J. Howard's Dental Hygiene, Sager Gets Smushed & Other Thoughts

-Don't know if anyone else saw this, but I'm pretty sure Mavs' forward Josh Howard wears rubber bands on his braces. Which is to say, he has braces, and there are rubber bands attached to them. I know this because I saw them during an interview on TNT tonight. Three questions: 1) What is he, 14? 2) Does he also wear a headgear when he sleeps and collect GI Joes? 3) If it were you, wouldn't you want to take out the rubber bands before you did a TV interview?

-Speaking of interviews, classic interaction between Smush (who has earned one-word name status on this site) and Craig Sager at halftime of the Lakers-Jazz game tonight. Smush looked like he was ready to rip out Sager's trachea.

-Someone I know recently informed me he was "a little Michael Irvined." I'm not exactly sure what that means. Is he saying he's a good football player?

-On the topic of football -- In a bit of not-so-subtle Heisman campaigning, Reggie Bush's high school highlight tape has been released.

-Barry Bonds apparently plans to play in the World Baseball Classic next year, which is pretty cool. This might end up being a very exciting event. However, I'm almost more interested in one line that's just kind of thrown in at the end of this article: Monsieur Bonds plans to get his playing weight down to 200 for next season. Before we know it, we're going to be looking at Barry circa 1993.

-Things That it is Not Okay to Do Under Any Circumstances: Carry on a lengthy cell phone conversation whilst squatting out a doodie in a public restroom. Had the misfortune of seeing/hearing someone doing this the other day. It changed me.