As the lockout rages on, so does the chance of San Antonio Spurs' Tiago Splitter heading to Spain to play with Unicaja Malaga.

As we reported, Unicaja does have a strong interest to sign Splitter during the lockout. The team reportedly offered Splitter a hefty sum and an opt-out clause to return to the Spurs.

And now, Splitter's Brazilian national team head coach Ruben Magnano says (via esporte.ig.com.br) Splitter is close to signing with Unicaja.

"To my knowledge, he and Malaga are very close (an agreement)," he said. "If there is no season in the United States, it would be very good for Tiago, it is a very strong club."

However, according to the report, there are other other teams vieing for Splitter's services such as Maccabi, Milano, Valencia (with Spurs draftee Nando De Colo), and Splitter's former squad Caja Laboral.

Splitter's agent, though, says there are no favorites in this race for Splitter and no team has made an offer.

"But no one has yet made a concrete proposal," said the agent.” There are no favorites in this race for Tiago."

As we also reported, Splitter did state he has no desire to play for any team during the lockout. Instead, he stated he would return to San Antonio to train and rest up for the upcoming season. However, with the players union now deliberating the owner's most recent offer, I am sure Splitter might consider changing his mind should the union reject the offer and more games, if not the entire NBA season, are in jeopardy.

What do you have to say Spurs fans? Think Splitter should head to Spain and join Unicaja or any other team should the lockout last longer?

As the players mull over the NBA's latest offer to end the lockout, our friends over at AccuScore simulated another San Antonio Spurs game as they took on the Portland Trail Blazers.

In the last simulated game, the Spurs lost to their West coast rival Los Angeles Lakers, and according to the simulated Spurs-Blazers game, San Antonio got back on the winning track.

Here is how the game played out: 

Portland Trail Blazers 97, San Antonio Spurs 102
A night after getting blown out by the Lakers, the Spurs bounced back for a nice win in Portland. Tim Duncan led San Antonio in scoring, but grabbed just 4 rebounds. DeJuan Blair led the team in rebounding with 6 to go along with 11 points. Manu Ginobili was the real star with 18 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 steals. Portland actually outrebounded the Spurs by 11, but shot just 37 percent from the field.

Seeing how Portland outrebounded San Antonio probably won't sit well with Spurs fans considering how the team does need size in the middle. However, a win is a win even if it is in a simulated world.

I will be honest, I never liked math while I was in school. Even when I was in law school I avoided Contract Law as much as I could until I had no choice but to take the class.

San Antonio Spurs' Manu Ginobili, however, really likes the subject.

Ginobili was part of a panel for the new mathematics book titled "¿Cómo, esto también es matemática?" (How is this also math?) by Argentinian mathematics professor Adrian Paenza and during the panel, Ginobili revealed he is a huge fan of math.

Manu spoke on how he first got his hands on one of Paenza's math books while the Spurs were on the road facing the Bucks. After the game, Ginobili said he was in his bed, cracked opened the book, and began to tackle some math problems and was hooked.

Ginobili went on to say even problems that stumped him, he would put the book down, hit the court, listen to music and come back to try solving the problem once again.

Manu also said he is a fan of the sciences, felt honored to be a part of the panel, and showered the professor with praise.

Who knows? Perhaps when Manu's basketball playing days are over, he might pursue a mathematics teaching career and become "Professor Ginobili."

Former San Antonio Spurs guard Michael Finley may be getting up in age basketball-wise but that sure hasn't stopped him from lacing up his sneakers and running the court at his alma mater University of Wisconsin.

Finley, along with fellow alum Devin Harris, recently took part in a Badger's practice during the NBA lockout and leave it to coach Bo Ryan to make sure Finley gets the full practice treatment.

From 5-on-5 drills, sit-ups, passing drills and more, Finley wasn't immune from the drills but Finley took it all in stride.

"It was fun to play against these young guys at Wisconsin," Finley said. "Coach Ryan opened the doors for me, not only here at the University, but as his house as well. So I'm going to keep him to that when I need a place to stay out here."

So if Finely can still run on the court, and live through an entire college practice, who is to say he can't lace them up one more time for the Spurs? Sure he might have logged 17-years in the NBA but you know Popovich sure does like veteran players. And when it came to Finely, Pop tended to use him a lot on the court.

Check out video of Finley, along with Harris, talking about Wisconsin basketball including Harris implying how old Finely is when it comes to knowing Badger practices.

At the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, French Olympic track and field star Marie-José Pérec carried the French flag to kick off the game and was the last female to be name as the French flag-bearer.

And with the 2012 London games are right around the corner, the 1996 three-time gold medal winner gave a ringing endorsement for San Antonio Spurs and fellow French athlete Tony Parker to be the next flag-bearer for France.

"It is important that the France team is led, and driven by someone who brings something. Tony, in the media, is very important."

