, the NFL lockout will not be ending today. The two sides continue to get closer to an agreement, but they are still apart on different issues. 

According to NFL analyst Chris Mortensen of ESPN, "It still is expected that negotiations will spill into early next week to achieve a "done deal". Even with progress, there are unresolved issues that require further negotiations."

The lockout must end next week or the 2011 NFL season is in jeopardy. I've predicted for quite some time now that July 14 will be the day the dreaded NFL lockout comes to a close. However, I would love to be wrong and have the lockout end as soon as possible.

The NFL owners continue their meetings with the NFLPA Friday, and hopefully they begin to finalize a new deal. Yesterday both sides were updated in the case of Tom Brady vs. the NFL, and today they will discuss the major details of the agreement. 

Both parties are steadfast in their needs and wants for a new deal, which is why this process has drawn out so long. They keep talking about how they want it to end, and with time running out you would think a new deal would soon be worked out. If the lockout isn't over by the end of next week then there are serious problems. 

It would be great if a new decision was announced on the one-year anniversary of "The Decision", but it's not going to happen.     

A Texas Rangers fan died Thursday after falling from the stands while reaching for a foul ball that was tossed by Josh Hamilton.

Shannon Stone, a 39-year-old firefighter, stretched out for a ball and fell 20 feet in the gap between the railing and the back of the scoreboard on the left-field fence. Everyone thought he was OK after landing head first on concrete because he looked OK when Rangers' officials took him to the hospital, but sadly he passed away.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Stone family, as well as Josh Hamilton and the Rangers. This was a tragic accident, and unfortunately it raises questions as to what the MLB will do in regards to throwing balls into the stands. 

Will MLB change its philosophy of players throwing balls into the stands? Will each stadium now close the gaps between the fence and stands?

The Rangers will more than likely do something to address what happened. Perhaps their will be some type of netting that would prevent anything like this from ever occurring again.

However, the MLB shouldn't tell players to stop throwing balls into the stands. The players love to interact with the fans. It's a special connection the two have, and not allowing them to toss balls in the stands would ruin that.

Every player will now certainly be more aware of where the throw the ball because of this, but this accident shouldn't end the relationship of players and fans.

Players will definitely think twice about a simple under arm toss to the stands. They will make sure that the ball they throw is well beyond the first row to avoid any problems.

As kids, all we wanted to do when attending a big league game was walk away from that stadium cheering a victory and holding an official baseball from the MLB.   

It's not easy to catch a foul ball or a home run ball. The player tossing a ball into the stands is how most kids get that official MLB baseball. The league cannot take that away. 

You have to feel for Josh Hamilton here though. I sincerely hope he doesn't beat himself up over this because it was simply a terrible accident. It was a very sad event, but Hamilton must move on and press forward.

The MLB is dealing with heartbreaking news, but they won't take away the connection that the fans and players share. 

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Shannon Stone has been identified as the Texas Rangers fan who died after falling from the stands while reaching for a foul ball that was tossed by Josh Hamilton.

The fan stretched too far and fell 20 feet landing on his head. He was still conscious when the Rangers took him to the hospital, but sadly he passed away.

Stone was a 39-year-old firefighter from Brownwood, City, which is about 150 miles southwest of Arlington. He was at the game with his young son, who unfortunately witnessed the accident. 

Rangers' team president Nolan Ryan issued a statement that expressed the feelings of the entire team. Per ESPN: 

We are deeply saddened to learn that the man who fell has passed away as a result of this tragic accident, Rangers president/CEO Nolan Ryan said in a statement. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.

Nobody knew Stone had passed away until after the game. Hamilton is fine according to Rangers' Manager Ron Washington, but you know deep down this hurts him. 

In no way is Hamilton responsible for what happened, but it's still a terrible thing to happen. Nolan Ryan added that, "Josh is very distraught over this as the entire team is, [we're] very heavy-hearted about this.

The news of Stone's death hit everyone hard, especially because he was seen talking and moving his arms around while on the stretcher. Stone's main concern was making sure his son would be OK. Nobody thought he was going to die, which is why once they found out everyone was visibly upset. 

The Rangers will no doubt pay respect to Stone and his family. It was a tragic accident and our thoughts and prayers go out to all those involved. You wouldn't wish this on anyone. 

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Derek Jeter is now two hits shy of becoming the first New York Yankee with 3,000 hits.

I predicted that Friday July 8 would be the night he reaches this milestone, but after poor showing Thursday night you can tell the pressure is getting to him. Is he a major distraction to the team at this point? 

Because of his struggles, one has to wonder if the Yankees will continue to keep Jeter in the leadoff spot? He went 1-for-5 last night, with his only hit coming in the first inning.

