HOUSTON – Tuesday was media day at the Super Bowl which is good, because we are with the media. Of course, with over 3,200 credentials issued by the league office, this is not exactly an exclusive club.

For anyone who wasn't there, the NFL basically trots out every single player, coach and owner of each team for one hour and they answer questions from everyone who has gathered here to cover the game.

The most popular players are up on little stages. The regular guys just mill around. Although it is often decried by the media (go figure) because it is too crowded, it works pretty well. There are some good questions, some dumb questions and plenty of silly ones from pseudo-media such as "The Pickman" of Nickelodeon or Warren Sapp, who is working for the NFL Network.

At one point Tuesday, in a role reversal, Sapp (the player) was interviewing Rich Eisen (the television journalist). It seemed like the main line of questioning involved Sapp making fun of Eisen's hair.

It all works great for

HOUSTON – Before we reveal Adam Vinatieri's personal choice as his all-time greatest kicking performance, let's review some of the prime contenders:

• The 45-yard game-tying field goal with 1:43 remaining against the Oakland Raiders in the 2002 division playoff that sailed through a heavy snow.

• The five-field-goal performance in the cold, snowy AFC championship game against the Indianapolis Colts two weeks ago.

• The 46-yard eventual game-winner against the Tennessee Titans in the 2004 division playoff that stayed true despite steady wind and near zero temperatures.

• And, of course, the 48-yarder as time expired in Super Bowl XXXVI to give the New England Patriots the victory.

Also, let's solicit his teammates' opinions:

"What do you think I am going to say?" said Joe Andruzzi, as if the choice were obvious. "The Super Bowl."

Not everyone agrees, we told the Pats lineman. Then we reminded Andruzzi of the others.

"Yeah, the Oakland one was big too," he nodded.

"The big snow kick," running

LUBBOCK, Texas – He had just five points, five turnovers and had made only two of nine shots. Texas was down three with 2.6 seconds to go, half of Lubbock was screaming in his ear and the play wasn't even designed for him. But there it was, a slightly bad pass, a defender hanging on him and no time to think about any of it.

"That's just why I play basketball," shrugged Brandon Mouton.

He made the catch – "a heck of a catch," UT coach Rick Barnes said – faked out the Texas Tech defender and from 25 feet let it rip.

"Once it was in the air, it felt good," smiled Mouton.

It was good of course, forcing overtime, forcing an exhausted Tech team to try to dig a little deeper and eventually forcing a huge Big 12 road win, 62-61, for the Longhorns (13-3, 4-1).

"The kid hit a great shot," Tech coach Bob Knight said.

Maybe it means more in the pros, where the competition is bigger and better. Maybe a championship game-winner is the ultimate dream. But there remains something oh-so-special about

HOUSTON – You would think highly paid athletes about to participate in the championship game they have focused on, dreamed of and worked toward since they first learned the ball was inflated instead of stuffed would be properly motivated to compete with maximum effort.

Especially since winning will earn you the title of champions of the world.

But for some reason that is never enough. There always has to be more – not just here as New England and Carolina prepare for Sunday's Super Bowl – but apparently in any professional athletic pursuit.

Which is why in weeks like this, as the hype builds up for the big game, the most repeated, if annoying, theme is how no one is giving anyone their proper respect. Like the fat paycheck and the thin groupies don't count. Regardless, the disrespected will now play even harder because of it.

So get ready to hear over and over about respect, underdogs and "shocking the world" – even though most of the world could care less and plenty of people are

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – With just one starter returning, no proven point guard and limited size up front, the general consensus about this year's Louisville team was simple: Wait 'til next year.

That's when Rick Pitino's club would have experience, depth and a touted recruiting class to make a run at a national championship. Pitino wasn't conceding anything. That isn't his style. But reality is reality.

"If you were with me the first six weeks of practice [I] thought we overscheduled," Pitino says. "[The coaching staff] got together and said, 'Were not very good.'"

How good do they feel after a dominating win over Cincinnati on Wednesday?

After their 93-66 victory, the Cardinals are 14-1 and haven't lost since opening night. By manhandling the previously unbeaten Bearcats and tying Bob Huggins' largest margin of defeat of his Cincinnati tenure, Louisville proved it worthy of its No. 5 ranking.

"We got our ass kicked," UC associate coach Dan Peters said after the game. "They just pounded us.

Wouldn't you know that as the Super Bowl approaches, by far the most popular topic for feedback this week surrounded Pete Rose.

We've now got reaction to our reaction. Anyway, we'll run some more this week – after a little Jake Delhomme talk – and then end the debate. I think (although I may be wrong) that we've heard enough of Rose for the time being.

My comments, as always, appear in italics. Now onto the People's Voice . . .

JAKE DELHOMME (Jan. 15: "Jake Del-who?")

Thanks for the write up on Jake. He has been a great inspiration to our kids for a few years. I was proud of him when he came to the basketball clinic a few years ago and sat with our kids. He is a remarkable person. My most memorable moment was when USL beat the Texas A&M Aggies. The goalpost was taken down and the fans carried it four or five miles to downtown. Jake was a BIG part of that game.

Danny P. Comb
Breaux Bridge, La.

Great article. Wonderful story. It's nice to see Jake get some press. He has quietly enjoyed a

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – In 21 seasons and about 1,600 games as an NBA coach, Larry Brown has seen just about everything, including his share of streaks. There even was one as long – although not quite as pleasant – as his Detroit Pistons' current 13 victories in a row.

"I lost 13 straight in San Antonio, and they [had a comedy] roast [set up for me]," Brown said of the losing streak during the 1988-89 season. "It was my first season. We had seven or eight CBA guys in the midst of a 21-win season. This was before we got David [Robinson]. They had planned the roast for charity six months before. The date was picked. So we lost the 13th and we had the roast."

He shook his head and laughed at the memory.

"I was roasted long before that though."

Which brings us to Monday's immensely satisfying 85-77 Pistons victory over the San Antonio Spurs, Detroit's 13th straight win. The streak ties a franchise best set during the NBA championship season of 1989-90. It also marks the longest win streak in

You can tell they are having a pretty good time in Indianapolis this week. The Colts offense isn't just loose heading into Sunday's AFC championship game at New England; they've turned into comedians.

Hunter Smith, the punter who has yet to kick in the postseason because the Colts offense doesn't need him, is being hailed as "Hunter The Non-Punter."

"Nobody really likes Hunter that much," teased Peyton Manning.

The mental demands of Manning calling and then recalling plays at the line of scrimmage? That, Reggie Wayne jokes, is a bit stressful.

"Have you ever prepared for the SAT test?" the receiver laughed.

You can't blame the Colts for enjoying themselves. In two playoff games they've scored 79 points, gained 913 yards, converted 14 of 19 third downs and gotten one defensive coordinator fired.

They may have entered the playoffs hearing doubts about their ability to win big games, but they've responded by coming on stronger than Jalapeno soup.

"We're hot as an offense," Manning says.