Quick thoughts

• If you didn't read my post on Kobe Bryant yet, please scroll on down and give it a chance. I feel strongly about this.
• Maryland and Kansas are the latest two squads to be hit by a mid-season subtraction of personnel. Maryland is losing its most consistent player, Chris McCray. He is their leading scorer, best defender (only defender), and team leader. A senior, he failed to qualify academically. I'll stay away from what I think and give him the benefit of the doubt. But, the Twerps will suffer. I think they'll still make the NCAA, but will have to rely on N-I-K Caner-dash-Medly to provide a regular offensive barrage. Good luck with that. KU, on the other hand, is losing freshman Micah Downs for "personal reasons." Don't know too much there, I just hope he gets it all worked out and can return to play D-I ball somewhere if he wants to. He is from Washington, so no doubt the Huskies and Zags will be interested. My inside sources tell me...ok, just kidding.
• Major props to Martina Hingis, women's tennis star. Hingis sat out the last three years, saying the game was just too intense and had taken over her life. She lost yesterday in the Aussie Open Quarters to Kim Clijsters (man, she can play and will be the new world #1). But, it is good to see Hingis back and playing well in the tournament she dominated for six years or so. I've always been a Hingis fan. I love Swiss people and swiss cheese, ya know?
• Sad story involving the Boston College men's bball team. Apparently the bus they were riding on hit a bicyclist in Chapel Hill last night on Hwy 54, killing the rider. Whoa. That is horrible. Thoughts and prayers go out. No word yet on the ID of the cyclist.
• That's it for now. Not much going on today. Peace and chicken fries.