Today's Best - 01.07.08

5. marcus banks - in the first of two games last night where there were more than 250 combined points scored, the suns got back on track and defeated the nuggets 137-115. looking to set the tone early, denver scored 34 first quarter points. unfortunately, the suns set their tone earlier and had outscored denver by 12 points after the first. the nuggets never really threatened after that and the only answer they had for the suns' 64.5% shooting from three was to shoot 30%. most impressive to me was much maligned marcus banks who scored 23 points in 20 minutes. all of his field goal attempts were three pointers of which he went 7 of 8. i tried in vain to figure out what the record for most three point attempts in a game without taking a two was but i couldn't find anything. therefore, i'm assuming the eight three pointers marcus banks shot without attempting a two is an nba record. likewise, i'm assuming his 23 points is also a nba record.

4. the golden state - in one of the most exciting games of the year, the warriors defeated the spurs in overtime 130-121. before last night, the spurs had won 33 consecutive games when scoring more than 100 points. but those were games that didn't involve stephen jackson and baron davis going loco in front of a frenzied oakland crowd. at one point in the fourth quarter, the warriors had five straight possessions where they scored three points, three three pointers and two three point plays. but like the spurs usually do, they managed to erase a six point deficit with 2 minutes capped by an ingenious inbounds play that gave tony parker an open look at a corner three to tie the game. generally, the spurs win games where they force overtime, but last night, captain jack took matters into his own hands and scored 12 overtime points including several giant threes. and best of all, manu ginobili got really frustrated late in the game. like so frustrated that i recorded it so i can watch it again whenver i get upset about seeing him flop around the court like a fish out of water.

3. bob sanders - yesterday bob sanders was named the 2007 nfl defensive player of the year as he led a dwight freeney-less colts defense that allowed the fewest points in the league. most importantly though, at 5-8, bob sanders becomes the shortest player to ever win the defensive player of the year award. he's like a real life "rudy". well, if rudy went to iowa instead of notre dame. and if rudy was actually really, really good at football instead of a turd who tries really hard because he kind of stunk. and if rudy were black and had long dreadlocks instead of a white guy with a perfectly plain haircut. i guess it's not like a "rudy" at all.

2. lesu - in the bcs championship last night, lsu defeated ohio state 38-24 and are allegedly the unquestioned best team in college football. truthfully, i'm only mentioning this because it seems like i should. and just between you and me, i actually had the game on in picture-in-picture while i watched american gladiators, so it's very likely that many of the game's details escaped me. from what i gathered, ohio state jumped out to an early 10 point lead and lsu scored the game's next 31 points on the arm of matt flynn. then out of nowhere, hellga clobbered some poor contender in gauntlet. seriously, hellga is the biggest person i've ever seen. person, not woman. anyways, congratulations to the tigers for their second bcs championship in five years. and if les miles wants to make it three championships in six years, he should turn all his recruiting attention to signing hellga to replace glenn dorsey.


1. the 49 states not named savannah - last night, the tigers of savannah state traveled to an actual state to face michael beasley and the kansas state wildcats. after 40 minutes, the game was tied, savannah state 25, michael beasley 25. unfortunately, for the tigers, beasley's teammates chipped in an additional 60 points and k-state won 85-25. in the second half, savannah state managed to score only four points, a single free throw and a single three pointer, while shooting 4.3% (1 of 23) from the field. it was an ncaa record for worst shooting percentage and fewest points in a half. it was also hilarious. on the bright side, the tigers can go home to the state of savannah knowing that if they played ohio state last night, they would have won by one and been crowned bcs champions.