Happy SQ Tuesday! We hope you had a relaxing Presidents’ Day weekend and enjoyed all of the magic that took place during NBA All-Star. Our favorite moment? Zach LaVine’s gravity-defying performance in the dunk contest.

QUIPS FOR THIS WEEK

NBA

The NBA hosted their annual All-Star festivities in New York City this weekend. What are the key takeaways?

• The West beat the East 163-158 on Sunday night, but Saturday Night Live’s 40th reunion stole its TV audience
• Russell Westbrook took home the MVP after putting on a 41-point show
• Steph Curry won the 3-point contest on Saturday night
• As we mentioned in the intro, Zach LaVine claimed the Slam Dunk crown with some amazing jams

The NBA may be on a mid-season break until Thursday night, but there are plenty of stories to keep an eye on:

• Kevin Durant expressed his frustration with the media
• Kobe Bryant talked to NBA TV about his plans to come back better than ever from his injuries
• Rumor has it that Amar’e Stoudemire is about to become a Dallas Maverick

Also be on the look out for potential trades before this Thursday’s deadline. Grantland’s Zach Lowe shared his predictions here.

College Basketball

The rankings are out and surprise, surprise, Kentucky is #1 again. The Wildcats remain undefeated and the possibility that their record might stay that way is looking more and more likely. The best of the rest goes: UVA, Gonzaga, Duke and Wisconsin (in that order).

#4 Duke plays #15 UNC at home on Wednesday night in the first match-up of the season for one of the top rivalries in all of sports. Look for both teams to honor Dean Smith.

The Vegas Strip will remember the late Jerry Tarkanian by dimming their lights this week. Tarkanian is the legendary former coach at UNLV.

Oh yeah, and we are one month out from Selection Sunday. March Madness is coming, y’all!

Other

After 20 seasons, Jason Giambi will be retiring from baseball.

The Dallas Stars will be without Tyler Seguin for 3-6 weeks after suffering a bad hit last week. Get well!

Lance Armstrong must pay $10 million after losing his arbitration hearing on grounds of fraud.

The NFL Combine begins this week in Indianapolis.

 

JUST FOR FUN

Masterful management
Patrick Kane of the Chicago Blackhawks will blow your mind with this goal

STORIES FOR INSIGHTS, COOL FACTOR + DEBATE

Extra, Extra, read all about it!
Want to hear what the players have to say about this year’s All-Star Weekend?
Hear them talk about the weekend, and what their own teams bring to the table during the 2015 NBA season

Rights
The intersection between segregation and baseball
How the Dodgers handled spring training (and their futures) once Jackie Robinson, Roy Campanella, Don Newcombe and Roy Partlow joined the team

Sixers
Taking the long way around
Pablo Torre talks to Sam Hinkie about how the 76ers plan to win

Wealth Gap
A new Premier League broadcast-rights deal
It’s more than three times the value of any other soccer league’s TV deal – what does this do to the competition?

Rhonda Glenn
The first female anchor on ESPN passed away
She started just two years after the network launched, and paved the way for women in broadcasting everywhere