Rundown from the Run-Down . . . Again

The Vick piece took a lot more time than I anticipated, which means other stuff gets short shrift. So here's my rundown of events I would have covered had I had 28 hours in a day (aka RFTR):

• Floyd Mayweather did not disappoint on December 8, on pay-per-view (I learned this from his Dancing with the Stars stint). Just when it looked like this was going 12 rounds, Mayweather came through with a vengeance, knocking out Great Britain's Ricky Hatton in the 10th. Now Pretty Boy, uh, I mean Money Mayweather is bored with boxing. That can only mean one thing: rapping! Say it ain't so, Money.
  

• The Eastern conference said the heck with all those who said they're weak. Monday night, two teams who have basically been written off took it to their Western conference opponents as the Miami Heat beat the Phoenix Suns, and even more shockingly, the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Houston Rockets. Even the New York Knicks took it to the Dallas Mavericks but came up a little short. Keeping it interesting. I'm all for it.

• Speaking of the Knicks, they settled their case brought by Anucha Browne Sanders for $11.5 million, which is what the jury had ordered up in the way of punitive damages. This means the Knicks and coach Isiah Thomas aren't going to fight the verdict anymore, particularly since they faced the possibility of paying even more in compensatory damages and paying Browne Sanders costs and fees. Said ESPN.com:

By settling, the Knicks avoided paying her legal fees, while Brown[e] Sanders gets her money faster and avoids the possibility of having her award reduced on appeal.

. . . And everybody's happy. Or at least less pissed off.

• Again, speaking of the Knicks, Knicks owner James Dolan has said Thomas' job is safe. In between maintaining his own innocence, Thomas said:

"It's a city and a place unlike anyplace else in the NBA," he told reporters. "It's the most difficult place to win and the most challenging. Every game is the season, and that's the unique passion New York brings. The people here are thirsty, they want it, and it really brings out the best in you. You have to bring it every day, whether you're a coach, a player or a guy trying to get on the subway.["]

Oh really, Zeke? You're bringing it to guys on the subway, too? Well, after they read your comments, you might want to start riding in a car before those guys start bringing it back to you.