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SALT LAKE CITY — If the fake girlfriend wasn't enough, Notre Dame's Manti Te'o is now having to deal with being called slow.
Te'o just ran an official — but slow — 4.82 40-yard dash.
That's not good for someone hoping to put the catfish hoax behind him and focus on football.
For comparison's sake: 12 defensive linemen ran at least a 4.81. Two 300-pound offensive linemen ran better than 4.7. The fastest time by a linebacker so far is 4.47 by Missouri's Zaviar Gooden.
So, 4.82 is not considered fast.
Let's see if Te'o can make up for it in other areas of his workout. And this makes his Pro Day at Notre Dame extremely important.
Kobe vs. Cuban
Kobe Bryant's nickname is the Black Mamba, but Sunday against the Dallas Mavericks he was a silent assassin with a chip on his shoulder.
During a radio interview Friday Dallas owner Mark Cuban used Bryant as an example to try an explain the complex nature of the Collective Bargaining Agreement.
Cuban was asked about the state of the Lakers, then steered his comments to the CBA.
"If you look at their payroll, even if Dwight (Howard) comes back, you've got to ask the question: Should they amnesty Kobe?" Cuban said. "You just don't know, right? It's the same reason I wouldn't get rid of Dirk (Nowitzki).
Amnesty THAT
— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) February 24, 2013
"I'll take a hit for a season rather than get rid of Dirk. That's just it. I've made that commitment to him over the years, and he's returned that commitment. Maybe that's selfish, but that's just the way it is. So I'm just saying that hypothetically. When I say, 'Amnesty Kobe,' I don't think they'd do it, but they've got some choices to make. Now, they're in a big market, but they're still limited. The Knicks, the same thing. Boston, same thing."
Bryant, who will be owed a league-high $30.45 million next season, the last year of his contract, didn't say anything about the comments before Sunday's game, but let his play do the talking before jumping to Twitter.
Nice to know there is a least one team and theirplayers, outside of the Mavs, that listen to everything I say.
— Mark Cuban (@mcuban) February 24, 2013
After scoring 14 of his game-high 38 points in the fourth quarter (Bryant also had 12 rebounds and 7 assists) propelling the Lakers to the 103-99 victory, Bryant tweeted, "Amnesty THAT."
Cuban responded with, "Nice to know there is at least one team and their players, outside of the Mavs, that listen to everything I say.
"But I do have to give props to @kobebryant for a great tweet. #Welldone."
The Lakers' response?
They released an official statement calling Cuban's remarks "inappropriate."
That's not nearly as fun as Kobe vs. Cuban.
King James wins warmup Slam Dunk Contest
LeBron James has, for years, turned down the opportunity to participate (or should I say win?) the NBA's Slam Dunk Contest, but that doesn't mean he's against putting on a show for the fans.
He's a regular high-flyer in games, though it's usually more substance than flash. But during warm-ups before the Heat's game against James' old team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, The King showed off what could be.
In the video clip, at about the 35-second mark LeBron starts at the left elbow, puts the ball between his legs, switches hands before throwing it off the backboard — all in one motion, mind you— then takes off from the middle of the key, grabs the ball in midair and hammers it home with one hand.
My friends ... that was awesome.
Imagine what he could come up with if he one day decides to win the Slam Dunk Contest.
Getting the stink eye
The Phoenix Suns aren't very good this year. They've got a handful of good players, but they've got the worst record in the Western Conference at 18-39.
Suns interim head coach Lindsay Hunter is a former NBA player, a former sharp shooter, so he's free to criticize when he sees a bad shot. And over the weekend his player, Michael Beasley, put up a bad shot.
Beasley's not known for his basketball IQ, but I've seen better shot selections in my 7-year-old son's Junior Jazz league.
Check out Hunter's priceless reaction after Beasley tries to go one-on-one then shoots an air ball.
Ugh! But that's Beasley being Beasley.
Just like we drew it up
Speakng of basketball IQ, UCLA's Markel Walker used her smarts during an inbounds play. She tossed the ball off of a USC player's back, grabbed the ball and threw it up as a defender collapsed toward her.
The ball looks like it's going to bounce over the backboard, but instead hangs on the top of the backboard before falling back into play and through the hoop.
Off an opponent's back, off the top of the backboard and though the hoop.
It wasn't perfect, but two points is two points in the box score.
Axford knows his Oscars
So how did you do with your Oscar predictions?
Hi Oscars... I'm John Axford... And I just dominated you! 14 out of 15!
— John Axford (@JohnAxford) February 25, 2013
Five for 15? Ten for 15? How about 14 for 15 like the Brewers' closer John Axford?
Axford, who describes himself as a "mustache and film aficionado," swung and missed only once during the Academy Awards. For best director, Axford had the nod going to Steven Spielberg for "Lincoln." Instead, it went to Ang Lee for "Life of Pi," and Axford wasn't happy like many who tuned into Sunday night's show.
But 14 out of 15 ain't too shabby, no matter if it's predicting movie awards or saving baseball games.
