What we worry? Lou Piniella and Ozzie Guillen won't be winning any popularity contests with players anytime soon.

For all the controversy over Lou Piniella's role in the abysmal Cubs season so far and the omnipresent mouth of Ozzie Guillen calling out current and former players alike, these are two guys that players want to play for.

The ultimate "players' managers" in a game that respects and demands strong managers that knew how to play the game on the field. Right?

Yeah, not so much.

Sports Illustrated surveyed 380 current Major League Baseball players for the issue on newsstands Tuesday to see which managers they least wanted to play for, and it wasn't a close, umm, win. Twenty-six percent of the responses pointed to Sweet Lou as the most sour excuse for a major league manager, while 21 percent said Ozzie was no great shakes. That put Chicago's skippers tops on the bottom list.

Next closest? Tony La Russa, coming in 16 percentage points better, so to speak, than Piniella with 10 percent of players saying no thanks to playing for the Genius.

Makes you wonder how the poll went in the Cubs and White Sox clubhouses. Is it possible to have 101 percent of the vote go against you?

The lavish Burr Ridge home owned by former Bulls player Eddy Curry is in foreclosure. (Sun-Times photo)

BY NATE MILLER

The multi-million dollar home of former Chicago Bulls player Eddy Curry in southwest suburban Burr Ridge is in foreclosure, according to a filing Monday in Cook County Circuit Court.

Bayview Loan Servicing filed a foreclosure notice against Curry, his wife, Patrice, Morgan Stanley Credit Corp., the People of Illinois and Kay Bros. Enterprises Inc.

According to the filing, Curry and his wife took out a $3,719,316 mortgage on the home at 6655 Lee Court on July 3, 2006. The mortgagee named on the filing is Eddy Curry.

At the time Curry and his wife took out the mortgage for the home, there was an initial monthly payment due of $28,675 with an interest rate of 9.25 percent, the filing said. During the repayment period, the interest rate could drop to no lower than 3.25 percent, and could not go higher than 15.25 percent.

The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals ruling found that a notorious death doesn't give publishers a blank check to publish any images they wish -- including those not linked to a newsworthy event. Such a policy, the court warned, would mean that the entire life of any victim of a notorious slaying would instantly be open to public scrutiny.

A sneak peek of things to come if Shaq teams up with LeBron in Cleveland?

The pressure for the Bulls to up their game, literally, as the NBA Draft hits may have just gotten bigger.

Reports early Thursday morning say the Cleveland Cavaliers have sealed a deal to grab Shaquille O'Neal from the Phoenix Suns to team with LeBron James. The Cavs would ship Ben Wallace and Sasha Pavlovic, a 2nd round pick and cash west to complete the deal in a salary dump for the Suns and a belated move for Cleveland after being pushed around in the pivot by Orlando in the playoffs

ESPN.com reports that this is a move long-in waiting for Cleveland:

The trade gives the Cavs a player they've coveted since February. With center Zydrunas Ilgauskas starting to break down, adding Shaq to the roster gives them a dominant force in the middle. The Cavs were obviously unhappy with their ability to defend Dwight Howard in the playoffs and bringing Shaq into the fold should help.

Owner approval is apparently all that's left.

That puts the onus on the Bulls to beef up a low post that was too-often exposed last season. But with the 16 and 26 picks in the first round, there may be no help in the wings, dressed in pinstripe suits and shaking David Stern's hand.

There is, of course, still the possibility of a Chris Bosh deal with Toronto, depending on what happens with the Kirk Hinrich and Ben Gordon contract talks - Hinrich has often been rumored in a potential package for the Raptors' big man.

But for now the young Bulls will be facing a potential Shaq in the King's Castle as they try to make the next jump toward a return to glory.

Yahoo! Sports reports on the LeShaq deal. (Yahoo!Sports)

"They use the word 'integrity' in describing a Hall of Famer in the logo of the Hall of Fame, and I think there are gonna be quite a few players that are not going to get in. It's been evident with the sportswriters who vote them in, with what they've done with Mark McGwire getting in the 20 percent range. We have some other players coming up like [Rafael] Palmeiro coming up soon, and it'll be up to the sportswriters to speak loud and clear about that. I don't see any of those guys getting in."

