See pictures of the 2009 NBA Championship rings of the Los Angeles Lakers below. Continue Reading

NBA superstar Kobe Bryant predicts Manny Pacquiao will win over Miguel Cotto in the November fight

Just after Manny Pacquiao agreed to fight Miguel Cotto, amidst failed negotiations and challenges raised by “Sugar” Shane Mosley, he gains a fan in one of the biggest sports names in the world.

Los Angeles Lakers superstar and 2009 NBA Finals MVP Kobe Bryant has picked Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao over Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto in their scheduled superfight this coming November.

Bryant emphatically expressed his rooting for Manny Pacquiao, saying:

“Manny all the way… I don’t think that’s even a question.”

Kobe Bryant also added his intention to see Manny Pacquiao live in action in a boxing ring:

“I’ve never seen him fight in person, but if I don’t have a game in his next fight, I will be there.”

Pacquiao has just finally agreed to box against Cotto, the reigning World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight champion, at the 145 pound-limit.

Kobe Bryant on Manny Pacquiao: I love him

Kobe Bryant has recently teamed up with Manny Pacquiao and a host of other global sports figures for a photoshoot promoting Nike. Bryant has openly proclaimed that he admired Pacquiao for his boxing accomplishments, saying:

“I love him because I enjoy being around people who are just as competitive, have the same passion and work ethic… I watch him perform in boxing and he truly loves what he does. He loves the sport.”

Because of the Nike experience, Pacquiao has already admitted that he has become a full-fledged Lakers and Kobe Bryant fan since meeting Bryant in person.

Shaquille O'Neal. Picture courtesy of Droppingdimes.gearlive.com

It’s official. Shaquille O’Neal is now a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers.

In order to boost its chances of winning the much coveted NBA Championship, the Cleveland Cavaliers have executed a trade that sent Shaquille O’Neal to tandem with arguably the best player in the league today, Lebron James, in a huge trade announcement very recently. In exchange, the Phoenix Suns got former Defensive Player of the Year Ben Wallace and Sasha Pavlovic. The move seems more of a salary cap clearing activity for the Suns, who finally got rid of the huge paycheck they would have owed to Shaquille O’Neal had they kept him for next season. Moreover, they might further experience a more manageable payroll with Ben Wallace contemplating retirement.

This will be Shaq’s third team after winning three championships with the Los Angeles Lakers alongisde 2009 NBA Finals MVP Kobe Bryant. The Diesel won another in a Miami Heat jersey when he teamed up with Dwyane Wade whom he dubbed, “The Flash”.  O’Neal, a former regular season MVP and Finals MVP, was then traded to the Phoenix Suns, in the hopes of teaming up with Canadian superstar Steve Nash and All-Star big man Amare Stoudemire to bring a championship to the Valley of the Sun.

This did not transpire though and after one and a half sub-par regular season performances from the Suns, rumors arose that Shaq and his huge salary would be traded to the Cavs to join King James. After a disappointing Eastern Conference Finals exit against Orlando last season, will Shaq’s presence be the final piece of the puzzle in the Clevland Cavaliers’ hunt for championship gold? Or will they suffer a disappointing result, similar to what happened with the Phoenix Suns?

For Phoenix, will they give Ben Wallace a buyout of his contract? Or will he be left alone to retire by himself? Moreover, will he consider playing one more season, this time for the Suns, who desperately need a huge defensive presence inside, especially with Amare Stoudemire’s documented troubles playing defense? Will Pavlovic replace the aging Grant Hill in the rotation? What do you think?

The answers to these questions may very well lie with the upcoming regular season. Or for all we know, in the upcoming days leading up to bigger NBA trades.