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By M.J. Darnell

* * * Big Boys vs. Little Boys * * *

Now that college basketball is getting around to conference play, there will be some TV choices to be made between college and pro hoops. Here are five reasons I'll always go with the NBA.

5) Players can get what they deserve. If I buy a Ben Wallace jersey, I can be sure that Ben's going to see some paper because of it, but if I buy a #50 UConn jersey, Emeka Okafor isn't going to see a dime, and for all I know, I just helped pay for a new fern in Jim Calhoun's office while Emeka opens a package of Ramen noodles for dinner.

4) LeBron James is making history. He is 19 years old, and one of the best players in the league. Maybe in the top 10. And he's not made it to the All-Star break in his first season. If he continues anywhere near this pace, in 20 years, he'll retire as one of the greatest athletes to ever play team sports, and you've got a chance to watch it happen right now.

3) Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith. Not only is there no better sports studio show on television, there is no better show on television, period.

2) No one in the NBA is forced to keep up the illusion that the game is about something other than getting paid. The NBA is a business. So is college basketball. But with the college game, you hear so much about guys playing for the love of the game, that academics come first, that it's really all about the betterment of young people, blah blah blah, and I cannot force myself to believe a word of it. Money changes hands. Academics are dismissed. Exploitation is the name of the game. The NBA doesn't have to lie about anything. It is what it is. I'd rather not have to listen to the hypocrisy.

1) The NBA is home to the best basketball players in the world. Period. This argument trumps all others. At the end of the day, you can have all the pep bands, the cheerleaders, the Cameron Crazies, and the Dick Vitales in the world, and still, the athletes in college are nowhere close to the athletes in the NBA.

* * * "If you're a grown man, act like one..." * * *

A sports radio personality in Philadelphia reported that Allen Iverson skipped the Sixers last road trip, not because of the knee injury that kept him out nearly a month, but because he was upset that the team fined him for missing a recent shootaround.

How absurd is it for anyone to question Allen Iverson's willingness to play through injury? Had this dude ever watched Allen Iverson play before? AI suffers more wear and tear on a given night than does Lamar Odom's bong. He always gets up, and he never backs down.

There may be things about Allen Iverson that could be questioned, but his willingness to play through pain? Come on now. He's like the Steve McNair of the NBA. He'd play through a gunshot wound.

Believe me, I'm as shocked as you are that someone in the noble world of Philadelphia sports talk radio would say something inaccurate, but it didn't go without a response from Iverson, in typical Iverson fashion. Direct, blunt, honest.

"They say anything about me on that show, whether it's fact or it's false... I expect them on that show to say I'm hiding Bin Laden in my house. They're going to say the worst about me on that show.'' AI continued as the radio show host in question stood about 15 feet away from him. ''I'm a man. I'm gonna' walk all around this building. You got a bone to pick with me, I'm right here. I'm a grown man, if you're a grown man, act like one and do something. It's simple as that.''

Love him or hate him, AI's always going to lay it out there. Respect him for that, if for no other reason.

* * * PHOENIX's future * * *

The Starbury-going-back-home storyline is getting all the ink, but think for a minute at how frightening the Suns could be in the years to come.

There's been speculation that the Suns are clearing room to go after Kobe this summer. They could have as much cap room as anyone, a desirable climate, and the Colangelos have a reputation for taking care of superstar players. With one or two more cap-cutting moves, they could land Kobe in the off-season. As for a potential supporting cast, it starts with Amare and Shawn Marion, and they could also have up to three first round picks to play with, in addition to Maciej Lampe and Milos Vujanic.

Of course, all of this assumes that Kobe isn't contractually obligated to the Eagle County Penitentiary All-Stars, or able to play only in the state of Colorado, lest his new ankle bracelet start beeping. But even if he is fitted with the lowjack, the Suns can still bring in one, possibly two, other free agent studs, along with the afore-mentioned draft picks, Lampe and Vujanic.

If this is indeed the plan, it's a pretty nice one. I've wondered why more teams haven't looked around at the Lakers, Kings, Mavs, and Wolves and just said, "Alright, to hell with it. Let's just suck now, and maybe see what happens when some other teams actually get a chance to win." That seems to be what the Suns are doing. And it could pay off big.

* * * The Jerry Sloan Award * * *

Any coach who's worked his way to a better-than-.500 record with a starting line-up that includes Carlos Arroyo, DeShawn Stevenson, and Greg Ostertag does not deserve to win the Coach of the Year Award -- he deserves to have the thing named after him.

Jerry Sloan can walk into a room full of NBA coaches and ask, Larry Bird-style, "So, which one of you is going to be runner-up for Coach of the Year?"

