The Mavericks needed overtime to beat the Spurs last night, but with their win it sets up a Western Finals many were hoping for: Dirk vs. Nash.

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Knicks coach Larry Brown surprised more than a few folks when he showed up Monday at the team's training center to work out four prospective draft picks. Many believe Brown is on the way out in New York after reports surfaced last week his contract would be bought out.

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NBA commish David Stern is very wise & does a great job running his league. Further proof of this happened yesterday when New Orleans was awarded the 2008 All Star Game. It's seen as part of the healing process to the Big Easy's local sports scene which was devestated (like the rest of the region) by Hurricane Katrina last summer.

Does this indicate the NBA will persuade George Shinn to not move his team to the midwest? Probably not... instead, it's the politically correct thing for Stern to do. Add to it, the party scene in February each year is pretty good in New Orleans. The players will enjoy it; their wifes and/or girlfriends will enjoy it; the fans will enjoy it. It's a win-win-win situation.

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Pat Summitt has become the first women's college basketball coach to receive a contract worth over a million annually. Tennessee gave her a raise to $1.125 million & extended her contract through 2011-12 season.

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Tough times right now for Texas basketball coach Rick Barnes. Four of his top five players have left the program & now sophomore reserve Mike Williams is packing his bags, saying he might transfer to Louisville, Cincinatti or Birmingham Southern. The strong rumor floating around is he will be a Bearcat soon.

The good news for Barnes is Damion James committed to Texas Monday. Listed on most experts' top 20 lists, James originally signed with Oklahoma, but was released after Kelvin Sampson left to take the Indiana job.

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Writing in today's Ft. Worth Star-Telegram, Jennifer Floyd Engel offers the following suggestions to improve the image of professional golf:

1. Allow golfers to wear shorts. Nobody wants to see guys dressed like Brooks Brothers associates sweating around in dress casual for 18 holes.

2. Let fans cheer. If golf wants to be a spectator sport, let fans act like fans. This nonsense about absolute silence is silly. Can you imagine officials shushing basketball fans before free throws?

While I can't really argue with her first suggestion, should no. 2 ever be adopted it would turn the game into a real-life version of the fans in Happy Gilmore. If she wants us to take the cheering fans idea seriously, why not also add intro music when the golfer is announced?

My suggestions:

Tiger Woods - Survivor's "Eye of the Tiger."
John Daly - Hank Williams Jr.'s "Whiskey Bent & Hellbound"
Phil Mickelson - Aretha Franklin's "Respect"

This list could go on & on...

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Troubled Tennessee Titans cornerback Pacman Jones is working on his image by speaking to a Nashville area boys/girls club. It's always great when an athlete takes time out of his busy schedule to talk to the kids; it's a pure shame when an athlete uses kids to create positive publicity & to sway public opinion.

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Is Mississippi State baseball coach Ron Polk on the hotseat?

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It's no secret I am a huge fan of the show "24" on Fox. It's one of only a handful of shows I never miss.

Laet night was the season finale & it took an interesting twist at the end. I won't say more in case there is someone reading this who recorded it, but hasn't watched it yet.

Since the conclusion of the show last night, I have glanced at a couple of messageboards & blogs to see the reaction. Most folks say it's the best season yet (I disagree, Season One is still the best); but some folks are complaining because the writers are asking us to suspend belief to make their plots work.

Huh? Isn't that what TV or movies are all about? Whether it's CSI, Superman or even Desperate Housewives, there has to be a certain level of fantasyland to keep us entertained. Otherwise, it's just life & I don't see that getting great ratings on a consistent basis.

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