By Joel Hanek

Yes, you read correctly and no, that doesn’t mean we will be missing out on misspelled tweets from Shaq anytime soon.

According to the Associated Press, the NBA has announced a rule that prohibits players from using cell phones and other communication devices 45 minutes before a game and until after the players have fulfilled their obligations after the game. The NFL also banned the use of Twitter during games earlier this year. While there has been no "Twitter-gate" incident just yet, many of the national sports organizations have taken preemptive actions to ban the social networking tool.

The NBA hasn't stated any specific reason for the ban, but the choice doesn't seem that shocking. After all, the somewhat conservative organization did just instate a formal dress code policy for players arriving to games last year. While tweeting on the job probably isn't the most professional thing for a player to be doing between quarters, there could also be monetary reasons for the ban (endorsements) or preoccupations over the release of sensitive/privileged information (sometimes the cameras get exclusive access to coaches' huddles during timeouts, but there's probably a reason that information isn't all that intimate).

If you're on Twitter, you're most likely following Kazaam himself, Shaquelle O'Neil, who is arguably one of the individuals who has made Twitter the celebrity powerhouse that it is. (Also on that list? John Mayer and Ashton Kutcher would have to be included.) With nearly 2.5 million followers on Twitter, Shaq is notorious for sharing odd and hilarious insights with the world, often inviting his followers to come and find him. (When I reached Shaq's Twitter page for comment, all I got was a recommendation for an Italian restaurant in Cleveland.

Other notable NBA tweeters include Phoenix Suns guard Steve Nash (who recently starred in a hilarious viral video for Vitamin Water along with 50 Cent) and Mr. Khloe Kardashian, Lamar Odom.

Anthony is a New York native but will be moving to Miami to be closer to the action. It's uncertain just how hands-on he will be, but Ross said there won't be any expectations to "perform." For his part, Anthony is a huge football fan who performed "The Star Spangled Banner" at the Super Bowl in New Orleans in 2002, and will do the same when the Dolphins play the New York Jets on October 12.

While many athletes aspire to be musicians, a number of superstars of the music world have turned more to ownership than to breaking a sweat. Jay-Z has an ownership interest in the NBA's New Jersey Nets, Usher has a stake in the Cleveland Cavaliers, Nelly has a portion of the Charlotte Bobcats and Jon Bon Jovi owns the Arena Football League's Philadelphia Soul. Of those, only the Cavs have had any sort of success since getting a cash influx from a musician, but Anthony's Dolphins have a fighting chance this year. Perhaps Anthony's next Super Bowl performance will be for his own team.

» Kobe Bryant is RZA: The most talented and controlling member of the team (and also the richest). Are they both a little bit crazy? Sure. Doesn't it just make us love them more? Definitely. Plus, both Kobe and RZA are friendly with gritty New York City film directors (Kobe & Spike Lee, RZA & Jim Jarmusch).

» Phil Jackson is GZA: The wise sage who is heavily influenced by Eastern philosophy.

» Pau Gasol is Inspectah Deck: A supremely talented guy who always comes through in the clutch but always comes across like a distant loner.

» Derek Fisher is Ghostface: The wily veteran who saved the team — Ghostface rescued the Wu from irrelevance after Wu-Tang Forever, while Fisher brought the Lakers back from the brink in Game 4 of the Finals.

» Lamar Odom is Raekwon: The tough guy who complains a lot.

» Jordan Farmar is U-God: The fundamentally sound guy who everybody is always overlooking. If the Wu ever played hoops, U-God would be the guy playing the most solid defense — just like Farmar.

» Andrew Bynum is Masta Killa: The extremely talented guy who keeps having career setbacks (Bynum has been undone by injuries, while it took forever for Masta Killa's solo album to come out).

» Trevor Ariza is Method Man: The wild-eyed young guy. Meth is the youngest member of the Wu and Ariza plays with the enthusiasm of a 17-year-old. Also, they both have that crazed look in their eyes all the time.

» Adam Morrison is ODB: The guy with the uneven facial hair who cries in public. Also, both are missing in action.

The Limp Bizkit "Unicorns N' Rainbows" reunion tour has been underway for almost a month, and the band has finally announced the first U.S. stop on the tour. The newly reconstituted band will headline The Beach at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas on Friday, July 10 as part of the UFC Fan Expo, leading up to the history UFC 100 on July 11.

It has been eight years since the original lineup (including just-returned guitarist Wes Borland) has played a show in North America. It's an appropriate return, as a band who had a huge hit called "Break Stuff" makes perfect sense as the opening act for a mixed martial arts event. If you won't be in Vegas to watch Brock Lesnar take on Frank Mir and see Thiago "The Pitbull" Alves challenge Geroges "Rush" St-Pierre, the concert will also stream live on UFC.com.

Believe it or not, this isn't the first time that the Bizkit has appeared on a show headlined by current UFC Heavyweight Champion Lesnar: Fred Durst and friends also played live at WrestleMania XIX in 2003 in Seattle. On that show, Lesnar was wrestling for the WWE championship and famously knocked himself unconscious while attempting a top-rope move. Hopefully the presence of Durst doesn't jinx the champ a second time.

Lil Wayne made yet another NBA Finals appearance last night, though his presence wasn't as lucky for Kobe Bryant and the Lakers as it was on Sunday night. The Orlando Magic won their first ever NBA Finals game, topping the Lakers 108-104 and cutting L.A.'s series lead to 2-1. Despite the obvious distraction created by Weezy's Cosby-esque cardigan, the Magic managed to set a Finals record by sinking 62.5 percent of their shots.