General manager Ken Holland met with Chelios on Monday and officially told him the Wings wouldn't be bringing him back after 10 seasons.

"It was kind of understood last summer that the 2008-09 season would be the last one for Cheli as a Red Wing," said (General Manager Ken) Holland, noting the need for the Wings to bring in young players such as Jonathan Ericsson. "Cheli wants to play another season, and I believe he can still play."

Hilary Rhoda isn't just a football fan -- she's also a hockey fan. Having dated new Jet QB Marc Sanchez (after posing with him in GQ and helping him celebrate his $50 million contract), the curvy brunette looked very cozy with Ranger Sean Avery last night at Brother Jimmy's in Murray Hill. "They were doing shots of Jack Daniels and Patron, and she had her hands on his arm as they canoodled at the corner of the bar," said our spy. "Sanchez was nowhere to be found."

One of the two men involved in the 2008 theft of a rare Lance Armstrong bike will be sentenced to a three-year prison term next week.

Lee Monroe Crider, 40, pleaded no contest June 1 to second-degree burglary and grand theft, the Sacramento Bee reported on its Web site, citing court documents. Crider is scheduled to return to court next Monday for sentencing, the Bee reported.

Look, there's obviously a ton of factors at work in all of these cases, but on the surface, the penalty for stealing a piece of property from a millionaire should just not be more than 10 times more severe than that of someone who wrongfully took a man's life.

Who's with me on this one?

At 6:42 p.m., dozens of drunken spectators at Hole 10 taunted Woods as he prepared to start his third round in the rain.

"We're on Long Island, baby, where men are men!" one fan yelled. "Put that umbrella down!"

The taunts were mixed with cheers from the majority of the crowd.

Woods did not respond to the people who were heckling him but tried to quiet the crowd with a "sshh" hand gesture, putting his finger to his lips, as golfers prepared to tee off on the adjacent 12th tee.

"Suck it up, you've got your own video game!" someone shouted at Woods.

When a king meets a president: Obama summons LeBron for White House hoops. (AP)

The question is, will there be a handshake after this game for LeBron James?

President Obama, hard-core hoophead that he is, wants the NBA's Most Valuable Player - and most prominent sore loser - to break out the high tops to help inaugurate the new basketball court going on the South Lawn of the White House.

And the Baller in Chief isn't stopping there, telling Bloomberg News in an interview that he wants some other names in the game:

"As soon as we get the basketball nets up we're going to have some of these guys over for a game," Obama said.

Asked if he'd be playing, Obama bristled: "Of course. It's my court."

But the home court advantage may not be that strong for Obama. In addition to James having visited the White House already, he's also got a speed and size thing going that has the President somewhat in awe.

"When you get up close to him he's a legitimate six- eight, six-nine. He's huge. Moving that kind of speed? It's pretty remarkable," Obama said of the Cleveland Cavaliers star who racked up 28.4 points, 7.6 rebounds and 7.2 assists per game this season.

"The 37-year-old Virginia resident was arrested earlier this week along with a 30-year-old man whose home was allegedly stashed with hundreds of pounds of marijuana and more than $1 million in cash. Giove was one of downhill mountain biking's first female superstars, winning world and national titles before retiring six years ago."

"DEA spokesperson Erin Mulvey said the DEA learned of Giove and Canori's plans when Illinois State Police notified them about a suspicious traffic stop on June 13. DEA officials put their vehicle under surveillance until it arrived in Wilton. Mulvey said the drugs' final destination is 'still under investigation.'"

The rapidly aging quarterback says his workouts with a bunch of Mississippi high schoolers help keep him young as he contemplates his next move. What never gets old is hanging on every news item of the retirement rumor enthusiast, waiting for a decision on whether to join the Minnesota Vikings as the closest thing they have to an NFL quarterback.

If nothing else, maybe he can score an invite to homecoming if the comeback doesn't work out.

Ozzie Guillen might not like coming to Wrigley Field, but the White Sox manager seemed to be having a good time there Wednesday.

