Edible Celebrity Figurine of the Day: Paul Pierce
A chocolate bobble-head sized figurine of 2008 NBA Finals MVP Paul Pierce of the Boston Celtics encased within a Wujing (武警) baijiu presentation box? We'll take it! Oh, it's not for sale, you say? Well, a picture will just have to do. Along with Michael Beasley of the Minnesota Timberwolves, Pierce recently concluded a two-city tour of China that saw him play as part of the Kentucky Bisons of the American Basketball Association (a semi-pro league) against the Beijing Ducks and Australia's Cairns Taipans in Beijing and Shuangyashan (双鸭山), Heilongjiang, respectively.
Rumors that Pierce and Beasley suffered asthma attacks while playing in Heilongjiang due to the amount of cigarette smoke wafting in the arena have been at least partially refuted, with Pierce stating that he's never had asthma on his Twitter feed.
Video of Paul Pierce and Michael Beasley's Beijing game and more info after the jump...
Additional reports claim that Beasley began to "roll around in obvious pain" in his hotel after the game, with an ambulance being called to take the former number 2 draft pick to a local hospital. And to make matters worse, Beasley could possibly have also fractured his wrist while playing in Beijing, though no solid confirmation on the rumors are currently available.
Meanwhile, the Ducks are probably quacking with glee, since Stephon "Vaseline" Marbury just signed a one-year deal worth $1.4 million USD with the Beijing team. Marbury has so far been the highest profile NBA vet that's managed to make the adjustment to Chinese basketball, and Beijing will be the biggest market he's played in since his tumultuous stint with the New York Knicks.
(h/t to NiuBBall.com)