Somebody asked me what happened to Rony Seikaly, the former Syracuse C and Miami Heat stiff...well, I don't know, but he certainly always won the title for hottest wife in the NBA...and pictures of her, Elsa Benitez, are far more available than picture of Rony...

Some guys are just winners…Indianapolis Colts Defensive End Corey Simon is one of those winners…starting with his freshman year in high school, football team’s Simon has played on have won 81 percent of their games. The overall combined record of his teams: 158-37. He was 37-7 in high school, 45-4 in college (Florida State), 66-26 with the Eagles and now 10-0 with the Colts….wow…

Speaking of NFL football, while I’m sure you’re like me, totally sick of anything Terrell Owens related, this link will give you the full text of the Arbitrator’s decision…I have to say, having reviewed it that it’s incredible to me it took so long to suspend the man…when I think of all the people I’ve fired over the years, if ever someone was deserving of what he got, it’s Terrell Owens: http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2234819

Usually talkative Cleveland PG Damon Jones had not been talking to the Media for about three weeks, which for him is an eternity…apparently he’s pissed about losing his starting spot to Eric Snow. Yesterday, he finally offered this: "I want to apologize to the media for taking a hard stance and not talking," he said, humbly. "I know from a business standpoint I did you writers a disservice for not talking because you were not able to get in my clever quotes and humourous statements in the paper."


Chris Bosh recently met with Olympic managing director Jerry Colangelo when the Raptors were in Phoenix and was told he's in the running for the Us Olympic and World Championship team…"Very proud, very proud," said Bosh. "One of the key things (Colangelo) said was (he's) looking for players with class, class over talent, and for them to show interest not just because of basketball is a real honour. t's kind of a tough time but it's definitely a goal of mine and a dream, too," he said. "I like his potential very much," Colangelo said in an interview while the Raptors were in Phoenix on Tuesday. "He's got a great upside."Of course, he needs to make a lot of progress (but) I spoke with him (Tuesday) and I wanted him to know that there is interest. We wish him well and are trying to encourage him. e has a lot going for him outside of physical ability," said Colangelo. "What we're doing here is trying to project who our players are going to be one, two three years down the road. I want to name six or eight core guys by the end of the year but really, by February, I think we're going to be in pretty good shape."

Mrs. Doug Christie and the Dallas Mavericks were working on a contract settlement Thursday as speculation of the Christie’s making a joint retirement announcement grows…

Ron Artest shut down LeBron James last night holding LBJ to 19 points on 6-of-20 shooting in Indiana's 98-76 victory over Cleveland. "It's nothing personal, like a one-on-one matchup with him," Artest said. "It's a team thing. I am a hungry defender and want to win and will guard anybody if that will help us win." The victory snapped Cleveland's eight-game winning streak. "He made him work for everything," said Jermaine O'Neal, who finished with 15 points and nine rebounds. "We made it tough on him tonight." Artest also outplayed James on the offensive end, scoring 21 points on 6-of-12 shooting. "We shot terrible tonight," James said. "It's not like we didn't have good shots. We had great looks ... You have to give it to them. They made us look bad."

Underground info: Least-known great dunker in the NCAA: Alabama senior forward Evan Brock.

Baseball Note: Why is Negro league legend Buck O’Neill not in the Hall of Fame…

1) From Marc Berman of the New York Post, Larry’s tough on the rooks:

