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VIDEO: Charles Barkley and Shaq Interview Jason Collins

Jason Collins continues to impress. Collins was featured on Inside the NBA on Tuesday to discuss his historic coming. One of the first questions was from NBA legend Charles Barkley, who asked Collins how his twin brother Jarron reacted to the news.

"It was an interesting conversation because he had no idea [that] I was gay,"laughed Collins. "He was shocked and surprised. But at the end of the day he said, "Jason, you are my twin brother We are best friends. I love you and will support you."

Barkley has long supported gay rights and came out for equal marriage almost seven years ago in 2006. More in my analysis for EBONY, "Jason Collins Has “Reframed the Conversation” Around Sports, Blacks and Homophobia."

Shaquille O'Neal also joined the conversation and asked Collins about the impact of his decision on other sports. O'Neal and Dwyane Wade were among the first athletes to welcome former NBA player John Amaechi's coming out in 2007. Watch the video AFTER THE JUMP ...

VIDEO: Shaq Answers "Cut" or "Uncut?" on "Jimmy Kimmel Live"

Shaq Uncut: My Story is the title of the new memoir by basketball legend, Speedo model and gay ally Shaquille O'Neal. In case you're wondering if the 7-foot-plus Shaq is "cut" or "uncut", the big guy revealed his status on Jimmy Kimmel Live. Watch that and a cute bit about "tongue-kissing" the tv host after 2:00 WHEN YOU JUMP ...

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.

Hardaway Latest: Shaquille and Dwyane Wade Defend Gays

Former NBA guard Tim Hardaway's inflammatory comments about gays turned him into a pariah at the All-Star Weekend in Las Vegas. First, the league swiftly defused the explosive situation by "uninviting" Hardaway from numerous weekend appearances. Players took notice and no one is helping Hardaway out of the hole that he so infamously dug for himself—especially his former Miami Heat teammates who were represented in the game.

Shaquille O'Neal and Dwyane Wade, seen together here, both offered progressive, tolerant views on the questions of gays in sports. "I was always taught as a youngster to never judge people," O'Neal said. "So I never judge people, and to each their own. If he was my teammate, and people ridiculed him and jumped on him, I would probably have to protect him."

Rod 2.0 fave Dwyane Wade said a teammate's sexual orientation would not be the most important factor in their personal relationship. "Anybody who knows me knows I'm a guy who loves his teammates," D-Wade said. "And if anything ever comes up like that, I don't look at that. I look at what guys can do for you on the court. And in the locker room you have great relationships with guys. I don't have any negative views."

Heat forward Jason Kapono said Hardaway represented a minority viewpoint. "Everyone has their own views on life, and that's something that's obviously his point of view, but that's definitely not the point of view of all the rest of us."

Speaking on TNT, NBA legend Charles Barkley—who previously has supported gay athletes and same-sex marriage—rebuked Hardaway's hateful rampage: "I played with gay guys. I got gay friends. Only God can judge other people. I don't care if a person is gay or not. Any jock who thinks he's never played with a gay guy is sadly mistaken."

More reaction to Hardway's anti-gay rant from powerful team owners. Gavin Maloof, whose family owns the Sacramento Kings, announced he wouldn’t allow a player on his team who shared Hardaway’s views. “What he said was wrong,” Maloof stated. “I’m sure he’s apologized, but the damage has been done and he never should have said it.”

Finally, you knew this story had to end with nude photos of Tim Hardaway. Over the weekend, after his name was forcibly removed from the car wash he co-owns in south Florida, Hardaway was flamed and taunted on several websites , which published YouTube footage of a naked Hardaway in the locker room. Our verdict: He's okay, but certainly no Dwyane Wade, in "many" more ways than one.

Heat Stars Express Tolerance (Sun Setinel)

Tim Hardaway's car wash changes name after ''I hate'' scandal (Miami Herald)

Las Vegas welcomes All-Stars (Journal Gazette)

Charles Barkley Responds To Hardaway (Keith Boykin)

Some Background ....

NBA Reprimands Hardaway (Rod 2.0) No Coming Out Party for Amaechi (Rod 2.0) News: Will Demps on Gays (Rod 2.0) Charles Barkley on Gay Marriage (Rod 2.0) Dwyane Wade in GQ (Rod 2.0) NBA Finals: Game Two (Rod 2.0) NBA Finals: Game One (Rod 2.0) December Clikque (Rod 2.0) On the "Outside Looking In" (Rod 2.0) Out of Bounds (Rod 2.0) Rio Ferdinand Apologizes After "Faggot" Remark (Rod 2.0)

Shaquille O'Neal Witnesses Gay Bashing, Helps Nab Suspects

For any gay man who has had (a) cop fantasies involving handcuffs, (b) Shaquille O'Neal dreams or (c) both, this one's for you. We always thought Shaq was a nice guy—no matter what Kobe said—but we didn't know he was so nice and gay friendly. His Shaqness helped the Miami Beach PD collar two gay bashing suspects.

The Miami Herald reports O'Neal is actually training to become a reserve MBPD officer. Early Sunday he was driving down fabulous and gay-friendly Washington Street when he witnessed two men jump out of a car, yell gay slurs and hurl a bottle at two male pedestrians. "[Shaquille] followed the vehicle until it turned onto Palm Island,'' said police spokesman Robert Hernandez. "He flagged down the Miami Beach officer on duty there, and the officer was able to apprehend the subject." Soon, the baller will be able to make his own apprehensions; his officer training has been completed and "he's already been fitted for a uniform." Hmm.