As I predicted on these pages yesterday, Memphis vs. UAB came down to the wire, with the Tigers winning by seven, 73-66.

As is the growing norm on my postgame show, some folks just aren't happy with a win by the no. 3 team in the country. Forget the fact Memphis is 18-2... forget the fact Memphis is 4-0 in CUSA.... forget the fact Memphis owns wins over Gonzaga, Mississippi, Cinci, UCLA & Bama... forget the fact Memphis is currently the only top 5 team that's losses came to ranked teams (thanks to a caller for pointing out this great stat).

This was a huge game for the Blazers last night. Although it's still January, last night's game carried big implications in the CUSA regular season title. Clearly, Memphis & UAB are the best in conference. On paper, both should be favored to win out the rest of their regular-season games until the two meet in early March in Birmingham.

A UAB win last night would have given them the edge over Memphis for the title & the much-coveted no. 1 seed in the CUSA tournament. For UAB to achieve that goal now, the Blazers have to win out, beat Memphis again, plus hope that someone else can upset the Tigers. Not an unbelievable scenario at all, after all, this is college basketball.

Another wise caller to the postgame show last night added to my scenario the fact a UAB win last night on the homecourt of the no. 3 team in the country would have been valuable come selection Sunday. Good point.

Look, Mike Anderson is a good coach, UAB is a good basketball team & I am not going out on a limb prediction it will be a war (again) when the Tigers & Blazers meet March 2 at 8:30 p.m. on ESPN2.

In the meantime, there is a lot of basketball to be played, so enjoy this team.

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The older I get, the faster time flies. Imagine my shock when I read this morning that Steve McNair is heading for his 12th year in the NFL! Seems like yesterday a friend convinced me to come watch McNair at Alcorn State. "When this guy is in the NFL, you will be able to say I remember when...," was what he said. Glad I listened.

When McNair led the Titans to the Super Bowl six years ago, there was no way you could convince me that would be his only shot so far at a championship ring. With work already underway on the 2006 season, this is the case. McNair is set to receive a $9 million salary this year, something the team GM says is do-able, although he would prefer negotiating something more salary-cap friendly. Oh, there is also a $1 million buyout of a $50 million contract extension on the table that has to be dealt with as well.

McNair's agent asks, why should his client take a pay cut?

There's no doubt McNair is still a quality QB & belongs in the NFL, yet his best years are likely behind him. Will that future be with the Titans? Or the Dolphins, as some have suggested? Or somewhere else? All questions that need to be answered, but only after Floyd Reese decides if McNair is really worth $9 million bucks.

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College football's national signing day is next Wednesday. Several schools have their eyes on on wide receiver Duke Calhoun of Memphis Raleigh-Egypt.

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Yes, folks, it's true... there is a such thing as "Big Ben's Beef Jerky," officially endorsed by Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger! Only $8 & includes shipping & handling. Your Super Bowl party won't be complete without it!

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Sorry for the short blog this morning...

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Music quote of the day:

"So why don't you slide
Yeah, I'm gonna let it slide"

Goo Goo Dolls - "Slide"