ROBINSON TESTING BROWN'S PATIENCE

Somewhere amidst yesterday's turkey, stuffing and cranberry sauce, Larry Brown wished he had a backup point guard to be truly thankful for. Brown has come down hard on the immensely athletic but wild 5-9 rookie Nate Robinson, perhaps in an attempt to underscore to Isiah Thomas he has no points guards other than Stephon Marbury. Brown's displeasure with Thomas' imbalanced roster came into play again in Wednesday's 108-95 loss in Charlotte. "We got to figure out what we could do with the [lack of] depth we have right now at the perimeter," Brown said. Brown is losing his patience with Robinson, who spelled Marbury Wednesday when Marbury got into foul trouble in the first quarter. Of his many miscues in trying to run the offense, Robinson stepped out of bounds as he brought the ball up court under pressure. Brown said bluntly afterward, "He's not a point guard. Right now he's a highlight film." Brown knows Dec. 15 might bring more trade opportunities as most free agents who signed this summer can be dealt, such as Dallas' Darrell Armstrong. Brown has an infatuation with Bobcats veteran point guard Brevin Knight, the 30-year-old New Jersey product who dished out 11 assists vs. the Knicks. The Knicks would have to give Charlotte a young player or draft pick in return and Thomas doesn't want to deviate from rebuilding. "Brevin got everybody the ball, he made good decisions and they made shots," Brown said. Robinson said he's heard all of Brown's digs and the weight of the demands are crushing him. "You feel like Atlas," Robinson said. "You have the whole world on your shoulders." Robinson admits he "sometimes blacks out" and forgets plays. But he added, "He's not saying I can't play basketball. He's not saying I can't learn to be a great point guard." Robinson was a combo guard at fast-paced Washington. "We had more of a run-and-gun team like Phoenix," Robinson said. "We tried to push guys to play at the pace we play at. Learning the point guard role is something new. In Washington anybody could bring it up any time. It's different now, bringing it up, running every play." Brown's frustration with Robinson began in the preseason opener. On his opening possession, Robinson tossed the ball off the backboard seeking to dunk it. Brown yanked him and told him if he ever did that again, he'll never play again. "I get tired of hearing 'my fault, my bad,' " Brown said. "But you got to keep demanding it."

2) Yoni Cohen of FOXSports.com with an early look at possible NCAA finalists:

UConn, Gonzaga look like title contenders

The first two weeks of the 2005-2006 season have come and gone. I've learned:

Connecticut is the new Duke - The more things change, the more they stay the same in Storrs. Remember the off-season hand-wringing over the Huskies' likely troubles without Marcus Williams and A.J. Price? No? You're not alone. Against Arizona, replacement point guard Craig Austrie contributed 15 points without missing a shot (4-of-4 from the field and 6-of-6 from the charity stripe). In Connecticut's first four games, Austrie did no harm, averaging fewer than three turnovers per outing. The result? A Maui Invitational Championship for Rudy Gay and Co. Jim Calhoun's club is deeper up front and more talented on the wings than any team in the country. Pencil Connecticut into the Final Four and start dreaming of another epic battle as enjoyable as the Huskies' 1999 and 2004 throwdowns with the Blue Devils.

Charlotte is a fraud - The 49ers were expected to compete for the Atlantic 10 crown. No more. Despite the contributions of Curtis Withers (18.5 ppg, 11.5 rpg), Charlotte is 1-3, having lost handily at home to Mississippi State, on a neutral court to Northwestern, and on the road to Wyoming. The 49ers only scored nine first-half points against the Bulldogs and shot no better than 31 percent from the field against either the Wildcats or the Cowboys. So much for conventional wisdom; Charlotte in both official preseason polls had received more votes than all but 34 Division I squads.

Gonzaga has arrived - Under Mark Few and Dan Monson, the 'Zags have made seven consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, securing a No. 2 seed in 2004 and No. 3 seed in 2005. But this is the first season in which, hype aside, Gonzaga is a legitimate Final Four and National Championship contender. This year's club, led by Adam Morrison, Derek Raivio and J.P. Batista, demonstrated in Maui that they are as athletic, deep, disciplined and experienced as any team in college basketball. Need more evidence Few is more Dr. Dre than Sir Mix-a-Lot? Look no further than Chicago native Jeremy Pargo's decision to turn down a scholarship offer from national runner-up Illinois in favor of a similar proposal from Gonzaga.

The Pac-10 only looks dead - UC-Irvine stunned Stanford in Palo Alto. Connecticut and Michigan State defeated Arizona in Maui. Memphis nearly put UCLA away early in New York. Eastern Michigan upset California in Ypsilanti. But only a fool would write off the only conference still likely to send 60 percent of its members dancing. Washington and Oregon, both would-be bubble teams, are 5-0 and 3-0 respectively. Though Arizona was indeed overrated, California, Stanford and UCLA were in their losses without key starters. In the Eliot Spitzer era, no risk-averse stock broker would label the Pac-10 a buy. But solid management, Lute Olson, Trent Johnson, and Ben Howland included, and quality products, Brandon Roy, Malik Hairston and Leon Powe among them, suggest the West's best conference is no worse than a hold.

