The Tigers spent more time to start practice today working on free throws than I’ve ever seen them. John Calipari set up this 10-minute game where one player could challenge another in a free throw contest, and it was kind of like a tournament. It also involved “handicaps,” like in golf. I wasn’t totally clear on how it worked, but it was interesting to watch. Somehow, at the end, Joey Dorsey was the “winner” of the thing. I didn’t exactly understand what was going on, but the fact that Joey won is either a really good thing for him or a really bad thing for everybody else. Either way, we’ll see how it affects the free-throw shooting going forward.

The coaching staff was really happy with the practice Monday. Cal talked about going back to the kind of practices the team had in the preseason, and his latest theme is starting the season over today. It’s a clever approach. The Tigers have broken pretty much every school or Conference USA record as far as wins, streaks, etc. My colleague Jim Masilak and I were talking about this last week, in fact. It seems like every game, another record gets broken, and you kind of have record fatigue with this team. They all kind of run together. Now that all the records are out of the way, this team has six weeks to focus on getting prepared for the NCAA Tournament.

After Sunday’s story on the trumpeter swans that were recently released in Arkansas, I got an e-mail from a reader who’s concerned the big birds might become a nuisance - sort of the same way Canada geese have in many places since they were restocked across the southeastern United States during the 1980s.

Karen Rowe of the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission says it won’t happen.

“If the birds don’t migrate back to Iowa, we’ll recapture every one of them,” Rowe said. “If they stay here and nest here, I’ll get out there and catch every single one of them myself before I’ll allow them to become a nuisance.”

That’s good to hear.

Anybody who has had Canada geese in their back yard knows what a nightmare they can be. Just imagine having that same kind of problem with a bunch of 30-pound swans.

On another bird note, I actually woke up Saturday morning to find three snow geese on the pond behind my house in Cordova.

Snow geese certainly aren’t rare birds. There are literally millions of them in eastern Arkansas right now. But it is kind of unusual to see them on the ground in west Tennessee.

I suspect these birds were blown off course last week when we had the 50 mph sustained winds.

On yet another bird note, the folks from the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency say it’s time to start cleaning out your bluebird houses because the birds will begin nesting soon.

When I read that reminder on the TWRA calendar, it seemed a little early to me. But I actually saw a couple of bluebirds staking out the nesting houses I have in my backyard last weekend.

It won’t be long before they’re setting up shop.

Just how much did the Grizzlies appreciate Pau Gasol’s more than six seasons in town? Well, if you’re heading over to FedExForum Tuesday night to watch the team take on Milwaukee, see what reminders of Gasol you find.

Apparently, out of sight, out of mind is the approach the Grizzlies have taken toward the franchise’s leader in 12 different categories and it’s only NBA All-Star. Since being traded to the Los Angeles Lakers last Friday, all things Pau have been removed. On the walls outside of the media room hang pictures of past and present Grizzlies.

Gasol had roughly 10 pictures hanging up, until Friday when they were all removed. But you can still find pictures of former players Dahntay Jones and Lawrence Roberts. Stromile Swift, who’s trade to New Jersey was completed today, even has his photo still hanging.

Word is his No. 16 jersey is no longer being sold in the team store, his picture has been removed from city buses, and his billboard has already been taken down.

Guess that means there’s no chance of a Gasol poster night when the Lakers come to town next year.

As Wednesday’s National Signing Day approaches, the University of Memphis remains in the hunt for a prized recruit: dual-threat quarterback B.J. Daniels of Tallahassee, Fla.

Memphis may have moved up on Daniels’ list last week when one of his suitors — South Florida — received a commitment from quarterback Evan Landi of Coral Springs, Fla. Landi, who may end up at another position, has been promised a chance to play quarterback.

And Memphis could be a legitimate choice for Daniels if Michigan nabs the nation’s No. 1 recruit — dual-threat QB Terrelle Pryor of Jeannette, Pa. New Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez was in Jeannette last weekend to watch Pryor, like Daniels a basketball standout, too — participate in a high school hoops game.

Daniels is intrigued by the opportunity to also play basketball for the U of M, which dispatched assistant Chuck Martin to Tallahassee last week to see Daniels play. Daniels made his official visit to the U of M Jan. 25-27 and watched the top-ranked Tigers beat Gonzaga.

“I’ve talked to some of the (U of M basketball) assistants and they told me I’d have a chance to play both sports,” Daniels said. “Of course, with the football team running the spread offense, that’s something I’d love to play in. I feel like that’s where I can use my abilities.
“I like to get the ball to the playmakers. I like to get it in their hands. That’s what attracts me about Memphis . . . that and their basketball team is No. 1 in the country.”

Daniels said he’s friends with several U of M students, including Lady Tiger basketball player Jessica Hall, who is from Tallahassee and a starting guard for the U of M.

“They say they love it there,” Daniels said. “But I plan on making my decision on signing day.”