Episode 67: Wrap it up

It's the final NER episode of 2011! And in the spirit of the holidays, the guys argue. About almost everything. Including the merits of multiple sequels and the continued watchability of the Kardashian family. Happy Holidays, y'all.

Episode 66: Swap Meets

This week on New Era Radio...Cacique has the best sports weekend ever, the guys talk with Adam Watson of The Postgame about David Stern's crumbling NBA empire and figure out which woman on TV they would most want to marry.

Episode 65: Iced Out

In a new episode of NER...the guys celebrate Repeal Day, rail against the BCS, argue who should win the Heisman and try to figure out which album is The Roots' best.

Episode 64: Fire

In a new episode of NER...the guys relive Thanksgiving, discuss the end of the lockout, determine the future of Matt Barkley and come up with cures for swamp crotch.

Episode 63: Family Affair

On another edition of New Era Radio, Marcas magically appears from Parts Unknown (aka, he's on the telephone) while the guys talk college football and what they're thankful for this year.

Episode 62: Dark clouds

A new episode of NER finds the guys talking NBA lockout with Chris Haynes of CSN Northwest, trying to make some sense of the latest with Jerry Sandusky and Penn State and Cacique finds a silver lining in the Giants losing to Marcas' 49ers.

Episode 61: Final Verdicts

A new episode of NER, the guys discuss the sickening allegations at Penn State, tamp down the hype of The Game of the Century (LSU-Alabama); figure out why people still hate Mike Vick and remember where we were when we learned Magic Johnson had AIDS.

Episode 60: Fright Night

On another episode of NER... the guys have dud Halloweens, what exactly does Phil Simms have against Andrew Luck and we all knew this Kim Kardashian marriage wasn't going to last...right?

Episode 59: All the hits

It's a new episode of New Era Radio...World Series Game 6, Ron Washington and David "Effing" Freese are top of mind. But the guys also get into college football, the NFL and chat it up with Nufsed about his new single with Akon.

Episode 58: Costume change

On the latest NER...we talk old quarterbacks in new places and check in again with Jerald Smith of Gentlemen Republic about their Halloween event.

Episode 57: Fightin' Words

On the latest New Era Radio, we take a look at the *ahem* disagreement between Jim Harbaugh and Jim Schwartz, examine "Prince" Vince Young's (very brief) turn under center and throw down a poetry slam with Simeon Carson.

Episode 56: Righting the wrongs

On a new episode of NER... Cacique's Honda gives him the blues, so the Guy on the Couch steps in. We talk NBA lockout with Chris Haynes, get fired up over the 49ers and ask if you'd let this masked man save you from crime.

Episode 54: According to who

It's another episode of NER...this time the guys lament their Fantasy Football faux pas, wonder what Jim Belushi has in common with the quarterback of the New York Giants. And we talk Major League Baseball with James Allen of AM 830.

Episode 53: Don't sleep

On the new edition of New Era Radio... Marcas just wants guys to play the right way, baseball's greatest night ever, and an interview with Clipper Darrell on his Sleep-in at Staples.

Episode 52: Game Changer

The latest edition of New Era Radio finds the NERDs talking up early Heisman frontrunners, while Marcas avoids the issue of USC's flameout in Tempe. And Michael Jordan has found love again (good lookin' out, MJ.

Episode 51: Fighting Words

On a new episode of NER, the guys talk about why Floyd Mayweather haters hate Floyd Mayweather; handicap the early leaders in the Andrew Luck Derby and break down the Ray-J/Fabolous beef. No, seriously.

Episode 50: The Gang's All Here

It's the 50th episode of New Era Radio and we've got a full house! We talk wine and The Honor System; Is the Mike Vick Redemption Tour almost over? How much longer can Joe Paterno go? And how much of this woman would you like to see?

Episode 49: I Wanna Be Your Superhero

On a new episode of New Era Radio...the boys say a bittersweet goodbye to Entourage (for now); It's QBs Gone Wild in Week 1 of the NFL season and lots of (talking about) nudity!

