What I miss? Oh, the Lakers have a point differential +0.1 but are 22-11? They all look like blowouts in the standings to me, buddy! Surely, something else happened over the holidays that we should discuss. The NCAA granted Baylor center James Nnaji 3 years of eligibility despite being the 31st pick of the 2023 NBA Draft. More below.

Mike Tomlin saved his job, blew a kiss to the camera, and will surely lose next Monday by 20pts. FUN.

Should we look back on 2025? Here’s a quote:

“The Bills have won the AFC East. I know, I know. Week 3 just wrapped up. But, it’s true. I promise.” - KMARK, after the Pats started 1-2.

Why even read this rag? Drake Maye became the league’s MVP and Buffalo limped to the sixth seed. Should each team take of business, Maye will square off with reigning MVP Josh Allen in the divisional round.

Boom bang bing. Ole Miss and Indiana are a game away from the College Football Title Game. In a sport that challenges its fans to perennially ask themselves, do we want this, we’ll know in a week if the biggest game of the year is between a baseball school and a washed up basketball power. Fine with me.

I’m throwin a lot at you. Because the Sports World threw a lot at me. Don’t worry. We’re taking it one day at a time this week. Good to be back.

No, that’s not Giannis pictured above. That’s James Nnaji. James has been harvesting at the Arm Farm and is now presumably majoring in something similar at Baylor. The NCAA granted Nnaji eligibility (in the middle of the season) and pissed off just about every coach that forgot they’re allowed to recruit professional European basketball players for their college teams.

Most recently, Nnaji was a member of FC Barcelona. His draft rights are currently held by the Charlotte Hornets. The Knicks packaged Nnaji rights as part of the Karl Anthony-Towns trade, but Nnaji has yet to sign with Charlotte. He’s not an NBA employee of an NBA team, but he sure is close. So, how did he end in Waco?

The NCAA recently loosened eligibility rules to allow European professionals an opportunity to play for colleges because Europe’s model for 16-20yr old basketball players doesn’t mirror ours. Yes, they’re compensated professionals, but in the interest of avoiding lawsuits, the NCAA doesn’t want to treat them any differently than the compensated students playing domestically. It’s a decent position. Because they’d surely lose in court! Nnaji just happens to represent the highest drafted player to explore this route.

Altogether, this isn’t a James Nnaji piece. The fun starts if you think about all the possible implications for future draft picks. Every future NBA draft pick is well within their means to not sign with whatever team chooses them and return to college for an additional season. Would Ace Bailey wind up in Utah (the last place he wanted to go) if he could’ve returned to the NCAA for another year of well compensated ball? How much leverage do future lottery picks have in determining where they’ll wind up and could they push themselves to contending teams? If I’m a lottery pick, signing with Sacramento relative to earning $3m for Duke and rolling the dice in a year doesn’t sound wise.

We won’t get answers till July. We get to watch Nnaji bully the Big 12 and then see if the politicking comes true pre-draft. But for college coaches, and potential lottery teams, it’s time to button up your programs because you’re recruiting the same dudes now.