PLAY ACTION: NBA ALL STAR WEEKEND BLOWOUT

Ray Amati/NBAE/Getty Images

Eva Longoria poses with husband, and NBA Live champ, Tony Parker

• ZO'S POOL PARTY: Mag cover-guy Michael Jordan was a scene stealer at Alonzo Mourning's Magic 8 Ball Challenge at the Sugar Mill. With a cigar clamped between his molars, he commanded the attention of the old-schoolers—Charleses Barkley and Oakley, as well as all the new jacks—from Chris Paul, who was in awe at being His Airness' pool partner, to Carmelo Anthony who tried to sell MJ on his own skills with a stick, to Will Smith of the Saints. "He's larger than life," said Smith. "And he's even taller in person!" The only thing Jordan didn't do well that night? Shoot pool. He and Paul got whooped in the second round by Michael Bivins of Bell Biv DeVoe fame and Turner Sports prez David Levy. At the end of the night, Alonzo Mourning and Alonzo Adams defended their title and took top prize.
• VIRTUAL BALLIN': At EA's NBA LIVE All-Star Challenge at Republic, players went to battle with their virtual teams. Kevin Durant playing as Seattle knocked out Gerald Green's virtual T-Wolves in the first round, causing Green to grouse, "Kids these days have too much time to practice." After losing to LaMarcus Aldridge's Blazers, Deron Williams felt the game had shortchanged his virtual Jazz ("We were in the conference finals last year, but our ranking is 75? Crazy!"). In the end, Tony Parker and his skills with the Spurs, aced Rudy Gay, then Durant, then Aldridge in the final—all with wife Eva by his side cheering.
• ASSIST LEADERS: It hasn't been all partying all the time. On Friday's day of service, big names headed to the still-struggling 9th Ward to pitch in on home repairs. LeBron posted up at a house on the corner of Lizardi and Rampart, and was busily chipping old paint off the exterior, while Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Kidd looked like the teammates they're hoping to be, chatting and chipping side by side elsewhere on the same house. Meanwhile, Chris Bosh looked like he had painted himself as much as the wall he was working on. "I'm a terrible painter," he admitted. Deron Williams was working on a house down the street when the home's owner, security guard Jerome Richardson, came home. "He was very appreciative," said Williams. "His whole house had been under water."
• BIDDING FOR BLING: The "Welcome to New Orleans" charity event and auction at the Hilton boasted a huge celeb guest list, including T.O., Rashad McCants, Rasheed Wallace and Donte Stallworth. Not to mention hosts Shaq and Reggie Bush, who was accompanied by girlfriend Kim Kardashian and her sisters Kourtney and Kloe, who earned groans from the crowd by continually cheating while playing Shaq during the pool tourney part of the evening. But the real action happened at the auction, where Saints coach Sean Payton plopped down five Gs for diamond earrings, and T.O. got so serious about winning a diamond necklace (valued at $25,000) that he bid all the way up to $85,000. When his opponent dropped an $86,000 bid, he just shook his head with a smile and said, "That's it. I'm out.
• PARTYNG WITH MJ: The House of XX3, a Brand Jordan soiree at the New Orleans Board of Trade, was one of those everybody-who's-anybody-type deals. All the All Stars were there, as were Magic Johnson and Spike Lee, with a fashionably late Jordan arriving with a 20-deep entourage, three ladies and Charles Oakley in tow. Surreal scenes abounded: Lee and Ray Allen reminiscing about working together on He Got Game (Said Allen: "I want to keep acting—after I retire."); Jordan, Magic and Lee debating Hillary versus Obama (Magic supports Hillary) and then switching topics to whether Isaiah's Knicks will make the playoffs this year. (Jordan: "No way!")

More from New Orleans

• Scenes from All-Star Saturday night events ( Slam dunk, 3-pt, etc.)
• Spike Lee waiting patiently in a 30-minute security line with the commoners.
• Chris Tucker, Gov. Arnold, Alyssa Milano sitting near each other courtside.
• Chris Bosh, seated courtside before the dunk contest, pumping up teammate Jamario Moon: "Jamario Moon, baby! I think he'll surprise a lot of people. He's really long, and he can jump really high. Of course, I'm a little biased. Actually, very biased."
• Mark Cuban was a big hit between action, swarmed by reporters and stars including TO. Cuban was all smiles, not looking stressed over the J-Kidd situatio. Asked about the chances of getting a deal done while in town: "You have a better chance of seeing me on Bourbon Street."(Ed.'s note: My, what a difference a day makes.) On New Orleans: "It's one of my favorite cities, makes you feel so welcome." Cuban, just minutes before the 3pt: "I'll be rooting for the tall German."
• Chris Tucker on his pick for the Slam Dunk contest: "Dwight Howard, man. I have a strange feeling he'll be doing something special today. Tall guys are longshots, but I think he'll do it this year. I really want to get out there and dunk too, but I don't want to show off and make 'em look bad."