Big margins of victory bode well for Boston College - The Eagles of years past relished the opportunity to give Al Skinner heartbreak, defeating lower-profile clubs including Holy Cross, Boston University and Yale by the slimmest of margins in 2004 and barely eking out victories over Massachusetts and Sacred Heart in 2003. Not this year. Boston College's average margin of victory through three games? Greater than 22 points. Jared Dudley, Craig Smith, and the underappreciated Sean Marshall, however, won't truly be tested until back-to-back games against Michigan State and Maryland in early December.

Giving Thanks…On Thanksgiving Day college basketball fans have much for which to be thankful, including:

“Preseason" tournaments - Sporting the best field in its history, the Maui Invitational was nearly won by the lone Division I participant, Gonzaga, not to have secured a National Championship in the modern era. Michigan State's game against the ‘Zags was a triple-overtime battle for the ages while both the championship and consolation contests were back-and-forth nail-biters. Elsewhere the Guardians Classic enabled four tremendous games between Top 20 opponents, Coaches vs. Cancer re-introduced America to Billy-ball and the NIT Season Tip-Off set up a Duke-Memphis clash sure to rock Madison Square Garden louder than many a regular season Knicks game. Lower-profile tournaments including the BCA Classic and Invitational, Top of the World Classic, and Paradise Jam proved equally as compelling for those in attendance.

The NCAA Tournament - Imagine for a moment that polls, pundits, and the BCS crowned college basketball's champion. Under college football's (all but) one and done formula, Arizona, Gonzaga, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan State, and Stanford would all be out of the running. Thanks in part to "March Madness," college basketball excites during the "preseason," conference season, and postseason.

"Mid-Majors" - A heartfelt thanks to Bucknell and Cornell for exposing Syracuse as no more consistent than Ben Affleck at the movies, Sam Houston State for helping to usher Quin Snyder out of Columbia, and Old Dominion for taking Wisconsin to the wire. For good measure, thanks also to Drexel for keeping pace with Duke, Butler for nearly upending Ohio State, and Winthrop for taking down Marquette. College basketball without "mid-major" enabled upsets and near-upsets would be as exciting as Thanksgiving without pumpkin pie, which is to say not at all.

Ager-bombs - (Adam Morrison's spirited play would have earned him top billing were it not for his moustache and extra-long hair). Michigan State's Maurice Ager in Maui demonstrated leadership, poise, clutch play, and, most notably, a surefire shot from (way) beyond the arc. Those who believed the Big Ten would this season be "down," myself included, stand corrected. Michigan State and Iowa, impressive in "preseason" tournaments, and Indiana and Illinois, dominant in the early going, look primed to keep the Big Ten on the up and up.

Tenured coaches - Asked about his decision to direct Air Force rather than return to the NBA, first year Falcons coach Jeff Bzdelik expressed his preference for the college game's relative job security. "The average stay for an NBA coach is 2.3 years. That's exactly what I lasted with the (Denver) Nuggets. It's just the way the business is." Much is made of player turnover in the college ranks. But little is made of coach turnover in the pros. As has been evident over the past two weeks, rivalries between college basketball's elder statesmen provide reason enough to tune in. Gonzaga-Michigan State, for example, was as much a game of off the court play calling as it was of on the court execution. Further, Syracuse's players may change, but Jim Boeheim's system and 2-3 zone remain the same.