Before the Sox' 4-1 victory over the Cubs, he greeted Cubs manager Lou Piniella on the field and lifted up his black warmup jacket to reveal a Cubbie-blue T-shirt that read, ''Ozzie Mows Wrigley.'' The two shared a hearty laugh about Guillen's new purchase, which he made that morning outside the stadium that he says makes him ''puke.''

Rich Callow, the vendor who sold the shirt to Guillen, said he saw Guillen arriving at the ballpark.

''I told Ozzie, 'Hey you want to see a T-shirt?''' Callow said. ''He came over and looked at it and started laughing. He liked it a lot and wanted to buy it.''

Geena Pilcher, a former gym mate of Shawn Johnson and a soon-to-be-junior at Johnston High School, was not amused by the video.

"It's sort of rude; it's just over the top," said Pilcher, who competed in gymnastics with Johnson for five years.

Sammy Sosa in 2003.

As if there weren't going to be enough wars of words in the stands of Wrigley Field this week with the White Sox on the North Side, the ammo just got nuclear.

The New York Times is reporting that Sammy Sosa, holder of most of the Chicago Cubs power records from his homer-happy reign at Clark and Addison, was on the juice in 2003.

According to the paper:

Sammy Sosa, who joined with Mark McGwire in 1998 in a celebrated pursuit of baseball's single-season home run record, is among the players who tested positive for a performance-enhancing drug in 2003, according to lawyers with knowledge of the drug-testing results from that year.

The disclosure that Sosa tested positive makes him the latest baseball star of the last two decades to be linked to performance-enhancers, a group that now includes McGwire, Roger Clemens, Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez and Rafael Palmeiro.

Sosa has long protested his innocence, when not outright denying accusations, as the focus of constant rumors of using illegal substances since his race with McGwire in '98, often joking that he only uses Flintstones vitamins and hard work.

Sosa exceeded 60 homers three times, but if these accusations are true, the biggest bomb he ever launched may have come in 2005 when he testified on the use of banned substances in baseball before Congress. Sitting next to Rafael Palmeiro, McGwire and others at a hearing called by the House Government Reform Committee to examine the use of performance-enhancing drugs in baseball, Sosa testified that:

"everything" he had heard "about steroids and human growth hormones is that they are bad for you, even lethal" and that he "would never put anything dangerous like that" in his body. "To be clear, I have never taken illegal performance-enhancing drugs. I have never injected myself or had anyone inject me with anything."

Now Sosa, who retired last week and told ESNdeportes that he would "calmly await" his induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame in five years, will be cast into the same tainted pool of names that the Cooperstown crew are shunning. Yes, you, McGwire.

Donte Stallworth at his plea deal sentencing Tuesday in Miami.

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Donte' Stallworth took full responsibility for killing a pedestrian while driving drunk in Florida and agreed to plead guilty to DUI manslaughter in Miami today.

The price paid for taking a man's life while driving drunk? Thirty days.

To put that in perspective, Michael Vick, who is currently serving house arrest in his Virginia home, was originally sentenced to nearly two years for running a dogfighting ring. Abusing animals is a heinous crime and this is not intended to downplay that at all, but a man's life was lost through criminal irresponsibility and Stallworth works a deal that gets him a short month in jail and two years of house arrest and eight years of probation.

How is this justice in any way again? Stallworth had been facing 15 years and got off by any measure with an incredibly light sentence. Consider this story of a 17-year-old facing the same circumstances who came away with a 24-year sentence.

"I have a great relationship and she's a great girl," says Strahan, who is a father of four. "I don't like to talk much about my private life, but I'm really happy."

Murphy, who has five children with her ex, wouldn't comment about the plans for her future with Strahan. But he says that though they've talked about it, "There aren't any plans for kids... We've got nine between us already."

Brett Favre may or may not come out of retirement several times tonight on HBO. (AP)

Who's voice will grate on you more?

Brett Favre will appear on Joe Buck's "Joe Buck Live," a quarterly show on HBO tonight at 8 p.m. (Central). Among other things, the retirement enthusiast Favre will discuss his desire to strap 'em on again, likely in a Minnesota Vikings uniform.

