Caught on the Fly.(humor in basketball.)(Brief Article)

Hey, didn't you used to show Fly something?

* The Spies're pickin' up semi-subtle hints (think: Larry legend's understatement of his Smeltic front-office interest to prospective owners) that M.J.'d be open to Chicago redux. Mike's locked in with the D.C. comics for four more years if he wants to collect on some major capital, but that'll be jussst about when Jerry Reinsdorfs ready to ball on the Bulls.

* Set yer Doomsday Watch, Skippy: Certain front-office worker bees tell Fly that the national past-its-prime's lockout'll start the nanosecond World Series `01's over (you'll know when the Pinstripes pile onto the pitcher's mound) but will end before All-Star break `02 so the Midsummer Classic in the Commish's hometown doesn't get torpedoed.

* Sure, tell Fly that Marry (Got No) Schottenheimer's perfect for a creaky crew like Li'l Danny's Deadskins, but Coach'll earn every single one-o-$10 mil when he finally figures out that after `01, this cap-strapped squad's starin' at sssenous face lift/roster dusting.

* Hey-yo, whether the ol' alma mater's a stomper or a stompee, hear the buzz that the BCS-ta (our motto: "You lose, you snooze") is plannin' formula "tweak" to devalue blowouts and credit head-to-heads. Coral Gables' response: Better never than late.

* Hey-yo, if Steve Lavin ain't feelin' enough heat over UCLLLLA's stumble of a start, then wait till ...