It’s the story that’s not really a story, but still kind of is a story, that everyone feels dirty for talking about, but still can’t stop talking about anyway.

It’s led to the sabotagization (Yes, I just made up that word, how do you like it?) of the New York Knicks for the last 18 months and counting, and even led LeBron James to get a temporary restraining order against the media.

It’s the NBA’s, “Summer of 2010.” And much like the commercials, it’s apparently where, “Amazing Happens.”

During this summer, an unprecedented group of superstars will become free agents, possibly changing the landscape of the sport forever. In no particular order, here are some of the guys who will likely be available to the highest bidder:

Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Amare Stoudemire, Dirk Nowitzki, Ray Allen, Manu Ginobili, Joe Johnson, Tracy McGrady, Rudy Gay, Richard Jefferson, and yes, even Kwame Brown and Louis Almundson. That’s a lot of guys who could make a lot of difference in a lot of ways.

But ultimately, they’re all chips that are going to fall into place after the biggest dog gets fed.

And that’s what we’re all waiting for: Where will LeBron James end up?

You know, they say the best things happen when you least at expect them.

For some, it might be finding a winning lottery ticket on the side of the road. For others, meeting the love of your life in line at the grocery store (What, it happened in that Reese Witherspoon movie. Why can’t it happen to me?).

As for me? It was the opening night of the NBA season when I realized that I had free NBA League Pass for a whole week. It was like an early Christmas, except in this case, well I got something I actually wanted (No seriously grandma if you’re reading, I loved the wool socks, I really did).

Watching 12 games a day for seven days in a row is exhilarating, and a lot to take in. Luckily for you, my loyal readers, I took notes.

And here’s what I learned, in what I like to call my “NBA Potpourri”

With the 2009 NBA Draft officially in the books, it’s time to look and the good and the bad that transpired on Thursday night at Madison Square Garden:

There are certain events in a guy’s life that mark his ascent from boy to man, actions all males share regardless of age or race.

The first time you shave has to be one, getting your drivers license another. And of course in this technological world we live in, who'll ever forget the day they signed up for Twitter (Ok maybe I'm being a little melodramatic there).

But while I don’t remember much of either of the first two events, I popped my Twitter cherry just a few months ago, so that memory is still fresh. Since that day, I’ve had 60 updates, with my favorite coming on May 19 of this year.

It was just a few nights earlier that the Orlando Magic had suffered an embarrassing Game 5 loss to the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference semifinals. The normally gregarious Dwight Howard blew up that night, and in the first real controversial moment of his career, called out coach Stan Van Gundy for not getting him enough touches.

When Charles Barkley opens his mouth, you pause, stop what you’re doing and listen. Just like when Warren Buffett talks about the economy or Bill Clinton gushes about his time in the oval office, it is must see TV.

After recently being challenged to a pushup contest by a female producer on TNT, Barkley simply replied that the only thing a woman could beat him at was “cooking and cleaning.” And last fall when Barkley was charged with a DUI, his excuse for driving intoxicated was that he was on his way to get oral sex from a woman. The NBA Where Caring Happens!

Remember that movie with Freddie Prinze Jr., the one where he has to make the goofiest girl at his high school into the prom queen? I can’t remember what it’s called, because honestly it wasn’t very memorable. Save the Last Dance? Weekend at Bernies II? I honestly don’t know because after the first 700 romantic comedies you’re forced to watch, they all seem to run together.

But the premise is easy: take Rachel Leigh Cook, a girl that no one else sees anything in, and try to bring out the natural beauty in her. Get to know her and realize attractiveness is more than just fancy clothes and expensive makeup. Fall in love. It’s boring and cliché, but in a way the same story line is taking place in the 2009 NBA Playoffs.

With Round 2 of the 2009 NBA Playoffs set to wrap up, let’s look at the good and the bad from so far.

If you think about it, the NBA really is entertainment’s best spectacle.

In what other profession is someone that stands 6’3 considered to be too small, and guys that are 6’8 and 250 lbs., considered the norm?

Honestly, how many times have you even seen someone 6’8 just walking down the street? Once? It’s like Chris Rock once said about meeting Native American’s: “Yeh you met one, one time, then another one three years later.” Same with seven footers, you met one in 1999, and another last October. Yet in the NBA, they’re commonplace.

And when you factor in the ability of these giants to run and jump and dribble and pass with the coordination that they do, it becomes safe to say that the NBA is the world’s largest freak show.

In turn, I guess that makes the NBA playoffs the Grammy’s, Academy Awards and Emmy’s of the freak show: the world’s greatest athletes playing at their absolute highest level.

It is also what makes the NBA playoffs must watch television every spring.

Each year we become enamored, enthralled and enriched with the play on the court. Players and teams we don’t get to see much all year show us what we’ve been missing, and that when everyone’s healthy and interested (not always the case), NBA basketball really is the best reality show on television.

It seems like every year some team catches us off-guard, showing us something we never thought to expect. In 2007 it was the Golden State Warriors going on a run to remember, beating that year’s best team- the Dallas Mavericks- in a shocking six game series. That series opened our eyes to see that Baron Davis- when healthy and hungry- was still one of the best point guards in the NBA. Stuff like that happens ever year. It’s like the commercials say, The NBA: Where Amazing Happens.

Forget Christmas, this is the most wonderful time of the year.

Flowers are blooming, baseball season is underway and that pesky swine flu, which has been all the rage the past week, is finally in check (I can’t wait to re-read this article some time in 2011 and get nostalgic about the swine flu. It sure was a crazy week).

But with all that, there’s another reason to be excited: the NBA playoffs.

Gone are the has been’s (Pistons) and never were’s (Philadelphia). The same with the soon-to-be’s (Bulls) and maybe someday’s (Portland).

And with it, we have eight super-exciting, supremely fun basketball teams left, vying for the 2009 NBA Championship. And seven great reasons to watch.

Here at AaronTorres-Sports.com, I like to proudly say, “If It Happens In Sports, It Happens At AaronTorres-Sports.com.” But even I, Aaron Torres, the (I like to think) all-knowing sports fan, can’t be everywhere.

Which is why when I found out one of my old friend Tim Ehrens- who knows as much about the Boston sports scene as anyone- was going to Game 7 of the epic Celtics-Bulls showdown, I knew I’d have to track him down for an interview.

On Sunday we exchanged e-mails, with Tim still coming down from the proverbial high from attending another incredible game, in what may have been the greatest 1^st round playoff series in the history of the NBA.

We discussed the atmosphere before and after the game, how and why the Celtics pulled out the victory and what’s next for Boston.

So while you and I might not have been there Saturday night, it’s time to welcome Tim, who was nice enough to take some time and give us his unfettered insight into Game 7 experience.

Enjoy!