Part of the ESPN Empire

First things first, I made it onto an ESPN chat. Wow, you're thinking, who gives a crap. Well, I do. I was responding to one the Mothership's NBA dudes, Marc Stein, who is still saying the Hawks should trade for Allen Iverson. Big mistake, I think. The big surprise I had when I saw my question is that I didn't realize he would use it for a question, I was just commenting on his column last week. Since it's an ESPN Insider thing (you have to pay to see it), I'll just copy my question and his answer:

Jay (Atlanta): Do you still think AI to the Hawks is still feasible? After the Claxton signing and Josh Smith and Marvin Williams poised to have big seasons, would AI really help? I would think that the Hawks would want to have the team grow around what they already have and what they'll get for Harrington from whomever (sans AI).

Marc Stein: Feasible? Yes. Sensible, even. I've always believed Atlanta is the team that makes the most sense for Iverson, because the Hawks do need him -- on the court and at the box office -- and because they've got some interesting assets to offer. But the Sixers, by all accounts, have dramatically scaled back their efforts to trade AI in recent days. Nothing is imminent there. Sixers obviously don't like the offers they're getting.

Marc Stein: One last Hawks note: It wouldn't surprise me if this is where Magloire winds up because Atlanta has been interested in him from the start of free agency.

Go me (Despite saying "still" twice in the first sentence)!

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Even though I haven't done my favorite summer songs post yet, "Deja Vu" by Beyonce and Jay Z has skyrocketed to the top in the last two days. The reason? In the first line of the song, Jay Z makes a reference to Juan Fucking Pierre. Juan Pierre! That's easily his most random sports reference since Nick Van Exel in "Crazy In Love." Maybe he saves the strange references for Beyonce songs because she'll have no idea what he's talking about. And since he's Jay Z, she can't say anything.