"Magic has always been one of the most accomplished people in every field he has endeavored. He was an incomparable player and has become one of the best NBA analysts in the business. His unique insights, perspective and personality will be the perfect complement to Stuart (Scott), Mike (Wilbon) and Jon (Barry)," said [NORBY!] Williamson.

"I am thrilled to be a part of the ESPN family. I look forward to working with a great team and covering all the big NBA events," said Johnson. "Christmas Day can't come soon enough for me."

3SOB: It was reported that you played the devil's advocate on the O.J. Mayo trade. What were the reasons against the trade and what arguments were being made in favor of it?

MI: I think again another healthy situation. Here we are in what used to be called the war room but here we are in the draft night and frankly I think it was positive. We said let's look at everything. Now if someone wants to brand me the devil's advocate as several people were saying that is fine. I've never been a sheep. Mr. Heisley has never been a sheep. Heisley has always led by leading and I am the same way. Obviously, foremost on my mind is that we were a young team and we were going to get younger. Like it or not I tend to develop affinities for players in my corner and one of those players was Mike Miller.

Former NBA guard Doug Christie and his wife have called for as much to help out in this time of financial distress. The couple put out a press release late Tuesday to announce that they will purchase 3,000 shares of corporate stock to help with what they termed "the AIG financial crisis." In addition to their cash, the release said, "the Christie ... have graciously used their star appeal to bring awareness to the issue."

The Christies kept their word, and then some. A representative for the couple said that on Wednesday the Christies bought 3,000 shares of American International Group, 1,000 shares of computer maker Apple and 1,000 shares of online retailer Amazon.com.

Fact is, there has been a momentous decline in Warriors information -- again, every team for that matter -- in papers. That doesn't sit well with the NBA or its teams, which have lost big-time coverage in recent years. Or real fans, of course.

The logical progression, and solution, however, has been a monumental headache. What to do with those (us?) bloggers?

Back when Dumbgate first broke, an early ESPN report by Chris Broussard on the Mario Chalmers-Darrell Arthur rookie camp bust mentioned Michael Beasley had been in the hotel room as well. Beasley's name was quickly yanked from the story without notation ... but not before the Kansas City Star (and others) caught a glimpse. The Star story which cited the presence of Beasley's name has since left the internet (it is more than two weeks old, and has apparently gone to paywall heaven), but The Pitch, a Kansas City weekly, has also documented the turn of events for posterity.

In comments to The Pitch, ESPN director of PR Crystal Howard said the reference was pulled when editorial staff decided his connection was "hearsay." She also noted no apology or correction would be offered. It seemed weird: ESPN connected Beasley, however briefly, to fairly notorious scandal based on supposed "hearsay," but refused to acknowledge the mistake in doing so on its own pages?

Of course, Beasley has since been fined $50,000 by the league for his involvement in the incident and his lack of cooperation in the investigation. ESPN has not run from it: an Associated Press account of the news remains a top NBA ESPN headline, and Henry Abbott has written a lengthy post on the matter. (I'm not aware of what flavor of TV coverage the story received Thursday evening and Friday morning.) But Broussard clearly had something two weeks ago when he mentioned Beasley's name, and Abbott confirms this by noting all the rumors he has heard over the weeks from NBA sources.

Beasley happens to be featured in an editorial series for ESPN.com dubbed "The Rookie." It's a series of webisodes which will take viewers though Beasley's premiere NBA season. The first vids were published around the time of the June draft. Obviously, ESPN has a relationship with Beasley. It's obviously in Beasley's interest (whether he realizes it or not) to keep a clean nose in the public eye (ask J.R. Smith, contracts don't write themselves). Could Beasley's camp exert pressure to quiet the world's leading sports journalism outfit from sniffing on a tenuous story? It's possible.