Memphis center Kareem Cooper was busted for pot early Monday morning in Millington. I am sure the Tiger-haters around town are rejoicing there is finally something negative about what has otherwise been a very positive season.

This may shock some of you but plenty of college kids still smoke marijuana. Now that doesn't make it right, but it also means that this is not a unique case or situation. The more troubling part of the story is Cooper was allegedly driving while under the influence of the weed (the officer reported the obvious odor coming from the vehicle) & to me that is more serious than the actual possession.

The Tigers improved to no. 3 in the country yesterday, just behind UConn & Duke. This bad news doesn't take anything away from what this team has accomplished. It's now a matter coach John Calipari must deal with how he sees fit, then use it as an example to the rest of the team that there are consequences to your actions. Punishment in practice? Suspension? Or...? I am sure we'll find out today.

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I am not sure how the progress is coming with Ed Orgeron's fence around Memphis, but Tigers coach Tommy West may be working on one in Oxford. QB Matt Malouf committed to Memphis yesterday, although one northeast Mississippi newspaper reported midday Monday that the announcement of his decision may be delayed.

Malouf passed for over 2,200 yards & 21 touchdowns in his senior season at Oxford High, leading his team to the State 4A finals.

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There's just something odd sounding about Toyota in NASCAR. "There's Michael Waltrip in his no. 77 Camry taking the checkered flag!" Yup, that's weird.

It was no surprise when the Japanese auto manufacturer announced they'll compete in the Nextel Cup Series starting in 2007. After all, Toyota has been in the truck series since 2004 & somehow NASCAR survived.

I say that tongue-and-cheek, because several stories I have read which were written by stick-and-ball guys with no understanding of NASCAR (along with an unwillingness to try to understand) are pretending that the average blue-blooded, flag-loving, Gordon-hating NASCAR fan will turn their nose up because "One of them there foreigners" has a car on the track.

Wakeup, folks. NASCAR left behind the stereotype you are imagining years ago. No longer does the sport carry a regional appeal in the South. NASCAR has deserted some traditional southern races so to expand to the west. Why? Market demands.

When football season comes to an end in a couple of weeks, the Daytona 500 will not get here quick enough for me.

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While Roger Clemens said last week he wouldn't ponder returning to Major League Baseball until next month, then decide in March where he might play, the Texas Rangers are taking no chances. Owner Tom Hicks is personally handling the matter, as he drafted a letter Monday to the 43-year old pitcher. I am sure it contained lots of begging & even a couple of "Steinbrenner sucks" comments.

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Bizarre story of the day: A teacher in Beaver Falls, Pa., forced a 17-year old student to sit on the floor & take a test because the student wore a Denver Broncos jersey to school two days before Denver lost to Pittsburgh in the AFC Championship. The teen also claims the teached made students throw crumpled up paper at him.

Now if those actions aren't begging for the family & an opportunistic lawyer to go after the teacher, the school & the school district, this quote from the teacher will only fan the flames: "If he felt uncomfortable with it, then that's a lesson," according to John Kelly.

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Kobe Bryant's 81-point game Sunday night, 19 short of Wilt Chamberlain's record-setting 100-point effort, has the sports world buzzing over what records are in jeopardy & which ones will never be broken.

- Joe Dimaggio's 56-game hitting streak: unlikely
- Cal Ripken's 2,632 consecutive baseball games played: unlikely
- Barry Bonds' 73 homers in a season: possible, but not with MLB's new steroid policy
- Nolan Ryan's 5,714 strikeouts: unlikely
- Miami's 17-0 season in 1972: likely, look how close Indy came this season
- Jack Nicklaus' record of 18 majors: likely, thanks to Tiger Woods
- UCLA's seven-straight NCAA basketball titles: unlikely, I dare say NEVER to this one

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I wrote on this blog Sunday that I had no idea collapsing on the floor & requiring medical attention was worth of a technical foul in college basketball. But that is what happened to Houston coach Tom Penders Saturday night against UAB.

The official assumed when Penders fell to his knees he was overreacting to a foul called on the floor. After the coach was taken out on a stretcher you would think the refs waive the technical, right? Nope.

On Monday, Conference USA said, "It appears that the crew exercised poor judgment in sustaining the technical foul following the medical condition that arose for Coach Penders." The conference office added that appropriate action will be taken in the matter.

Penders has a history of heart problems & has lived with a pacemaker since 1997.

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Got a few grand lying around the house? You could be the owner of a 1995 Nebraska National Championship ring for sale on Ebay.

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Music quote of the day:

"When you believe in things that you don't understand
Then you suffer
Superstition ain't the way"

Stevie Wonder - "Superstition"