No Need to Provide Him With Tour Guide

Dick Ebersol has agreed to a new nine-year contract as chairman of NBC Sports. He also will serve as executive producer of the 2004 Summer Olympics, which means he has some long days ahead.

Ebersol, who will work his fifth Olympics as executive producer and eighth overall, is having a shower and pull-out bed installed in his office in the international broadcast center at Athens, where he intends to spend the entire 17-day run.

Still friends: It has been two years since NBC televised the NBA, but Ebersol remains a close friend of Commissioner David Stern.

Stern, in a phone interview with The Times, was asked if he had heard about Ebersol’s new deal, which was announced Tuesday.

“He told me this morning over breakfast,” Stern said.

Trivia time: The Boston Celtics have won 16 NBA titles. How many times has a Celtic led the league in scoring?

Birds of a feather: In a new NBA promo featuring “Sesame Street” characters, Big Bird says, “I love this game because of two words -- Larry Bird.”

From Oscar the Grouch: “I love this game because of the trash talk.”

Chamberlain vs. Russell: Regarding Wilt Chamberlain’s never having fouled out of a game, HBO’s Larry Merchant, a former Philadelphia sports columnist, wrote to make this point:

“Chamberlain believed he was so important to his teams as a rebounder and scorer that he usually anchored himself under the basket. Bill Russell, in contrast, and especially in the big moments of big games, would hustle and help out on defense, sometimes resulting in fouling out.

“The scoreboard: In 16 seasons [three in college], Russell’s teams won 13 championships, Chamberlain’s two.”

Chamberlain vs. O’Neal: From Steve Vanderpool of Stats, Inc.: “Shaquille O’Neal accomplished something in his first game with Orlando that Wilt never did in his career ... he fouled out.”

Short story: There are already two books about LeBron James on the market, “King James: Believe the Hype” and “The Rise of a Star.”

Said TNT’s Steve Kerr: “What do you write about when you’re 18 -- the kindergarten years were great.... What’s Chapter 4, seventh grade?”

Not quite ready: James may have a great future, but as Bernie Lincicome of the Rocky Mountain News says, “One of his many tattoos should read, ‘Some assembly required.’ ”

Trivia answer: Zero.

And finally: Several readers e-mailed regarding a Morning Briefing item about James already having had five single-digit games, whereas Michael Jordan had only one in his career.

“Michael also came into the league after two years at North Carolina under Dean Smith,” wrote John Nicks. “How often do you think LeBron will be under double figures after two years in the NBA?”

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Larry Stewart can be reached at larry.stewart@latimes.com.