Wow…Sheryl Swoopes likes women eh?…cool…or hot depending on how you look at it…maybe she’ll guest star on the L-Word…which is on Thursday nights at 10 pm on Showcase…and is easily the best show on Television…for obvious reasons…

Jamaal Magloire to Milwaukee for Desmond Mason…aside from killing the fantasy value of both Andrew Bogut and Magliore, it does gie the Bucks about 21½ feet of centre with Magloire, Dan Gadzuric, and Bogut….and they’re even talking about playing Magloire and Bogut together with Bogut as a high post passing centre and Magloire as the low post 4..interesting, of course with those two on the court, you’re not going to win any foot races…

Speaking of which, watch the Hornets turnaround and trade Mason to Denver for Nene…just a prediction that’s all…

Trade Rumour: Knicks send PF Malik Rose to Portland for Rueben Patterson’s Nanny…well actually just Ruben…

Portland PF Zach Randolph was late for practice again and pulled from the starting lineup as a result…Nate MacMillan layin the smackdown…

Weird…apparently Xavier University PG Dedrick Finn stole his ex-girlfriend's dog and was suspended for the team's first exhibition game. Musketeers coach Sean Miller said Wednesday he was disappointed in the senior's behavior saying: "He embarrassed our university, our program, his family and himself.” If convicted, he could be sentenced to 180 days in jail and a $1,000 fine. He is scheduled to appear in court for a pretrial hearing Nov. 28. The Musketeers play Northern Kentucky on Nov. 5 in their first exhibition game.

1) Marty Burns of SI.com with trade analysis of the Magloire Trade:

Trade analysis - Bucks likely to enjoy benefits of deal for Magloire

BUCKS GET: Jamaal Magloire -- C
04-05 G PPG RPG APG SPG FG% FT%
23 11.7 8.9 1.3 0.3 43.2 60.2

HORNETS GET: Desmond Mason – SG 2006 first-round draft pick

'04-05 G PPG RPG APG SPG FG% FT%
80 17.2 3.9 2.7 0.7 44.3 80.2

WHY THE BUCKS MADE THE DEAL - The opportunity to land a quality big man was just too enticing to pass up. In Magloire the Bucks get a 6-foot-11 former All-Star to join forces with top rookie Andrew Bogut, the underrated Dan Gadzuric and veteran Joe Smith in what suddenly looks to be one of the better frontcourts in the East. Magloire had a sub-par season a year ago, but an early injury and the Hornets' losing situation might have killed his spirit. He has only two more years on his contract (at a reasonable $8.3 million per), and he should benefit from a change of scenery. The Bucks surely will benefit from his physical defense, long arms and low-post skills. GM Larry Harris didn't want to give up Mason, but last summer's free agent acquisition of Bobby Simmons made "the Cowboy" somewhat expendable. By acquiring Magloire, Harris also keeps the talented center out of the hands of Central Division playoff rival Chicago.

WHY THE HORNETS MADE THE DEAL - Magloire had made no secret of his desire to get out of the Hornets organization, prompting all sorts of rumors about a deal to his native Toronto. New Hornets GM Jeff Bower, who recently replaced Allan Bristow, wasn't able to accommodate that request but he did succeed in moving Magloire to the Eastern Conference while still getting back some decent assets in return. Mason is an amazing athlete and good team guy who should fit in well with the Hornets' up-tempo attack. Along with Chris Paul and J.R. Smith, he will fill up the nightly highlight reels. The former Oklahoma State star also should help sell tickets in the Hornets' temporary new home of Oklahoma City. For long-term help, Bower also picked up the Bucks' 2006 first-round draft pick. For a Hornets team that is rebuilding, it could turn out to be a valuable piece.

