Why is this man smiling? According to sports blog FanHouse it's because he's getting private lessons from one the most beautiful stars in women's tennis.
Sorry ladies, Sasha Vujacic, the free-throw shooting reserve for the world champion Lakers appears to be dating Maria Sharapova.
"It's interesting,'' Vujacic told the AOL blog recently. "She has helped me. We've helped each other, I think. As two pro athletes -- in different sports -- we both understand what the other is doing and going through, and what it takes to do well in what we do. She's working hard. I'm working hard. It's good together.''
While Vujacic trains to keep himself in shape during the NBA off-season, Sharapova is preparing for the U.S. Open which starts Monday. Therefore, if the rumors are true, don't be surprised to see the guard rooting for her in the stands.
The rumor of the pair's relationship is burning up Twitter. Both Laker fans, Laker-haters, and men around the world whose fantasies about the tennis player were dashed this afternoon have all chimed in.
"One more reason to hate him," tweeted Jesús Marroquín.
"Sasha Vujacic of the Lakers is my new hero," countered Midnight Views.
Peter Stamm complained, "Sasha Vujacic is dating Maria Sharapova? Honestly Maria, Adam Morrison gets more face time these days."
Nick Kosmider added, "I never knew Sasha Vujacic was dating Maria Sharapova. I'll never understand how this world works."
"Sharapova training Sasha for tennis. #supercute", Sunny Jain said.
But the funniest quote came from Steve Nguyen, hopefully referring to Vujacic's improved topspin, "Glad to hear Sasha is hitting something. We all know it's not his 3's."
-- Tony Pierce
Photo: Lakers Sasha Vujacic, with a new hair cut, pretends to play guitar with a bat for a Dodgers promotional video during media day in El Segundo in 2009. Photo: Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times