Josh Q. Public:  The preservation of the means of knowledge among the lowest ranks is of more importance to the Public than all the property of the rich men in the country.  -John Adams

Public Knowledge: 

1.  So you weren’t impressed with the Big Aristotle’s comeback performance.  The fourteen minutes, five points and five boards weren’t enough for ya?  You want more.  Well, tonight’s the night.  It’s gonna be all right.  The Heat face the Eddy Curryless Knicks.  I think maybe, just maybe, Shaq will put up some numbers.

2.  Guess who’s taking the hill again today.  Guess who’s making a triumphant comeback again today.  That’s right, it’s none other than Carl Pavano.  Last seen, Mr. Pavano was smashing up his Porsche and his ribs.  Hasn’t thrown in the bigs since June of ‘05.  Show me what you got little mama. Show me what you got.  Inquiring minds want to know.

3.  Pau Gasol to the Baby Bulls?  Perhaps.  Paxson says he’s interested.  They’ve needed a body in the middle who can score ever since they traded away fat Eddy Curry.  But for who?  Madison Square Gordon and Luol Deng.  Not bloody likely.  We’ll be keeping an eye on this one.

4.  Trouble in Cleveland?  The Cavs are 24-18.  All well and good.  But they’ve lost six out of their last ten.  Bye-bye ####?  Dwane Casey style?  Maybe.  Whenever high hopes fail to come to fruition, it’s the coach who usually suffers.  Regardless of who misses big free throws.

5.  What happened?  They used to be the most swinging alligators in the swamp.  They used to be the greatest percolators when they really started to romp.  Wally Gator style.  Now?  Not so much.  Seven times this season, the Nets have led by at least ten points and lost. Monday they were up twenty.  Wednesday, they were up eleven with four minutes left.  This team could be 27-15.  Instead, they’re 20-22.  Good thing they’re in the Hot Lantic.  Not for nothing, Cuttino Mobley’s 3-pointer with 0.6 seconds remaining gave the Clippers a 102-101 victory over New Jersey.  It was the Nets’ third consecutive one-point loss, equaling the longest streak in NBA history. 

6.  Red Sox finalize deal on JD Drew.  About time.  Coconut Crisp, Julio Lugo, Papi, Manny, JD Drew.  That’s a pretty daggone good line-up.  Gy-Ro-Mite!, Schilling, Pap, Boom Boom Beckett, Wakefield.  That’s a pretty daggone good staff.  You listen to me brother, saddle your ponies you bet!  Bring it ####es!  Listen to me now, or listen to me later:  Fear the Red Sox!

7.  Dewey beats Truman.  Vee Dot Carter:  “I’m thrilled. It’s always just a great feeling to be selected as an All-Star as a starter.”  Hey dum-dum, Hibachi’s starting.

8.  Does it ever stop?  Tractor Traylor. Remember him?  Broke a backboard while at Michigan.  Broke his arm while out with Mateen Cleaves.  Well, he broke something else.  The law.  His Largeness just pleaded guilty yesterday.   Pleaded guilty yesterday to preparing a false tax return after hiding assets for a convicted drug dealer.  I’ll never get it.

9.  Start me up!  How is Canadian Idol Steve Nash not an All-Star starter.  Tracy McGrady?  Really?  I love T-Mac as much as the next guy, but c’mon.  Stupid.

10.  The Nugget trade no one is talking about.  Earl Boykins for Steve Blake.  The Nuggets have won five straight since attaining Blake.  He has started at the point in all five of those games.  Coinky dinky?  We think not.  Blake pushes it.  Pushes it real good.  Hits the three.  Protects the rock.  The Nuggets are the team no one wants to see come playoff time.   

11.  Quote of the day.  Gilbert Arenas:  “He’d like to see what I’m going to do against Duke?  I thought it was funny because if I have the chance to go back to college, I’ll give up one NBA season to play against Duke.  One college game that’s five fouls, right? … 40-minute game at Duke, they got soft rims I’d probably score 84 or 85. I wouldn’t pass the ball. I wouldn’t even think about passing it. It would be like a NBA Live or an NBA 2K7 game, you just shoot with one person.”   And that’s different from now, how exactly?

12.  Baby boomers.  Four of the five players selected for the Eastern Conference All-Star Team are 25 years old or younger: Agent Zero and Flash are both 25; Chris Bosh and King James are both 22.  In the past 50 years there has been only one NBA All-Star Game in which four (or more) starters from one conference were no older than 25. The 2002 West team had four: The Big Ticket, Little Stevie Franchise, The Big Fundamental and The Mamba.

13.  Money makin’.  Money, money makin’.  Dallas Maverick super disco breakin’.  Disco Dirk.  Nowitzki had 11 rebounds, marking his seventh straight game with at least 20 points and 10 rebounds. He also had a seven-game streak earlier this season.  No other NBA player has had even one streak of five or more consecutive games with 20 or more points and 10 or more rebounds this season.  MVP?

14.  Multiple published reports state that Kenny Anderson will be named quarterbacks coach of the Steelers.  Anderson played all 16 of his NFL seasons with the Bengals (1971-1986) and he started 23 career games against Pittsburgh, the most for any NFL quarterback vs. the Steelers over the last 50 years.  I always liked that cat. Remember 1981?  Huh?  Do ya?  Sherman, set the way back machine.  1981.  Anderson had completed 62.6% of his passes for 3,754 yards and 29 touchdowns, with only 10 interceptions leading the NFL with a career-high 98.4 Passer Rating.  Associated Press and Professional Football Writers of America NFL Most Valuable Player Awards and the NFL Comeback Player of the Year Award.  Freezer Bowl to the Super Bowl.  The Bengals lost Super Bowl XVI to the 49ers, but Anderson wasn’t bad.  25 of 34 passes for 300 yards.  Two touchdowns.  Another one on the ground.   At the time, his 25 completions and 73.5% completion percentage were both Super Bowl records.  Kenny Anderson ladies and gentlemen, Kenny Anderson.

15.  Oh, and for the love of god, can someone please tell me how to my avatar up here.  It's driving me nuts!

Peace out homies.  Six Two and Even!