THE BOTTOM LINE - It's usually a mistake to trade big for small, and that will probably prove to be the case here for the Hornets. Magloire, for all his untapped potential, is still a quality big man who can score in the low post. Those guys are hard to find. With the aging P.J. Brown and the unproven Chris Andersen the only decent options at center, New Orleans could find itself getting killed inside. But the Hornets aren't going to make the playoffs this year anyway, so they might as well get on with the rebuilding. Mason, one of the best dunkers in the game, will at least help keep it exciting. As for the Bucks, they now have two quality pivots in Magloire and Bogut who can provide physical play down low. With T.J. Ford, Michael Redd, Toni Kukoc, Smith and Simmons, it should be enough to get Milwaukee back to the playoffs.

2) Mike Kahn of FOXSports.com with his predictions for Rookie of the Year:

Top Rookie of the Year prospects

Yeah, Scott saw Isiah Thomas apply his craft to win two NBA titles for the Detroit Pistons. That has everything to do with why Scott fell in love with Chris Paul. "Hopefully, he can be as great as Isiah was," Scott said. "Because Isiah, I think is one of the top point guards to have ever played this game. Chris has his same type of temperament, the same kind of craftiness, and he's very competitive like Isiah was." Consequently, Scott, the coach of the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets, is handing the ball to his rookie from Wake Forest and entrusting him with the future of the team. "I put some big responsibility on that young man," Scott said. "But the one thing about Chris is that he's very mature. He has a great head on his shoulders. He's a true leader out there on the basketball court. When he gets a little bit more comfortable in his role, he'll be even more of a leader. I expect Chris Paul to be right up there for Rookie of the Year. I think he's going to have a terrific season." And while it will be tough for Paul to win the rookie prize considering the built-in problems the Hornets are dealing with having being displaced from New Orleans to Oklahoma City due to Hurricane Katrina, and challenged with youth and an overall lack of talent surrounding him, he is clearly near the top of the 2005-06 NBA rookie class. Paul, Andrew Bogut, Marvin Williams, Deron Williams and Martell Webster all figure to get plenty of playing time and battle it out for the award by the end of the year. And that's not to minimize what could happen in Charlotte with the North Carolina duo of Raymond Felton and Sean May, or to dismiss the quartet in New York of Channing Frye, David Lee, Nate Robinson and Jackie Butler.

As for a sleeper, well, keep your eye on Indiana Pacers forward Danny Granger, the steal of the first round who has the size and talent to be an exceptional small forward for a long time. So let's take a look at the top 10 prospects for winning the 2006 Rookie of the Year award and why.

1. Andrew Bogut, Milwaukee Bucks, 7-feet, 250 There's a reason why the center from Utah was the top overall pick. Besides the obvious size factor, he has great hands, touch and a feel for the game that is uncommon. To compare him to Arvydas Sabonis or Bill Walton passing the ball out of the post is a stretch, but the potential is there. The Bucks have a shot at the playoffs, too, which may depend on how quickly he develops the defensive toughness it will require playing inside.

2. Deron Williams, Utah Jazz, 6-3, 210 It was interesting that the Jazz preferred the Illinois product to Paul, perhaps because of his size and likeness to Jason Kidd. Coach Jerry Sloan loves the thought of a tough point guard, and they needed someone to hand the ball to and take over the team after going through several point guards in the first season following 19 years of the impeccable John Stockton. Because the Jazz will be so improved, and Williams will play, the 21-year-old should make an impact fast on a young team on the rise.

3. Chris Paul, New Orleans/Okla. City Hornets, 6-0, 175 The comparisons of this Wake Forest star to Isiah Thomas are palpable, but there is a long way to go. Like Thomas, his appearance belies his competitive toughness, and while Williams is bigger, Paul is quicker and a better shooter. He shot 47 percent from 3-point range in college, and his nearly 84 percent free throw percentage proves he's exceptional. The problem will be how the players around him perform.