Episode 48: The Naked Truth

Now on NER... The NFL is back! We talk about Peyton Manning's neck, Arian Foster's hammy and fantasy football drafting. Plus...how is porn a billion dollar business when you can find so much of it for free?

Episode 47: Lace 'em up

On the latest edition of NER...College Football is back! The guys break down the big games from the first weekend while Marcas puts on his Grumpy Old Man face for conference re-alignment

Episode 46: You are who you are

Put this episode in your earholes... Was Jerry Richardson's request to Cam Newton racially based? Or is he just a grumpy old man? Why are so many people taking shots at Jay-Z right now? And would you let your daughter dress up like Nicki Minaj for Halloween?

Episode 45: Bustin' Loose

On the latest episode of New Era Radio... Cacique's wild bus ride! The guys break down Terrelle Pryor v. Tim Tebow. Plus, they help you with your fantasy draft (when they stop arguing) and wonder if anyone will ever notice that Lil Wayne busted his face.

Episode 44: Popular Uprising

On another episode of New Era Radio... Cacique tries to shake off a crazy weekend. Let's all (sorta) rejoice...NFL (preseason) is back! Strange things are afoot at The U. And The Game gives the sheriff a crash course in crime-fighting.

Episode 43: Spread Your Wings

The NERD's talk about their weekend field trip; Marcas finally watches Jersey Shore; Who should Kimbo Slice fight next? And what did Soulja Boy spend $55 million on?

Episode 42: Kick Push

On the latest show...Marcas asks out of the lineup and Pascual Allen sits in. Is Tim Tebow good for the NFL...and vice versa? And the guys talk with Theotis Beasley (left), who could be skateboarding's next big star.

Episode 41: That Was Then

NER's going to two-a-days weeks! On Monday's show, Pasqual Allen from the Maloof Money Cup sits in with the guys; Is Randy Moss in the all-time Top Five of receivers? Which former NBA player is adding marijuana to his diet? And remember when MTV still showed videos?

Episode 40: Beats, Rhymes & Fights

This week on NER... the NFL lockout is over and chaos has ensued (the good kind); we talk MLB trades with Larry Brown of Larry Brown Sports and "what is more embarrassing than being taken down by Alex Trebek?"

Episode 39: Outsiders

On another edition of New Era Radio... Marcas laments the end of Carmageddon; Marc Tyler puts his foot in his mouth in a big way; Mychal Simonz stops by to talk about bridging the gap from smooth jazz to hip-hop; Oh and the NFL is maybe, sorta, almost back.

Episode 38: Strengths and Weaknesses

On another episode of New Era Radio... Marcas prepares for CARMAGEDDON; the guys find out what it's like to work security for Shaq; the biggest problem with James Harrison's Men's Journal interview; and Cacique's Planet of the Apes fascination.

Episode 37: The Big Picture

On another exciting episode of New Era Radio... don't be so quick to condemn the Casey Anthony jury; some of the funniest movies of the past decades; the folly of the MLB All-Star Game and why Roy Williams deserves a kick in the head.

Episode 36: Bringing It Back

This week on New Era Radio...Cacique states his case for the Sex Olympics; Marcas is tired of lawyers ruining his sports, Don Good from BBM Bookings talks life with celebs...and TUPAC'S BACK!!!

Radio host sues L.A. Angels for racial discrimination

Looks like lawsuits aren't just for the Dodgers.

Dave Smith, a radio host who previously worked for the Los Angeles Angels is now suing his former employer for discrimination, saying he was dismissed for racial reasons.

In a complaint filed in California Superior Court earlier this month, David Smith alleged that the Angels Baseball Foundation rigged a singles promotion to ensure a black woman did not win and that Angels employees regularly made racist remarks. 

Smith claimed that the Angels did not allow another employee on a radio show because he sounded "too black" and "too ghetto" for an Orange County audience. His complaint also stated that co-workers said negative results were to be "expected when a Jew is hired as baseball's commissioner."