By the numbers - Several numbers caught my eye, among them:

28.3 percent: Arizona's shooting percentage in defeating Kansas in Maui.
39: Consecutive free throws nailed by Gonzaga and Michigan State in Tuesday night's thriller.
14: Rebounds collected by 6-foot-7 forward Mo Charlo in Nevada's victory over Vermont.
46: Points scored by Florida guard Taurean Green at Madison Square Garden. Asked about Green's coming out party, Billy Donovan expressed surprise and noted Green had done little in practice to suggest he was worthy of such outbursts.
84.2 percent: Bucknell's second half shooting percentage in shocking the Orange in Syracuse.
Nine: Shots blocked by Massachusetts big Stephane Lasme in the Minutemen's game against Davidson. Had Lasme secured a 10th, he would have become the first Minuteman in 32 years to notch a triple-double.
86: Minutes played by Paul Davis during consecutive games against Gonzaga and Arizona.
25: Points scored by Old Dominion's Arnaud Dahi at Wisconsin.

3) Sekou Smith of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that Al Harrington is sick of the L’s:

Harrington misses winning feeling

Hawks forward Al Harrington can't help but wonder what might have been had his NBA fate not taken him from the title-chasing bosom of the Indiana Pacers to the rebuilding central with the Hawks. Trips deep into the playoffs, to the conference finals and possibly the NBA finals are a distant memory for the Hawks co-captain, who engineered his own trade after the 2003-04 season. The Pacers won a league-best 61-games in Harrington's final season in Indianapolis and lost to eventual champion Detroit in the Eastern Conference finals. These days Harrington is just glad to win a game, he jubilantly tossed his jersey into the stands after the Hawks snapped a nine-game losing streak in Wednesday's win over Boston at Philips Arena. "I'd be lying if I said I don't think we'd have won a title had that team been kept together," Harrington said before he planned to take a courtside seat for the Pacers-Cleveland Cavaliers game Thursday night. "Look at what they have and what we had then and nobody can tell me that we weren't right there with Detroit, San Antonio and whoever else was out there. "That team was built to win a championship and we were right there. Right there." Harrington is back in the town he called home for the first six years of his pro career for a game tonight against former teammates. And while he's putting up career numbers in nearly every category — 17.8 points and 8.5 rebounds in 37 minutes per game — he longs for the days when winning games was routine. "You get spoiled playing in a place like Indiana, where the franchise has been a monster for so long," said the 6-foot-9, 245-pound Harrington, who is in a contract year and an extremely attractive trade piece. "(Pacers CEO) Donnie Walsh kept asking me before I left if I was sure I wanted out. And I was. I felt like for me to become the player I feel I am, I needed to go to a team and play the type of role I'm playing on this team. "Would I rather be winning more games? Of course. But we just haven't gotten there yet. "Whether or not the Hawks do so with Harrington remains one of the most intriguing subplots for a Hawks team with plenty of story lines. The Hawks have a logjam at the forward positions. With youngsters like Josh Smith, Marvin Williams and Josh Childress all still in the developing stages, its not clear which way the Hawks will go in the future. Harrington's name has been a hot one in trade rumors since this year's draft, when the Hawks selected Williams with the second overall pick. "I was in that same situation those guys are in now," said Harrington, the No. 25 pick in the 1998 draft out of New Jersey's St. Patrick's High School. "The difference is I was on a team with veteran guys and I barely played my rookie year. The dues we paid just a few years ago are a lot different than they are now. That's just the truth. This is a different league now than it was six or seven years ago. So I understand the process we're going through right now." Hawks coach Mike Woodson insists that Harrington's leadership and locker room presence is indispensable. He also knows that a Hawks team without Harrington will have a huge void, on and off the floor. We've put a lot on Al's shoulders from the day he got here," said Woodson, who like Harrington is in his second season with the Hawks. "He asked for that responsibility and we gave it to him. And I don't think you could ask him to do much more than he has for us. He's been our rock a lot of times, on and off the floor. My belief has always been that when a guy in this league has those qualities and displays the type of effort and professionalism Al has, he's rewarded handsomely." Harrington's reward, however, could be one of his own making. Much like he was two years ago, he's in charge of his own fate. If he wants a chance to win again right away, he could follow the same plan he used when he exited a Pacers locker room that was his sanctuary. "I'm done worrying about anything but the next game," Harrington said. "Rumors and talk is just that, rumors and talk. I think my game speaks for itself and I think what I've done and the way I work does, too. I feel like wherever I am, we're going to be successful. That's just the confidence I have in myself and in what I do."

