By BRAD PYE JR.

Notes, quotes and things picked up on the run from coast-to-coast and all the stops in between and beyond.

Several men and women of color from the Diaspora participated in the Winter Olympics, including Ghana’s Kwame Nkrumah-Acheampong. He is Ghana’s first Winter Olympics entry.

And the beat continues…

Can LeBron James and the remaining Cleveland Cavaliers win it all without Shaquille O’Neal? Shaq went out recently to have his injured right thumb surgically repaired. He’s expected to be out for six weeks.

Kobe Bryant had a not-so-great scoring night Feb. 28 as he hit for only 14 points, Bryant did dish out 12 assists, though. Lamar Odom stepped up on offense, becoming lead scorer with 20 points. and Ron Artest hit for 17 points. March will not be easy for the Lakers, who will play Miami, Charlotte, Orlando, San Antonio, Oklahoma City and Atlanta.

And the beat continues…

Wesley Korir, a native of Kenya, will be back in March to defend his L.A. Marathon title.

I predicted midseason that LaDainian Tomlinson would not be back with the San Diego Chargers in 2010. Reason: He was unhappy, and his team was unpleased, too. Plus, he was being out-played by Darren Sproles.

Venus Williams defended her Dubai Championship for her 42nd singles title. She beat Victoria Azarenka of Belarus 2-6, 6-3, 7-5.

A leg injury forced Serena Williams out of her Feb. 25 match against Kim Clijsters in the Billie Jean King Cup exhibition in New York. 

Bill Cosby will host the Jackie Robinson Awards Dinner at New York’s Waldorf-Astoria hotel on March 8. Baseball Commissioner Allan H. (Bud) Selig will receive the All-time Achievement Award.

Fredia Gibbs, three-time world champion kick boxer, has come out of retirement, according to her publicist.

Joe Louis’ hometown of LaFayette, Ala., unveiled an 8-foot bronze statue of the great heavyweight champion recently. Louis lived in LaFayette until he was 10. His family later moved to Detroit.

And the beat continues…

Milton Bradley, a one-time L.A. Dodger, is now with the Seattle Mariners, his eighth team in 12 years. Ken Griffey Jr. welcomed him.

Bradley has been a “troubled” player wherever he’s been.

The Dodgers’ Matt Kemp,  during the off-season, signed a two-year, $10.95 million contract.

And the beat continues…

James Washington, former University of California, Los Angeles, All-American and a Dallas Cowboys Super Bowl star, will reportedly be the replacement for Bruin defensive assistant Carnell Lake.

The three top players picked in the April 22 to 24 NFL draft could be defensive men of color — Nebraska’s defensive tackle, Ndamukong Suh; Oklahoma’s defensive tackle, Gerald McCoy; and Tennessee defensive back, Eric Berry.

And the beat ends.

Brad Pye Jr. can be reached at switchreel@aol.com.