Question of the Week

Carlos, San Juan, PR
Subj: Salon de La Fama
Why is the International Basketball Hall of Fame in Alcobendas, Spain, and not in America, the birthplace of the sport?

America does in fact have its own hoops shrine known as the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Located in downtown Springfield, Massachusetts, this highly interactive museum has been honoring the sport’s greatest players, coaches, referees and other major contributors since 1968. However, although the Hall has inducted several international members over the years it does have a remarkably American bias. That’s why Spanish basketball coach Pedro Ferrándiz González undertook an ambitious campaign in 1990 to establish a FIBA Hall of Fame in his native country. Opened in 1991, the Hall was created with the lofty intention of preserving the heritage of international basketball. Recent inductees include Serbian center Vlade Divac, Lithuanian guard Sarunas Marciulionis, German forward Detlef Schrempf and American legends Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson. To find out more visit: www.halloffame.fiba.com

Question of the Week

Rodney, Spring, TX
Subj: Simply the best
How many basketball players have won an Olympic championship, an NBA championship and an NCAA championship?

Just seven. That small but illustrious fraternity includes Hall of Famers Clyde Lovelette, K.C. Jones, Bill Russell, Jerry Lucas, Quinn Buckner, Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan. Incidentally, Johnson, Lucas and Buckner all developed winning traditions early in their careers by also capturing high school state championships.

Question of the Week

John, Union, IA
Subj: That’s money, baby
Who has the distinction of signing the longest contract in NBA history?

That honors belongs to Magic Johnson who signed a 25 year, $25 million contract following the 1981 season. Although the salary was considered exorbitant at the time, it didn’t take long before lesser players were soon earning the same amount and Magic later restructured his deal to condense the final $21 million into seven years instead of 21.

Ask Ryan - It's A Small World After All

Hi Gang,
Welcome back for another edition of Ask Ryan, the column where sports and entertainment go together like John Daly and drained beer kegs. This week's mailbag is bursting at the seams with queries about Vinny Testaverde's recent resurgence, the longest contract in NBA history and the surprisingly lucrative world of miniature golf. Read all about it at: http://msn.foxsports.com/other/story/7346302

You've Got To Be Joking

Sit back and relax as you indulge in this week's sports shorts.

The NCAA is scheduled to hear an appeal on the new ban on sending text messages to recruits. The ruling has been especially damaging for Stanford and Yale since their recruits can actually read.

Czech tennis star Radek Stepanek has broken off his engagement to Martina Hingis. Apparently love means nothing to him.

The Boston Celtics are trying to lure Reggie Miller out of retirement. It’s not clear yet whether the team thinks he can still play or if Danny Ainge is simply tired of hearing Miller criticize him on air.

Scott Boras has come to the aid of Alex Rodriguez, insisting that his celebrity client has never used steroids. That’s comforting. There’s nothing like the assurance of a money-grubbing agent to put your mind at ease.

Cal Ripken Jr. has been appointed a Special Sports Envoy by Secretary of State Condoleezza. Although there were more qualified candidates available, the government simply wanted someone who would show up to work every single day.

Reds catcher David Ross was forced to leave a game against the San Diego Padres after a painful collision with Mike Cameron at home plate. I guess it’s true what they say: most accidents do happen at home.

Magic Johnson will be holding a fundraiser to support Hillary Rodham Clinton's presidential bid. That’s great news since most political pundits agree that it will take a little magic to get her elected.

Sumo grand champion Asashoryu is said to be on the brink of a nervous breakdown. Then again, you’d probably be fighting back tears too if your butt cheeks weighed the same as a compact car.