4) Mike Kahn of FOXSports.com with a Cavs article:

LeBron, Hughes help key Cavs' fast start

This is getting serious at "The Q." In case you're not familiar with the place ... that would be the Quicken Loans Arena, home of the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Boston Celtics became the latest victims of the Cavaliers' perfect home record, dropping a 115-93 game, which now makes the Cavaliers the first team in NBA history to win their first six homes games by an average of nearly 21 points per game. There are many reasons why the Cavs' 9-2 start (9-3 after Thursday's loss to Indiana) equaled the best start in franchise history set during the 1976-77 season. Of course, the first name that comes to mind is LeBron James, the precocious forward in his third season out of high school from down the road in Akron. His numbers are mind-boggling. Over the past few days he has recorded his first triple-double of the season in a huge win over the Philadelphia 76ers, earned the Eastern Conference player of the week award by averaging 29.7 points, 9.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists and Tuesday night against the Celtics he contributed 36 points, five rebounds and four assists. But the most numbing number of all may be the simple fact that he won't turn 21 until Dec. 30. "The way he understands the game at his age is phenomenal," Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. "He should coach." Except for on major issue — he's just getting started as a superstar player. The difference this season as opposed to the past two, when they started off well and faded appears to be the addition of free agent guard Larry Hughes. Hughes has been the perfect complement to James on the wing with his skills that include shooting, ballhandling, attacking the rim and defending — just in a smaller package. When you consider James is 6-8, 240 — then the 6-5 190-pound Hughes seems small. Together, the firepower has been devastating for rookie coach Mike Brown. Against the Sixers, when James had 36 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists, Hughes contributed 37 points, six assists, four rebounds and three steals. "LeBron is just amazing," Brown said. "His triple-double ... what else can you say? It's LeBron, it's Larry. It's Larry, it's LeBron. Everybody else is just feeding off those guys." This has all been the brainchild of Dan Gilbert, who bought the team from Gordon Gund in the middle of last season and set the Cavs and the NBA on its respective ears. It caused Paul Silas to lose focus on coaching, ultimately getting him fired. Jim Paxson was rendered helpless as team president, and he was relieved of his duties and the Cavs fell out of the playoff chase. And Gilbert was ripped from all angles as the buzz that dominated the basketball world was he would hire Larry Brown as team president — during the NBA playoffs. Well, think again before you start comparing Gilbert to one of those meddling, nightmarish owners. He hired Brown, only 35, but already with 12 years of NBA experience. His apprenticeship began with Bernie Bickerstaff in Denver and Washington, advanced to the pedigree Gregg Popovich at San Antonio, and was completed the past two years with Rick Carlisle and Larry Bird in Indiana. For a team like the Cavs that so often got lost because of youth and a lack of veteran leadership, to hire a guy grounded in defense and details was a perfect choice. Shortly thereafter he brought in Danny Ferry as general manager. Still only 39, Ferry's history with the Cavs is filled with irony. Many consider an NBA title for Cleveland in the late 1980s and early 1990s went down the drain in the Cavs' mega-deal with the Los Angeles Clippers with Ferry coming to Cleveland as the cornerstone that sent extraordinarily athletic Ron Harper to the Clippers. Ferry took his Duke All-American credentials and a year in Italy because he didn't want to play for the Clippers and he signed a decade-long contract for money through the roof at the time. The problem was, he was never more than an average player the rest of his career. But that was not a reflection of his basketball IQ. He grew up in the shadow of the Washington Bullets, where his father Bob was a player then general manager. He finished his career playing with the Spurs and Popovich, then became director of basketball operations — with championship rings as a player in 2003 and in the front office last spring with the Spurs. Despite being hired just four days before free agency began on July 1, he jumped in with both feet and reconstructed the roster. With nearly $24 million worth of cap space opened up by Paxson, he went to work. He signed Hughes for what some thought was too much money, but the fit was ideal. He added the experience, rebounding and 3-point shooting of Donyell Marshall. Then, with encouragement from James, he re-signed 7-3 All-Star center Zydrunas Ilgauskas, noted for his great hands and shooting touch, but his negligence on defense and erratic rebounding an ongoing question. With point guard Eric Snow injury-prone and aging, he sorted through the free agents and landed the mercurial personality but superb 3-point shooting of Damon Jones — actually pushing Snow to lose weight and better conditioning in the process. He added quick, but diminutive Mike Wilks for insurance at the point. Perhaps more importantly, he kept young and erratic power forward Drew Gooden, who is having his best season. Now they look for real. Oh, the team looked great the past two seasons in flashes and appeared playoff bound, so to start talking about them competing for the Eastern Conference title would be way over the top. But they are better in every aspect, from the top of the organization through their roster depth. There was a method to the madness and Ferry had the intuition to know that James, Hughes and Jones would become fast friends on and off the court. Perhaps that sense of chemistry being something he gleaned from college coach Mike Krzyzewski. However it happened, most importantly it appears to be working and James is ecstatic for the first time — and perhaps the paranoia that he will leave as a free agent in the summer of 2008 will finally dissipate. "We don't feel we should lose," Hughes said. "That's LeBron's mentality and it's trickling down to everybody." Twelve games into it, everything is working. And maybe, just maybe, "The Q" may become the hottest ticket in the NBA.

