Shaq having trouble memorizing Cavs playbook. Somebody may need to get Shaquille O’Neal some flashcards. With the start of the regular season less than a week away, the Cavaliers new center is admitting he’s still having some trouble learning the offense. It is a different system from what’s he been used to during much of his career and he’s struggling a bit remembering and executing some of the plays. “It is vital that I start to memorize the plays” O’Neal said. “I’ve been used to a certain system for 17 years so I have to work on that. I still have a few days before we start.” – Cleveland Plain Dealer

Kobe: I didn’t break up Lakers dynasty. These days, Phil Jackson will say Kobe Bryant got a “bad rap” for the breakup of the dynasty. “Kobe had to take some heat for that, as if he was the one who manufactured that (Shaquille O’Neal) trade,” Jackson said. “All those things were made to look like there was a scapegoat in this situation, and there wasn’t.” Kind words do not, according to Bryant, convey that message as well as Jackson’s action – which was, simply, to return to his place as Bryant’s coach. “It says a lot,” Bryant said. “When everything went down a few summers ago, everybody was pointing the finger at me because I re-signed. So people asked me about it and I told them, ‘I had nothing to do with it.’ They didn’t believe me. “They asked me, ‘Well, should you clarify … ‘ What the hell more clarification could I do?” – OC Register

LeBron James wants to dunk on former President. Maxim magazine recently asked LeBron James, “If there was one guy on the planet you could dunk on, who would it be?” His response might produce as much reaction on Capitol Hill as on the basketball court. “If it doesn’t have to be a basketball player, George W. Bush,” James said. “I would dunk on [him], break the rim and shatter the glass.” – LA Times

Source: Foxsports