Somewhere between Chris Paul manhandling the Dallas Mavericks’ defense and Avery Johnson being fired, people overreacted to Josh Howard admitting to smoking marijuana in the offseason. There was no outrage when Henry Abbott of True Hoop broke this story LAST YEAR (4th question from the bottom), and the flap is extremely overblown when you consider that 80 million Americans have admitted to smoking marijuana with 11 million claiming they do so on a regular basis.

Never ones to miss out on an opportunity, sportsbooks are setting odds on who will be the next NBA player to cop to smoking pot.

Odds for the next NBA player to admit smoking marijuana:
Rasheed Wallace: 2/1
Allen Iverson: 4/1
Josh Childress: 4/1
Carmelo Anthony: 10/1
LeBron James: 40/1
Shaquille O’Neal: 100/1
Dirk Nowitzki: 250/1

I don’t wanna tell the bookies how to run their business, but not having Ricky Davis, Damon Stoudamire, and Chris Anderson on the board is stupid.. Unless those guys were considered locks and there was no way to set the odds high enough.

If the wiseguys know what they’re talking about, and they usually do, Josh Howard has a fine coming from the league in his near future.

Odds on what’s next for Howard:
Fined by league: 1/2
Banned from league: 5/2
Arrest: 5/1
Rehab: 20/1
Starts company with Ricky Williams: 100/1

BoDog has one Josh Howard related prop and a ton of other NBA bets:

Will Josh Howard get traded prior to the start of the 08-09 Season?
Yes +125
No -165

Where will Mike D’Antoni be coaching at the start of the 08-09 Season?
Phoenix Suns 2/1
Toronto Raptors 2/1
New York Knicks 4/1
Other 3/1
Not Coaching 2/1

Will Carmelo Anthony be traded prior to the start of the 08-09 Season?
Yes +125
No -175

Josh Howard, marijuana, NBA, betting

A marijuana possession case against Damon Stoudamire that I assumed had been handled years ago was dismissed on Friday. Stoudamire was put in the dumb crook hall of fame in July 2003 when he allegedly attempted to walk through the Tuscon airport metal detectors with a half-ounce of the ooowweee wrapped in aluminum foil. It looks like Damon gets the last laugh though because the state of Arizona has thrown in the towel after four and a half years.

Stoudamire’s Tucson lawyer said Friday all charges have been dismissed with prejudice and cannot be refiled.

The misdemeanor possession case took more than 4½ years to conclude, including two appeals to the Arizona Supreme Court.

Under a settlement agreement with the Pima County Attorney’s office, Stoudamire successfully completed a drug rehabilitation program and urine tests proving he was drug-free.

Gotta give Mighty Mouse credit. The Man keeps coming for him, but he won’t go down. First a court rules that cops illegally searched his home when they found a large bag of weed and now this… I wonder how different his career would’ve been if Isiah Thomas hadn’t kissed him..

Looks like Zeke damages everything he touches or kisses..

Former Arizona Star Stoudamire Has Marijuana Case Dropped. Courtesy of KTAR

Tags: Damon Stoudamire, NBA, case dismissed, San Antonio Spurs, video

Anybody that can work all 32 NFL teams into a rap while preppin his inspiration gets a post from me.. I know Nychee doesn’t exactly rhyme all the time (thank you), but let’s see how steady your flow is while you’re breaking down the Kush.

More Rapping Goodness:
Jason Whitlock Gets Dissed By Rappers
Barry’s Gon Knock It Out
David Ortiz Reggaeton Star

Tags: NFL, Rap, You Tube, Sports, All 32 NFL Teams Rap

The code of conduct seems only to apply to players that have screwed up numerous times and are on the general public’s radar. The new league toughness apparently doesn’t apply to future NFL draftees. The New England Patriots drafted known head stomper Brandon Meriweather (and traded for Randy Moss). The Chiefs, Niners, Browns, Bucs, and Bills all drafted questionable character guys (Tank Tyler, Tarell Brown, Eric Wright, Tanard Jackson, and Marshawn Lynch..gulp..respectively). The Green Bay Packers signed two undrafted prospects last week.. One guy got in trouble in college for possession of marijuana and a stolen handgun, the other failed drug tests (marijuana) in Junior College and at Ole Miss.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not some tight ass that wants to see all of these “evil doers” out of the league. I believe in second chances.. Hell, even third or fourth chances depending on the offense. I think it’s wack that Goodell grandstands like he’s “mad as hell and not gonna take it anymore” when it comes to Pacman and Chris Henry, but he’ll pose for pictures on draft day with guys that violate his code.

