Paul Pierce is having an interesting offseason. Celebrating his title, almost getting arrested in Las Vegas and then proclaiming himself the world’s greatest basketball player. Pierce said that in Madrid when asked if Kobe Bryant is the best player in the world. “I don't think Kobe is the best player. I'm the best player,” Pierce said, according to yahoo.com. “There's a line that separates having confidence and being conceited. I don't cross that line but I have a lot of confidence in myself." On the one hand, a person like Pierce probably should feel that he’s one of the better players in the league. He was simply outstanding in the Finals. On the other, until this season I don’t know that many people would have put him in the top three, four, five players. Finally, he misses the point. Actually, the questioner does as well. Because, well, you see the best player in the world is neither Kobe or Paul Pierce, it’s LeBron James.

Of all the many unforgettable moments provided by Heath Ledger in the Dark Knight, the best has to be when Ledger, made up as the Joker, hair askew, makeup all over, wears a nurse’s dress as he sits down to face the man he tried to murder. He looks at a man he put in a hospital bed, says hi with an impish grin and (remember, wearing a nurse’s dress) asks: “Do I really look like a guy with a plan.” Classic. Not quite, “I am shocked, shocked to learn there is gambling going on in here,” but classic nonetheless. It’s also not quite the same as Slim Pickens telling a whole bunch of cowboys “Somebody has to go back and get a (boatload) of dimes” in Blazing Saddles, but it was good. And don’t forget from Airplane — “A hospital, what is it? … It’s a big building with patients, but that’s not important right now.” Ledger ranks in there somewhere.

Devoe Torrence wound up joining Akron’s football team – after he was acquitted of charges he had sex with a 12-year-old-girl. Had Torrence had any other previous issues in high school he would not be with the Zips now. And the fact that Torrence was judged innocent enabled the team to add him. Torrence is a talented back who went to Canton South for three years, then to Massillon. But right now he’s running fourth team for the Zips. I wrote a lot about him in Wednesday’s Beacon Journal, but the thought of him sitting in court going testimony against testimony with a 12-year-old is pretty unsettling. Here’s what I wonder: Yes he may have been judged innocent, but how in the world does someone put themselves in the situation where they are charged with such a crime?

Memo to Alan T, one of my loyal readers. Appreciate the complimentary photo; it actually shows my better side. And Alan … as for Adriana … can’t we live with one unreal image in our lives? At least, can’t I in my pathetic little life? I mean, we’re just trying to have a little bit of fun here. Without a plan, of course.

“I’m like a dog chasing a car. Wouldn’t know what to with one if I caught it. I just do things.” Classic.

Next starting question on Who Wants to be a Millionaire? “Place the following in order of duration, shortest to longest.”
A) The 100 Years War
B) The time it took the British to navigate to the Falklands
C) The time I will wait for Adriana Lima’s call
D) The death of Francisco Franco
E) The Brett Favre Retirement-Unretirement Saga

Let’s see … Devin Hester signed a new contract for $40 million. It took Joshua Cribbs how long to ask for a new deal? Guess that six-year deal Cribbs signed in November of 2006 doesn’t count. In truth, Cribbs is underpaid. But the problem is it was him putting his signature on his contract, a document that is legally valid in 48 of the 50 states. The proverbial ball is the proverbial court of the proverbial team on this one.

Here’s a couple more pictures from my friend Bob, a fellow St. Ignatius alum, from his travels in Alaska, the great state of bears, glaciers, mountains and snow.