Nobody asked me but ...

Nobody asked me but...Sikeston is looking primed and ready for a playoff push. Class 4, District 1 tournament starts next week and the good news for Bulldogs fans is that the games will be played in the "Dog Dome."

Since the Superman Classic, freshman Michael Porter and junior Julian Beard have stepped up their respective games. Porter is becoming a monster down low and looks like a player beyond his years.

Beard is becoming more selective with his shots and is filling up the baskets. And the rest of the team has consistently filled their respective roles. Coach Holifield has done a fabulous job of blending in his new talent with the incumbents.

The Bulldogs have won eight straight, and earned the No. 1 seed in the district.

Quick preview of District 1, Sikeston will face the Dexter Bearcats, who will defeat Fredericktown in the first round, in the semifinals. Sikeston will quickly dispatch the Bearcats and will probably face Notre Dame in the finals.

The Irish...er, I mean Bulldogs, have been ranked in the top 10 much of the year in Class 4 and have an excellent coach in Paul Hale. Earlier in the season, Sikeston dismantled the highly regarded Fighting Bulldogs by 20 points. Many Sikeston haters have speculated that Notre Dame is much improved from that game and will be a handful for Sikeston.

Like in soccer, Sikeston will prevail over Notre Dame. Sikeston wins 74-67 over Notre Dame. One can't root for a school called Notre Dame, while said school is without a football program.

The Sikeston girls basketball team will face Notre Dame in the first round of Class 4, District 1. Prediction sure to go wrong, the winner of this matchup will win the district. Sikeston has the talent, question is...how bad do they want the title?

Great atmosphere at Risco for the Tigers game against Bell City. If senior Andrew Halford was an unknown before the game, Halford played like he wanted people to take notice. There has to be some place for this kid to play at the next level.

Some kids who are either under covered or don't light up the stat sheet, but are invaluable to their teams. Boys and girls diamonds in the rough:

Mitchell Winchester, E.P.

Josh Thompson, Charleston

Matt Ritch, Richland

Blake Taylor, Sikeston

Marcus Greene, Portageville

And the ladies:

Hannah Rone, Portageville

Natalie Hayes, Dexter

Amber Minner, Sikeston

Heavenly Wren, NMCC

Brittany Ponder, Kelly

Charleston will walk into the Big Bluff on Friday night and take the SEMO Conference title away from the Mules. Point guard Shawn Sherrell will not be stopped and Jamarcus Williams will be fired up to make up for a sub-par game against Cape Central.

Good luck to Sikeston wrestlers Gavilan Bland and Craig Burton, who will compete in the state tournament starting on Thursday. These two men have worked long and hard at their sport and I for one wish them the best.

With NASCAR getting ready to kickoff with the Daytona 500 later this month, a few questions need to be asked for the upcoming season. First, how do the drivers "relieve" themselves in the car? I mean, it is a long race! Second, do the drivers get dizzy driving in circles all day?

Finally, should the governing body of NASCAR do away with restrictor plates at Daytona? Didn't realize plates were restricted at the local buffet.

And finally, nobody asked me but...I am begging, no pleading for the Dallas Cowboys to pick up Terrell Owens. With Owens, the Cowboys are a sure Super Bowl participant next season.

Forget Denver, forget Miami. T.O., in Dallas you can be sure to play and destroy the Philadelphia Eagles at least twice a year. Think about it.