If you can play, NFL will call. Courtesy of The Herald News

Simpson, Johnson seek redemption in Green Bay. Courtesy of Real Football 365

DIGG IT  *  DEL.ICIO.US  *  REDDIT  *  BALL HYPE

I don’t know if this is true but it seems to me that 4:20 is bigger than ever this year. Three different people told me they were having or going to 4/20 themed parties. I didn’t know or consider that 2 of these 3 people chiefed trees. This is the first year anybody I know has told me they were going to a 4/20 party.

I received 4 different chain text messages with the same general theme:

PUFF PUFF PASS! This is a cellular blunt so don’t fuck up the rotation keep this shit movin’ til the whole world hits it! Happy 4/20 

or something like this:

Row row row my blunt twist it at da end.. light it up n take a puff n pass it 2 a friend… keep dis blunt goin! Happy 420

I know text messaging is bigger than ever but this is the first time I’ve ever been texted 420 chain messages.. And speaking of chain messages, forwards, all that crap. Stop sending them to me. I hate that shit. I hate it in my email…I especially hate it on my cellphone. I wasn’t responding or forwarding the blunt messages today until I was worried that all of the 420ers knew I wasn’t “passin it to the left” and would continue to bombard me. 3 of the text messages were from people not stored in my phone. Numbers that I don’t recognize.. So I sent the last two on to some more people (that are probably pissed) and low and behold.. No more chain text. Today. I’m sure I’ll get the “If you love the Lord” or “Send this for a miracle” text tomorrow.

In honor of the people honoring 4:20, I have put together a list of some of their heroes.

Nate Newton: The former member of the Dallas Cowboys was busted with 213 pounds of the ganja back in November 2001. 5 weeks later he got caught with 175 pounds. He ended up doing 2 1/2 years in Federal prison.

 Ricky Williams: The shy, weed loving, helmet wearing in an interview, running back. He made headlines for violating the NFL’s drug policy 3 times, and retiring to avoid suspension. Sticky Ricky’s hoping to be reinstated into the league this fall.

Damon Stoudamire: Mighty Mouse has had all kinds of problems with the mean green. His most memorable arrest came when he tried to get some weed wrapped in aluminium foil through an airport metal detector. Stoudamire credits a Scott Baio after-school special for helping him kick his habit.

That’s my top 3. My Michael, Magic, and Bird. My Berry, Alba, and Union. If you have anybody you think should be in the top 3 instead of who I have, lemme know.

Speaking of marijuana. This week Pro Football Weekly reported that Georgia Tech WR Calvin Johnson, Clemson DE Gaines Adams, and Louisville DT Amobi Okoye admitted to smoking marijuana. In the past players such as Warren Sapp and Randy Moss have dropped down the draft ladder due to being associated with marijuana. This is always funny to me.

If a guy has smoked some kush in the past, he’s not worthy of being drafted in the top 10, but it’s ok to go later in the first round? General managers that draft early have more scruples than gm’s that draft later? I don’t get that. It seems the only thing the league wants to do is lower the guys signing bonus. If you go lower in the draft, your chance of going to a better team increases. Wouldn’t it be more detrimental to a top pick to wind up on the Lions rather than the Rams, Steelers, or Jaguars?

Message to draftees from the NFL: If you’re a first round stud and want to make sure you end up with the Chargers, admit to blazing the buddah a few times your senior year. You’re gonna lose a little money, but you’ll play for a winner.

Five Athletes That Enjoy 4-20. Courtesy of Sportable.com

DIGG IT  *  DEL.ICIO.US  *  REDDIT  *  BALL HYPE