Smith was a show host and handled duties on the Angels' pre-game show until he was let go in 2009. If the case goes forward, it will be interesting to see what evidence is brought forth, but it's worth noting that the Angels are owned by Arte Moreno, who became the first Hispanic to own a major sports franchise in the United States. They also employ Tony Reagins, who is black, as their general manager. That doesn't mean that it's impossible that there were instances of racial discrimination within the organization. But as Elgin Baylor recently learned, proving it can be an uphill climb.

NBA.com goes basic after the lockout

Just in case you've been under a rock or in a coma for the past few days, the NBA lockout began at 12:01 a.m. Eastern time on Friday morning. As such, league front office people aren't allowed to talk to anyone that isn't related to them for fear of catching a $1 million fine from David Stern. Apparently that also means that the league itself isn't allowed to acknowledge that NBA players even exist. As of midnight, the league's website erased nearly all mentions of any actual basketball playing male athletes and instead replaced it with "NBA Website 1.0".

Looking like something that was made after a quick read of "Websites for Dummies", this new NBA.com features a few stories on the lockout and what it means for the league paired with stories of the WNBA. If you thought that the NFL cornered the market on pettiness during the initial stages of their lockout, get ready. This promises to take petty to a whole new level. At least NFL.com still runs feature stories about what its athletes are up to. However, in Stern's world, if you're not with him, you're against him. And if you're against him, you may as well be dead to him.

The NBA...where cold blooded happens.

Dodgers bounce paychecks after bankruptcy filing

It appears that the Dodgers bankruptcy has already had a financial effect on the team. KTLA.com is reporting that some employees had their paychecks bounce.

In the wake of the Dodgers' bankruptcy filing, some paychecks issued to the team's employees bounced, according to spokesman Josh Rawitch.

It's not clear how many employees were affected. 

Rawitch said that the team's accounts were frozen for 48 hours after the filing.

He added that all the employees who were affected have been issued new checks. The team is also picking up any bank fees incurred from the bounced checks.

When it's come to the issue of making payroll, everyone has focused on whether the guys on the field are going to get their paychecks. But in reality, there's little reason to worry about Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier or even Manny Ramirez in the short term. However the livelihood of some of the day-to-day administrative people is another situation.

All in all, it's just another black eye in the long running saga of Frank McCourt. And it doesn't look like it's close to being over with a Delaware judge scheduling bankruptcy hearings into next January. Right now, McCourt doesn't have a whole lot of allies and if he's having trouble keeping his commitments to the folks actually running the organization, it's another reason that he needs to get out of the baseball business.

New hats can show that you're (upside) down with the Lakers and Heat

Do not adjust your computer. This is not Photoshopped.

Just when you thought they couldn't come up with any new designs or trends for team caps, the folks at Hall of Fame have teamed up with the people at Mitchell and Ness to bring you the Upside Down Snapback caps.

For the low, low price of $40 (yes, that's American dollars), you can own a hat that looks like it should have been a factory reject. Amuse your friends, confuse your parents and have hours of fun taking pictures while standing on your head!

But what if you're not a Lakers fan? Well, then they've got you covered with your very own Upside Down Miami Heat Snapback cap.

Why you would want a cap with the ball on fire as it rims out is anyone's guess. But, who am I to stand in the way of capitalism?

North Korea's soccer team has a shocking excuse for losing to the USA

If there's nothing else we've learned from the folks in North Korea, it's that they're not above coming up with outlandish reasons for why things didn't go their way. After losing 2-0 to the United States in their opening match of the 2011 Women's World Cup, North Korean head coach Kwang Min Kim had a reason immediately available about what went wrong for his side.

"When we stayed in Pyongyang during training our players were hit by lightning, and more than five of them were hospitalised," said coach Kim, without naming the affected players specifically. 

"Some stayed in hospital and then came to Germany later than the rest of us. The goalkeeper and the four defenders were most affected, and some midfielders as well. The physicians said the players were not capable of participating in the tournament. 

"But World Cup football is the most important and significant event for a footballer, so they don't want to think about anything but football. 

"The fact that they played could be called abnormal, the result of very strong will."

Hit by lightning? Wow. That's a new one. So either the North Korean players are the biggest gamers around or they have no depth on their roster. Apparently it wasn't good enough that the youngest team in the tournament frustrated one of the favorites for an entire half and generally acquitted themselves well over 90 minutes.

