Pop culture quiz reveals Beasley’s youthful spirit

Need a reason to believe that Miami Heat rookie and former Kansas State standout Michael Beasley actually is just 20 years old? Try looking at his answers in Sports Illustrated’s latest edition of “The Pop Culture Grid.” The feature, which appears each week near the front of the famous magazine (and in an extended version on-line), polls four popular athletes and asks them questions relating to the world outside of sports. Movies, celebrity gossip, likes and dislikes and childhood memories are the most common categories, and this week, Beasley flashed a little of his youthful side in his answers. Here are a few answer’s from last summer’s No. 2 pick in the draft. I become a mad man when I shop at…. Toys R Us Best show I saw on TV last week….. SpongeBob* What’s on my wall right now…. A poster of me and SpongeBob. Hmmm. Hard to believe this guy, who was born in 1989, will make more than $15 million during the next four years for playing ball. But good for him. He’s also averaging 13 points and 6 rebounds a game in 25 minutes. So why all the talk about a former K-Stater in this ‘Hawks in the NBA blog? Simple, because another of Beasley’s answers in the Pop Culture quiz had to do with a former Jayhawk — Miami Heat teammate and fellow rookie, Mario Chalmers. The question? I have a love/hate relationship with ________ ? The answer (as written)? “Mario Chalmers. Because that kid gets on my nerves sometimes (laughter).” Oh, like when he’s starting for the Heat — while you’re coming off the bench? Or, when you’re both in a dorm room at rookie camp indulging in some “extra-curricular” activities? Or, how about when you were at home, watching on TV, when Chalmers’ shot with less than five seconds to play sent the title game to overtime and propelled your rival Jayhawks to a national championship? Don’t get me wrong. I’m mostly kidding here. I like Beasley. I liked him a little when he was in Manhattan (gasp!) and I’ve found it even easier to like him now that he’s not. I just thought it was funny that an NBA pro who hypes up Toys R Us and SpongeBob could say that someone else — some other “kid” — gets on his nerves. The good news is this, nerves or not, Beasley and Chalmers have both landed in incredible situations in the NBA. They play for a great franchise, on a winning team and with a superstar like Dwyane Wade. If they stick together, they could become one of the more dynamic one-two punches in the league someday. I won’t call them the next incarnation of John Stockton and Karl Malone. Maybe just whatever the modern day version of that might be. Perhaps SpongeBob and Patrick Star.