5) Tony Mejia of CBS SportsLine.com feeling the Thanksgiving vibe:

All around the league, it's time to give thanks

'Tis the season to be thankful, ingrates. Whatever it is you're blessed with, cherish it, be it as prosperous as a winning lottery ticket or as simple as a delicious packet of Vienna sausages cooked over an open fire. Same goes for NBA teams, from the champion Spurs to the lowly Hawks, whose first victory finally came -- and it only took 10 tries. Every squad has at least three things it can give thanks for this Thanksgiving, and if they need any ideas, CBS SportsLine.com is here to help. Keep in mind, this has nothing to do with what teams may want for the holidays, but rather to appreciate what they already have. After all, I'm not Santa Claus and can't grant the Rockets a killer chiropractor for Tracy McGrady and Bobby Sura, the Orlando Magic a new arena in which to play or Larry Brown a pass-first point guard to enjoy. Maybe in December. If you're good.

On this joyous occasion, the (insert team name here) can be thankful for:

Atlanta Hawks
1. The franchise has yet to spontaneously combust.
2. Locusts haven't descended upon Philips Arena.
3. Former partner Steve Belkin can no longer stand in the way of personnel decisions.

Boston Celtics
1. The team's talented youngsters, its future, are making progress while learning on the job.
2. Center Mark Blount has decided to show up this season.
3. Adding black to the traditional white and green on those alternate uniforms may be sacrilegious, but it should add extra revenue.

Charlotte Bobcats
1. Trading in the Charlotte Coliseum for the team's brand new arena is like trading in an old-school Geo Metro for a tight Saab convertible.
2. Kareem Rush and Gerald Wallace obviously worked hard over the summer as both have seen their scoring numbers vastly improve.
3. Emeka Okafor's sophomore slump can't last all season.

Chicago Bulls
1. Fans actually care about the team again.
2. The Bears' success has partially helped mask their sluggish start.
3. Tyson Chandler seems genuinely enthused about coming to work every day knowing all post play starts with him.

Cleveland Cavaliers
1. LeBron James -- after all, you can't take the mother lode for granted. We are all witnesses to something happening in Cleveland for the first time since Bone Thugs-n-Harmony.
2. They were fortunate to have all that cap space available with so many jewels on the market. Larry Hughes was the loveliest of consolation prizes after missing out on Michael Redd.
3. Zydrunas Ilgauskas' once-brittle feet continue to hold up. Someone get the name of their podiatrist.

Dallas Mavericks
1. Every day, Josh Howard looks more and more like the steal of the 2003 draft. Among the names that went ahead of him: Reece Gaines, Troy Bell, Sasha Pavlovic and Ndudi Ebi.
2. The Mark Cuban-hooked up dressing rooms and assorted other treats he spoils his players with. You have to give the man credit; no owner is better to his roster.
3. It doesn't matter how lethargic they are in a game, provided they keep it within 15, they're just a Dirk Nowitzki hot streak away from getting right back in it.

