The NFL has received a fair share of criticism over the last few months with its lax policies with regards to concussions and other serious head injuries. With the level of helmet-to-helmet contact in football, these athletes are putting their long-term mental health at risk, and the NFL seems to focus mostly on the money they make in the moment.

There are far fewer blows to the head in basketball than in football, but that doesn't mean that a concussion on the basketball court isn't a serious injury. So things looked a little odd to Bucks forward Luc Richard Mbah a Moute(notes) when he easily made it back into games after suffering a concussion this year. From the Associated Press (via PBT):

"I didn't have to do any tests because we were on the road and doctors were here," Mbah a Moute said. "They just asked me how I was feeling, and I told them I was feeling better. They were like, ‘You're fine."'

Mbah a Moute said he knocked heads with a Dallas defender on Jan. 1 and returned

Among NBA players, Shane Battier(notes) is seen as something of a genius, a man who could have gone into any profession and succeeded but was blessed with enough raw athleticism to make a career of high-level basketball. Still, no one has given up on Battier helping the world after he stops playing sports. In that way, he's seen as the successor to Bill Bradley, a former Rhodes Scholar who went on to the U.S. Senate and a run for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Battier, a Houston Rockets forward, knows others have fancy plans for him, but he sets his sights a little smaller, though no less devoted to public service. From Chris Tomasson at FanHouse:

"I've always loved to teach,'' Battier said in an interview with FanHouse about what he might do after basketball. "I could see myself as a teacher helping young people in some capacity. ... I've always thought about teaching a life skills class. There's so much common sense that kids never learn these days, like how to balance a

At this point, seemingly half the NBA is on Twitter. It's a wild world of training updates, questions as to which movies they should go see, and explanations of their Call of Duty prowess. Every so often, though, you also get a picture into the more interesting aspects of NBA life. This feature is your window into that world.

Alonzo Gee: are there any new movies out

Ty Lawson: Real men get pedicures... Ya digggg!!!!!

Anthony Morrow: So what is it about,can't be wins and losses, can't be percentages, and being on the all time list for 3 pt percentage can't matter either?

Spencer Hawes: Protesters outside of cnn headquarters. "Shame on CNN"! I'm with u guys. #CommunistNewsNetwork.

Patrick O'Bryant: How the hell does Nichola Cage keep gettin work??? Wtf

You can also follow Eric Freeman on Twitter at @freemaneric.

You know yoga, right? It's that thing mostly practiced by attractive women in their 20s or 30s and guys with ponytails. It cures the body and mind, and you can even do it with your dog or baby. Yes, I live in San Francisco and these are things that actually exist here.

But the stereotype of yoga doesn't necessarily hold much water these days. Lots of people do it, even professional basketball players. Just check out this article from Kyle Stack for SLAM:

That there is even one NBA team which has a yoga instructor on the payroll is fairly surprising. Yoga has a fundamental association with nature and soft music and showing one's sensitive side. That doesn't jive with an NBA environment that is filled with aggressiveness, even ruthlessness. "Soft" doesn't work; NBA players can read through someone trying to tap into their inner self.

"You can't talk about the sun and opening your heart," [Clippers instructor Kent] Katich said. "[The players] are going to shut you off, and they're going

Monday night, Stephen Jackson(notes) was ejected from the Bobcats' game against the Celtics for arguing a foul call late in the second quarter. After earning one technical, Jackson didn't stop yapping, which brought on the second and the automatic ejection that comes with it. This was classic Captain Jack, the kind of thing he's done throughout his entire career.

Except this ejection was a little different, because only one day earlier Jackson said he is in total control of his technical foul total. From the Associated Press:

"No, I get techs because I want to. I don't care," Jackson said Sunday. "I'm not getting techs for no reason. It happens."

When the NBA announced it was cracking down on player behavior this season, Jackson appeared to be one of the targets. Jackson played a starring role in a video distributed to teams showing demonstrative actions that would result in technical fouls. [...]

"My reputation is the main reason why a lot of things don't go my way on the court,"

With this year's All-Star game taking place in Los Angeles, the NBA is doing everything possible to draw parallels between the star power of their superstars and the box-office power of Hollywood. Monday, we brought you the news that the NBA will launch an apparel deal with Marvel to bring your favorite comic book and movie heroes to the NBA.

Tuesday, the NBA announced that it will make the All-Star game a little more like the Oscars. From the Turner Sports press release:

To build anticipation to the 2011 NBA All Star Game in Los Angeles, NBA TV will present the T-Mobile Magenta Carpet at NBA All-Star 2011. This two-hour live special on Sunday, Feb. 20, starting at 5 p.m (ET), will feature players and celebrities walking the magenta carpet and participating in interviews with Access Hollywood's Maria Menounos and NBA TV analyst Rick Fox. In addition, actor and TV personality Nick Cannon will conduct interviews with players and celebrities from the main stage. Matt Winer will host

At this point, seemingly half the NBA is on Twitter. It's a wild world of training updates, questions as to which movies they should go see, and explanations of their Call of Duty prowess. Every so often, though, you also get a picture into the more interesting aspects of NBA life. This feature is your window into that world.

Andrew Bogut: Long cold day!! Still trying to get this knee right. More treatment later... King of queens: great show!

Ekpe Udoh: "I'm making this promise to me and you" Slow Jams make you think about your choices

Ron Artest: Pardon me. I just got finished putting this penguin in a head lock. He kept making weird duck sound noises.

DaJuan Summers: Um is this show Glee suppose to be nice??

C.J. Miles: Fes is top 5 funniest people on earth wit out trying lol

You can also follow Eric Freeman on Twitter at @freemaneric.

Among celebrity NBA fans, Spike Lee has always stood out as the most committed. While A-listers like Jack Nicholson sit courtside and clearly care about their teams, Spike has always gone above and beyond regular fandom by talking trash with opposing players, wearing team jerseys and colors without shame, and even attending the draft in years when the Knicks didn't draft until late in the first round.

Monday, in the first part of a long interview with Jared Zwerling published on ESPNNewYork.com, Lee spoke about his Knicks fandom, including his greatest trash-talking moments and what makes him love rookie Landry Fields(notes) so much. Let's start with the former:

What's your most memorable conversation with a player during a game?
This is really surprising, and this is all true. The only time that it's ever really gotten nasty was with Reggie Miller. But we were friends before that and we've been friends since then. When I go to the games, it's to have fun. I'm respectful. If I say a