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Dallas Mavericks' Tim Thomas Accused of Anti-Gay Slurs, Brawl

The Dallas Police Department reports Dallas Mavericks reserve forward Tim Thomas is an assault suspect in a brawl that occurred early this morning at a Denny's. Reportedly, the NBA player, another man, and three women responded to a greeting from 29-year-old Daniel Pettie by calling him "faggot". The incident escalated into a brawl involving a fistfight and throwing chairs.

The Dallas Morning News has the play-by-play:

Pettie told The Dallas Morning News that someone else -- not Thomas -- threw the chair. He said that when he and his friends passed by Thomas’ table and he addressed the player by saying, “What’s up?” Thomas responded that that he didn’t talk to “faggots.” Pettie told The News that when he passed Thomas’ table again, Thomas made another remark derogatory remark about gays.“I asked one of the guys, ‘What the hell did you say?’ ’’ Pettie said. “As Tim continued to instigate the situation, one of the guys hit me in my mouth. Another one of his friends hit me. They pushed me down onto a table.” Pettie says he picked up a chair to defend himself. One of the men who hit him in the face then picked up a chair and threw it, he said. Pettie said he caught the chair, but not before it hit [a woman].

He said Thomas then yelled out that the police had been called and that it was time to leave. Pettie said of the confrontation: "It was juvenile. It was like a bunch of high school kids. It reminded me of high school. The popular kids picking on lower classmen. That’s how they acted. (Thomas) acted like a big bully kid in high school. Pettie said that he is not gay, but that some of the friends who were with him are lesbian."

Roger Emrich, a sports reporter for KRLD radio, was eating in the Denny's at the time and witnessed the fight. Emrich said the fight involved companions of Thomas but not the player. Emrich says he never heard Thomas utter an anti-gay slur, which is disputed by witnesses and the police report.

On Halloween, another Mavericks player, Drew Gooden, was accused of calling a Los Angeles Clippers fan and his friend "faggots" at the Staples Center.

The Background:
Mavericks' Drew Gooden Accused of Calling Fans "Faggots"

Kobe Bryant Does Tom Ford in "GQ"

Since Ron Artest had his turn earlier, it's time for Kobe Bryant to return to heavy rotation. The NBA superstar and basketball diva is featured in the GQ Men of the Year issue. And as always Kobe looks like a million bucks. Damn him.

The editorial features a ridiculously fabulous Kobe in Dolce & Gabbana (top) and Tom Ford (below) including the Pharrell-inspired Tom Ford eyewear look. The editorial was photographed by Peggy Sirota who recently lensed the newly sexed up Zac Efron and Nate Gill for the same magazine.

On last night's Jimmy Kimmel: Fellow Laker Ron Artest—shirtless and wearing his "sexy" boxer shorts—described watching Kobe emerge from the locker room showers. "Steam was just coming from Kobe's body. Only Kobe can do that."

Kobe's megawatt smile and a few more images WHEN YOU JUMP.

WATCH: Ron Artest, Shirtless and in Boxer Shorts, on "Jimmy Kimmel"

For today's sexy: Lakers forward Ron Artest appears on Jimmy Kimmel Live shirtless and in "sexy" boxer shorts. After some light banter and a marriage proposal from Kimmel—"Don't worry," the talk show host assures him. "I'll be the wife wink wink"—Ron Ron explains his outfit. "Sometimes I just do this .... wear sexy boxer shorts like this. But I'm not 'freeballing', I'm wearing underwear underneath." The baller stood up and modeled front and rear gave a peek of what was in his "pockets".

There's also a cute bit about Ron Ron having a conversation with Kobe Bryant in the shower and "steam was coming from Kobe's body. Only Kobe can do that." I know that's right....

For your enjoyment more screencaps and watch the two part interview WHEN YOU JUMP. Thanks Ravenback and Chris Cruz.

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Dwight Howard Covers "SLAM"

Your first look at the cover of the February 2010 SLAM that features a stunning Dwight Howard on the cover. Dwight and his crazy muscles were last seen on the cover of ESPN's "Body Issue" which featured a number of nude and semi-nude Rod 2.0 faves. ...

Dallas Mavericks' Drew Gooden Accused of Calling Fans "Faggots"

Only days after Kansas City Chiefs running back Larry Johnson was suspended for using anti-gay slurs, another professional athlete has been accused of doing the same thing. Dallas Mavericks player Drew Gooden is accused by a Los Angeles Clippers fan of calling him and his friend "faggots" at Staples Center after Saturday night's game, Outsports reports.

