Derrick Rose could bring rape case PR nightmare to Knicks

The newest member of the New York Knicks, Derrick Rose, is bringing more than just his talent to the NBA team and, if the former MVP's sexual battery case goes to trial Oct. 4, the first day of preseason and Rose is liable, the Knicks organization could start the season with a PR nightmare.

Outside of suffering numerous injuries with the Chicago Bulls, the star point guard has been accused in a lawsuit of drugging and gang raping a woman along with two of his close friends.

The woman, identified as "Jane Doe" in the suit which was filed in 2015, claims that Rose and two of his friends entered her California apartment and gang raped her in August of 2013.

The 27-year-old Rose denied the allegations but did acknowledge that he had a consensual sexual relationship with the woman. 

In court documents, the woman claims that she became involved, both romantically and sexually, with Rose at a party he was hosting in Los Angeles in October of 2011. The woman, who is suing for $21.5 million in damages, says that she was attracted to Rose because he was "quiet, shy and reserved."

However, she says in the lawsuit that the former Chicago Bulls player's sexual demands made her uncomfortable.

The woman says the 2008 first round NBA draft pick reportedly asked her to have sex with him and one of his friends named Randall Hampton in 2013. 

Hampton along with the point guard's childhood friend, Ryan Allen, are also named in her lawsuit as defendant and was first filed in Los Angeles Superior Court before being transferred to federal court.

  

The trial was scheduled for October 4 by U.S. District Court Judge Michael W. Fitzgerald. That is also the same day that the NBA preseason tips off.

  

The Knicks have yet to comment about the lawsuit against Rose. 

LeBron James wants an ‘I can’t breathe’ t-shirt for Cavs-Nets game: Report

While many eyes will be looking up at a heavily guarded private suite occupied by members of the royal family at Barclays Center Monday night, one member of NBA royalty will try and get people to notice him as a man of the people down below during pre-game warmups.

LeBron James said he is looking for a way for a way to protest the Eric Garner decision, and wants to get a "#I can't breathe" t-shirt to wear before the Cavaliers take on the Nets.

Britain's Prince William and his pregnant wife, Duchess Kate Middleton, will be in attendance for the game featuring King James himself on this already over-hyped night.

James has already spoken out about the death of Garner and a grand jury‘s controversial decision not to indict the responsible officers.

On Sunday, James was asked about the t-shirt worn recently by Bulls point guard Derrick Rose.

The message on Rose’s shirt, “I can’t breathe,” is a reference to Garner’s words as he was choked while being arrested for selling untaxed cigarettes. Detroit Lions running back Reggie Bush also wore a shirt with the phrase written on it on Sunday.

“It was spectacular,” James said about Rose’s shirt, which he wore in pre-game warmups Saturday night. “I loved it. I’m looking for one.”

It shouldn't be hard to find. They’re reportedly going for $9.99 on eBay.

Will he wear it Monday at Brooklyn's Barclays Center, where the Royals will be in attendance and where protesters gathered outside just days earlier?

Even without Jay Z and Beyonce who will also be there, expect a wild scene.

Taiwanese sculpture of Kobe Bryant features snake biting his Achilles (PHOTO)

NBA superstar Kobe Bryant has a number of statues displayed around the world in his honor, but this sculpture may be just a little too bizarre even in praise.

The Taiwanese sculpture looks to be that of Los Angeles forward holding a basketball while wrestling with a mamba.

But, if you look closely, the snake also appears to be biting Kobe's Achilles, which he tore at the end of the 2012-2013 NBA season.

What's next? A crocodile chomping on Derrick Rose's knee?

The strange artwork was on display at the Basketball Art Exhibition in Taipei, Taiwan. 

NBA looking to add Jeremy Lin to All-Star Weekend

The NBA is giving serious thought to finding a way to get the season's biggest story down to its All-Star Weekend festivities in Orlando.

The idea of adding Jeremy Lin to the All-Star roster may be a hard sell considering the New York Knicks sensation has only five career starts; but it sounds like the league will somehow find a way to bring Linsanity to the party.

