Kobe Bryant

The company is challenging Nike on its own turf

What’s really going on under all that hair (plus PHOTOS)

Chris Ballard’s Sports Illustrated column suggesting that LeBron James should sign for the NBA minimum in 2010, wherever he signs, amazed me for two reasons.

Paris’s speech caps a heartbreaking tribute: “Daddy has been the best father you could ever imagine.”

Amid the hysteria, demagoguery and desperation of the last two weeks, there were at least a few attempts to explore the matters of Stephen Harper’s mind and motivation (see here, here and here). A quick review of the testimony.

If nothing else, the 2008 NBA Finals will be remembered for proving several theories beyond a reasonable doubt.

La première étoile: Rocco Mediate. Yes, we watched in awe as Tiger Woods hobbled around Torrey Pines on a bum knee. And like you, we spent Father’s Day evening on the edge of our couches, knowing full well that Woods would drain that final-hole putt to force U.S. Open overtime. He is the greatest golfer ever. End of discussion. But don’t let Tiger’s heroics completely overshadow the man on the other end of today’s playoff. Mediate hasn’t won a tournament in six years; he hasn’t even made the cut in 8 of his past 10 events. Yet there he was on Sunday afternoon, smiling and waving on his way to a near-perfect fourth round. If Rocco somehow tames Tiger today, he will make history on two separate fronts: the oldest man to win the Open (he’s 45) and the first champion not ranked in the top 100 (he’s 158th). Go Rocco.

La première étoile: Alexander Ovechkin. The Washington Capitals scoring machine was the toast of the NHL awards ceremony last night, scooping up four shiny trophies, including the Hart (MVP) and the Lester B. Pearson (players’ choice for most outstanding). Only 22 years old, Ovechkin netted 65 goals this season—the first time anyone has reached the 60-goal plateau since Mario Lemieux pocketed that many pucks in 1996. It’s only a matter of time before the Russian phenom shares another trophy with Lemieux: the Stanley Cup.

Kobe Bryant, as reported by ESPN.