Rockets Owners Wife to Blame for New NBA Ball

Remember Vince Carter's buzzer beating three to force overtime against the Wizards a few weeks ago? You know, that 25-foot bomb that hit the back of the rim, died like a medicine ball, and in turn fired up a whole second round of backlash against the league's decision to switch balls.

Well if you believe the rumors, the Wizards can thank the Houston Rockets for that unfortunate loss.

According to talk show host Joe McDonnell of AM 570 KLAC in Los Angeles, Rockets owner Leslie Alexander's wife Nanci, an animal-rights supporter, was able to sway, her good friend, David Stern's wife into talking the NBA commissioner into replacing the leather ball with an animal free microfiber composite.

It's a well-known fact -- and one that should be taught throughout the public system -- that Leslie and Nanci Alexander are among the global animal-rights movement's biggest financial backers. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals even acknowledged the couple in 1998 for their generous contributions. (I think they were awarded furs.)

Anyway, this news isn't really exciting until you realize one little thing: the Rockets and Wiz play on December 9th.

Yeah, if you don't think Gilbert Arenas is going to drop 50 on the Rockets -- while not just yelling "Hibachi!" after each made shot, but actually whipping out a hibachi and cooking up some pork for the fans in the first couple of rows -- well ... I'm afraid you don't know Agent Zero like I do.