HBO spokesman Kevin Flaherty says Favre agreed in April to appear on the show at Buck's request. That was before his release from the New York Jets that prompted Minnesota's pursuit of the three-time NFL MVP.

The broadcast will be in front of a live audience out of New York, though there's no guarantee John Madden's bus will make it to the studio on time.

"Wrigley Field? I puke every time I go there. I'm just being honest.

''If Cubs fans don't like the way I talk about Wrigley Field ... I don't say anything about their fans, but Wrigley Field? They have to respect my opinion because that's the way I feel. A lot of great people are working there, the clubhouse people working there -- I wish they had a better clubhouse. But besides that, it's exciting when the game starts. Of course it's exciting because that's one of the best; it's always crowded. But besides that, it's terrible.''

Umpire Don Briggs gave the entire crowd at a West Burlington, Iowa, baseball game the thumb, booting more than 100 fans fans for being unruly earlier this week.

Briggs said he had no problem with any of the student athletes during Thursday's game between Winfield-Mount Union and West Burlington. He said he had to take action because fans were being unruly, yelling and arguing.

"I know it sounds like I'm the bad guy -- but it was the crowd," Briggs said. "If I got the control to ask one person to leave, I feel like I can ask them all to leave."

However, West Burlington Superintendent James Sleister said he didn't see any unusual behavior and said he thought the umpire overreacted.

The game resumed after a 40-minute delay. West Burlington won 12-11.

Many of the fans, as it turns out, pulled a Bobby Valentine and just lingered despite the umps hook, according to the Des Moines Register:

The crowd, estimated to be more than 100 people, lingered. Some people refused to leave. Others moved 30 feet away to a sidewalk officially off school property. The delay lasted nearly 40 minutes.

Eventually, West Burlington Superintendent James Sleister arrived and persuaded the umpire to allow the game to continue. Fans returned and the game resumed, under the agreement that "anyone making a negative comment toward the officials would be ejected from the premises and could be charged with disorderly conduct."

The umpire called police as a precaution. West Burlington police officer Al Waterman says there were no arrests.

But really, anything that allows us to remember the greatest ejection in baseball history is OK in the end. Phillip Wellman, here's your cue:

Mr. North said he was fired by Mr. Hernandez after questioning him about Webio's finances. He said 12 checks bounced a couple of weeks ago, and as many as 30 this week.

"When people's checks started to bounce, we wanted to find out why," Mr. North said. "He never responded to our emails and phone calls."

Calling Vick "probably the best football player in America," the chairman of the securities firm W.R. Hambrecht & Co. said fans want to watch the suspended former National Football League quarterback and that Vick could have a place in the new league, which is scheduled to begin playing in October.

"He has paid his penalty," Hambrecht, 73, said in a television interview. "What we did is we went out to our fan base and said 'what do you think?' And on our Web site, people want to see him. People believe he deserves a second chance."

The 6-foot-1, 185-pound Montana is rated as the No. 13 QB in the nation by Scout.com and had offers from Notre Dame, his father's alma mater, as well as Louisiana State, Ohio State, Stanford, Alabama and Georgia.

Montana said he had originally planned to take much of the summer to make his decision but that his visit to UW last weekend "made everything a lot easier. It cleared everything up."

The Huskies finished 2008 with a record of 0-12, but are hoping new coach Steve Sarkisian can turn the program around.

The face contains six large, brilliant-cut diamonds, one for each Super Bowl victory. There are seven other diamonds that represent the Steelers' seven conference championships and seven others below to add up to their 14 division titles in a football design.

The face includes a red, blue and yellow stone to resemble their hypocycloid logo. On one side of each ring are six Lombardi Trophies with the 27-23 score of their victory against Arizona in the Super Bowl. On the other is the ring owner's name, the Steelers helmet logo, the NFL logo and the player's number.

"Hank and I are thrilled to announce that we are expecting our first child together. We are touched by the outpouring of support by our family, friends and fans."

No word on any stolen tigers, much less a bachelor party for Mike Tyson. (AP)

It's been a rough couple of weeks for Mike Tyson, with the death of his 4-year-old daughter, Exodus, in a tragic treadmill accident still fresh in his mind. But now he has at least a little joy to ease his grief - with the help wife no. 3.

