Barry Bonds, Reality Star

Just when you’re thinking Barry Bonds needs to be just a little be weirder and a little less relatable, he goes out and raises the bar even higher.

Channeling his inner-Dennis Rodman, Bonds showed up at Giants training camp in Scottsdale, Ariz., dressed like American Idol judge Paula Abdul for a skit called ‘Giants Idol’ in which Giants rookies had to sing before a three-judge panel. The event raised $337 from fans, or roughly the amount Bonds earn to scratch himself inappropriately on the sideline.

But lest you think Bonds’ cross-dressing exploration (“sheerly a comfort thing" we’re told) was a standalone act of strangeness, understand that it was actually a double-play with that particular version of American bizarreness known as reality television.

Bonds recently announced that he has a deal with ESPN Original Entertainment for his own reality show that would showcase his chase for baseball’s all-time home run record. Turns out his Abdul theatrics were the first day of taping. Although the show sounds, um, interesting, along with the taping of the show comes some requirements that’s ruffled the feathers of the media.

Because of the show, Bonds is requiring anyone who wants a one-on-one interview with him to sign a release waiver to allow any and all footage of the interview to appear on his ESPN reality show. The funny thing is; ESPN (which is different than ESPN Original Entertainment) said that its reporters would not sign the waivers. We don’t know, but as far as we know, ESPN is ESPN; it’s a brand owned by Disney.

Look for the show, aptly titled “The Season" to hit one of those Disney-owned channels this year.

Will it be any good? Well, ‘Deuce Bigalow, European Gigalo’ star Rob Schneider was taking BP on the first day of filming and anything he’s attached to can only be gold.

Usher Makes an Appearance

After many questions regarding Usher and his involvement with the Cleveland Cavaliers, the R&B singer made an appearance at the team’s Feb. 21 game against the Orlando Magic.

Word around camp is that Usher is trying to get back in good with the organization after apparently failing to fulfill his investment agreement. Unlike the games he came to last season, Usher was not recognized on the big screen and none of his music was played during the game.

Usher needs to hurry up and make another album to pay those bills! Plus, we just need another dope R&B album.

Gilbert Arenas’ Adidas Blackout

If you watched the All-Star Game, you may have noticed that Gilbert Arenas covered up his fresh adidas logo with tape and a "0" written over it. The gesture was in protest to the agreement between Arenas and the shoe company.

"When I first signed my deal [in 2003], they said if I made the All-Star Game in the first three years, we could rip up this contract and sign a new one," Arenas told ESPN.com last week. "Well, I made it last year and they blew me off, and nothing has happened this year either. All I want is to get my face out there. If I'm the last person on the totem pole, just tell me I'm not in your future -- don't keep my hopes and dreams up."

So he did the whole tape-over-the-adidas-logo thing in protest. But little did he know, his agent, Dan Fegan was working overtime behind the scenes trying to iron out a new deal to surprise Arenas. The deal would have Arenas promote a shoe called the “Pirhana” in the fall and then release his own signature shoe “The Zero” in Dec., 2006.

Can you get a piece of tape with “My bust” on your Wizards jersey, Gil?

"We still weren't done negotiating, and I was waiting until it was done to surprise Gilbert with the company's commitment to him," Fegan told ESPN.com about the new deal. "Well, it obviously backfired."

In Arenas’ defense, we don’t think anyone knew he had a deal with Adidas, unlike Tracy McGrady (not to mention Ricky Davis' hot deal with, um, Pony).

Randy Moss Gets Juiced

After a wack season with the Oakland Raiders, who wouldn’t want some juicy fruit-filled smoothies? Randy Moss has partnered with Inta Juice, a national juice bar franchise based in Ft. Collins, Colo., by investing in the company and joining as an executive, board member and key decision maker. With Moss onboard, the company hopes to open 100 stores nationwide by the end of 2006 and double its size by 2008.

"I love both the taste and the healthy choices available with Inta Juice,” Moss said in a statement. “I'm really looking forward to contributing something positive to my community.”

Moss first tasted the fresh fruitiness when he played with the Vikings and visited an Inta Juice spot in Eden Prarie, Minn. He plans to open his first franchise in his hometown of Charleston, Va. in May.

How’s about one to wipe that snarl off Al Davis’ face?

Snoop Dogg Launches Gaming League

Now that the football season is over, Snoop Dogg is no longer playing with kids but superstar athletes and celebs. Over All-Star weekend in Houston, Snoop launched the Hip-Hop Gaming League, a video game tournament that pits athletes against hip-hop stars. Already signed up for the tournament is Carmelo Anthony, Chad Johnson, Cobi Jones, Method Man, Jalen Rose , Twista, B-Real, Paul Wall and others.

"I’m an initiator, you dig?" Snoop said in some weird fake TV press conference rolled out by the folks at HHGL. "This is something I’ve been cultivating in my mind for some time."

The participants will compete against each other on Xbox 360s playing Madden '06 and some basketball game they didn’t announce. The whole situation and planning for the tournament is weird and confusing but you can try to make sense of it yourself at http://hhgl.ggl.com.

Hines Ward to Judge Anti-Tobacco Flicks

Winning the Super Bowl MVP awards you all types of accolades: a new car, some cool endorsement deals and judging video contests. The Steelers Super Bowl MVP Hines Ward along with Phillies’ Randy Wolf has been tapped to judge the “U Make the Cut” video contest, where students of Pennsylvania high schools are competing to make the most original and creative video shorts of how tobacco hurts your performance.

"Off of the football field, I'm a movie buff, so I'm very excited to review the videos students have come up with," Ward said in a statement. "As a professional athlete, I know how important it is to take care of your health. I could never have come this far in my career if I used tobacco. I'm glad to be able to take part in this contest and spread the anti-tobacco message to both teens and adults." One winner will be picked from each region of Pennsylvania (central, eastern and western), and each winning team will receive an electronic prize package worth $5,000 which can include computers, MP3 players, digital cameras, and other items. How about Steelers season tickets? For more info and to view some of the videos check out www.umakethecut.com.