Perhaps the shortstop got a little cocky knowing he was 5-for-9 in his career against Jeff Niemann. Or when he hit a double to start the game for the Yankees he thought tonight was his night to end the race for 3,000. 

Per ESPN:

I'd be lying to you if I didn't think it was attainable today. Early on, I thought I was going to get a few but it wasn't the case.

After the game, [my teammates] said get a couple of hits [Friday]. 

I knew last night Jeter wasn't going to hit No. 3,000. He hadn't had three or more hits in a game since early May. 

His quest for 3,000 is hurting this team, and they will all be glad when it's over sometime this weekend. There's no doubt that Jeter will achieve his dream of 3,000 before the All-Star break.

However, at what cost will it come to the Yankees. They lost to the Tampa Bay Rays last night 5-1. Jeter's woes are greatly affecting this team, and it's time the Yankees think about moving him from the leadoff spot.

The Yankees did have the American League East division lead, but the loss last night put the Boston Red Sox in first place. Jeter had five chances last night, and he blew it. 

I still believe that tonight is his night, but even after he surpasses 3,000 hits, if Jeter continues to struggle in the leadoff role then changes must be made for the long haul of the season. 

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Alex Rodriguez was voted to his 14th MLB All-Star Game, but according to the New York Post he may be skipping out on this year's mid-summer classic. 

Rodriguez tweaked his knee on June 19 trying to get back to third base. He told the post that. "It's getting better." However, he is contemplating whether or not to use the All-Star break as an actual break. 

It would be wise for Rodriguez to rest up and make sure he is fully healthy for the second half of the season. The Yankees are currently in first place, but they have only a half game lead over the Boston Red Sox. 

New York and Boston will be in a tight race in the coming months, and the Yankees can't afford to lose Rodriguez. If he pushes himself too much then it will come back to haunt him. 

However, if he chooses to rest during the break, then some fans may not take lightly to that. After all, the fans love to see the big stars at the All-Star game, and no A-Rod would be a let down.

He'll still be in Arizona, but the fans would want to see him play. It's not every day you can say you saw the biggest stars of the game play together.   

That would be a bit childish for fans to get upset, but there are people like that in our society. You can't hate a man for wanting to get healthy. 

A-Rod is definitely deserving of the starting job on the All-Star team. He is hitting .299 with 13 home runs and 52 RBI. If he decides to skip the game then Adrain Beltre will get the start. Beltre has already made the team, but naturally Rodriguez received more votes.  

Rodriguez would lose his roster spot, and the smart thing to do would be to add another third baseman. The American League team would then bring in Kevin Youkilis of Boston or Mark Reynolds of Baltimore. Both have a lot of power and are capable of playing on either side of the corner.

Rodriguez may decide to play once he gets to Arizona, or he can chose to relax and just enjoy the mini vacation. In the end, this smart decision would be to not put much pressure on the ailing knee. 

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A doctor previously linked to Tiger Woods has accepted a plea deal in relation to a number of charges pertaining to his illegal practice of medicine in the United States.

How do you think the public would respond if news broke that Tiger was given performance enhancing drugs from this doctor?  

Anthony Galea treated multiple athletes without a license to do so from the years of 2007 to 2009. "He was accused of bringing the drugs into the country while lying to border patrol officials about the nature of the drugs, his destination and intent" according to Pro Golf Talk.

Galea treated Tiger in 2008 after he suffered an ACL injury. He has always denied that Galea injected him with an illegal substance, and the therapy was just platelet rich therapy, also known as blood spinning.    

Tiger's career has been through a whirlwind over the past year. His image took a major hit because of the sex scandal, and he has been trying to fix it ever since.

It would be very difficult for Tiger to comeback if he were found guilty of using PEDs. The media and the fans would rip Tiger apart for it.

A lot of it would depend on when Tiger actually started using PEDs because if it were in the late 2000's then it's not that big of a deal. Tiger was so dominant in his early years, and if he were using PED's during that time then his career would be tarnished.

Either way, Tiger's image would be destroyed. One of the greatest to ever play the game would have so much hate thrown his way. 

However, how much would HGH or other PEDs really help a golfer? Sure he would have the power to drive the ball further, but it wouldn't help him in pressure putting moments. 

If you have ever played golf then you know how difficult it can be. Have you ever thought, "Man some HGH would really make be crush my opponents."? 

Putting a golf ball is no easy task, and while you might be able to focus better, it doesn't boost your skill to line up the shot correctly and hit the ball just right. 

The public would demean Tiger for using, and his image would be damaged forever. 

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Deron Williams has agreed in principal to play for Besiktas, a pro basketball team in Turkey.

Sources have told ESPN that Williams will play in Turkey in the fall if the NBA lockout is still taking place. Is this a smart move for Williams or is took risky? 