Tyson tied the knot Tuesday with Lakiha Spicer La Bella Wedding Chapel at the Las Vegas Hilton hotel-casino in a ceremony that was called "sincere," but nothing special.

County marriage records in Las Vegas show the 42-year-old Tyson and 32-year-old Spicer got a marriage license about 30 minutes before their ceremony.

Tyson was previously married to actress Robin Givens in 1988 and Monica Turner in 1997.

His first marriage ended after one year after Givens filed for divorce and said in a nationally televised interview that she was afraid of Tyson. His marriage to Turner lasted five years.

And, of course, he also has a star turn in "The Hangover" going for him. Which is nice.

Spicer has had her issues with the law (majorwager.com)

Liz Bonds, who married the former Giants slugger in 1998, is seeking spousal support and custody of the couple's 10-year-old daughter, according to the filing Friday in Los Angeles Superior Court.

She cited irreconcilable differences. They have lived in Beverly Hills since 2003.

Bonds' wife files for separation     (San Francisco Chronicle)

Around a dozen fans waited for the Magic's charter jet to arrive at Orlando International Airport early Monday morning.

Favre remains unable to make a commitment because subsequent throwing sessions indicate the shoulder is not yet 100 percent.

While Favre has now clearly demonstrated his interest in coming out of retirement for a 19th season in the NFL, it seems equally obvious that he will not do so unless convinced he has recovered fully from the torn biceps tendon that undermined him last year with the New York Jets.

The daughter of a Rochelle High teacher and a rancher, Richardson won four individual medals in five events: gold in the long jump and high jump, silver in the discus and bronze in the 200 meters. She also finished fourth in the 100 meters.

Since becoming the first girl in state history last year to win a team title solo, her celebrity has put her in national magazines and gotten her a Texas A&M track scholarship. It may even lure more than one girl next year to replace Richardson on the Lady Hornets team.

For Richardson, repeating the feat Saturday was perfect until she stood atop the medal stand and the public address announcer implored the crowd to applaud this amazing accomplishment by ... Bonnie Singleton?

La Russa said Twitter has agreed to pay legal fees and make a donation to his Animal Rescue Foundation.

This is what van gundy and dwight howards baby would look like:

As if Kobe Bryant didn't have enough going for him, Lil Wayne has weighed in on the Los Angeles Lakers' star's greatness with a new song - the "Kobe Bryant Song" - he recorded just in time for the NBA Finals.

LeBron will not be happy this with lyrics like this:

"Kobe doing work / 2-4 on my shirt / He the greatest on the court / And I'm the greatest on the verse".

And it must have worked to keep Kobe pumped up. Bryant dropped 40 on the Orlando Magic to lead the Lakers to a Game 1 win, 100-75.

Lil Wayne, motivational rapper.

Hold off there, fellas. Tiger Stadium has a movie to make. (AP)

The memories of the a great ballpark are almost gone in Detroit, but there will be one last moment of glory for Tiger Stadium.

A movie is being made at Tiger Stadium days before the Detroit ballpark's expected demolition. "The Irishman" tells the story of union organizer and mobster Danny Greene.

The picture stars Ray Stevenson, Val Kilmer, Vincent D'Onofrio and Christopher Walken. Producer Bart Rosenblatt says Detroit is standing in for 1970s-era Cleveland.

Filming began today at the stadium, which opened in 1912 as Navin Field.

The Tigers departed after the 1999 season.

The city says demolition work could begin as early as Monday.

Dwyane Wade hit Chicago in February for his divorce proceedings. (Keith Hale~Sun-Times)

Chicago-native and Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade is suing his former business partner, Richard von Houtman, for $100 million over accusations of drug and steroid use.

The focus of the lawsuit, filed May 28 in Miami-Dade Circuit Court, is two e-mails it said von Houtman sent to Heat President Pat Riley accusing Wade and other unnamed Heat players in a March 15 message of smoking marijuana and using cocaine and steroids.

