Viva Italia?

What's going on with the NBA you ask? Did you hear someone mention yet another lockout? Well, it's happening ladies and the NBA players might as well be out like a fat kid in dodge ball. Yes, it's true: NBA commissioner David Stern is currently threatening players with the cancellation of the entire 2011-12 season! Some sources say that the players' union (headed by President Derek Fisher of the Los Angeles Lakers) views such an extreme stance as more of a negotiating tactic than a legitimate threat, but who really knows. The NBA Players Association executive director Billy Hunter called for his executive committee members, as well as some of the league's superstars such as Lebron James and Kobe Bryant to meet in New York Friday but the thing is, Kobe has been in Europe all week and a deal for him to play 10 games in Italy for $3 million during the NBA lockout is '95 percent' done. Now, why Italy you ask (and no, Kobe is not going just to hang / party like Snooki)? Fun fact - part of the attraction to playing in Italy is the chance to resuscitate Italian professional basketball and the other part is because Bryant grew up in Italy and speaks the language. He was 6 when Joe, his father and former NBA power forward, moved the family there to continue his basketball career, playing for four teams over a seven-year stretch. Now, the deal would allow for Kobe to return to the Lakers immediately if the lockout ends, but I'm not holding my breath...sorry friends.