PSoTD

When they fired Steve Mariucci.

But the Lions still don't know what they're doing if they won't fire Matt Millen as GM.

There's a chorus of Can Can Matt Millen out there: Oregon Commentator Online, Thomas P. M. Barnett, Earlblog.net, Deadspin, amongst others...

When I was a kid, baseball was my favorite game. And I must admit, for sheer watchability, NFL football runs close to this sport as my favorite.

But to play? To coach? For the excitement of the college and high school tournaments? To try to inspire others to participate as well? It's basketball, hands down. You can actually practice - for value - by yourself. It only takes one other person to have a game, but as long as you have a full court, you can keep adding players. Equipment needs, beyond the court, are cheap. The game itself is fairly simple. I play Wednesday nights in a "35 and older" league, and there are guys in their 50s and 60s playing basketball, and playing very actively, and with a joy that I hope to have when I'm that age (which won't be that long).

So, as a basketball fan - I think these kinds of stories are great, and the world needs more of them...

Wheelchair basketball more than a game

Nothing could change the fact that Kaylah Ray's life was altered after being confined to a wheelchair two years ago due to Transverse Myelitis, a neurologic syndrome.

Devastated by the condition, Ray lost the passion to do anything. But thanks to ABLE Youth, she found that passion along with the drive to keep on pushing.

"I didn't think I'd be able to do none of the same things I did before being in the wheelchair," Ray said. "But then I got into ABLE Youth."

Ray is one of the 30 kids that are involved in the Nashville-based ABLE Youth program that held the 2005 Music City Hoopfest at the Patterson Park Community Center Saturday in Murfreesboro. ABLE Youth (Athletes Building Life Experiences ) is a program that gives physically disabled youth the chance to participate in structured sports and recreational activities as well as teaching them how to be independent.

"This program isn't all about sports, that's just the gravy. We teach the kids how to live," program founder Rick Slaughter said.

At the age of 17, Slaughter was injured in a car accident that forced him into the world of wheelchair athletics. Slaughter became quite the wheelchair athlete, traveling across the country for various competitions. Once he settled down in the Nashville area, he started to hear the complaints that many of the disabled youth had about not having the chance to take part similar activities as their peers — he knew he had to do something.

"I was very lucky to go the places that I went," Slaughter said. "These kids can't sign up at their schools for their teams and that's so important. The smiles I get when I hand out jerseys are priceless."

The Music City Hoopfest was the first basketball tournament of the year for the Music City Thunder, ABLE Youth's team. The Thunder's Varsity (age 14 through high school) team took third place in the tournament and the Prep (13-and-under) team took second. Teams from Alabama, Georgia, and North Carolina took part in the event.

Dan Onkst, event coordinator, was extremely happy with the turnout, but his happiness was secondary on the day.

"The kids love it," Onkst said. "They love getting to show what they can do."

That competitive spirit is a big part of the program. Slaughter knows that free passes aren't handed out in life and prepares his students for the real world.

"I did not want this to be a baby-sitting service," Slaughter said. "You have to be motivated. You have to want to compete. In life, you have to compete whether you want to or not."

And it's that philosophy that has been one of the biggest benefits to the kids, said Karen Taylor, Kaylah's mother.

"It has built her self-esteem," Taylor said. "It has brought her from a 'I-can't-do-anything' world to a 'I-can-do-whatever I want to do' world."

Okay, you can't expect an 108 yard return of a missed field goal for a touchdown every week. But that Chicago Bears defense is really fun to watch.

Of all the cities in the NBA to see such a thing occur...

The Sacramento Kings bought full-page ads in two newspapers to apologize for showing derogatory images of Detroit on video screens prior to their home opener against the Pistons.

When the Pistons were introduced Tuesday night, the Arco Arena scoreboard flashed pictures of abandoned buildings, burned-out cars, piles of rubble and other negative images of Detroit.

I lived in Sacramento for 10 years. I lived there when the Kings came to Sacramento. The Kings, a lowly, failing NBA franchise looking to move from Kansas City, was welcomed in Sacramento with open arms, because Sacramento had a problem. An ego problem. Sacramentans felt they were a major league city, a big city, an important city, but other than the State Capitol, they didn't have any other evidence to prove that case to other big cities. Big cities like San Francisco. Big cities like Los Angeles. To many Sacramentans, the Kings were this "proof". In fact, Sacramento Kings fans should be able to strongly remember being taunted by Los Angeles Lakers fans about being a "cowtown".

If there was one NBA franchise that should know better than to diss another NBA city, it's Sacramento. As a fan of the Kings, I wish their front office had realized that before the stunt.

When pizza delivery people don't accept your tips.

Terrell Owens summoned police to his house late Monday because there were some people on his property. He said he wanted to be left alone, had no comment and would contact the news media when he did want to speak, police at the scene said.

Later, two pizzas were delivered to Owens' home. Someone answered the door — not Owens — and gave deliveryman James McDevitt a $5 tip. McDevitt said he left the tip on the door step.