"Your players were caught in a hotel room smoking marijuana. From Wade to (name deleted) and the rest of the NBA players. Is it just about selling tickets?" the lawsuit quotes the e-mail as saying. It later adds, "The Miami Heat 'Drugs, Sex & Basketball.' "

The e-mail to Riley also contends that Wade is not the nice guy suggested by his public image and alludes to his messy divorce from estranged wife Siohvaughn Wade. "Behind closed doors, Mr. Wade is a bully and a coward," the email says.

It's been a litigious year for the All-Star, who sued his estranged wife, Siohvaughn, and her lawyers in February during divorce proceedings over allegations that he had contracted a sexually transmitted disease in an extramarital affair.

Then there was the back-and-forth lawsuits over a never-opened restaurant with Wade and his former business partners blaming eachother for its failure and lack of promotion.

No, Tony LaRussa did not tweet you.

Kevin Garnett's recovery from right knee surgery apparently is going well. Garnett expressed optimism in a recent conversation with team owner Wyc Grousbeck, who spoke yesterday at a corporate sponsorship event at the Boston Harbor Hotel.

"I talked to [Garnett] and he guaranteed the championship in 2010 and in 2011," Grousbeck said. "He was as fired up as he's ever been."

The Braves told Glavine that he was being released because his velocity is down, one source said. However, Glavine was throwing only 76-78 miles per hour in spring training and in recent starts had increased that to 83-86 miles per hour.

"I don't know what else I can do," Glavine said after Tuesday night's game, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "Physically I felt good and I feel like I'm ready.

Does this move effect the outlooks of either the Cubs or White Sox? The White Sox have recently tried to acquire Jake Peavy and were rumored (rumored remember) to be interested in Roy Oswalt.

The Cubs have long been privy to the masterful location and mix of speeds the veteran has displayed. Is there any chance they'd take a chance on the Future Hall-of-Famer having some wins left in that arm of his?

Dover's Hill in the English West country recently played host to the time-honoured Costswold Olimpicks recently.

The games feature a variety of unusual disciplines. Including the tug-of-war and the wheelbarrow race. But, the highlight for most is the bruising sport of shin-kicking. It's been a while since I've seen a good shin-kicking.

This game requires strength, technique...seriously, and of course a good pair of legs. The idea is to kick your opponents shins until you literally leave them without a leg to stand on.

Twenty-seven-year-old Phil Titmus won this year's contest.

Here's evidence:

Cubs outfielder Reed Johnson takes in a spring night with the fans. (AP)

The Sun-Times' Gordon Wittenmeyer reported in March that the Cubs were keeping their options open on spring training for a number of reasons:

One requirement is a larger stadium seating capacity" than the 13,100-seat HoHokam Park in Mesa. Sources said that the Cubs "have contacted officials" in Sarasota, Florida, which "loses the Cincinnati Reds next spring." Cubs Chairman Crane Kenney said that the Cubs have been "contacted by Florida state officials."

Meanwhile, speculation has been building about a push to move a potential Cubs Spring Training home further south, with Naples being the name mentioned.

And Crist has apparently asked an economic consulting firm to look into the viability of relocating the Chicago Cubs to Ed Smith Stadium, according to a source at the Florida State University Center for Economic Forecasting and Analysis.

Does this mean it's time to turn in cacti for palm trees? Not quite there yet, but some movement is clearly underway.

Pietrus said he has worn a pair of basketball shoes that Bryant endorses during games but will not do so for his NBA Finals match-up against the Lakers.  "I have some at my house, but I'm going to play with Michael Jordan shoes," Pietrus said.

It's pretty much a good day when the Hogans, the Royal Family of Wrestling (or first family of white trash, depending on how you look at it) bring another squabble into the news.This time it's WWE legend Hulk Hogan sounding off in the latest issue of Life & Style to refute some trash talking from ex-wife Linda centering on daughter, Brooke. That's the kid not currently doing jailtime - unlike brother Nick.

Seems that mom is not a fan of her little girl anymore and feels she's being generally dishonest, in particular claiming Brooke is lying about getting a boob job and that the girl's boyfriend, rapper Stack$, liked to spark up joints with the Hulkster, a fact dear daughter covered up.

What's Hulk say about this - and the charges that he was "rolling and smoking joints" during one of his daughter's recording sessions?

