`Hey, didn't you used to be a BCS lock?' (Caught On The Fly: fly@sportingnews.com).

Know this, Heat seekers: Rod Strickland's finally facin' something bigger than his collection of problems (alcohol, anger management, self-discipline, defense, effort and punctuality, among others) and that's Riles' ego. Coach thinks he's the one who can turn around a guy the Wiz paid $2.5 mil ... to go away?

* Speaking of the NBA Coaches' Home for Wayward Players ... nah, Fly can't muster a second thought about li'l Larry Brown and D.C.'s second Philly stint.

* NFL heavyweights whisper that the Bucs' D (as in disappointing) is a few pounds shy of dominating ... about 40 or so. That's the tonnage The Sappster's shed, and now every O's earth movers can lock up and negate his All-World quicks.

* Buzz is the Redbirds're still intent on closing time. The Angels picked up Troy Percival's option, but that doesn't mean St. Loo's not still sniffin' 'round. Plan B: A local boy isn't out of the question, Izzy?

* It ain't the system that has UCLA's D turned around/on, college football wonks tell Fly. Yeah, coordinator Phil Snow's emphasis on fundamentals helps, but a no-blitz, man-coverage scheme relies on hosses. And the top-five recruiting classes of a few of years ago have grown from Shetlands to stallions.

* Speaking of hosspower, that's what'll be tested come December in Daytona. Hmmm, couldn't've been the post-wreck parade through NASCAR's ...