Wednesday's A.M. Hot Clicks

Tribute to the Stanford TreeI love the Stanford Tree. I don't know anyone who went to the school and have never set foot on campus but the tree cracks me up

Tribute to the Stanford Tree

Wednesday's A.M. Hot Clicks

Hanging out in front of the Alamo. (Robert Beck/SI)

The Tree is all smiles at the 2009 Women's Final Four. (David E. Klutho/SI)

Playing in the band. (Adam Davis/Icon SMI)

Hanging with the student body. (Bob Stanton/Icon SMI)

Brook and Robin Lopez morph into a tree. (John Burgess/SI)

Posing with the cheerleaders. (AP Photo/Wily Low)

Wondering on the field during a 2010 game against Arizona. (Bob Stanton/Icon SMI)

Jason and Jarron Collins pose with The Tree in Feb. 2000. (John W. McDonough/SI)

Playing musical chairs with other Bay Area mascots. (Tommy LaPorte/Icon SMI)

Solomon Thomas :: @sbnation

2014 Rose Bowl (Louis Lopez/CSM)

I love the Stanford Tree. I don't know anyone who went to the school and have never set foot on campus but the tree cracks me up every time I see it. I've been looking for a reason to feature it in Hot Clicks and finally have one. Four-star defensive end Solomon Thomas committed to Stanford this morning and did so in hilarious fashion - by pulling out a tree and donning nerd glasses. In honor of Thomas, here are some of my favorite images of the Stanford Tree.

Steve Nash Mustache Alert

Lakers guard Steve Nash returned to action after missing the past 39 games and did so with a perfect mustache, reminiscent of another Lakers legend. The facial hair certainly didn't slow down Nash on this halfcourt alley-oop to Wesley Johnson.

Guess Who's Training Tracy McGrady?

Retired NBA star Tracy McGrady is trying to launch a pro baseball career as an Independent League pitcher and has been working with Roger Clemens to fine tune his game.

Lovely Lady Of The Day

Wednesday's A.M. Hot Clicks

Emily Ratajkowski :: Walter Iooss Jr./SI

Emily Ratajkowski :: Getty Images

Emily Ratajkowski :: Getty Images

Emily Ratajkowski :: Getty Images

Emily Ratajkowski :: Getty Images

Emily Ratajkowski :: Getty Images

Emily Ratajkowski :: Getty Images

Emily Ratajkowski :: Getty Images

Emily Ratajkowski :: Getty Images

Meet the newest member of the SI Swimsuit 2014 Rookie Class, Emily Ratajkowski. Actually, "meet" is not the correct word since Emily was everywhere in 2013. But I've seen her swimsuit photos and you won't be disappointed. The issue hits newsstands on Feb. 18.

Presented Without Comment

Have you tried the Vladimir Putin protest beer?

Blazers Keep Winning, Even On Twitter

With a record of 34-14, the Blazers are the surprise team of the NBA so far this season. They're even dominating other teams on Twitter.

SI Vault Photo of the Day

Vince Lombardi :: Lee Balterman/SI

It appears as if the two-time defending NBA champion Miami Heat went on a field trip to get manicures on Tuesday. They aren't the first sports figure to get pampered in their cuticles. Vince Lomardi, photographed here in 1964, was way ahead of the manicure curve.

Odds and Ends

Yahoo's Dan Wetzel has a great piece on the subpar conditions in Sochi ... University of Florida fans wore suit and ties to a basketball game in order to convince Justin Timberlake to play at their school ... The best names in college basketball ... The top football recruits of the past decade ... The Jamaican bobsled team is having trouble finding its luggage ... Someone paid $61,000 for a smelly, unwashed Jim Brown game jersey.

Hank Aaron Hits No. 715

The slugger turns 80 today. 

Lance Stephenson Takes a Tumble

Pacers guard Lance Stephenson converts an impossible layup. I'm just not sure who sent him flying in the first place.

Dogs Falling Asleep

I was actually sent this video of kittens falling asleep but I'm not a cat person so I went with this instead.