"Absolutely not!" he shoots back. "Brooke is a clean-cut girl. She's very open and honest." In fact, Hulk suggests that Linda, who filed for divorce in 2007 after 24 years of marriage, is the one using drugs. Linda has said she'd happily submit to a drug test to prove otherwise.

Hulk's response?

"If Linda says she'll take a drug test, I say bring it, brother! It needs to be done, and she'll fail it."

What you gonna do, brother Linda? The ball's in your court.

Oh yeah, here's Brooke and Stack$ in the video for her latest single, "Falling" off the album "The Redemption." Right.

Brooke Hogan f/ Stack$ (OFFICIAL VIDEO)

Tony Romo's "Stairway to Heaven" includes Jessica Simpson. (AP)

Eastern Illinois alum and ditzy blond "pop singing talent" enthusiast Tony Romo celebrated his 29th birthday April 21. But what to get the guy who has everything, including a star on his helmet?

Well a boat, of course, you big silly.

Make that $100,000 worth of speed boat from Joe's daughter, or so says the National Enquirer.

But this isn't just any boat, the pal points out. The custom 25-foot Malibu Wakesetter has a 450 horsepower motor.

"Tony loves speed, and with all of the horsepower in his new boat, he can go as fast as anyone on the lake," said the pal.

Jessica, 28, had the boat delivered to the house the couple shares in the Dallas area, where Tony's posse gathered for an impromptu party.

The gossip rag and tracker of ET goes on to suggest that Jessica is trying to buy her way into a wedding with the zippy gift, allegedly telling friends that Tony's need for speed is the key to a pricey ring on her finger:

Now to name the ride. How about the Double D? Joe Simpson would certainly approve. And let's just hope Tony learned his lesson from fellow Texas boating enthusiast Cedric Benson. Keep the containers closed.

An associate producer for SportsNet New York, who started having symptoms after arriving here Sunday night, was treated and tested at a hospital, but the Mets had not received confirmation as to what type of flu the strain was. The producer left Pittsburgh on Tuesday and traveled back to New York by car.

The Cleveland Cavaliers star underwent successful surgery on Tuesday at Cleveland Clinic to remove a benign growth in his mouth, the team said. Specifically, Dr. Frank Papay performed a five-hour procedure on James' parotid gland, which produces saliva. Surgery for such conditions often takes time because of the numerous nerves and blood vessels in that area of the jaw.

Obama, who is a big basketball fan, was asked who he expects to win as he walked out of the White House on his way to the Marine One helicopter.

Over the loud whine of the chopper, Obama stopped, took a few steps back toward reporters, and said, "Lakers in six."

Former NFL Super Bowl-winning offensive lineman and current ESPN analyst Mark Schlereth must be very proud of son Daniel. When the younger Schlereth took the mound for the Arizona Diamondbacks in a scoreless 6th-inning relief appearance May 29, Schlereth-squared made father-son history as only the 6th duo to have an NFL and MLB player in the family.

The other five? There's an ex-Cub in there ...

Yogi Berra (MLB) - Tim Berra (NFL)

Lou Brock (MLB) - Lou Brock (NFL)

Jack Snow (NFL) - J.T. Snow (MLB)

Lee Gross (NFL) - Gabe Gross (MLB)

Don Patterson (NFL) - Corey Patterson (MLB)

Schlereth the elder has a history of being a huge backer of his son, going so far as to produce a documentary on Daniel's season as the University of Arizona closer in 2008. And he was all a-Twitter for the kid's Big League debut against Atlanta.

Daniel Schlereth was a first-round pick in the 2008 draft.

White has called him a "joke," a "bum" and "not a real fighter," among other less than kind descriptions. He said that Slice would "get murdered if he fought in the UFC" and suggested that his lightweight champion, 155-pound B.J. Penn, would "annihilate" the 230-pound Slice.

The UFC president has repeatedly insisted he would not allow Slice to compete in the UFC unless he won his way onto the show by competing on "The Ultimate Fighter," which beings taping Wednesday and is scheduled to air in September.

Former UFC light heavyweight champions Quinton "Rampage" Jackson and Rashad Evans will serve as coaches this go-around, ensuring some healthy ratings for the show.