4. Danny Granger, Indiana Pacers, 6-8, 225 Why the New Mexico star slipped to 17th in the NBA draft is a mystery and a huge bonus to a Pacers team that was already a title contender. He can shoot with range, handle the ball, and most importantly, already defend with toughness. His problem will be getting minutes on this team with Ron Artest back at an All-Star caliber level. However, there will be plenty of times when he can play up front with Artest and Jermaine O'Neal, or Artest and another center. It will be interesting to see how Rick Carlisle fits him into the rotation.

5. Marvin Williams, Atlanta Hawks, 6-9, 230 He's struggled with a knee problem in training camp and is waged in a major battle with last year's prep draft choice, Josh Smith, to start at small forward; but the Hawks didn't draft Williams second to sit around. He's got the classic size and inside-out game for the small forward position in the 21st century, and winning a title his freshman year at North Carolina gave him a dose of preparation. But like Carmelo Anthony, who had the same experience, it's still a big jump; so he's got some adjustments to make.

6. Raymond Felton, Charlotte Bobcats, 6-1, 200 The third of the terrific point guard trio in this draft, Felton is going to have to beat out veteran Brevin Knight for minutes, but it isn't as if he won't get the chance. Not the shooter that Paul is, nor the passer that Deron Williams is, he's still very good at both, strong and tough in the clutch. Plus, being the point guard on the NCAA championship Tar Heels gives him some playmaking credibility. Like Marvin Williams, it's hard to fathom he was drafted this high by a bad team that doesn't plan on playing him big minutes.

7. Martell Webster, Portland Trail Blazers, 6-7, 210 This prep star from Seattle is a pure perimeter shooter on a team that can't shoot straight; so new coach Nate McMillan just might have to bite the bullet and let Webster play through his defensive lapses just to get some shooting on the floor. Along with his obvious offensive ability, he's very bright and mature and is precisely the kind of player the Blazers need for the future. Sure, he's exceedingly young, but this is a team filled with players who skipped college. He'll play.


8. Sean May, Charlotte Bobcats, 6-9, 270 He's been struggling physically, and considering that Primoz Brezec and Emeka Okafor are young and starting, it's hard to fathom how much time he'll get. But May has an NBA game. He's got the big body, big soft hands and the pedigree from North Carolina and his father Scott. Besides, even if he doesn't start, the rotation between the three big men all but guarantees plenty of minutes for May as he gains comfort with the NBA game.

9. Channing Frye, New York Knicks, 6-11, 250 Even though coach Larry Brown prefers not to play young players, having been able to get four young players like he did — Frye, Lee, Robinson and Butler — through a full training camp, chances are one of them will make a move during the season. And it will most likely be Frye at power forward. He has a reputation for being "soft," but along with that rap, he has a very soft shot, great athleticism and a winning attitude having hailed from the University of Arizona.

10. Francisco Garcia, Sacramento Kings, 6-7, 200 The great thing about Garcia is that his coach at Louisville, Rick Pitino, went gaga over his work ethic on defense before the draft. That's the first surprise when you consider he went 23rd. Second, in a league filled with so many perimeter-challenged wingmen, how can you pass on a career 37 percent shooter from 3-point range (and an 85 percent shooter from the free-throw line)? Besides, he played three years in college, and he's a mature 23; plus, he's lying in wait should Bonzi Wells resort back to his "problem child" ways.

3) From the AP, Swoopes there it is…Swoopes there it is…Swoopes there it is:

