Hoop challenge ...

Sen.-elect Scott Brown says if President Barack Obama wants to reach out to this particular Republican, he can do it on the White House basketball court.

The newly elected senator says he’s pining for a game against the hoops-crazy president.

“I think it would be fun,” Brown told the Associated Press. “It’s not the Olympics, but I think it would be a good way to kind of break the ice and show the camaraderie that he’s talking about. So, we can have our meeting on the basketball court instead of the caucus room.”

No-show Nelson ...

Singer and guitarist Willie Nelson canceled a North Carolina concert because of a bum hand about an hour after several band and crew members were busted for allegedly possessing moonshine and marijuana.

Alcohol Law Enforcement spokesman Ernie Seneca said Friday that six members of Nelson’s band and crew have been charged with misdemeanor possession offenses. The charges came after officers smelled marijuana aboard a tour bus and were given permission to search it, Seneca said. Nelson’s daughter said on the musician’s Web site that Thursday night’s show was canceled because his hand hurt too badly to play.

Slight reprieve ...

Academy Award-winning songwriter Joseph Brooks has gotten a slight reprieve in his bid to stay free while fighting charges of sexually assaulting would-be actresses who thought they were auditioning in his Manhattan apartment.

A judge lowered the “You Light Up My Life” composer’s bail Friday. Brooks, 71, now has until Tuesday to come up with $1.25 million in cash or a $2.5 million bond.

Brooks has pleaded not guilty to predatory sexual assault and other charges. He is accused of forcing himself on 13 women.

Hopeful story ...

Rob and Joey Boccolucci, Western New York natives who now reside in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., will appear as hopefuls on E!’s “Bank of Hollywood” at 8 p. m. Monday.

According to a release, “they will be sharing their touching story while asking for money to fulfill their dream of adopting a child.”

According to their Web site, Rob grew up in a small farm town just south of Buffalo and Joey’s family lives in Niagara Falls.

Celebrity birthdays:

Sunday: Carol Channing is 89. Justin Timberlake is 29.

Monday: Lisa Marie Presley is 42. Big Boi of Outkast is 35.

Tuesday: Elaine Stritch is 85. Tom Smothers is 73. Graham Nash is 68.

Wednesday: Shelley Berman is 84. Blythe Danner is 67.

Thursday: Alice Cooper is 62. Clint Black is 48.

Friday: Charlotte Rampling is 64. Barbara Hershey is 62. Tim Meadows is 49.

Next Saturday: Zsa Zsa Gabor is 93. Patrick MacNee is 88. Tom Brokaw is 70. Fabian is 67.