Or...they could be making this whole thing up. No one is allowed to watch the North Korean team practice and the players aren't allowed to speak to the media so no one's available to confirm or deny the story. What is undeniable is that the Americans found a little lightning of their own in the second half and hope that it puts a charge in their run through the rest of the tournament.

(H/T Dirty Tackle)

Frank McCourt is dragging the Dodgers down his personal road to ruin

You have to give Frank McCourt credit for one thing. He never gives up. And since he's mired in a financial tar pit primarily of his own making, you'd think that's about the only credit most people will give him.

Just when you think things can't get any worse for the Dodgers, it somehow does. Early Monday morning, McCourt filed for bankruptcy protection and received a $150-million loan that would help him cover Thursday's payroll and hold on to the team for the foreseeable future.

If a judge approves the loan, then the ride to hell in a handbasket is far from over for the franchise or its fans. It means you can expect several new lawsuits to be filed as well as the continued settlement of Frank's divorce from Jamie.

But never at any time has Frank McCourt thought of selling the team and walking away. Instead he has pressed forward, doing whatever he can to keep the team under his auspices - or at least keeping it away from his estranged wife. For the fans, that has been the most frustrating part. Despite all of the McCourts past flowery language about doing what's best for the franchise and its fans, their behavior has proven the opposite.

Frank and Jamie McCourt used the team as their own discretionary account, living the high life while running the team under MLB-style austerity measures. It's actually fitting that the one major deal they signed, (Manny Ramirez's 2-year, $45 million contract) is what could help to bring them down. But what is even more apropos is that two people who have shown themselves to be selfish, greedy, vindictive people somehow found each other. And that selfishness, greed and vindictiveness ultimately led to the dissolution of their marriage. In that way it's not unlike many Hollywood divorces that came before or will inevitably come after.

The difference is that most Hollywood divorces don't jeopardize the status of a local treasure.

If Frank McCourt truly wanted to do what was best for the team, he would sell it. Not a portion of it. All of it. Then walk away and leave his successor to right the ship. With Fox eager to complete its long term television deal with the team, he has already succeeded in raising the value of the franchise and could easily bring in enough to cover any and all financial obligations he has.

Instead, he employs different legal maneuvers one after the other with the hoped for goal being that Frank McCourt is made whole. Meanwhile, thousands of empty seats have become the norm at Dodger Stadium as fans show their disgust with the sideshow by their absence. The team on the field is floundering and two of its centerpieces - Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier - are nearing the end of their contracts. Ethier has already suggested that his days in Dodger blue could be numbered. With all of the ongoing turmoil it wouldn't be a surprise if he or anyone else started looking for greener pastures.

Perhaps in Frank's wildest dreams, he is able to sign the deal with Fox, become flush with cash, put a winner on the field and get himself back in the city's good graces. But that day, if it ever comes, is light years away. Meanwhile, Frank McCourt continues to drive the team down the road to ruin.

Episode 35: On The Come Up

This week, New Era Radio is chock full o' goodness...we talk with Jeff Camarra about his upcoming documentary on Lakers guard Trey Johnson and the NBA Developmental League. MMA fighter Jesse Juarez talks about life and his upcoming fight with Josh Neer. And Frank McCourt needs a hug...and $30 million.

Peyton & Eli Manning New Show Trailer

I have to admit that Eli's Mustache is killer

The walls are closing in on Frank McCourt

It looks like it's only a matter of time before Frank McCourt's tenure as owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers is over. Despite agreeing to the framework of a divorce settlement with his estranged wife, Jamie, last week, Frank isn't nearly out of the woods yet.

Right now, his hope is resting on MLB's approval of his proposed $3 billion television deal with Fox. Despite conflicting reports on Monday morning over whether that deal had already been rejected, the consensus is that Bud Selig is not going to allow the deal to happen. For the long form (and very well done) explanation of what that means for Frank McCourt and the franchise as a whole, check out Josh Fisher's column from ESPNLosAngeles.com.