Silent no more - WNBA MVP Swoopes opens up about lesbianism

NEW YORK (AP) -- The only thing that outshines the exquisite diamond on Sheryl Swoopes' left ring finger is the glow on her face as she discusses the love of her life. It's a love that the WNBA superstar has kept hidden for more than seven years. On Wednesday she "quit pretending," disclosing that she is gay and in a committed relationship. "I feel like I've been living a lie," the Houston Comets' star said in an interview with The Associated Press. "I'm at a place in my life right now where I'm very happy, very content. I'm finally OK with the idea of who I love, who I want to be with." Swoopes said she currently lives with her partner, former Comets assistant coach Alisa Scott. The story was first reported in ESPN the Magazine, which hit newsstands Wednesday. She also announced an endorsement deal with Olivia, a lesbian cruise line. Swoopes, the only WNBA player to win three MVP trophies, said she never had feelings for a woman before Scott and didn't understand them when they began. But in the seven years since, she said she's been "hurting" while hiding her relationship. Now, Swoopes said, she finally feels free. Swoopes is a five-time All-Star, three-time Olympic gold medalist and WNBA champion as a member of the Comets, whose run of four straight titles began when she was a rookie in 1997. While piling up accolades and accomplishments, the 34-year-old Swoopes said she dreamed about the day when she could attend an awards banquet with Scott on her arm. "We have had to celebrate behind closed doors," she said. "I don't want to have to hide from the world anymore." But that's not to say that she isn't concerned about repercussions from her admission. She worries about her mother Louise, who has known for five years, but "doesn't think it's right." "She'll probably never accept it," Swoopes said. "But she's dealing with it." And she is nervous about the response from her hometown of Brownfield, Texas, about 600 miles northwest of Houston, where cotton is king and Swoopes reigns as queen. Not to mention what people will think right down the road in Lubbock, where she brought Texas Tech it's only national championship in basketball by scoring 47 points in the final game in 1993. "I worry about the reaction throughout the country, but I really worry about Brownfield and Lubbock," she said. "Because they're both small towns and Sheryl Swoopes is a local hero. Now what? I hope it doesn't change. It's important to me." Swoopes is perhaps the highest profile team-sport athlete to come out and follows two other WNBA players. Shortly before she retired in 2002, New York Liberty player Sue Wicks became the first active WNBA player to open up about her sexuality. "I'm happy for Sheryl," Wicks said. "I think all people deserve to be able to live their lives openly and honestly, and I applaud Sheryl for her courage." Former Minnesota Lynx player Michele Van Gorp, who no longer plays in the WNBA, also came out while an active player in July 2004. No man has ever come out while still active in the major leagues of football, baseball, basketball or hockey. If an NBA ever player did, commissioner David Stern said, there'd only be one question: "How many points? How many rebounds? I think that it's a non-issue." Swoopes said her news had been well received so far. "What she does in her personal life is her own decision," Comets coach Van Chancellor said in a release. "I respect everything about Sheryl, how she's handled herself on and off the court. To me, she will always be one of the greatest ambassadors for the game of women's basketball." She has long reveled in her position as a role model and hopes that parents won't discourage their children from looking up to her because she is gay. Her wish is that her coming out could help someone dealing with the same issue. "If a kid out there who is struggling with their identity can read this article and say, 'If she did it I can deal with this,' then this is worth it," she said. Swoopes said her decision had nothing to do with the proposed Texas constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage, which is already illegal in Texas. In fact, she didn't know about it until Wednesday morning. But she said would like to one day marry Scott. (not in Texas…) "At some point I would love for that to happen," she said. "Right now I think we're very happy with the relationship we have. This is the person I plan on being with for the rest of my life." Swoopes was married to high school sweetheart Eric Jackson and the two have an 8-year-old son, Jordan. Their divorce in 1999 had nothing to do with her being gay, Swoopes said. When contemplating whether to come out, Swoopes said thoughts of Jordan were foremost in her mind. "He goes to bed every night and he's peaceful and when I see that I never question that what I'm doing is right," she said. Jackson released a statement Wednesday night through his lawyer. "I respectfully request for everyone to remember that behind this story there is an 8-year-old child who will undoubtedly receive attention because of his mother's pronouncement regarding her lifestyle," Jackson said. "Our son's well-being is my sole focus. I am completely committed to doing what is in the best interest of our child. My wish is to partner with Sheryl to support our son in light of this announcement, I want our son to know that he has two parents who love him and support him and above all else are dedicated to ensuring his mental and emotional security."

4) Chris Mihm is next…