It's a risky move for Williams, but it's not dumb. The New Jersey Nets point guard wants to stay fresh and play at a professional level if the NBA lockout ruins the season. 

There is a clause in the contract that allows Williams to leave Besiktas should the lockout end. That was the main reason Williams agreed to the deal. Obviously he wants to play in the NBA, but this lockout has forced him to look elsewhere for work. 

Williams can't practice at any facilities because of the lockout, but by agreeing to play in Turkey he has a place and team to work out with. 

It's understandable that Williams doesn't want to just sit around during the lockout. It's one thing to workout at a gym with a few other locked out players, but it's much better to have the chance to compete at a high level of basketball.

Williams runs the risk of losing a lot of money if he is injured overseas. If he were to get hurt then the Nets have the right to drop Williams' guaranteed money. Remember that Williams is recovering from a wrist injury that shortened his season last year.

However, Williams is a competitor, and that's why there is nothing wrong with him playing in Turkey. You can't deny a player of wanting to play. The NBA is currently doing that, which is why multiple players are looking to Europe and Asia to play basketball.

Williams is the first big star to head overseas for next season. Will other players follow suit? Will Williams really even play in Turkey? 

It's possible this is just a big bluff to the NBA, but then again Williams could be dead serious. In time we'll know where all of this goes. One thing we know for sure is that the NBA lockout is far from ending. 

Jeff Gross/Getty Images

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Roy Williams is not a bright man. He proposed to a girl by mail, and is upset the woman turned him down and kept the ring. 

Williams is suing former Miss Texas Brooke Daniels over a $76,000 engagement ring. But there's a back-story to this lawsuit that shows how much of a man Williams truly is.

According to the Odessa American: 

In an affidavit signed by Williams, he claims he sent $5,000 for school and dental bills, a baseball for Daniels' brother and -- as a surprise -- a recorded marriage proposal with the ring through the mail just before Valentine's Day to Daniels. However, when Daniels declined the proposal, she did not return the ring. 

Currently Daniels father Michael Daniels holds the ring. He says that he will return the ring to avoid the legal hassles, but in reality Williams should never see that ring again.

Who proposes to a woman on a voice recorder through the mail? Who even puts a $76,000 ring in the mail in the first place? Roy Williams did, that's who. 

He was surprised Daniels shot his proposal down, which is ridiculous because it proposed to her through the mail! If Williams were a real man and actually loved Daniels then he would have met her in person to give her everything, as well as drop down on one knee an ask her to marry him.

Daniels still could have turned him down then, but then Williams would have been spared the embarrassment of proposing through the mail.

How Williams ever thought proposing through the mail was a good idea is beyond me. Williams doesn't deserve the ring because of how dumb this idea was. If he truly thought Daniels would say yes after a voice recording of Williams asked her to marry him then he needs to be checked out for insanity. 

You can't blame Williams for wanting the ring back because he spent so much money on it, but because of his weak and cowardly proposal he should never see the ring again. 

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Phil Mickelson knows how good Tiger Woods is, and he doesn't believe Tiger will struggle whenever he returns.

Tiger may be out with multiple injuries, but once he is able to play again golfers will still view him as a contender. Golfers don't fear Tiger anymore, but they do know that he is one of the biggest competitors out there, which means when he hits the course he'll be giving it his all.

Evidence of this is whenever golfers decide to weigh in on Tiger. Mickelson is the latest to do so, and he told reporters that when Tiger returns he will ready to compete. Per Pro Golf Talk:

When you play golf at the level he’s played it, you just don’t forget. He’s going to get back to a level that is close to where he was at, if not where he was at.

However, Mickelson knows that Tiger has to wait in order to get back to form. Recovering from a knee injury plus an Achilles injury takes awhile. Mickelson believes that Tiger is making the right move in skipping tournaments to rest up. 

[Winning] won’t happen until he’s healthy, I just don’t see how it’s possible until he’s fully healthy. Waiting however long it takes is going to be a real plus in the long run, and ultimately I believe he’ll get back to where he was at.

The lefty golfer is spot on here, because he knows first hand how good Tiger is. Because it's been almost forever since Tiger won anything, people forget how truly dominate he was. Tiger would crush his opponents, but that is something we haven't seen in awhile. 

The time away from the game is doing wonders for Tiger's future. Rarely did Tiger ever take time off to heal his woes, but by following doctors orders to not play Tiger is making it possible to play well into his 40's. 

He may not have hit golf balls in awhile, but Tiger isn't just going to forget something he has spent his whole life working on. Tiger will be loose and fun the day that he comes back to compete simply because he just hasn't played his favorite spot in so long. 

Of course he will be under a great amount of pressure, but Tiger will brush it aside and focus on golf. He may not win the day he returns to the game, but just because he's been injured it doesn't mean Tiger has turned into a non-threat golfer.