The fan, actor Chris Wylde, who is married and not gay, is a Clippers season ticket holder and was sitting with his friend close to the Mavericks' bench during Dallas' 93-84 NBA win. The 28-year-old Gooden, a seventh-year player signed by Dallas this season, was in street clothes after an injury. Wylde said that Gooden made eye contact with them during the game, but no words were exchanged. He also says that Mavericks owner Mark Cuban "winked at us and pointed" during the game because both men were in Halloween costumes.

Wylde elaborated on Gooden's outburst in an email to Outsports:

"My friend and I have been season ticket holders for the Clippers for eight seasons. Last night was Halloween, and he dressed up as longtime Clippers announcer Ralph Lawler and I dressed up as an airline pilot. We were upgraded to courtside Row 2, adjacent to the Mavs bench. We were maybe 10 feet away. All game, we loudly proudly rooted for our Clippers. We threw in some silly good-natured jibes against the Mavs (nothing against Gooden specifically) like how they have a short backup point guard, and that Dirk Nowitzki clearly had a fake tan. Is it a spray? Is it a cream? That sort of stuff. Very silly. Very innocent. But 95% pro-Clippers loudness.

"After the game we went to the souvenir shop and my friend said he wanted to check if one of the kiosks had a particular jersey he was looking for, so he headed back through the stadium and I followed a few feet behind. I saw him look shocked and turn to me, then I heard from Drew Gooden who was surrounded by three or four guys walking past me and pointing to me, 'there's that other faggot.' He had said 'there's that faggot' about my friend and that's why he turned to me shocked. It was completely unsolicited. We said nothing to him during the game, or in the hallway. He just called us both 'faggots' because he's a bigoted spoiled bully."

Wylde emailed Mark Cuban and the Mavericks' owner replied he would "deal w Drew." Cuban told Outsports he is seeking confirmation of what Gooden said "and that if he took any action, it would stay private."

Wylde tells Outsports he has known many gay people and has heard homophobic slurs hurled their way. "I do strongly feel that Drew Gooden and other professional athletes should not be walking around after games loudly referring to anyone, gay or straight, as a faggot," Wylde said. "I've been out with gay friends and been verbally assaulted with them. I've heard their stories before and it sickens me."

Maybe Drew Gooden will say he didn't know "faggot" was an offensive word?

Magic Johnson Blames Isiah Thomas for Gay Rumors

The longtime feud between basketball greats and former good friends Earvin "Magic" Johnson and Isiah Thomas has escalated. The former Knicks president is lashing out at Johnson over accusations that Thomas spread rumors around the NBA that Johnson was gay, bisexual or on the "down low" after Johnson was diagnosed HIV in 1991.

The claims are made by Johnson in When the Game Was Ours, which he co-wrote with Larry Bird and author Jackie MacMullan. The book will be released on Nov. 4 and Thomas, now the head coach at Florida International University, slammed the player who he famously used to kiss before games in an interview with SI.com.

Magic's most shocking accusation is that Thomas was responsible for spreading rumors that Johnson was gay or bisexual after Johnson tested positive for HIV, forcing his retirement at age 32. "Isiah kept questioning people about it,'' Magic says. "I couldn't believe that. The one guy I thought I could count on had all these doubts. It was like he kicked me in the stomach.''

"Magic acted and responded off some really bad information that he got,'' Thomas went on. "Whatever friendship we had, I thought it was bulls--- that he believed that. Let me put it to you this way: If he and I were such close friends, if I was questioning his sexuality, then I was questioning mine too. That's how idiotic it is.''

The book's main source for this allegation is Magic's longtime agent, Lon Rosen, who says Thomas told him in 1991, "I keep hearing Magic is gay.'' "C'mon, Isiah, you know Earvin better than anyone,'' Rosen replies. "I know,'' Thomas answers, "but I don't know what he's doing when he's out there in L.A.''

Thomas denied that conversation. "I don't know Lon like that,'' he said, adding that he reached out to Johnson at the time. "I remember calling Magic and saying [of the allegations that he was rumor-mongering], 'You know that's some bulls---.' ''

Magic declined to be interviewed for this story. Rosen, speaking on behalf of his client, said he and Magic stand by everything attributed to them in the book.

Thomas says that as president of the players' association, he made it possible for Magic to return in 1992 to the All-Star Game and told players: "And I was the first to shake his hand and hug him and give him a kiss, to let people know that's not how the virus is spread."

Thomas also says his brother, Gregory, died of AIDS five years ago.

