Diamond boy meets the material girl

A developing friendship between Alex Rodriguez and Madonna has sent the tabloids into a tizzy.

Both superstars are married, but both marriages are reportedly on the rocks.

Little is known about the nature of the A-Rod-Madonna relationship, and US Weekly is calling it a "hot new friendship" rather than a developing romance, even though there seems to be evidence of the latter.

"The facts are that he comes to her apartment late at night, that they have a friendship, that she had never been photographed at a Yankees game until she was photographed in A-Rod's seats," said Janice Min, US Weekly's editor in chief. "I think from those facts we put forth, a lot of people would infer that something more is going on."

Another use for the little blue pill

The latest in performance-enhancing drugs for athletes: Viagra.

The drug causes blood vessels to expand, which theoretically allows blood cells to get more oxygen from the lungs, and studies have shown that would be a benefit to athletes, especially those competing in endurance sports.

"If you have more oxygen going to your muscles, that's more energy and that makes you a better athlete," said Dr. Andrew McCullough, a sexual health expert at the New York University School of Medicine.

There are doubters about improving results on the field, but most agree that performance will be enhanced one way or another.

Wizards' pick follows mom to pro hoops

JaVale McGee was selected by the Washington Wizards last week in the NBA draft, becoming the first son of a former WNBA player drafted by an NBA team.

His mother, Pamela, who went to USC, played for the Sparks and Sacramento Monarchs before becoming an assistant coach for the Detroit Shock.

She said it was no surprise that JaVale made it to the NBA because he has been around the game his whole life.

"Regular mothers say, 'Brush your teeth,'" Pamela told The Associated Press. "I'd say, 'Did you shoot your free throws?'"

King James soaks up airtime with SpongeBob

Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James teamed with Nickelodeon and the network's cartoon character SpongeBob SquarePants on a public service announcement to promote the importance of exercise for children and also raise awareness about the environment.

"We're trying to get kids out of the house," James said. "Get outside, ride bikes, play hoops. And in this, we're trying to save water and do other things that can help the environment. . . . It doesn't take much to recycle a can or turn the faucet off."

So, James is going green. Does that mean a Celtics jersey is in his future?

Cause of death sounds fishy to us

A 6½-foot catfish was found dead, floating on the surface of a Berlin canal Monday, a day after Germany lost in the final of Euro 2008.

Cause of death? It choked to death trying to eat a soccer ball.

Police could not determine if the Euro 2008 final had anything to do with it.

"Whether the fish was caught up in football fever in the aftermath of the European championship and hence snapped at the ball can unfortunately not be determined," police said in a statement.

Short isn't sweet for U.S. men in volleyball

Daisy Duke and Wilt Chamberlain were not on the U.S. men's volleyball team last anyone checked, so the players no longer want to wear uniforms featuring shorts some have likened to those worn in "The Dukes of Hazzard" and by 1960s basketball players.

International regulations require teams to wear shorts with 4-inch inseams. That leaves a little too much leg showing for guys as tall as 6-9, so the team produced a tongue-in-cheek video - complete with a guest appearance by Misty May-Treanor - about how to raise money to pay a $10,000 fine for wearing longer shorts.

"Volleyball is a European-dominated thing, and they really like these fitted, cute little outfits, so that's what we have to wear," outside hitter and Richmond native Reid Priddy told The New York Times. "But our style is more X-Games, beach kind of stuff. I have tan lines past my knee to prove it."

Chiefs take a stand . . . against standing

Jeffrey Flanagan of the Kansas City Star reported that the Kansas City Chiefs recently unveiled a fan conduct policy that prohibited fans from standing during games.

The policy stated, "the Arrowhead Stadium staff will proactively intervene with fans who are standing and/or obstructing the view of other fans."

"Hmmm. No standing during a football game? Ever? Is that even possible?" wrote Flanagan. "Well, maybe it is, considering how dull the Chiefs' offense was last season."

The policy was quickly amended to read that there should be no "continuous standing and/or obstructing the view of other fans."

Rookie Beasley put Wade on call waiting

Dwyane Wade returned from Team USA mini-camp last week, and one of his first orders of business was to call Michael Beasley, the Miami Heat's first-round draft pick, and welcome Beasley to the team.

The problem is, Beasley never returned the call.

"He big-manned me. He didn't call me back," Wade told The Miami Herald. "I know it's very hectic for him right now. His voice mail is very full. . . . Everyone's calling and wanting to talk to him. He's got a lot going on. But he kind of big-manned me a little bit."

Maybe Wade should put Beasley in his Fave 5.

A crash course in baby-pool diving

Darren Taylor, whose stage name is Professor Splash, set a world record last week by doing a belly flop from 35 feet, 5 inches into one foot of water, according to Denver television station KUSA.

The video, available at YouTube, shows the leap into a padded baby pool.

Taylor said his technique is to "skip across the water" on landing and that "experience and research are vital to his success.

Still, he said, it takes nerves of steel to leap from three stories up into a shallow pool.

"I'm nervous, it's a good thing," he said. "I'm always on the ball to make sure you don't do any thing wrong," he said. - From Wire Reports