Shaq ups the ante for volleyball match with May-Treanor, Walsh!

A few weeks ago we told you about Shaquille O'neal's new reality show , "Shaq Vs.," which debuts Aug. 18 on ABC. To refresh your memory, the series pits Shaq against other top athletes — Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps, Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols and Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger, which was recently filmed — in their own respective sports.

Filming continues this Sunday, when Shaq plays pro beach volleyball players and two-time Olympic gold medalists Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh on the sand. And while the best-of-three games to 11 should be entertaining on their own, Shaq decided to up the ante during a press conference yesterday, claiming if he loses, he'll walk two miles in a pink speedo.

Yes, that's right. If — or is it when? — Shaq and his teammate, Olympic gold medalist Todd Rogers, lose to May-Treanor and Walsh, "The Big Witness Protection" will march the beaches of California wearing nothing more than a pink Earl Boykins-sized piece of nylon and spandex.

Feel free to shudder now.

According to Adam Rose at Laist, the "Scary Shaq Speedo Showdown" will take place at the end of the AVP tournament in Hermosa Beach, which starts today and runs through the weekend. Shaq's match is free to the public (assuming there's space) and is scheduled to begin following the men's final on Sunday around 3:30p.

I would tell you to go and take pictures, but ... well ... don't. I really-- really hope he wins!

J.R Smith Shuts Down His Twitter Account Due To Controversy

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Hours after The Denver Post raised questions about whether his tweets were written in a way commonly associated with street gangs, Nuggets guard J.R. Smith pulled the plug on his twitter page on Tuesday. He presumably didn't think it was worth all the bad publicity.

His last message to fans before it was closed late Tuesday afternoon: "ok people i love all of my fans im sorry but this will be my last tweet you know why but it is what it is love all an tke Care"

Smith's tweets raised print eyebrows after someone noticed he was occasionally replacing words that would have a "C" in them with a "K," giving some the impression of an association with the Bloods street gang. (Kudos for the capital "C" jab above, kid.) Smith tried to correct the issue in a tweet late Monday night, but ultimately decided to close the account, according to Denver Post.

This unfortunate news comes on the heels of NFL'er Antonio Cromartie being fined $2,500 for using twitter to complain about food at training camp and a new memo prohibiting ESPN personalities from tweeting info unless it serves the ESPN agenda.

Sadly, it appears as though the days of "unfiltered access" via Twitter, Facebook and Ustream are behind us.

Except for Marbury, of course. Ain't nobody puttin him in a box!