Johnson's news that he tested HIV-positive became an international story in 1991 and was credited with somewhat helping de-stigmatize HIV/AIDS. Johnson has steadfastly maintained he tested positive after promiscuous heterosexual sex, but at the time that was not a common source of seroconversion in the United States. For what it's worth, rumors were floating around about Johnson before the announcement. It seems odd that Johnson would blame Thomas.

Prosecution Rests in Murder Trial of Anti-Gay Closeted Pastor

This afternoon, the prosecution has rested in the North Carolina trial of a formerly closeted anti-gay Pentecostal minister accused of killing a woman in his congregation. Prosecutors say Robert Reaves was rebuffed after making sexual advances toward a former college basketball star who rented a room from him ... so he stalked and killed the man's girlfriend in revenge.

Prosecutors spent five days laying out their case that Reaves killed Latrese Curtis in a jealous rage because he viewed her as an obstacle to his sexual advances toward his roommate, Steven Randolph. Randolph testified that Reaves approached him about being a male escort and offered him free rent in exchange for sexual favors. Randolph said he refused the offers and got a gun to show that he was serious. Jurors also heard testimony from two other men about Reaves' alleged pattern of sexual advances toward young men and his anger when they rejected him. Also on Monday, an investigator testified that Reaves told him he never left his home the night of Jan. 29.

WRAL reports this testimony of a Brinks Security expert: "The security company also provided tapes of Reaves’ request to upgrade his security system. On the call, Reaves told a Brinks representative that he wanted to know when his roommate was coming and going."

Reaves, who has twice been charged with sexual misconduct with young boys, is facing one count of first degree murder. Prosecutors say they will not seek the death penalty against the former minister of the fundamentalist Cedar International Fellowship in Durham.

Reaves' defense attorneys say their client does not plan to testify. That's probably for the best ... although we're still interested in hearing why Randolph bought a gun as opposed to moving.

The Reaves Trial on Rod 2.0:
Closeted Anti Gay Bishop on Trial for Revenge Murder
Opening Arguments in Trial of Closeted Anti-Gay Minister
Roommate Says Pastor Offered Free Rent for Oral Sex

First Look: Nude Dwight Howard Covers ESPN's "Body Issue"

The cover art for ESPN The Magazine's first ever "The Body Issue" is fantastic. Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard is one of six nude or semi-nude covers that will hit newsstands October 9. Vikings hotness Adrian Peterson is another cover and among the 30 athletes posing in the buff.

Tim Hardaway Helping LGBT Youth, Still Won't Shower with Gays

Former Miami Heat guard Tim Hardaway, who destroyed his post-NBA career by proudly declaring on radio "I hate gay people" when former pro-basketball player John Amaechi came out, has been working with LGBT youth and will co-sponsor a Miami Beach fundraiser for The Trevor Project, reports the Miami Herald's Steve Rothaus. Hardaway still is obsessed with the prospect of gay players in the showers. 

"Gays and lesbians, we don't have to accept the act, but we have to accept them as people. Especially children, we don't want them to kill themselves. We want them to live their lives as they want to," said Hardaway, who took several training sessions at YES Institute, a local anti-suicide group for gay youth. After the anti-gay rant, Hardaway lost his advertising endorsements and income. "The endorsements will never come back. People have taken that and it's gone. I understand that. I'm trying to look for work and provide for my family," he said. "All that stuff has left me high and dry. I have to dig for work. Hardaway has repeatedly apologized for what he said, but still wants to know who's gay in the locker room: 'We have a right to know. We'd say, `How do you want to do this? Do you want to go into the shower first, or do you want me to go into the shower'"

Some people are fighting for LGBT youth and their right not to be harassed, others, well, they're fighting for the "right to know" who is in the locker room. Thanks for asking, Timmy. Sounds like you have some experience in these negotiations.

Shaq Loses Bet and Models the Latest in Hot Pink Speedo Fashion

Shaquille O'Neal joins the ever-expanding universe of "reality" television with the debut of his new show Shaq Vs.

Shaq played Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh in a game of beach volleyball and promised on Twitter to "wear a pink Speedo"  if he lost. Losing would be an understatement, notes Outsports' Cyd Zeigler, who says the "only saving grace" of the episode was "Shaq's sense of humor, which led him to his walk down the beach in a pink bikini. Even if he did pick some remote beach to do it on, the cameras caught it all."

Shaq has Tweeted that "my butts 2 big 2 fit in da seat" at certain amusement park rides, so the shot of his rather ample assets may interest some. Watch the video and the view from the rear, WHEN YOU JUMP.