Diamond-studded engagements galore By C.J.--Star Tribune February 19, 2004
	Magic Johnson's Valentine's Day party, Star Jones' boyfriend zeroed in on Lisa Harris' A ring.  "I wondered why he was noticing my ring," said the wife of Twin Cities music producer Jimmy Jam.  Lisa found out the next day when Wall Street-type Al Reynolds fell to his knees to propose to Jones during the NBA All-Star Game.  According to "Entertainment Tonight," Jones, of ABC's "The View," and Reynolds have been dating FOUR MONTHS.  (It's as though Star is unacquainted with the fact that a man can hide his true personality for up to 36 months. Proceed with caution.)  I discovered the Minnesota angle while Googling the Jones engagement; up popped a photo that captured the moment--and the back of Jimmy Jam's head.  Jimmy met Star's beau two months ago at a Knicks home game, I was told.  "He seems nice.  She seems very happy.  She's ready," Lisa said.  "It was a great day and that topped it off.  She had Denzel and Pauletta Washington on one side and Jimmy and me on the other side."  Star-studded company.  "When Kevin [Garnett] took the ball out during the game, he congratulated her," Lisa said.  "He said something like, Got your big rock."  OK, I've been trying to keep away from Lisa as gossip has swirled around K.G. giving her sister, Brandi Padilla, an enormous ring, but now I had to have an answer.  "It's official," said Jimmy Jam.  "K.G. and Brandi are engaged.  Kevin selected a beautiful ring.  He could not have done better if Oprah and my wife had gone shopping with him." Brandi, you're a fine girl K.G.'s "girl" can cook.  Kevin Garnett, Latrell Sprewell and Sam Cassell were on "The Late, Late Show with Craig Kilborn" before the All Star Game.  Kilborn, a Hastings native, had shared some one-on-one time with K.G. before bringing out Sprewell and Cassell.  "I know your girl, Brandi, a lovely woman, and she was telling me that at home she cooks a pre-game meal," Kilborn said.  "Does she cook the right stuff?  She said it was pasta with heavy cream sauce and I can't have heavy cream sauce." K.G. said,  "You can't, but I can.  She cooks the right stuff."  The audience loved K.G. sassing Kilborn, who never drifted near questions about whether K.G. and Brandi were engaged.  The guys are buds, so there is no reason Kilborn would disclose this until K.G. is ready to talk about it.  The most confusing part of the interview with K.G. and company was one of those It's-really-all-about-me Kilborn set-ups.  "I'm going to record an 'I Love This Game' promo into this camera and you have to keep a straight face.  You cannot laugh.  'I Love This Game' because even though Kevin Garnett is the highest-paid player in the NBA, I still get more women than he does.'" Sprewell's smile apparently meant something to Kilborn and the hooting audience.  According to the media guide, Spree has six kids but no wife; Cassell's bio notes no wife or children. So shouldn't Spree and Cassell get more women than groom-to-be K.G.?... There were other tidbits, such as Kilborn's description of Spree as a "gearhead."  Spree indicated that he had 10 cars and gave Kilborn a pair of basketball sneakers with imbedded wheels that spin on impact.  And we saw that modesty is not K.G.'s forte.  "I watch all the games.  You guys are playing so well," Kilborn said.  "Yeah, we are," K.G. replied.  When Kilborn encouraged K.G. to tape the finger on which he wears a finger guard, Garnett would have none of it.  Even when Kilborn offered up an embarrassing playoff scenario, the Big Ticket responded: "My poise isn't on the line.  I don't have to worry about that."  BAM!