The LeBrons Return for Season 2

With the success of last year’s Nike ad campaign for LeBron James Zoom shoes, “The LeBron’s” are back for another season. The campaign features four characters once again, Wise LeBron, Business LeBron, Athlete LeBron and Kid LeBron in a cross promotional push invading television, internet and print.

The actual shoe they’re promoting is LeBron’s Zoom LeBron IV which hits stores on November 16. The 30 and 60-second television spots began running last weekend and will cover ESPN.com and MTV.com this week. Nike also setup an interactive “Ask the LeBrons” game at Nike Basketball as well as downloadable version of the commercials, contests, video games and other items for all you LeBron James fiends.

Will Smith Interested in Buying 76ers

Well, he’s not going to do it by himself, but Will Smith is part of an invest group that is vying to purchase the Philadelphia 76ers. The group was organized by Julius “Dr. J” Erving and a source told the Philadelphia Inquirer that the winning bid for the team will most likely exceed $450 million.

Smith’s invest group is still competing with four other investment groups while a venture capital fund led by Ian Berg and Wayne Kimmel dropped out of the race for team ownership.

The team is currently owned by Comcast Spectator and if Smith’s group wins the bid at the end of year he will join Jay-Z (New Jersey Nets), Usher (Cleveland Calvaliers) and Nelly (Charlotte Bobcats) in owning a piece of an NBA franchise. So is this kind of like the reverse of athletes releasing albums – artists buying NBA franchises?

Shaq Participates in Botched Child Porn Raid

We’ve talked about it in the past, Shaquille O'Neal's love for law enforcement, but hopefully he can get with smarter officers. Apparently Shaq-diesel was present when the Bedford County Sheriff’s Department in Virginia conducted a raid on A.J. Nuckols’ home, an innocent man.

In a letter to the Chatham Star-Tribune Nuckols said that, “Men ran at me, dropped into shooting position, double-handed semi-automatic pistols pointed at me, and made me put my hands against my truck. I was held at gunpoint, searched, taunted, and led into the house. I had no idea what this was about. I was scared beyond description.”

Shaq has denied being there, albeit with a smile on his face, and Nuckols said he didn’t see Shaq in his house but Bedford County Sheriff's Lt. Michael Harmony confirmed to The Associated Press that O'Neal was there. It wasn’t until after the raid that the officers found that they had been given the wrong IP address, which investigators use to find the physical location of the computer. The Sheriff’s Department did apologize for the mistake but Nuckols still filed a complaint which has yet to be resolved. Last week the Sheriffs found the right perpetrator, but there was no word if Shaq was the 7”1’ 325-pound Black man in the corner.

Kendall Gill to talk up Chicago Bulls

Now that former NBAer Kendall Gill is taking a break from his professional boxing career (homeboy is 3-0 ya’ll), he’s getting into the broadcast booth for Comcast SportsNet to cover the bulls this season.

"This is a great opportunity for me," Gill told the Chicago Tribune whose previous TV experience included stints on TNT. "It is good to come on board when [the Bulls] are good. I wish we could have been that good when we played. This should be fun. This new kid, Tyrus Thomas ... I hear he's got highlight-film talent. The team is starting to jell now."

Gill played in the NBA for 15 years including 2003-04 with the Bulls. And all though he’s doing the broadcasting thing, and looks to fight again next summer (as well as do some promoting), he’s still open to getting back on the court. Gill, who is 38, said he was invited to the NBA camp of a losing team, but said if he’s going play again, he wants a shot at the title. It worked for Gary Payton, not so much for Karl Malone.

Vince Young’s face on your VISA

For you die-hard Vince Young fans, NetSpend has finally released its new Vince Young All-Access Visa Prepaid Card, a reloadable debit, gift and travel card. The card can be purchased for $9.95 at NetSpend agents in Texas and Tennessee and beginning November 28, the card will be available at www.netspend.com .

"Growing up, we used cash, and I wish that my family had access to NetSpend's financial services back then," Young said. "With NetSpend's prepaid cards, I can access and save money on my terms -- no debt, no strings attached and without the worry of carrying cash around. My partnership with NetSpend gives me the opportunity to convey the message of financial empowerment to a broad audience.”

NetSpend's Vince Young Prepaid Card features the Tennessee Titans quarterback sporting his trademark skull cap, diamond stud and number 10 jersey, along with his autograph. He’s just staring at you while you spend your loot.