I know I promised to lay off the Blazers this week, but I can't resist noting that Sacramento Kings star Chris Webber just pleaded guilty to lying to a federal grand jury a few years ago about his shady financial dealings while a "scholar athlete" at the University of Michigan.

Those dealings have already cost the school its victories from that era, which have been forfeited. Now Webber will get a fine that for most folks would be crippling, but for him will be a slap on the wrist. The government's case was starting to fall apart -- the guy Webber dealt with died over the winter -- and so this cozy deal is made. More serious charges have been, or are now going to be, dropped.

Druggies, rapists, crooks -- that's today's NBA. It's not for me.