• Scenes from Wrigley's 2nd Annual Two Kings All-Star Event hosted by Jay Z and LeBron at Generations Hall
• Amare, Spike Lee, Beyonce, Jay Z, World Wide Wes, Ahmad Rashaad, J-Kidd and girlfriend, Nash and wife, Mark Cuban, LeBron James, Rod Thorn were all in the house.
• Dinner was a four-course meal, N.O. style: BBQ lobster, Crab salad, Grilled Niman Ranch filet of beef, and Ice Cream Sandwiches. As LeBron called it: "This is for the grown-ups." In other words, lots of suits, no riffraff.
• Said Jay-Z: "Gone are the days where we get paid to endorse things we don't totally believe in. So in order to have a better relationship, we need gatherings like this. You're looking at the new era of entrepreneurs all around you." LeBron: "It shouldn't be just, 'give us money and we smile on camera.' It's not about that no more."
• Cuban and J-Kidd talked for two minutes, very friendly, lots of shoulder pats. Then J-Kidd and his girlfriend commandeer the press table, throwing the press into a tizzy.
• After a long speech by Jay-Z, LeBron took the mic: "I've been ready to dance for about 25 minutes now." He leads a toast, and they're off to the dance floor, dancing to a string of, wait for it … Jay-Z classics.
• Steve Nash on his 3-point last place finish: "Raja (Bell) should have taken my spot. I was terrible tonight. I didn't practice at all."
• In the event swag bag: Cigars and Zune digital media players and packs of Wrigley's gum


• Scenes from Playboy's Crown Royal Barbershop Lounge
• Playboy Playmates, VIPs treated to a complimentary haircut and massage. Music by legendary DJ Irie.
• The Talent: DJ Irie, Miss March 2007 Tyran Richard, Miss October 2006 Jordan Monroe, Miss June 2004 Hiromi Oshima, Miss September 2002 Shallan Meiers, Miss October 2001 Stephanie Heinrich, Miss July 2005 Qiana Chase, Miss September 2007 Patrice Hollis, Miss May 2006 Alison Waite, celebrity barber Darryl Thomas.
• Ballers rolled in around 2 a.m. Spotted in a VIP booth: Kobe (a rare appearance), Chris Paul, Cuban, Nash (with his two daughters in his arms all morning), AI, Melo, Oakley, Jordan, Bush and Kardashian, Kenny Smith.


• Scenes from The BDA Sports brunch
• Up early: biz suits (Sonny Vaccaro) and BDA clients: Melo, Nash, local boy Chris Duhan, Rajon Rondo.
• Big announcement: BDA sports has partnered with the Gates Foundation to benefit struggling schools.
• Rondo on the weekend, and food: "I had no idea how busy All-Star weekend. You gotta grab food wherever you can. The brunch was key."


• Scenes from Sunday night's game:
• Alyssa Milano scored a lot of Jumbotron-time, which should give you an idea of the low-wattage of stars who stayed for the game. But there were a lot of locals, which helped the vibe. Unlike most years, the crowd was mostly real b-ball fans.
• On the red carpet: Chris Tucker, Deion Sanders, some Heroes cast members (no-names), Alyssa Milano, Gabrielle Union, Dr. J, Karl Malone.
• Jet Li on the NBA: "I learn a lot from them. They share their sport with the world, with everyone. And they never give up until the last second. I like people who try their best." (Ed.'s note: Give the guy a break. How's your Chinese?)
• Jimmy Jam, wearing the KG adidas Celtics green: "I'm spent after the Grammys. Since I got here, I've been getting pedicures, manicures, massages, and that's it."
• Alyssa Milano, in town to promote her sporty clothing line, of course: "I was born in Brooklyn and live in LA now, so I'm rooting for both teams."
• Chris tucker call it (again): "I'm from Georgia, so I have to go with the East."
• T.O., Barkley, and Chris Tucker were jawing in the hallway at the start of the second half.
          Barkley: "T.O., we got to get in Chris's next movie!
          T.O.: "I'm already in."
          Barkley: "What?"
          T.O.: "Yeah, here, lemme give you his number. 310-555 …."
          (Exit, laughing.)
• Harry Connick Jr. backstage after his half-time performance: "I give it an A+. See, I judge it on how much fun we had. And we had a lot of fun."
       On getting star struck: "I still get star struck seeing Chris Paul. Seeing him represent is pretty cool. I also love seeing Yao Ming, just because he's so tall. And by the way, I don't think any of these guys know who I am."

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