Quote: : Ben was always a professional with the Bulls. He treated people maybe the best of everyone on the team. He was always a standup guy with the media and never made excuses. He basically came to play and did the best with what he had. I thought the rap about no defense was overrated. There aren’t many guys in the NBA who are great or even good defenders. He wasn’t Michael Jordan, which everyone labors under at some point with the Bulls. Remember when he was a rookie and making all those ga...

http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/insider/ ... id=4308510 This article appears in the July 13th issue of ESPN The Magazine. Santonio Holmes needs a haircut. Just a few days after winning Super Bowl MVP honors, the Steelers receiver is backstage, prepping to appear on Live! with Regis and Kelly, his pin-striped suit jacket on a nearby hanger. A production assistant comes in with a thick brush. Holmes shakes his head, laughs. "Tell them they got some black people up in here," he says, smiling and pat...

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/eticket/story?page=090511/billups     It's a long read, but if you don't you're missing out.  My respect for him just increased even more.     ENVER -- One of Chauncey Billups' ex-teammates -- and there are about a hundred of them -- has his nose pressed against a TV set. The Denver Nuggets have just called time, in the middle of a tight playoff game, and the ex-teammate can't help but notice Chauncey rounding up all the players, all the misfits and flakes, and pok...

One of Chauncey Billups' ex-teammates -- and there are about a hundred of them -- has his nose pressed against a TV set. The Denver Nuggets have just called time, in the middle of a tight playoff game, and the ex-teammate can't help but notice Chauncey rounding up all the players, all the misfits and flakes, and poking a finger in their chests. If only these Nuggets understood the history behind this -- because there are pieces of Chauncey Billups strewn all over the league. He might have just r...