Denver Nuggets
1. George Karl, after successfully battling cancer this offseason, can deliver a potent message on what this holiday signifies.
2. Marcus Camby has carried over his level of play from a year ago, has remained relatively healthy and is headed for an All-Star berth.
3. Carmelo Anthony continues to mature, with his game following suit.

Detroit Pistons
1. The 8-0 start kept the wolves from devouring Flip Saunders.
2. Chauncey Billups and Rip Hamilton actually seem to be improving as the years go by, giving Detroit a new-school Isiah-Dumars.
3. Despite locking up a lucrative contract extension, Tayshaun Prince has not loafed, but rather brought his level of play up every single night.

Golden State Warriors
1. The acquisition of Baron Davis cost them no one of great significance, keeping their talented young nucleus intact while fetching a leader.
2. Mike Montgomery seems to be one of the few immune from the "great college coach not suited for the pros" epidemic.
3. Bottom line, they're cool again.

Houston Rockets
1. The injury bug can't linger all season.
2. Late first-round pick Luther Head looks like an absolute steal.
3. Yao Ming's presence allows them to be the most popular sub-.500 team in the world.

Indiana Pacers
1. They're finally intact.
2. Ron Artest, Stephen Jackson and Jermaine O'Neal understand that after all the controversy they've gotten in, whatever doesn't kill them makes them stronger.
3. Conseco Fieldhouse provides a raucous home-court advantage few teams enjoy.

Los Angeles Clippers
1. Uh, duh. The best start in franchise history. Their turkey would taste phenomenal even if it was made of tofu.
2. Sam Cassell's legs and spirit appear recharged.
3. For once, they're clearly the No. 1 team in L.A.

Los Angeles Lakers
1. Phil Jackson and Kobe Bryant are getting along. Sooner or later, that partnership will translate into wins.
2. Point guard Smush Parker has helped fill a glaring hole at a bargain price.
3. Despite also-ran status, they're still clearly the most popular team in L.A.

Memphis Grizzlies
1. The locker room chaos has subsided, with savvy veteran-provided peace reigning supreme.
2. Pau Gasol seems to have finally come into his own, and he's saving money on razors and shaving cream.
3. Writing utensils through the entire city are safe.

Miami Heat
1. Alonzo Mourning, certain to one day have his jersey number hanging from the rafters, looks rejuvenated, has made a triumphant return and, best of all, feels healthy.
2. Superstar guard Dwyane Wade will never even imply, "It's either me or Shaq."
3. If they wanted to, they could've gotten over their loss to Toronto by enjoying an 80-degree day on South Beach.

Milwaukee Bucks
1. T.J. Ford's neck isn't only healthy, but his game is actually stronger after such a one-year absence. Deadlier jumper, just as quick, headier.
2. Andrew Bogut doesn't look like a bust.
3. Michael Redd's new $90 million deal means free turkeys (plus all the trimmings) for the rest of the squad.

Minnesota Timberwolves
1. Kevin Garnett doesn't call out Kevin McHale every day.
2. Michael Olowokandi has actually shown some signs of life, providing hope the bust can bloom.
3. New coach Dwane Casey has a far more harmonious, albeit less talented, locker room than predecessors Flip Saunders and McHale.

New Jersey Nets
1. But for his recent minor back problem, Vince Carter's Nets stint has been injury-free.
2. Richard Jefferson and Carter can indeed co-exist in the offense, with Jason Kidd keeping the duo happy with enough shots.
3. Part owner Jay-Z gives out some great holiday presents.

New Orleans-Oklahoma City Hornets
1. Chris Paul is going to be the gift that keeps on giving for quite some time.
2. The folks in Oklahoma City have embraced the team with more than warmth that could ever have been expected.
3. Even with the destruction in New Orleans, the people there are keeping their heads up, as is the team that represents them.

