YAO! THAT HURTS...

Anyway, it is shaping up as an unforgettable spring in the NBA west of the Mississippi River--although I believe the Hornets' arena is just a few blocks east of the Big Muddy, but you hear me. The Rockets, winners of 12 straight, were the newest intriguing wrinkle to the tale. My very good friend and old dormmate, Martin J. Burns of SI.com, even put Houston at No. 1 in his NBA Power Rankings earlier today. And then Yao goes down with a stress fracture. (the jinx apparently extends to the web).

Too bad for Houston, currently 7th in the NBA West at 36-20. Great news for Denver and Golden State, both of which will more likely than not occupy the final two spots in the playoff race, moving past the Rockets. Here's my big question: How much did China's hosting of the Olympics in August play into Yao's decision to shut it down at this time? Was this a matter of, If we take care of it now, Yao, you'll be ready in time for Beijing? And that's what's really important.

I don't know. But the Western Conference playoffs just got a little less interesting.

It's still going to be the greatest battle of attrition since the Peloponnesian War, but I'll miss Yao.

On to other matters....

Yesterday my pal Katie McCollow (yuckysaladwithbones.com...it's funny and low-carb) and I were dissecting the Oscars and Katie remarked about how much she loathed "Atonement". "No more World War II movies," Katie cried. "Is there any place in the world left that hasn't been the setting for a World War II movie? We get it. It was horrible. A lot of people died. Can we just move on?"

I laughed. And then an hour later I picked up the New York Post and read that one of the very early Oscar favorites for 2008 will be a film called "Austalia", starring Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman. The Post described it as "an epic World War II romance." So there's another continent down, Katie. Antarctica still has not been a setting for a WWII flick yet, but anyone who has read "Middlesex" (or was it "Kavalier and Clay"? I cannot remember) can tell you that there's actually a chapter or two that takes place there during WWII. So when that book (whichever one it is) is turned into a film, there'll be no place left to set a WWII flick except, I dunno, Canada?

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Just saw a commercial for the film "Never Back Down", which was never also the name of a popular Tom Petty tune. "Never Back Down" looks like a combo of "The Karate Kid" and "Fight Club" with a splash of that "Welcome to the O.C., bitch!" scene thrown in for good measure. Oh yeah, I'll see it. It'll be more entertaining than "There Will Be Brood", I'll stake a bet to that.

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When I'm president, I will appoint my buddy Billy Hubbell (older, and more dysfunctional sibling of the above mentioned Katie) Secretary of Pop Culture. Billy always sends me these terrific mixed CDs, and here are three gems from his "Best of 2005, Part 8" CD. I'm the idiot who still hasn't figured out his iPod, but I'm assuming you have, so download this trio and thank me later:

"In A Funny Way", by Mercury Rev

"Stolen Car", by Beth Orton

"Telescope Eyes", by Eisley

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My parents are both 71 (!) and this morning my mom sent me one of those well-meaning yet dreadfully morbid emails detailing where important bank statements, vehicle titles, publisher's clearinghouse sweepstakes info, etc. I replied that, in the event of my untimely demise preempting theirs, that all of my important financial stuff is located in a file in my desk drawer labeled "All of My Important Financial Stuff". Also, that my good friend Moose gets Mirk the cat (but not before I die, Moose).