The short version is that with no Fox deal, the divorce settlement is invalid. It also means there's no realistic chance that Frank McCourt can cover the team payroll on June 30th and Major League Baseball will likely seize the team. A lawsuit from McCourt against baseball is almost guaranteed to follow.

While Dodger fans have been left hanging in the balance, they are not sitting quietly. Much has been made of the poor attendance numbers at Dodger Stadium - spurred mostly by a fan revolt. But it's gone even further. The Save the Dodgers movement is once again soliciting donations to help buy a billboard to better publicize their goals.

Even the L.A. City Council has gotten into the act, passing a resolution in support of a plan that would allow fans to purchase a stake in the team. The chances of something like that actually happening are pretty remote, but it speaks to local frustration about McCourt's ownership and the fan's desire for this all to be over. If Frank's deal with Fox is rejected, however, this could still have a ways to go.

Episode 34: A Vicious Cycle

It's NBA Finals wrap-up time on NER! We talk about what LeBron has in common with Eminem; Pasqual Allen from the Maloof Money Cup stops by to talk skateboarding and we talk Tupac on his 40th birthday.

John Wall is good at basketball. Baseball...not so much.

John Wall makes his living as a speedy guard for the Washington Wizards. If anyone harbored any illusions of him being a two-sport star in our nation's capital, you can now cross baseball off the list. Wall threw out the first pitch in Friday night's Orioles-Nationals game and well...you can watch how that went for yourself.

After that stop, if the Caps are looking for a new goaltender, they might want to check out Drew Storen.

(H/T NatsEnquirer)

Shaq's alleged kidnap conspiracy gets animated (Video)

Just in case you needed visual representation of the recent story involving allegations that Shaquille O'Neal hired gang members to retrieve a video tape of O'Neal having sex with women who weren't his wife, our friends in Taiwan are happy to help.

The folks at NMA - who have tackled stories on celebrities from Tiger Woods to Sarah Palin to Justin Bieber - now take aim at Shaq in a new video.

Things this video taught us...

1. Shaq looks like he could be related to Carl Winslow.
2. When he's not nude with a basketball covering his junk, he walks around in his Lakers uniform.
3. Shaq has the ability to turn himself into a floating genie at any moment.

The video ends with the narrator taking a shot at Shaq's acting ability. Enjoy!

McCourts reach divorce settlement, squabbles may not be over

A divorce settlement was announced between Frank and Jamie McCourt on Friday morning, as reported by the Los Angeles Times. But the settlement doesn't mean that Frank McCourt is out of the woods as far as his battle to remain the Los Angeles Dodgers' owner.

The settlement is contingent upon Major League Baseball's approval of a long-term television contract that has been reached between the Dodgers and Fox. If Commissioner Bud Selig were to reject the agreement, the settlement would be voided and the parties would resume proceedings in divorce court.

You can read a copy of the settlement agreement here. A rejection of the Fox deal means that McCourt's whole ownership situation could be thrown back into turmoil. LA Times reporter Bill Shaikin reported on his Twitter account that Jamie McCourt's attorney expects a decision on the Fox contract by Tuesday.

This settlement now puts Bud Selig in an awkward position. Ever since Major League Baseball began their investigation into the Dodgers' finances, Frank McCourt has said that the league was unfairly looking to force him out of ownership. Up until now, it appeared that Selig was willing to sit by and wait until McCourt hung himself. So far that hasn't happened. Now the only thing standing between McCourt and making payroll at the end of June is whether or not MLB will allow this deal with Fox to go through.

With the framework of a settlement in place between Frank and Jamie McCourt, if the deal is vetoed, it lends much more credence to Frank's complaints. If the deal is allowed and McCourt is able to keep his hold on ownership, the fan revolt at Dodger Stadium may get stronger. The team's money problems have contributed to much of the fan anger. But just as much of it has been fueled by the ongoing embarrassment that the McCourts' behavior and subsequent divorce proceedings have brought to the organization. Either way, someone is going to end up unhappy.

