As many long time readers of this site have known, I have limited myself over the years to not accept commercial opportunities. Sure, I have ads that run on the site, but they really aren’t that intrusive.

But there is one company that I have recently accepted as a sponsor that I thought was worth creating a special blog post for. It’s because they have a product I think can help many shoppers (like myself) who want to buy a unique gift for the special women or men in their life.

It’s called the PamBee, which is a combination of a travel blanket, pillow, pillowcase and eyemask that all folds up into the size of a laptop. So it doesn’t take valuable carry-on space the airlines limit you from using on the plane.

The PamBee was designed by a flight attendant who went above and beyond to use materials that are much better than the travel blankets the airlines provide…er, when they did provide them back in the day. The fabrics are silky soft and smooth, and are even machine washable. And the PamBee comes in 5 different styles to fit any taste, even a man’s.

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Thanks for supporting this special sponsor of ours!

The NY Times posted this article on Sunday about how much Jeremy Lin is enjoying being out of the spotlight this season. Jeremy was quoted Sunday morning at the Rockets’ shootaround in Los Angeles with the following:

“It’s really, really low-key. And it’s really peaceful. When I walk around, I don’t wear a hat or glasses or anything — unless I want to.”

I like how Jeremy is able to focus more on his game this season in Houston. He’s had some good moments, and also some bad moments that probably has made his doubters who predicted he wouldn’t be as great as last season in New York feel vindicated, and that it’s time to try winning some money at Party Casino or something.

But I believe once the stable of new Rockets players get to know each other better, start developing some confidence, and Kevin McHale gets back to the team from his leave of absence, Jeremy’s point totals and shooting percentage will start going up, and the turnovers will go down. He’s too smart and too much of a hard worker to be a disappointment.

If you hadn’t heard, Tracy McGrady has taken his talents to China since his career in the NBA is basically over. Specifically, McGrady signed with the Qingdao Double Star Eagles in the Chinese Basketball Association.

He received an incredible welcome at the Qingdao airport about 10 days ago (see photo below). You never know in China if ‘fans’ like this are paid by a sponsor (Adidas in this case) to create a good photo-op and publicity for their brand. But regardless, it’s amazing that an athlete way past his prime can get this kind of turnout and adulation in China.

Click here for more photos of the greeting McGrady received at the airport.

He was then picked up by a Rolls Royce and taken to a 5-star hotel (part of his contract demands), where he was welcomed by traditional Chinese lion dancers.

Click here for more photos of the welcome that McGrady received at the hotel.

The next day, the chairman of the Quingdao Double Star Group held a welcome reception for McGrady, and gave him new pairs of special shoes produced by their company, one of the biggest low-cost athletic shoe companies in China.

Click here for more photos of McGrady at the reception.

McGrady’s stay in the hotel didn’t last long, though, since he decided to move to another 5-star hotel, the Quingdao Haitian Hotel, which is closer to the new stadium (pictured below).

McGrady soon practiced with his teammates for the first time.

Click here for more photos of McGrady working out, and at the practice.

Some reporters mentioned that McGrady was much slower than he used to be, had lost much of his lift in his jump shots, and even missed an uncontested dunk with no players around him.

McGrady’s services don’t come cheap to Qingdao, though. Here are some of the details of his contract:

– In addition to the team paying for his 5-star hotel as his residence, he will be paid between US $800,000 to $1 million for one year, and the team will have an option to sign him after the first year.

– If the team makes the playoffs, he can’t leave. He has to continue playing.

– To prevent J.R. Smith-like incidents from happening, he will be penalized $10k for skipping a practice and $50k for skipping a game without legitimate reasons

– On road trips, he has to stay in the same hotel with his teammates that the team has arranged for them.

– He will receive an allowance for a couple of round-trip tickets to the U.S. to see his family, or his family wants to visit him in China on certain Chinese holidays.