Alligator Alley

1. GATORS IN TOWN: The Florida baseball team is in my neck of the woods -- Auburn, Ala. -- for a three-game series with the Tigers. Florida's coming off a pretty embarrassing loss to Samford (wth???) on Tuesday, so hopefully the team will come out with some fire. I watched some of their practice Wednesday night. A few observations from someone who hasn't watched much Gator baseball this season: 1) Hudson Randall is skinny. 2) Greg Larson is tall. 3) Preston Tucker is compact.

2. WHAT ARE YOU DOING, LEON ORR?: So Orr was caught driving with a suspended or revoked driver's license on Monday. This is his fifth run-in with the law, all pretty much small violations, but still. Gotta be smarter than this. Players have been kicked off the team for less, so he has to stop making dumb decisions like this. Orr has a chance to make some noise on the defensive line this season.

3. LAKERS LET ONE GET AWAY: I was half paying attention to the Lakers-Thunder game, but I saw the last few minutes of the game where the Lakers let the Thunder come from behind and steal Game 2. Kevin Durant had a nice runner from the baseline for the go-ahead bucket. Kobe had a couple turnovers to go along with his below-average shooting night: 20 points on 9-25 shooting. All this after he walked away from Game 1's post-game presser when a reporter asked him if the Lakers could guard the Thunder. "No," he said sarcastically. Shook his head and walked away. Well, while the reporter shouldn't have expected much of an answer, it was an honest question.

4. CELTICS RESPOND: After letting Game 2 slip away, the Celtics dominated Game 3 107-91. It's amazing how these old guys step up when you're ready to count them out. Midway through the season it looked like the C's might be fighting to get a playoff spot, but now they have a decent shot at making the finals, depending on how long Chris Bosh is out. Rajon Rondo has breathed new life into the team, but Kevin Garnett, as much as I hate to admit it, is playing out of his mind lately. Paul Pierce has been playing great basketball for a while now. It's really impressive what the Celtics are doing. It would be crazy if they met the old Spurs in the finals.

5. MIAMI AT INDIANA: Does anyone really think the Pacers can win this series? I know LeBron and Wade have a lot on their shoulders now that Bosh is out, but still. No way LeBron and Wade -- two of the top five players in the NBA -- should lose to a team led by Danny Granger. No doubt, the Pacers are a pretty deep team. And healthy. Still, though. LeBron. James. Three-time. MVP. *shoulder shrug* Compelling argument, I know.

6. L.A. CLIPPERS AT SAN ANTONIO: Snooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooz.

7. FAVORITE GATOR: I can't think of anything else to talk about, so who's your favorite Gator? Any sport. Let's say current Gator and former Gator. Say you could have dinner with any person to ever wear a Gator uniform. Who are you going to choose?