A little Monday morning paparazzi action for you, courtesy of “The Dirty” and a hot tip from my man, Matt N.

It’s Spencer Hawes and the Durantula hanging out with what appears to be next year’s pledge class. More photos here.

“Watch with Kristin” at E! Online is reporting that Ron Howard and MItch Hurwitz, producers of that apotheosis of TV comedy, Arrested development, have begun contacting cast members to gauge their interest in making a movie based on the show. While nothing is guaranteed, this is wonderful news.

Did somebody say *wonder*?

Time for some NBA gossip…

Seen at Las Vegas’ Body English in the Hard Rock Cafe: Lebron James, Carmelo Anthony, Leandro Barbosa, Deron Williams, and…Rick Mahorn? (Clubgoer Mateo says the gentleman in the Ed Hardy hat was a dead ringer for the former Bad Boy and current Detroit Shock assistant coach.) When the spotlight shone on the Global Icon (pictured below), “all the [women] turned towards him and started aggressively gyrating their bodies.”

Throwin’ up the diamond, the Global Icon signals that he’ll be taking Kanye’s side in the approaching 9/11 sales battle. “If 50 wins, I’m not passing the ball to Eric Snow all year.” He then thought better of his conditional. “Hell, I’m not passing him the ball no matter what.”

Meanwhile, in Seattle, Vlad Radmanovic was seen closing down Belltown’s Amber. Our source Lorraine, who was at the club as part of a bachelorette party, said she was approached by the Lakers/X-games star, who sported what she described as “1980s Eastern Bloc chic” attire and an eerily deep, breathy, Serbo-Croat drawl. Their interaction went as follows:

Vlad approaches bachelorette party and sits down next to Lorraine.
Vlad: Hi. What’s your name?
Lorraine: Lorraine. What’s your name?
Vlad: Vladimir. Where do you live?
Lorraine: Around here.
Vlad: Where do you live?
Lorraine: Close by. Where do you live?
Vlad: Bellevue.
(Brief silence)
Vlad: My friends ditched me.
Lorraine: Oh, bummer.
(Vlad typing on his blackberry ):
Lorraine: Who are you calling?
Vlad: My lawyer.
(Vlad gets up)
Vlad: How tall are you?
Lorraine (a little taken aback): 5′7″ or 5′8″.
Vlad (bends over and pulls up her pant leg to check her heels.): How tall are you?
Lorraine: 5′7″ or 5′8″, but I have tall heels on. How tall are you?
Vlad: Seven.
(Vlad pulls up her pant leg again to look at her heels. He then does the same with Bachelorette.)
Vlad (to Bachelorette): How tall are you?
Bachelorette: 5′ 10″. How tall are you?
Vlad: Seven.
(Vlad stands in silence for a little bit)
Bachelorette: What do you do?
(Vlad shrugs, smiles, looks around club.)
Lorraine: You must play sports.
(Vlad shrugs and smiles again. The Club turns the lights on, signaling closing time.)
Vlad: Goodbye.

It’s not a roller coaster, Vlad; you don’t gotta lie about your height.

Too bad Lorraine didn’t have the opportunity to dance with Vlad, cuz he can get down:

That’s all the NBA gossip for now, folks. Rest assured I’ll keep you posted on any hot new scoop

From the where-are-they-now category: I’ve received a hot tip from a deep source that former Providence Friar and Washington Wizard God Shammgod will be trying out for the Milwaukee Bucks next week. The globetrotting Shammgod’s career has taken him to, among other places, Poland, Saudi Arabia, and, most recently, China, where his playing time was limited by a ceiling on minutes for foreign players. Perhaps the Bucks hope that Shammgod, with his experience in China, can help ease the transition of the still unsigned Yi Jianlian, their Chinese phenom lottery pick. More likely, though, is that in scouting Yi, the Bucks discovered that Shammgod has developed a jumper to complement his ridiculous handle, finally making him an NBA point guard.

Those who watched him in college likely remember Shammgod’s ankle-breaking moves. In fact, one move, in which he drives right, then without directing the dribble to his left, reaches across with his left hand and pulls the ball left, changing directions as he does so–creating a sort of mid-drive, one-handed crossover–now bears his name. If you go to YouTube and search for Shammgod or Shamgod, you will see many examples from many people. Here is a demonstration from God himself:

However, searching through the YouTube clips and reading the comments left on them, it seems that the “Shammgod” may not have originated with Shammgod. One YouTube user created a highlight compilation of Yugoslavian players performing “El Latigo” (Spanish for “The Whip”)—which is basically the same move as the Shammgod. The videos go as far back as 1980, or so the compilation’s producer tells us. The video suggests that the move was popularized by Dejan Bodiroga but originated with Danko “El Killer del Perimetro” Cvjeticanin, a Croatian who now works in scouting for the Philadelphia 76ers.

How did a move supposedly peformed and popularized in Yugoslavia and the former Yugoslavian Republics become known by a Spanish name? (Update: Reader and friend Mike points out that Bodiroga played in Spain–dunno how I missed that one.) And certainly, it’s strange (and humbling for American hoop nationalists) to see that Shammgod’s perceived innovation in the crossover had actually been around for at least 15 or so years. The general perception is that America–particularly its urban courts–serves as the incubator for the game’s dribbling innovations. That often seems to be the case, but probably not here.

Finally, why hasn’t “El Latigo/Shammgod” caught on in the NBA? More often, you’ll see a player perform a similar move one-handed all the way–i.e. dribbling right, faking the cross to the left, but keeping the ball in the right hand and proceeding right. Kobe Bryant does this a lot. A YouTube clip purports to show Manu Ginobili performing the Shammgod, but it’s just an ordinary crossover followed by a spin. In my opinion, the most likely Latigo-ers in the NBA are Jamal Crawford, Kobe Bryant, Rafer Alston, Steve Nash, Ginobili, and Sebastian Telfair (and of course God himself, should the Milwaukee Bucks deem him worthy). Jason Williams should probably make the list, too, though I fear his ankle-breaking days are close to done. Anyone else? Can I get a witness to a Latigo?