The Final Score

From the Associated Press

MIAMI (AP) — When Dwyane Wade heard the plight of a South Florida woman whose nephew accidentally burned down her home — and ruined all the family's possessions — the Miami Heat star knew he had to do something.

So he helped the family move into a new home, just in time for Christmas.

Wade presented Dawn Smith with the ultimate Christmas gift on Wednesday — the keys to a her new house, along with some furnishings, clothing and gifts to make sure her family has a joyous holiday, something that didn't seem likely just a few weeks ago.

His Wade's World foundation will make some payments on the home, while Smith and her family get back on their feet.

"That's what I try to teach my kids," said Wade, whose foundation has hosted several charity events this holiday season, mostly for needy children. "It's not about what you're going to receive — it's what you can give to others from what you've received."

Smith couldn't hold back happy sobs when she saw the home for the first time.

"A big-time relief," Smith said, clearly overcome by emotion. "Thank you so much. Thank you so much. Oh, God, thank you so much."

The NBA's leading scorer this season had a simple message: "Hopefully, you'll like it."

Wade's other holiday events this year included a party for 350 children on Monday, and hosting 100 kids at Tuesday night's Heat game against the Golden State Warriors. He also donated $10,000 to each of three children's organizations, but said he was particularly touched by being able to assist the Smith family.

"We can help this family have a new beginning," Wade said.

I feel confident in stating that if you totaled up what Baumbach, Rieber and Chicago Norm have spent on clothing in their lifetimes, it would not equal $41,000.

From the Chicago Sun-Times:

When Eddy Curry wasn't wearing his Bulls uniform, he favored $1,400 cashmere sweaters and $350 dress shirts, a lawsuit filed Wednesday alleges.

Curry racked up a bill of more than $41,000 at Casual Male Retail Group, and two years later it remains unpaid, the suit says.

The company says Curry owes an additional $5,424 in interest from his 2006 shopping sprees.

''It's just a matter of him buying clothing he didn't pay for,'' said Edward Margolis, the attorney representing Casual Male and Jared M. Custom Clothing, a business popular with professional athletes that once was owned by Casual Male.

Margolis confirmed that the defendant was the former Bulls player, who is on the New York Knicks' roster.

Purchases on Curry's shopping trips, which occurred between January and April 2006, included $22,000 in suits, eight sweaters ranging from a $750 wool crew-neck to a $1,390 cashmere V-neck and more than $3,700 in ties.

From the AP:

CINCINNATI (AP) -- Police arrested Mississippi men's basketball coach Andy Kennedy early Thursday after a cab driver said the coach punched him while calling him "bin Laden" and other racial insults.

A pretrial hearing has been set for Jan. 16. Kennedy was charged with a first-degree misdemeanor count of assault, which would carry a maximum sentence of six months in jail for conviction.

Kennedy denied the allegations and his attorney, Mike Allen, entered a written plea of not guilty in Hamilton County Municipal Court on Thursday.

Kennedy, a former assistant and interim head coach at Cincinnati, was set to coach the Rebels against No. 9 Louisville in the SEC/Big East Invitational later Thursday.

"I regret this situation," Kennedy said in a statement released by Ole Miss. "The focus should be on the players and the game, not on me. I vehemently deny the charges levied against me, and am completely confident that I will be fully exonerated of all charges."

PHOENIX (AP) — Chris "Flash" Richardson, a member of the Harlem Globetrotters, died in his sleep Wednesday while on tour in Japan, an official with the team said Thursday. He was 28.

Although the cause of death was not yet confirmed, Richardson likely died of natural causes, said Globetrotters spokesman Brett Meister.

The players were at a U.S. military base in Sasebo, Japan, as part of an annual holiday tour. The Globetrotters are in their 83rd consecutive season of touring the world.

Meister said the organization was still in shock over Richardson's death.

A native of Corpus Christi, Texas, the 6-foot-7 Richardson played at UNLV and joined the Globetrotters shortly after his college career ended.

Richardson was known for his dunking skills and a genial disposition, according to Meister.

"He was a great Globetrotter on and off the court. He just had a very engaging smile that would light up the room," Meister said.

From the Chicago Tribune:

Derrick Rose of the Bulls missed Monday’s practice after he needed 10 stitches to close a gash suffered when he said he rolled onto a knife while eating an apple in bed.

"It was a silly incident," Rose said. "I was cutting up some food and I laid on a knife getting lazy in bed. I went to go get a bottle of water, came back, forgot the knife was there, then sat down and sliced my arm. I panicked when it first happened and called my trainer. It was
painful but I should be alright."

Athletic trainer Fred Tedeschi drove Rose to Highland Park Hospital shortly after 8 a.m., where doctors closed the wound.

"It was a large wound, but they healed it up," Rose said. "I'm good."

First, the Buffalo basketball team gave No. 2 UConn quite a scare in a 68-64 loss. Bet that felt like a win in Amherst.

Then, the Buffalo football team beat undefeated and No. 12 Ball State, 42-24, to win the MAC title.

David Letterman went to Ball State.

The WNBA's dispersal draft for the Houston Comets, the team with the most championships in league history, really is Monday, but of course the Knicks won't be picking because they're holding out for LeBron James in 2010.

The New York Liberty will be picking eighth based on their 2008 overall record of 19-15.

The teams with five-worst records get to play lottery. Here are their chances, out of 1,000: Atlanta Dream (420), Washington Mystics (261), Chicago Sky (167), Minnesota Lynx (76), Phoenix Mercury(76).

OK, I've named six teams. For 50 points - without looking it up - name the remaining seven.

The Cavs are, according to BetOnline.com:

Cavs 6/5

Knicks 5/2

Nets 5/1

Pistons 8/1

Lakers 15/1
Raptors 15/1

Celtics 20/1
Magic 20/1
Suns 20/1

Bucks 25/1
Bulls 25/1
Clippers 25/1
Heat 25/1
Nuggets 25/1
Rockets 25/1

76ers 30/1
Spurs 30/1

Blazers 40/1
Hornets 40/1
Jazz 40/1
Mavs 40/1
Timberwolves 40/1
Wizards 40/1

Bobcats 50/1
Hawks 50/1
Pacers 50/1

Kings 60/1

Warriors 75/1

Thunder 100/1

Grizzlies 150/1

Extra TFS bonus points to anyone who can ID the Knicks in the photo above.

Newsday's Alan Hahn reports today that the Knicks might get Marco Jaric and that "Jaric, 29, spent the offseason in New York with his fiancee, model Adriana Lima."

This is model Adriana Lima. Boy, I hope the Knicks get Marco.

... was a guarantee that he of course wouldn't hold up.