Time to cleanse the athletic palate after that “ignance”. Someone might want to tell LeBron James to talk to Tracy McGrady about getting involved. Ira Newble didn’t have much luck but maybe McGrady can do better.

The Daily News has an interesting piece about McGrady’s visit to Darfur where he was able to get a first-hand view of the effects of genocide. He followed up his visit with an initiative to link American and African schools and “modernize education in war zones”.

It’s great to see ballers getting involved whether it’s in their community or other places of need instead of thinking “the Chinese buy shoes too”. Maybe we’ll cut T-Mac some slack the next time he gets injured which should be right about…..now. We kid. We kid. Here’s some video of him discussing his initiative.

Incidentally, LeBron said the criticism of him for not signing Newble’s letter to the Chinese government was unwarranted. He said he was going to get the word out about the Darfur situation after learning more about it. Don’t wait up. If it’s not the shoe companies, it’s the NBA keeping dissent down. Just ask Etan Thomas and Craig Hodges.

Someone shouldn’t be forced to become a spokesman and activist for every injustice out there because of their prominence but there’s a big difference between being outspoken and signing a letter. The people around LeBron do him no favors by telling him to keep his head down in the sand. There is a balance that can be achieved in protecting one’s financial interests and taking a stand where the right side is clear. There are also many ways to take a stand or make a statement without being in the forefront of an issue if there’s a great deal at stake personally or financially. He’s still young. Hopefully he’ll figure that out sooner than later.

Is it much of a suprise that Shane Battier loves gadgets? Check out this Digital Cribs show where Shane goes through all the techno-knick-knacks he’s got around his house. You know you are jealous. This is all done for the Digital Cribs “Heaven or Hell” contest put on by Cisco where you record a video of your own digital crib for a chance to win $10,000. Grab a camera and give it a shot, b/c who doesn’t want to win? Also, check back on the Deuce b/c with any luck, we’ll have a nice interview with Shane to post in the upcoming weeks. Holla!

Don’t you love seeing the mascot jump in the pile when athletes are celebrating a major win or title? They never get any love even though they hyped up the 11th man for the whole season. You’d think a team would throw the mascot some groupie scraps like the girl with a second head or missing several fingers and toes but nope. Mascots get nothing and like it.

All glory be to failblog.org. After watching this video, you’ll gain a better understanding of why athletes want nothing to do with mascots. No one wants to catch the suck. Maybe Shaun Livingston messed with Clippers mascot Brevin Knight and got the horns.

It would be wrong not to acknowledge Clutch’s attempt to salvage what little dignity a person in a mascot outfit can have left at the end.

The guys at Odenized have found another gem. Here’s the entire Houston Rockets team trying their best to sound like their elderly teammate, Dikembe Mutombo.

The Houston Rockets got together last year to try to wish everyone a merry Christmas with their own rendition of the song “12 days of Christmas”…hilarity ensued. My only wish is that Dikembe just should have been used more.