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Duchovny to Play NBA B-Ball
Apparently nursing the dream that they could have been basketball contenders, several big-name actors will be playing in a new b-ball league, reports USA Today.
The LA-only celeb squad, to be called the NBA Entertainment League, will be made up of 10 teams of 12 players each. Already signed up: White Men Can't Jump star Woody Harrelson, Ray Liotta, The Practice's Dylan McDermott, rapper Coolio, Lou Diamond Phillips, Jaleel "Urkel" White, David Duchovny, Mark Wahlberg, and Damon Wayans.
Some actors have already chosen teammates: The Hollywood Reporter notes that Jamie Foxx and Bill Bellamy, who portray football players in the upcoming film Any Given Sunday, will team with pals Chris Tucker (Rush Hour) and Lorenz Tate (Love Jones). Organizers say some women will participate, but no female celebs have been announced yet.
Regardless of the team rosters, forget about getting a ticket to root for your favorite celebrity. The regular season, which starts Oct. 31 and runs three months, will be closed to the public, although fans might be able to view the finals. No word on whether the Entertainment League's games will be broadcast. We assume that official jerseys are in order, which rules out the more amateurish shirts-vs.-skins team apparel.
The new NBA league will, however, be keeping stats on its star dribblers. We can only hope there'll be trading cards, posters, and the usual sports paraphernalia sports fans love to collect.
The celebs won't have to tryout for the teams, but there will be playoffs to thin the star-studded ranks.
"The league is an extension of the great relationship we have with the Hollywood community," NBA spokesman Mike Bass tells USA Today. "We often help out with productions on television or film to give basketball scenes authenticity."
If the LA league catches on, the NBA is eyeing setting up an East Coast
version in New York.