What even gave Pérec more reason to back Parker for the honor was how she liked that Parker asked to be the flag-bearer. Something which has never been done before according to her.

"What I liked is that Tony Parker went to the CNOSF (French National Sports and Olympic Committee) to ask them, and it had never been done before. I think it's a beautiful process. I think Tony Parker would make a beautiful flag bearer."

And even though Pérec says there's a lot of pressure which comes with the job, she feels Parker can handle the pressure because of his strong mind.

With Parker leading the French national team at Eurobasket 2011 to a silver medal and an Olympic birth and not to mention him playing for ASVEL-Villeurbanne, there is little doubt Spurs fans will be seeing Tony led all French athletes this summer in London during the opening ceremonies.

It looks like shoe junkies have yet another set of kicks to add to their wish list and right in time for the holidays.

Nike released the new line of Nike Zoom Hyperdunks, and in this third evolution of the product, which was originally introduced for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

The geometric pack features "colorways" of several NBA teams, including the San Antonio Spurs.

Shapes on shapes, teamson teams, references on references, the Nike Zoom Hyperdunk 2011 “Geometric Pack” offers a next level take on NBA-inspired colorways. Giving juice to the Spurs, Clippers, Grizzlies, Celtics, Lakers, and Thunder, these Hyperdunk makeups offer spirited performance without stepping on the toes of their signature hoopers.

The Spurs set start at $165 per pair, but are currently sold out at Kix-Files.com. But if you are desperate to get your hands on these Hyperdunks, the site encourages visitors to keep an eye on their Facebook page for more updates.

What do you think Spurs fans? Will you get your hands on a pair of these to show your Spurs pride?

Former San Antonio Spurs player Bruce Bowen is a part of the BBVA Tour NBA Experience promoting the league out in Spain.

And it's a good thing he played eight seasons in San Antonio because he probably honed his Spanish speaking skills while in the Alamo City.

Check out Bowen handling his own (after a quick highlight reel) at a press conference in Seville talking about how the NBA is expanding in Europe. After the conference Bowen is interviewed and compares Seville to San Antonio, talks about Seville's river barges to the ones floating on the famed San Antonio Riverwalk, and is quick to give praise to Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili and how happy he was to win so many games with the "Big Three."

And if you think Bowen has lost his three-point shooting touch during retirement, think again.

Here are some highlights from Bowen in Spain including a few people wearing Ginobili jerseys, Bowen hamming it up with a few dancers, dancing on the court, and showing he still has that three-point shooting touch (2:26 point) that helped the Spurs win three NBA titles. no comments

Though no deal was struck in last night's lockout negotiations, there is still some optimism as both sides will reconvene in discussions at noon today in New York.

So as we all wait with bated breath hoping the lockout ends, let's check out how San Antonio Spurs draftee Ryan Richards is performing overseas.

Richards helped the Lugano Tigers (4-1) keep Sam Massagno winless (0-6) 83 to 68. Richards had a productive game as he scored 18 points and grabbed six rebounds in 22 minutes of action while shooting 5-of-7 from the field.

The Tigers will face SAV Vacallo in their next matchup.

And in case you missed it, check out video of Richards returning to his old stomping grounds in England.

San Antonio Spurs' Tony Parker got animated for his "Bask Up" French cartoon show but did you know Manu Ginobli also got into the animation act?

Ginobili lent his image for "La Segunda Oportunidad," (Second Chance) an Argentinian program aimed to encourage the practice of goal-oriented values ​​and solidarity among all Argentines, and especially among the youth.

In this video clip, Ginobili is the coach for the "La Segunda Oportunidad" team and he sure does blow his whistle at every chance he gets. Check out animated Manu as he saves a kid from falling off a cliff, swings across a ravine and helps out the kids on their hike up a mountain.

And for some reason Manu doesn't have feet.

While some NBA players are flocking overseas to retain financial stability, one San Antonio Spurs player could be trying a new line of work if the lockout rages on.

How about Tiago Splitter, the movie critic? I'm sure there would be a market that would watch the Brazilian big man wax poetic about epic cinema hits like...Wedding Crashers.

Splitter tweeted "Watching Wedding crashers..." from his phone on November 6 and he has since followed it with a few other movie tweets.

Any good funny movie? I need it so bad!

Do you wanna watch a couple of scary movies? Go ahead! Inside job and Margin call...

Local media outlets may want to keep an eye on Splitter's Twitter account. He could be the next Richard Roeper.

But if film reviews don't work out for Splitter, he also has a few fallbacks as a meteorologist or a sportscaster.

is getting cold here in SA, i mean, not snow but at least i have to stop wearing flip flops...

Lockout: no news.... ... .... I will start a linkedin account !

Yea it is quite obvious Splitter is bored during this lockout so let's all hope the lockout ends sooner rather than later.