Thursday Morning Donuts: 'Klaatu Barada Nikto!'

      Mike Brown out in Cleveland? Tippett out with the Stars? JJ Barea vs. midgets? NBA stats “Feuding’’ with their momses? Tim Donaghy getting shivved? Trading Manu? More on J-Kidd’s future? Kareem in the cockpit? Oh, and “Gortat, Klaatu Klaatu barada nikto!’’

    DONUT 1: Early-morning reax to this story about NBA Coach of the Year Mike Brown possibly being an ex-coach? Everybody is writing “ridiculous.’’ But it is not at all ridiculous. It might be "completely false,'' as the excellent Cleveland beat man Brian Windhorst just Tweeted, and it might be premature -- but it is not ridiculous.

    All it takes is one word from one player to ownership. … “I didn’t like the sets we ran.’’ … “We should’ve cleared out for me in that situation.’’ … “It seems like he’s taken us as far as he’s going to take us.’’ … and ownership MUST listen.

      I’m not saying Brown will be fired. I’m saying it won’t be ridiculous if he is.

    DONUT 2: Speaking of the Coaching Hot Seat: I recently had a long talk with Dave Tippett about stuff that does not interest me – cars and engines and motorcycles and stuff – but he made it interesting. I was impressed enough to assume that the Stars coach was an even-handed-yet-magnetic sort of guy. Now he’s reportedly the ex-Stars coach. … and my grease-monkey lessons are probably kaput.

    UPDATE: It's official. Now I'll have to take Shop Class from Mr. Crawford.

    DONUT 3: Kareem couldn’t pass security in order to get into the Orlando game? Security didn’t recognize Kareem? Even the little cockpit kid in “Airplane’’ recognized Kareem!

    DONUT 4: Here’s a weird video find courtesy of  Raptors Republic: An episode of “Family Feud’’ featuring Bosh, Hill, D-Howard, Cutino and David Lee … against their moms. Five minutes of pop-culture NBA oddness.

    DONUT 5: And yet another video find: JJ Barea, when he was back home in Puerto Rico, appearing on his native land’s version of “Leno’’ or something, playing talk-show-stage basketball against a pair of midgets. 

    Midgets playing basketball: Funny in any language, I guess – though I was waiting for one of them to change into a “bee’’ costume. 

    DONUT 6: OK, so Orlando center Marcin Gortat has this tattoo. (Gor-Tat! Perfect!) And it’s a Michael Jordan tattoo that recalls the Nike logo. Problem? Yeah, if you are Reebok, which thinks Gortat should be loyal to your brand.

    DONUT 7: P.S.: Every time I look at Gortat and say his name out loud – “Gortat!’’ – I think of “The Day The Earth Stood Still’’: “Gortat, Klaatu barada nikto!’’’

   DONUT 8: Sorry, but I’m not mustering up much sympathy for dirty ref Tim Donaghy, who reportedly was recently assaulted in prison. The story doesn’t say what motivated the attack, but I’ve got lots of guesses. Starting with, “That Donaghy’s kind of a prick.’’

    DONUT 9: Twitter? Worth your time. Instant-access to whatever. C’mon over and check me out.

    DONUT 10: Eddie Sefko, re-iterating the J-Kidd story we believe to be solid as a rock: In the unlikely event Kidd doesn’t stay in Dallas, Dallas gets fairly handsome compensation for him.

    DONUT 11: Here’s why you gotta admire the Spurs: They’ve created a familial atmosphere, and they will continue to do so. … even as they reportedly discuss trading Manu.

    DONUT 12: This tornado pretty much picked up our house, spun it around, and dropped it on a witch. Looks like the house will be fine. But my ex-wife is still under there.

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