According to the New York Daily News, the NBA is trying to maximize the attention Lin is receiving and bringing the Knicks point guard down to the All-Star weekend is a no-brainer.

According to the Daily News source, the NBA is hoping to add Lin to its NBA All-Star lineup by having him participate in the Haier Shooting stars competition during All-Star Saturday night.  The competition features one current NBA player, one current WNBA player and one TNT on-air talent and legend on each team.

While it may hard to swallow the thought of a player who was cut by two teams and sitting on the Knicks bench just two weeks ago playing alongside Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Derrick Rose, the NBA knows the underdog Lin is too big a money-maker to keep away.

Derek Jeter Is Most Popular Male Athlete Despite Recent Bad Publicity

Derek Jeter was voted the "Most Popular Male Athlete" according to a just-released Harris Poll.  The New York Yankees shortstop is perched at the top spot for the first time, replacing Kobe Bryant who held the title last year.

Jeter's rise from the No. 3 spot in 2010 to the No. 1 position wasn't influenced too much by his highly-publicized quest for his milestone 3,000th hit because the poll of 2,163 participants were contacted during the week of June 13-20, when Jeter was on the disabled list.

Peyton Manning moved up from No. 5 to the second spot.  The face of the NFL also endorses half a dozen prominent products and his mug is seen on plenty of TV commercials.  The Indianapolis Colts quarterback had a popular faux '70's movie trailer, co-starring his brother Eli, flooding the Internet about the same time of the poll.

Even the NFL lockout couldn't dim the ubiquitous football star's popularity.  He was the most popular athlete polled by Gen-X (ages 35-46).

Michael Jordan, whose final NBA game was eight years ago, still tied for third place with Los Angeles Laker Bryant.  Jordan was the most popular athlete from 1993-2005, when the title was handed over to golfer Tiger Woods.

Surprisingly,  Woods was the most popular this year with the "matures" (ages 66+) according to the Harris Group.  He was number one from 2006-2009.  Still, the shamed and slumping golfer had the biggest drop in the top-ten.

"As his playing woes continue, it is likely that his (Woods) fall will continue next year", said a Harris representative.

Even so, Woods marketing team has to be happy.

Bryant was the most popular among Hispanic and African-Americans in the Harris Poll.

Jeter was big among the Baby Boomers (ages 47-65) even though the The Captain has been in the news a lot lately-- and not for all the most popular reasons.

Jeter's quest for the 3,000 Hit Club was accomplished in grand style last week after he went 5-for-5 and bashed the historic hit into the centerfield stands.  The home run ball was caught by a fan, Christian Lopez, who was immediately whisked out of his seat by Yankees personnel, who--many believe-- overwhelmed the young man into turning the ball over to Jeter for a mere pittance.  Now Lopez is stuck with a whopping income tax bill to cover the season tickets he got as a reward.  Now,  even Yankees fans say that Jeter should foot the IRS bill in exchange for the ball.

After that controversy,  Jeter skipped out on the All-Star Game he was elected to; citing his recovery from a strained calf and preparing for the wear-and-tear of the second half of the season as his reasons.  Many fans didn't think he deserved to be in the Mid-summer Classic in the first place.  He spent the break in Miami with his girlfriend actress Minka Kelly.

Noticeably absent from the Top Ten is Lebron James.  King James "Decision" last summer seems to have turned off more than only Cleveland fans.  James was No. 6 last year.

Besides Woods, another bad boy made the list.  Hines Ward tied with Albert Pujols at the seventh position.  The Pittsburgh Steeler was arrested a couple of weeks ago--after the poll was taken-- for suspicion of DUI.  Ward's "Dancing With the Stars" victory probably pulled in a lot of the ladies' votes, but apparently not as many as Manning.  The QB was the most popular athlete among the women polled.

First timers to the Top Ten included Ward, Pujols, Derrick Rose and Aaron Rodgers.

The top three female athletes were at No. 1, tennis-star Serena Williams followed by her sister Venus and race car driver Danica Patrick.