Perhaps Wayne's next basketball-related freestyle should be called "Dwight Howard," as the Orlando star scored 21 points and pulled down 14 rebounds.

Other celebrities at courtside included Spike Lee, Ludacris, Tiger Woods, University of Florida quarterback Tim Tebow, Chris Brown and hard-core Lakers fan Jack Nicholson. Clearly the draw of the NBA Finals was inspiration enough for these guys to travel (only Woods is local). We can only hope that Lil Wayne's visit to sunny Orlando will soon result in a mixtape about visiting Sea World.

Perhaps inspired by Lil Wayne's new song about him, Kobe Bryant powered the Los Angeles Lakers to victory in Game 2 of the NBA Finals on Sunday night.

Kobe once again led the way for Los Angeles, as his 29 points and 8 assists helped the Lakers top the Orlando Magic in overtime, 101-96. The win gave the Lakers a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.

The veteran guard has played two of his best finals games ever since Wayne released a new pro-Kobe track last week titled, naturally enough, "Kobe Bryant."

Coincidence? Probably. It likely has more to do with his team taking a butt-whipping from the Celtics in the first two games of last year's championship.

Among the many stars spotted watching Bryant's performance yesterday were Diddy, Rihanna, Will.I.Am, Maroon 5's Adam Levine and "High School Musical" star Zac Efron. Longtime Laker fans Jack Nicholson, Andy Garcia, Penny Marshall and Denzel Washington were also in attendance.

Game 3 is set for Tuesday night in Orlando: Get ready paparazzi shots of high-profile Magic fans like Tiger Woods and ... er, that's really it. Maybe Rick Ross and Flo Rida can make the drive up from Miami to spice things up?

For the second year in a row, and the sixth time this decade, the Los Angeles Lakers have made it to the NBA Finals. And judging by who was in the courtside seats during Game 1 against the Orlando Magic on Thursday night, the celebrity fan excitement for a shot at another championship has not worn off.

Among the stars in attendance at L.A.'s Staples Center were Kanye West, Lil Wayne, Soulja Boy Tell'em, Randy Jackson, Benji Madden, Cee-Lo, Anthony Kiedis, Leonardo DiCaprio, Denzel Washington, Tobey Maguire, Jack Nicholson and Lauren Conrad.

Conrad was so impressed with her prime real estate behind the basket that she took to her Twitter to say, "Best seat I will ever sit in. ... Go Lakers!!"

Kobe Bryant and the Lakers did not disappoint, routing the Magic 100-75. Bryant led the way with 40 points and eight assists. The series picks up again on Sunday in L.A. Game 3 will take place Tuesday in Orlando, where the star wattage might be, oh, just a bit dimmer.

I hate you. And not because you are terrible people, but because you are Lakers fans (which sort of makes you terrible people, now that I think about it). And because you were all there at the Staples Center last night, to watch your beloved Purple and Gold demolish the upstart Orlando Magic in Game One of the NBA Finals.

See, I am an Orlando Magic fan (yes, we exist). I have been one for 20 years now. I went to the first-ever game at the (then) Orlando Arena -- a November 11, 1989, preseason tilt that we actually won, 111-106 over the New Jersey Nets -- rode high through the Shaq and Penny years, bottomed out during the lean times, had hope during the the T-Mac era, lost that hope during even more lean times, and now, am recharged by the Dwight Howard administration. I have followed this once hapless (and hopeless) franchise to the cusp of championship glory ... something I never believed I'd be able to say. And now, all that's standing in the way is the loathsome Kobe Bryant, the hirsute Pau Gasol, the gangly (and overrated) Phil Jackson and, of course, all of you.

Which is why I hate you. All of you. I mean, the Lakers have won 15 world championships already. They stole Shaq away from the Magic, destroying not just the franchise, but the entire fanbase, for roughly a decade. They play in Los Angeles, a glamorous and amazing place, packed with beautiful people and expensive boutiques and more professional teams than I can rattle off here (yet no actual Lakes, but I digress). You people have it all.

Orlando has nothing. We've never won jack, save the two Arena Bowl titles the Predators won in '98 and '00 (and, yes, we proudly hang those banners from the rafters at the decrepit Amway Arena), and we don't even have enough celebrities to sit courtside. Seriously, it's Tiger Woods, maybe some retired WWF star ... and that's it. Lou Pearlman can't make it. Seems he's a little busy at the moment.

So, here's what I'm asking. Just let the Orlando Magic have this one. Please. Your lives will still be amazing, your houses glimmering, your boutiques expansive. The Lakers will probably win next year anyway. Convince me that you're not all terrible people who live in a gaudy, 21st Century Gomorrah. Show me you have compassion. Also, really, what's another championship at this point?

Orlando needs this. I need this. "The Fat Guy," Dennis Salvagio, the portly superfan who has sprinted around the lower bowl at Magic games for 20 years now, needs this. And if you don't do it for me, seriously, how can you say no to Dennis?

LeBron James and company might have left Orlando on Sunday night with their heads down after losing to the Magic, leaving the Cleveland Cavaliers down 2-1 in the Eastern Conference Finals.

But Cavaliers minority owner Usher was in good spirits as he took in the NBA playoff series from his courtside seat, and he even brought a friend — embattled R&B singer Chris Brown — with him to Game 3. Of course, earlier this year Usher courted controversy by telling Brown, on a video posted on Jermaine Dupri's Web site, to "have a little remorse" over his alleged altercation with Rihanna; photos had emerged of Brown gleefully riding a jet ski that week. Usher later apologized for the remark.

The two singers chatted it up throughout the game, which may have provided Brown with some distraction from his upcoming court appearance later this week.