Bits and Pieces for a Monday Morning

- Colts lose in the snow in Buffalo and the commish of the NFL wants something done about the sitting down of the starters in these late season 'don't mean-a-thing' games.  Good for him.  I'm still of the 'you-play-to-win' school, and that means every game.  Note: Indy fans burned and the screams are still being heard.

- PGA starts up again this week.  Tiger, we already miss you.  And did you hear what Brit Hume would have Tiger do?  Don't imagine the PGA commish is going to suggest, for business purposes, that maybe all his charges seriously consider doing the same.  Remember the Bivens fiasco when she suggested maybe the majority of the LPGA stars (the South Koreans) might want to learn English, or else?

- Did finish the Halberstam book on Michael Jordan.  Well, more than Michael Jordan as he writes much about the change in the professional basketall game wrought by David Stern (and Michael Jordan), with the advent of the marketing explosion that would become the NBA in the '90's.  Made for lots of young millionairs and instant celebrities, many of whom were more smoke than fire.  Excellent read.

- Did you know that Dennis Rodman grew elevan inches in one year?  Like from 5'9" to 6'8" in his 18th or 19th year?  He didn't play in high school but quickly took to the hardwood in college - actually, quickly given a scholarship to play at a Division II or III school.  Amazing.  (One of many interesting things gleamed from the Halberstam book.)

- Another historical tidbit:  ESPN was bankrolled by Getty Oil.  About 85% of the initial stock came from the oil giant.  They soon pushed aside the original owner/creator, Scott Rasmussen, and within a few years sold out to ABC, at a healthy profit, of course.

- Out local weather for the next several days is the pits - cold.  Not good for local golfing at all.  Our putting technique should be about perfect if we are spending any time at all with our golfing clubs - that is if you are putting in the living room or in some other warmpart of your house.

- Did go over to Shoals to catch the Lion-Jug Rox boys' basketball game last Saturday.  Lions won easily.  A few photos here.