A drop in attendance has the Memphis Grizzlies scratching their heads. The team is currently 26th in the NBA after finishing 19th last season. Memphis is 43-32 & on the verge of their third-straight playoff appearance.

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It appears SMU basketball coach Jimmy Tubbs in on his way out. He's in the second year of a four-year contract, but met extensively with his AD yesterday to discuss the specifics of an ongoing NCAA investigation into his program. Any SMU coach can be terminated without compensation if it is proven he or she knowling committed a NCAA violation.

A decision on Tubbs is expected by Friday.

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I have been told UAB is close to announcing Mike Davis as their new head basketball coach. Two unrelated sources told me yesterday a deal was close & a press conference could happen today or Friday. Today's Birmingham News reports an offer is close for the former Indiana coach, although UAB officials did interview Florida assistant head coach Anthony Grant on Wednesday.

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The Mississippi basketball program lost an assistant basketball coach & a signee all in one day. First, coach Tracy Dildy surprised the administration yesterday after announcing he is leaving the program. Dildy was a finalist for the top spot, after serving as an assistant on former coach Rod Barnes staff. He was retained by new coach Andy Kennedy last week.

It was also learned yesterday that signee Eric Bozeman has been released from his letter-of-intent, after his father said the Rebels were no longer in his son's nest interest.

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South Carolina basketball coach Dave Odom released a statement yesterday removing his name from the list of candidates for coach at N.C. State or any other university. "I have not nor do I expect to have any contact with any other university about any coaching vacancy. I have no interest in leaving the University of South Carolina. I am totally committed to focusing all of my attention and energies on the continued development of our team and program."
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Those six arrested Mississippi State football players I mentioned here earlier this week have been suspended by coach Sylvester Croom & will miss Saturday's Maroon & White game. The six, all freshmen, are accused of assaulting an off-duty police officer in a fight last Saturday night at a Starkville business.

At least one eyewitness claims the football players were trying to break up a fight between two females.

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University of Georgia football coach Mark Richt has become a proponent of an on-campus, alcohol-free nightclub.

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Minor league baseball will start tonight, with or without their striking umpires. The Association of Minor League Umpires voted on the move last month over what the group call "noneconomic & economic issues."

The association's president has a dire prediction: "They're jeopardizing the players on the field and putting a less-quality product on the field for the fan. The talent and speed of the game is so high, particularly at the Triple-A level, that it's going to be hard to maintain those high expectations and standards without us. I think there's going to be disapproval, by managers, players and fans. It's a real shame."

The replacements will consist of retired professional umps & collegiate umps. Something tells me most fans won't even notice a difference.

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High school standout Michael Beasley may not be a lock to head to Kansas State after all. Beasley's mother tells the Charlotte Observer, "Michael's thing is Dalonte (Hill) left and he thinks they're throwing him out behind him. He feels like he's been tossed out on his head. If Charlotte throws in the towel because Dalonte left, that says to me, `Do they really honestly deserve him?' I think Charlotte should recruit him, keep being there for him. Michael loves that school. Don't turn your back on him."

Although he committed to the 49ers at the age of 15, it was assumed by many Beasley would follow Hill, who left Charlotte to join the staff of Bob Huggins last week. Beasley's mother was quick to point out her son is not part of a package deal.

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Here's a good story on Will Bogan, who committed to Coach Cal & the Tigers last year. He's just a junior & this was actually his first year of playing high school basketball, but he's been named the Southeast Missouri Player of the Year & helped lead Bell City to the Class 1 state championship game.

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Former baseball star Dwight Gooden is behind bars for violating his probation. The judge offered him the following deal: serve a year-and-a-day for the violation or reinstate probation, but if he violated it again, it would mean serving the full five-year sentence. Gooden, who admits an addiction to cocaine, opted to take no chances & just serve the current sentence.

Gooden will likely spend only seven months of so because he will get credit for time already served. The former Mets pitcher found himself in hot water last August when he ran from police. When he was caught, he failed a drug & alochol test & was taken into custody for breaking the rules of his probation.

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Did anybody watch the Barry Bonds reality show on ESPN2? According the numbers, it appears I am not the only one who missed it.

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The IOC has told baseball to clean up its act for alleged doping if it wants reinstatement to the Olympics. Baseball was removed from the games set for 2012 in London. Baseball can apply in 2009 for participation in the 2016 event. IOC president Joacques Rogue says progress has been made in cleaing up the sport, but not to the point where the "Olympic family would accept it."

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Pro golfer Tom Lehman was unhurt after a 26-year old thug decided to use Lehman's courtesy car for target practice. Lehman is at Augusta this week for the Masters. He was on his way to the airport earlier this week to pick up his son when he heard a loud pop. A bullet hole was found in his 2006 Escalade. Troy Willis Smith was charged with the shooting, after being arrested for a seperate charge Tuesday night.