The Houston Rockets have now won 19 games in a row after a blowout win last night against the hapless Nets. There has only been three other teams to win this many in the row and each one has gone on to win the NBA Finals. If the Rockets beat the Atlanta Hawks tomorrow evening they will tie the 70-71 Bucks for the second most wins ever with 20 wins. The most amazing part of this streak is the Rockets no longer have Yao Ming yet they are still en fuego. A couple of weeks ago I remarked this team wouldn’t make the playoffs which currently makes me look like a buffoon. We shall see!

* Big Ben just hit the mother load with an eight year deal worth $102 million. Roethlisberger joins Peytong Manning, Brett Favre, Carson Palmer, Donovan McNabb and the suspended Vick in the $100 million club for signal callers. Many people are questioning whether the Steelers should extend the wealthiest contract in franchise history, but I personally think Ben deserves every dime. Lets just hope there was a provision in the contract for staying away from motorcycles.

* The Houston Rockets won their 15th game in a row matching a franchise record. That is all well and good, but now that Yao is out of the season the Rockets will be lucky to make it to the playoffs. Remember this statement!

* Michael “The Burner” Turner has signed a lucrative deal with the Atlanta Falcons and should be the starting running back in ‘08 for Hotlanta. Turner has been mired behind Tomlinson for years in San Diego and I fully expect a huge season this coming year. Nice work by the Falcons especially after so many dumb moves in recent months. On a side note Warrick Dunn immediately asked for a release due to this acquisition.

* Kobe dropped 52 yesterday in a win over the Dallas Mavericks. The Lakers only lost TWO games in all of February and are a legitimate threat to win it all this year.

* Ernie Els won the Honda Classic yesterday ending a four-year winless drought. Whoopty do! Els is no longer a top player in the game and is not competition for Tiger Woods.

Jeff Van Gundy said he can no longer take the stress of the sidelines in the NBA yesterday. A day after the Houston Rockets lost to the Utah Jazz in game seven at home Jeff Van Gundy said he was done as the head coach. Van Gundy is 430-318 in coaching stints in New York and Houston and has an overall record of a 44-44 in the postseason.

I can still remember Van Gundy riding Alonzo Mourning’s leg during a brawl many years ago in Madison Square Garden. What a WUSS!

Andrei Kirilenko was driven to tears Saturday after the Jazz lost to the Houston Rockets 84-75. He was crying because he didn’t get to play enough in the game. Andrei played only 16 minutes and scored a measly two points. Sloan said he stayed with Harpring in the game because he was playing considerably better than Kirilenko.

You are playing in the NBA and making $12.3 million a year Andrei…..suck it up and be a man!!!

Houston Rockets cover +8 at San Antonio  

OVERALL RECORD:

NFL 11-5-1

College Basketball 18-7-1

NBA 1-1

College Football: 10-8

Just a few notes and observations as I flip back and forth from game to game

1. LaMarcus Aldridge may be a great kid. He may be a great basketball player someday. But please, PLEASE, don’t talk. If you heard the call in during the Texas - Mich. State game, you know what I mean
2. Houston Rockets big men, specifically Yao “Pick an’ Ro’” Ming and Dikembe, don’t bring the ball down. Don’t try to dribble, or anything that brings the ball below your shoulders. Good lord!
3. Speaking of the Houston Rockets….if they were to look up ONE word in the dictionary, FINISH ought to be it. If you can’t find it, I’ll even do the leg work for you.
• Finish : to defeat or ruin utterly and finally. To DEFEAT. FINALLY.
4. Is Doug Collins talking through a block of cheese at the end of his mic? Several games this year and he sounds like he is talking into a pillow. Can someone from TNT please fix this?

ok, I think that’s it…carry on