Former MLB commissioner Fay Vincent calls Mark Cuban, George Steinbrenner "a real problem"

Mark Cuban has been trying to work his way into Major League Baseball for some time now, failing in his bids to buy the Chicago Cubs and Texas Rangers. Now that he has an NBA title under his belt while the Los Angeles Dodgers are undergoing turmoil, there's talk that he should be the leading candidate to take over for Frank McCourt.

Good thing for him that Fay Vincent is no longer in charge.

The former commissioner told ESPN Radio that Cuban's past run-ins with NBA commissioner David Stern should be enough to make other baseball owners wary about letting him into their fraternity.

"The rules are the rules. I think this enormous criticism -- the screaming about officials, the kinds of things that got him fined by David -- those are not actions of a sensible, responsible owner," Vincent said. "I mean winning is not everything, and I'm afraid for some of these owners they get so carried away with winning they believe that's the objective."

Wait...what? Winning isn't the objective? Then what is? That's a quaint notion that Vincent is expressing. Yes, it's nice to sit in the sun and enjoy a beer and a ballgame during the summer. But not everyone can be a Cubs fan. Winning ain't just a tired Charlie Sheen catchphrase. It bring fans to the ballpark. It brings free agents to franchises. Vincent's logic makes him fit to be a little league commissioner where everyone can get a trophy at the end.

But Vincent wasn't finished. He went on to compare Cuban to former Yankees owner, the late George Steinbrenner. Steinbrenner was to Vincent as Cuban is to Stern. Vincent banned Steinbrenner from baseball for life after an investigation revealed the Yankees owner paid a gambler to dig up unflattering information on Dave Winfield. Steinbrenner was reinstated after Vincent left office, but according to the commish, the game would have been better off without him.

"I think it's more important for owners to be gentlemen, play by the rules, respect the authorities, do what's good for the sport, than it is to manage his franchise into total success," he said. "The subtleties make the difference. George Steinbrenner was a real problem in baseball, and I think Mark Cuban is a real problem in basketball."

Steinbrenner was such a problem for baseball that his Yankees have been and continue to be the sport's biggest draw - both on television and at the box office. It certainly would be nice for all team owners to be wonderful, philanthropic stewards of their local communities and the game at-large. But at the same time, people don't buy sports teams to not win. Except for Donald Sterling, of course.

Sadly, this kind of logic still seems prevalent among MLB owners and is probably the biggest reason Mark Cuban will never be allowed to own a team. Steinbrenner rankled people all throughout baseball, with his brash personality, bombastic statements and overheated emotions. Cuban would do the same. But they have also been people that you had to pay attention to. With the NFL squabbling over labor negotiations and the NBA soon to follow, this was baseball's big chance to grab a bigger portion of the spotlight by breaking out of its traditionally stale thinking. Instead the powers-that-be seem content to plod along on the status quo.

SHAQ IS NOW A MASON!

We have heard of stories of a secret organization that dates back further than any of us can think of. Organizations that can get Presidents elected, people killed to make way for the greater good....you know that sort of thing. When you hear the term Free Mason, there is a certain chill that comes with it, a secrecy that has not been matched. Well, it looks like "The Great AARP" will get another name after retirement since according to Mediatakeout.com:


Photo provided by Mediatakeout.com

MediaTakeOut.com learned that NBA superstar Shaquille O'Neal is now a MASON. He was inducted into Widows Sons Lodge #78, in Boston, MASS. 

Members of the lodge told MediaTakeOut.com that THEIR FORM OF MASONRY has NOTHING to do with the ILLUMINATI. And that they, unlike the Illuminati, do NOT worship the devil.

Thanks for the clarification!

Dodgers have "no chance" to make June 30 payroll

Frank McCourt has been playing a dangerous game when it comes to the Dodgers' payroll lately - staving off one potential disaster by getting an advance on some of the team's sponsorship deals to cover the June 1 payroll.

Now the L.A. Times is reporting that while McCourt is expected to be able to cut checks for the upcoming June 15 payroll, don't expect it to happen at the end of the month.

The Dodgers owe about $10 million in payroll Wednesday, according to one of the people, but that figure roughly triples for the June 30 payment as several deferred salaries come due, including more than $8 million to Manny Ramirez. 