New York Knicks
1. Channing Frye's start would indicate the team did something right with a first-round pick for the first time in ages. Still, the Frederic Weis-over-Ron Artest memories won't fade.
2. There may not be enough shots to go around, but there sure is enough gravy. Maybe Larry Brown can get them to share it "the right way."
3. The team's media contingent can drum up Kevin Garnett-to-New York fantasies to keep their fans from falling asleep.

Orlando Magic
1. In Dwight Howard, they have an Amare Stoudemire clone to build around.
2. At least wasted first-round draft pick Fran Vazquez is learning how to win. His squad in Spain is among the league leaders. Hey, sometimes you've got to look at the bright side.
3. The team's new leadership, from coach to front office, at least somewhat knows what they're doing. Far cry from last year.

Philadelphia 76ers
1. Who knew Allen Iverson and Chris Webber would be able to play nicely with one another?
2. The arrival of Maurice Cheeks has given them a head coach the entire team can stand.
3. Samuel Dalembert's return is imminent, and the team has managed to maintain a hold on first place in the Atlantic without him.

Phoenix Suns
1. Less than 100 days (hopefully) until Amare Stoudemire returns.
2. There's no doubt who's going to carve up the turkey and pass out plates, is there? Steve Nash -- he distributes everything else.
3. Fan interest hasn't waned despite the team's record dipping.

Portland Trail Blazers
1. Zach Randolph's knee surgery has left him almost as good as new, and he's enhanced his efficiency by perfecting his jumper.
2. Nate McMillan's arrival has restored order on a franchise that lacked any direction. The rebuilding process is already ahead of schedule.
3. Darius Miles appears to have committed his full attention on fulfilling his vast potential, and his game is coming along nicely as a result.

Sacramento Kings
1. Their struggles came early. It's hard to imagine talent like Mike Bibby, Brad Miller and Peja Stojakovic struggling all season. Better to get the funk out of the way.
2. The New Jersey Nets foolishly passed on Shareef Abdur-Rahim, allowing the talented -- and healthy -- power forward to end up in NoCal.
3. Young wings Francisco Garcia and Kevin Martin will make for a deep bench as they continue to improve.

San Antonio Spurs
1. David Robinson picked the perfect season to get injured, leaving the team depleted enough to where it reached new lows, managed to grab the No. 1 pick, ended up with Tim Duncan, and you know the rest.
2. Their international scouting department is the best in the league, having unearthed jewels like Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker. Fabricio Oberto can play, and the latest project, Ian Mahinmi is a fabulous prospect.
3. They're so good they can entice Robert Horry to stay and Nick Van Exel and Michael Finley to sign up for reduced rates.

Seattle SuperSonics
1. Ray Allen stayed put despite coach Nate McMillan leaving and other franchises nosing around for his services.
2. They didn't fall into the trap of offering Jerome James another multiyear deal despite his last-ditch attempt to earn one last postseason.
3. There have been no sharp objects around Vladimir Radmanovic when he's voicing his displeasure at how he's being used under Bob Weiss.

Toronto Raptors
1. This will likely be their last Thanksgiving with Rob Babcock.
2. Rookies Charlie Villanueva, Jose Calderon and Joey Graham have all quickly shown they belong in this league.
3. Vince Carter visits often enough that the team can hear someone else get booed.

Utah Jazz
1. Deron Williams is definitely for real, giving the team the first player worthy of manning the position John Stockton once held.
2. Jerry Sloan came back to help teach the team's young core discipline and fundamentals.
3. Mehmet Okur left his shooting slump behind at the European Championships, as he's been nothing short of spectacular thus far.

Washington Wizards
1. Golden State failed to match the offer sheet on Gilbert Arenas, who considering his development, is well worth the six-year, $65 million deal he received.
2. Antonio Daniels' arrival has helped instill some defensive principles that were missing last year and will be essential for a deeper run come playoffs.
3. The Kwame Brown nightmare is over -- and hey, he ultimately landed Caron Butler.
Lastly, in the spirit of the season, please take time to remember those less fortunate than us, like the unemployed Latrell Sprewell, forced to make every dollar count in order to feed his family.