Donuts: Love & Basketball

     Love and Basketball, late-night in Dallas: A young lady partying at Bella on Friday receives not one, not two, but three late-night “sext’’ messages – from three gentlemen who all happen to be NBA centers.

     DONUT 1: I’m biased, I admit. But I think Dirk Nowitzki’s handling of his unfortunate situation is pretty sound. Many of us still have a fascination with writing about (and drawing) the details of the Cristal Taylor case. Meanwhile, it appears he is systematically taking care of his business: Get with his family. Hire a lawyer. Try to maintain as normal a life as possible (including taking a family vacation). Don’t hide out from the media … but don’t say anything too incendiary when you speak. Get ready to visit with the DFW media, get ready to play basketball, and get ready to be a daddy.

    That still doesn’t explain the judgment that allowed him to impregnate and almost marry a con-women who reportedly has three other children and doesn’t act as a mother to them. But Dirk’s judgment since that time has been pretty sound.

     DONUT 2: Here come some rumors about the availability of Washington’s Caron Butler. Now, if the Wiz are serious about that – and will quit feeding the media rumors about the Mavs wanting pick No. 5 – Dallas will really listen.

     DONUT 3: The best GMs for drafting? ESPN puts its analysis in the “Insider’’ thing, meaning you can only read the first few sentences.

    And in the first few sentences, ESPN mentions Zeke. Meaning I have one more reason not to pay to read the rest of it.

     DONUT 4: The Brazilian website that reported the Varejao-to-Dallas thing – shot down by DB.com – has apologized. (It’s in Portugese, so I’m guessing.). Apology accepted. Meanwhile. …

    DONUT 5: DB.com gets national shout-outs recently from the likes of AOL Fanhouse and The Sporting News. TSN acknowledged our work on the Varejao story. Fanhouse did, too, except Ziller made note of my “arse-doesn’t-stink’’ attitude.

    Nailed me. Cuz I smell like roses.

    DONUT 6: Thursday night -- NBA Draft Night -- you would be wise to stay by the radio. It's the Mavs flagship station and ESPN 103.3's coverage will feature Chuck Cooperstein, Art Garcia and yours truly. ... plus lots of Donnie and Carlisle ... all live from draft headquarters.

    You are wise, aren't you?

    DONUT 7: Would Indy really let Marquis Daniels go in the event the Pacers draft a wing? Seems like a terrible way to run a basketball team, but if Quis is free. …?

    DONUT 8: As expected, Paul Westphal is taking Mario Elie with him to Sacto.

    DONUT 9: Hey, Oliver Miller wants to make a comeback! Last time I saw him was about seven years ago. Played softball against him. And I dominated him!

    But good luck with that comeback, kid!

    DONUT 10: Twitter. Join me. Be a follower. Which essentially means simply having access to the website Twitter.com/fishsports

    Oh, and you should maybe follow Stephen A. Smith, too. Because he might, at any moment, launch into a race-based defense of his cancelled TV show “Quite Frankly’’ that qualifies as the electronic version of psychological breakdown.

    DONUT 11: Joe Buck -- who has said covering sports bores him -- might want to hang onto that day job … while hoping the feeling never becomes mutual.

    DONUT 12: Join my friend Jay and me in changing the world: Let’s quit calling the kids 'illegitimate.' Instead, let’s say, “That’s nine times now that Holyfield’s been an illegitimate father.’’