The Dodgers appear to have "no chance" to meet the June 30 payroll without a cash infusion from a new television contract, according to a person familiar with McCourt's finances but not authorized to discuss them. If McCourt misses payroll, Selig could make the payments for him, seize the team and put it up for sale.

We posted about the Manny Ramirez payment and how it could affect McCourt's ability to hold on to the team earlier on Monday. To add to McCourt's struggle, his attorneys spent nine hours on Monday attempting to negotiate a divorce settlement with attorneys for his estranged wife, Jamie. Likely any settlement would be contingent upon a June 22 hearing in which McCourt will ask a judge to allow the team to sign a $285 million television contract extension with Fox.

Major League Baseball has been overseeing the team with the constant threat looming that McCourt could be forced to sell. If ownership does fail to make payroll at the end of the month, it could force Bud Selig's hand. Dodger fans are hoping that Mark Cuban's current good mood will make him amenable to making an offer on the team. Either way, it looks like McCourt's running out of outs.

Heat players partied at Liv with the Mavericks?

The Miami Heat bandwagon came to a crashing halt on Sunday night when the Dallas Mavericks closed out the series and won the NBA title. It's tough enough to watch a team celebrate on your own floor. It's even harder when some of your celebrity fans are photographed partying with the team that just beat you.

It's going to get tougher when people find out that some of your own teammates were there, too.

These are some different kinda dudes. I can't even be shocked by anything this team does anymore. They have a party to start the year then throw pity parties when they realize people suddenly want them to fail. At times they look inspired on the floor only to follow it up with periods of offensive incoherence. LeBron proclaims not to worry about what others say then takes a targeted shot at all of the people hating on him.

So maybe it shouldn't be surprising that some of the Heat players showed up at the club after the game. They're the anti-thesis of what everyone thinks they should be. I haven't figured out if it's willful defiance of their critics, a general arrogance or a naive cluelessness. And that's what now has me hooked on this team. Not as a fan or a hater, but just a curious observer. This promises to be one of the most fascinating team dynamics in sports history. The kind of thing that will make a fascinating feature if ESPN decides to do a 40-for-40.

Plaxico Burress plans to warn kids about guns

Like Michael Vick before him, prison seems to have shown Plaxico Burress the error of his ways. The former New York Giants wide receiver made that clear shortly after his release when he told reporters that "there is nothing pleasant about prison."

The first step on his redemption tour...warning children about the dangers of guns.

His particular focus will be convincing children to stay in school and stay away from guns because "kids will listen to a person like myself," Burress said. 

"I know that I won't be able to save everybody. But if I can just help a child to think about the decision of carrying a firearm or making the decision not to carry one out of the home that... saves lives in itself," Burress said.

The biggest story around Burress for the time being will be whether he gets another shot in the NFL, but here's hoping his life off the field is even better than his one on it.

Manny Ramirez could help save the Dodgers

After the way Manny Ramirez left the Los Angeles Dodgers - a disappointing season coming on the heels of a 50-game suspension for performance enhancers - who ever would have believed that Dodger fans could be looking to Manny with a sense of optimism?

ESPNLosAngeles.com's Molly Knight reports that Ramirez is owed $8.33 million in deferred money from the contract he signed before the 2009 season. That's bad news for Frank McCourt who needed advances in order to cover payroll at the end of May and reportedly will be able to cover the payroll that comes later this week.

But with McCourt expected to need to scramble to make payroll at the end of June, the payment to Ramirez could be his back-breaker. MLB has been looking into the team's finances for several weeks now and a failure to make payroll would likely be the issue that causes the league to force McCourt out. Right now, the owner is pinning his hopes on a June 22nd hearing in which he will ask a judge to approve a multi-billion television contract extension with Fox that McCourt says will make him solvent and cure the team's financial woes.

Episode 33: Find A Way

On another episode of New Era Radio...we talk basketball with Robert DoBucki of HoopsJournal.com; wonder aloud if the NCAA will have the stones to drop the hammer on Ohio State; talk about what we'd do first if we were released from prison; and geek out over the prospect of the A Tribe Called Quest documentary.