An early look at the candidates for the Jerry Sloan Award:

Terry Porter. On paper, the Bucks starting line-up might be less impressive than that of the Jazz. If any team could ever consider it an accomplishment to be in the playoff race in the East, the Bucks can. Ford, Redd, Skinner, Thomas, Smith? And tied for 5th in the conference? Just nasty.

Nate McMillan. Not many coaches would be willing to admit they've been giving out playing time based on players' reputations instead of their performance, and then vow to change. And not many coaches could tell their team that they're embarrassing themselves with their play and get a positive response, either. McMillan has a sense of honesty to which his players respond, and despite being without Ray Allen for most of the season thus far, the Sonics have played winning ball.

Flip Saunders. Flip's had a lot of work to do this season. He had to get an almost completely new line-up to mesh, find a way to win without Olowokandi and Sczerbiak, and get everyone to not be afraid that an alien is about to pop out of Sam Cassell's head. Flip's getting the job done, and the Wolves are one of the hottest teams in the league right now.

Kevin O'Neill. The Raptos are hanging around just a notch below the Pacers, Pistons, and Hornets in the East, and it's got more to do with Kevin O'Neill's defense than it does with the resurgence of Vince Carter's considerable offense.

Mike Dunleavy. Yes, his team is under .500 and probably won't be making the playoffs, but what do you want? It's the Clippers. The fact that they have yet to be mathematically eliminated from the playoffs is evidence that Dunleavy Sr. is getting it done.

Jeff Bzdelik. He's doing a sweet job, no doubt, but it is probably kept out of serious contention by the fact that the Nugs have also upgraded their talent so much.

* * * The Mighty 10: * * *

1. San Antonio. Absolutely on fire. Since December 4th, they have lost one game. Tough games ahead against the Hornets, Pacers, and Hawks. Just wanted to see if you were paying attention.

2. Sacramento. The league's best record, and could probably make a claim for the top spot, but the Spurs are just a bit hotter right now. Something tells me they'll spend a week or two at the top when Webb is finally healthy, though.

3. Indiana. I don't know how anyone gives up 107 to the Magic, but... whatever. The Pacers have rattled of six straight, and have two measuring-stick games coming up against the Spurs.

4. Minnesota. The Wolves are in a situation similar to that of the Kings. Playing great ball, and can count on some help down the road as injured players return.

5. Detroit. Winners of 7 in a row, playing ridiculous defense again. Darko Milicic also exploded recently for a career high of six points. The Pistons have won some games this year while not playing particularly good basketball, and if they're starting to come around to Larry Brown's offensive system, they could get even hotter.

6. New Jersey. Wow, Jason Kidd should bitch out Byron Scott more often. 8-2 over their last ten, but will be without Kenyon Martin for the next two games because he felt it necessary to mug Corey Maggette the other night.

7. Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers are out of the top 5. No Malone, no Shaq, not much winning.

8. New Orleans. This makes it four of the top ten from the East. It sounds nice and all, but when the playoffs roll around, it's all about Sactown, San Antone, and the Lake Show.

9. Dallas. All the sudden, the Mavericks are no longer a part of the big four teams in the West. Maybe the I-don't-need-big-men-or-defense-of-any-kind philosophy wasn't so brilliant after all.

10. Denver. Struggling a bit as of late, but still six games over .500 and just whooped the Lakers.

* * * The Meek 5: * * *

25. Golden State. The last time I did this, they were actually in the Mighty 10. Sorry. I was crazy.

26. Phoenix. With Amare hurt and Steph going East, Shawn Marion's gotta carry the load. I love the Matrix, but that's a tough load for anyone to carry.

27. Atlanta. Yes, they still suck.

28. Washington. Thank God for the Magic, eh Wizards?

29. Orlando. Someone get that 'C' off of McGrady's shoulder. It's killing him. Unbelievable talent, but he's just not a leader. It's a simple as that.

* * * Post Moves * * *

Vin Baker: Keep up the fight, man... you can beat it.

Same goes for you, Spurs chairman Peter Holt. Keep your head up.

I don't believe in giving up easy baskets. I do believe in hard fouls. But the hackjob that Kenyon Martin put on Corey Maggette the other night was just a bit ridiculous. Up 26 points, and he's going to do something that earns him a 2-game suspension? That's NBDL stuff.

It'll be interesting to see where Charlie Ward ends up. How many teams need a point who can effectively run a system and play hard, smart defense? San Antonio and New Jersey have been mentioned the most as Ward's likely destination.

If there's one thing we can learn about this past week, it's that trade rumors mean not a damn thing. I'll read about 50 potential deals in a week, and when something finally goes down, it's one that no one's ever mentioned before, like Marbury to the Knicks. Current rumors have the Knicks going after 'Sheed and/or D-Miles, and I don't know if it would surprise me more if it happened or of it didn't.

Comment, Question, Problem, Compliment, Tirade, Hate Mail? Feel free. mjd888@insidehoops.net (remove the 888)