Looking at the 38-year old Shaq, the one who has played 1170 games, it is sometimes hard to remember this young, almost-nubile Shaq. It’s good to be reminded sometimes. And to feel old as we remember that this was 18 years ago.

Chris Andersen, aka “The Birdman” has always been a fine connoisseur of the Stache. Recently he only went further to increase his credibility in this respect, by adding a mustache tattoo to his fingers — just so he never gets caught out with facial hair that’s lagging on a “bad hair day”.

Check out the inimitable Trey Kerby on Ball Don’t Lie for more…

Take it away, Trey at Ball Don’t Lie:

“…because of his friendship with the greatest to ever do it — Michael Jordan, no doy — Barkley’s commentary on MJ is especially incisive. So when the Chuckster got to talking to Dan LeBatard about Jordan’s latest Hanes commercial, you knew something good was going to happen. From a transcription by Sports Radio Interviews:

“I have got to admit when I saw that commercial I had to take a double take… That is one of the stupidest things that I have seen in a long time. First of all, I can’t believe that they let that commercial get on the air like that. I mean in making commercials, they have got little ladies there making sure the cheese is right. When I am shooting the Taco Bell commercial they have got this little woman making sure that every cinnamon twist and every piece of cheese is in order and now they let my man get on TV with that terrible mustache. I was totally in shock and just, I just can’t believe that. That is really not good at all.

As usual, Chuck is right and hilarious. That really is a terrible mustache. And when you consider that Jordan’s made a few appearances on the cover of America’s premier men’s style magazine, this mistake is even more galling.”

Tell it like it is, Chuck.

[The original video]

Guillermo is short and Mexican. He does not have much in common with the NBA stars. He clings to the only thing he has which is speaking Spanish with Pau.

You know at the beginning of the NFL season, how everyone keeps track of who is undefeated and then compares them to the 1972 Dolphins. Then, when the team eventually loses, all of the players from that team throw a party. I think Kenny did them same thing every time he watched an NBA Finals game. I know that is a lot of parties, but what else is he going to do. He is retired from the NBA. He hangs around Charles Barkley. The TNT gig is ovah for the year. etc…

Anyways, this video is hilarious. I explains why Ray Ray broke the record, and why the Celtics won the game.

So, the NBA Finals are upon us. This is the moment that culminates the season we’ve been mentally invested in since October (at the very least). There are previews, opinions and analysis pieces all over the interwebs, talking about the matchup between the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers — contemplating the relative merits of each team and discussing whether the 2008 champs can defeat the 2009 victors, or vice versa.

Jeff Fox at Hoops Manifesto (he also writes at SLAM) approached a group of writers for their rankings on the top 10 players in the NBA Finals. Whilst we wait for the compilation of that piece, I thought I’d provide you with my rankings, along with some small pieces of commentary. Feel free to contribute your own ideas, or shoot mine down in flames — just don’t expect me to agree!

1. Kobe Bryant

There is no better player in the game when it comes to the Finals. Who else would you want with a game on the line?

EA Sports has been doing a great job, as they develop and promote their new iteration of NBA JAM, of involving the public in the process. The ultimate consumer is the one that you want to keep happy — and by letting fans vote on players to be included, they took a great first step on that path.

Now, the team have decided to let the public be involved in choosing some of those iconic phrases to be included in the game. You know, the likes of “Kaboom!”, “Monster Jam!” and “He’s On Fire!” could be created by you and voted upon by your peers… that is pretty cool when you think about it. It’s rare that gamers get this much input into the game development process (generally because it’s just not viable).

Through their Facebook page, NBA JAM are giving you the chance to vote upon a Final 64 bracket of NBA JAM phrases to be included in-game and voiced by Tim Kitzrow, the original voice of NBA JAM. The bracket is separated into four sub-brackets and includes some pretty imaginative and catchy phrases.

Some of the better ones include: “Objection Sustained!”, “Dropping Dimes Like A Clumsy Cashier!”, “No Shoot For You!” and “Take That Global Warming!” (for on fire situations). Head on over to the page and vote for your favorites.

The developer, Trey Smith, recently talked about the progress of the game’s development: