11.   Brazilian basketball star Ubiratan Pereira Maciel and Aleksandar Nikolic, who long coached the Yugoslavian national team, have been nominated to the U.S. Basketball Hall of Fame.

12.   Now South African youths act and talk like the basketball stars in the highlights.

13.   Pro basketball star Scottie Pippen, actor Brad Pitt and supermodel Naomi Campbell are all in ads currently airing on Japanese TV.

14.   Some of the floats in the initial parades this year paid tribute to U.S. pop star Madonna, basketball star Michael Jordan or legendary soccer star Pele.

15.   Basketball stars Dennis Rodman and Nick Van Exel deliberately struck referees.

16.   Multimillionaire basketball star Michael Jordan and his wife withdrew their divorce petition Monday and said they are attempting to repair their marriage.