MIDWEEK HODGEPODGE by ST

So many issues as we get past the Super Bowl and redirect our focus. College hoops is the overall king for the next 7 weeks, but we will get special appearances from Daytona, the Olympics, pitchers & catchers reporting along with the NBA.
I can't believe the Lakers are even remotely considering playing Kobe Bryant today or in the All Star game this weekend. I understand a guy with his competative fire hates to sit, but LA owner Jerry Buss isn't paying him 23 mil this season to take part in an exhibition. It's about winning another title. If healthy, I think the Lakers cruise to the title. We'll see, but I can't imagine the logic allowing him to suit up.
Just read that Lindsey Vonn, perhaps the greatest American woman skier ever might miss the fast approaching Olympiad in Vancouver, BC. She injured her right shinn during a training run a week ago and it hasn't healed properly. In her pedal to the medal events, the downhill, slalom, ect, if she's not 100%, it's actually dangerous to give it a go. Here's hoping this charismatic, gifted athlete can pursue this dream and represent the U.S in an event we don't traditionally dominate.
In college hoops, I'm starting to think Kentucky has the clearest path to a #1 seed. The other big guns like Kansas or Villanova all play in killer conferences filled with landmines. The SEC has some quality, but is far from the caliber of the Big East or Big 12. We'll learn something a week from Saturday when the Cats visit that very strong Vanderbilt team who is a game behind them in the conference standings.
Let's give away a pair of tickets to the Oregon men at The Pit, a week from tomorrow, 7pm versus Stanford. Put on your thinking caps because we're talking Olympic Skiing.
Name the woman who won a silver medal in the downhill during the 94 Olympiad, then a gold in the 98 Nagano games in the Super G in one of the most dramatic finishes in the history of the winter games.