And I don’t mean Sheff’s Mini Balls, either.

Peter Vescey of the New York Post is the bearer of the following bad news :

Cablevision boss James Dolan and Garden President Steve Mills are endorsing the buyout of Larry Brown’s remaining $44 million, four-year obligation, and strongly urging Isiah Thomas to take over as head coach, a position he held for three years with the Pacers.

That’s one way, I guess, of holding Thomas accountable.

Presumably, he still likes most, contrary to Brown, who loathes most, none more than Stephon Marbury, Isiah’s poisonous pet who recoils on orders. That’s why Stephon didn’t make his season-ending speech to the media, as threatened; his cult figure commanded him to holster his fangs.

Presumably, Thomas will be able to extract more energy, caring and loyalty from his recruits than a drill instructor who habitually rags them in public. Marbury won’t exactly be the only player celebrating, should Brown be bounced.

I like it. Why ask your overpaid, underperforming figurines to tune out two different overpaid, underperforming figureheads when you can eliminate the middle man and pass the savings on to no one.

What size gurney does Thomas take?

Did Anucha Browne Sanders sign off on this?

Someone tell Next Town, if he makes this racial, there’s a job opening at Power 105.1.

If Kobe Bryant took the 2nd half off against the Suns in last week’s Seventh Game, he’s not the first superstar in history to do so, writes the LA Times’ Mark Heilser.

Bryant’s fade was curious, and he might have been angrier than he would acknowledge, but, even assuming it was more out of pique than duty, it didn’t compare to the most famous disappearances.

The 76ers’ Wilt Chamberlain took two shots in the second half of Philadelphia’s 100-96 loss to the Boston Celtics in Game 7 of the 1968 Eastern finals, resulting in community-wide outrage and Wilt’s demand to be traded that sent him to the Lakers.

Yes, Michael Jordan did it too, in Game 5 of the 1989 Eastern finals, when the Bulls were tied, 2-2, with the Bad Boy Pistons, who dogged him according to their “Jordan Rules.”

When Jordan drove, it was, in the words of the great Lester Hayes, like running a gantlet of pit bulls wearing pork chop underwear, prompting Bulls Coach Doug Collins to suggest Mike go to teammates to throw the Bad Boys off the trail.

Jordan took eight shots in 46 minutes in a 94-85 loss. The Pistons then closed them out in Game 6.

I think it is fair to say that no one knows how to take full advantage of Cafe Press’ limited features quite like Wizznutzz.