Thursday Blogdome: Tony Soprano makes 'suggestion' to LeBron

* Tony Soprano asks LeBron to sign with Knicks. Don’t fuggetabout the Knicks. James Gandolfini, known mostly for his role as Tony Soprano, asked LeBron James to come to New York while presenting at Spike TV’s Guys Choice Awards. “First things first, LeBron I would like you to come to New York, if you could,” Gandolfini said with James in the audience. [New York Post]
* Why Not? Dwayne Wade and Lebron James Are Being Courted by the Harlem Globetrotters. Previously on That NBA Lottery Pick, we have chronicled the free-agent extravaganza surrounding Dwayne Wade and Lebron James along with the NBA teams that are courting them. Well, we can now add another professional basketball team to the list, The Harlem Globetrotters! [That NBA Lottery Pick]

* USC’s Penalties From NCAA Far Too Harsh. For reference, in 2002 the University of Alabama was given a two-year postseason ban, the loss of 21 scholarships and vacated wins because boosters paid players. People directly associated with the football program paid players. Read that over for a second. [Rumors & Rants]
* Agent: Suge Knight Part Of Reggie Bush Dispute. “Ok, so here’s the deal. At one point when this got crazy, Lloyd Lake reached out to Suge Knight to resolve his dispute with Reggie Bush.” [SportsbyBrooks]
* Boxing Has The Oakland Police Cold Going Mad Like 3.5.7. Give it up for off-brand San Francisco. While most of the country moves forward, Oakland keeps it Chicago Irish. North Side Irish and South Side Irish have separate St. Patrick’s Day parades because they can’t get along. Oakland Police are banned from officially sanctioned boxing matches because they fight with other law enforcement agencies as well as everyone else. International Association of Boxing president Steve Fosum banned Oakland police officers from IAB sanctioned fights after they got into it with spectators watching a fight. [Deuce of Davenport]
* This Just In: Steve Nash Rules. If you haven’t heard yet, Steve Nash will be serving as a reporter for the 2010 World Cup by filing video segments for CBSSports.com. Above, Steve invites us along as he begins his long, treacherous journey to South Africa … while paddling on a surfboard. Steve Nash, shine on you crazy diamond. You truly are the most ridiculous man in the world. [Sportress of Blogitude]
* World Cup Referee Learning English Curse Words To Better Understand Impending Abuse. Low and behold, Carlos Simon – already embroiled in his own bit of World Cup controversy – has been learning a list of obscenities in English in an effort to better understand the players in Saturday’s match, in the event that their language becomes abusive. [The Sporting Blog]
* Also: … Adam Burish calls Chris Pronger “the biggest idiot in the league.” This in no way will carry over to 2011 … Vince Vaughn, the Stanley Cup title, and you … Chicago’s Blackhawks celebration was relatively tame.
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Contact Rick Chandler at rickchand@gmail.com.