• Bethlehem Shoals of THE SPORTING BLOG wonders if Yao Ming’s early exit actually means he doesn’t want to play in the Olympics.

• Victory is mine! BALL DON’T LIKE learns the Kevin Garnett & crew got a special locker room visit from the man behind “Family Guy“.

• Speaking of the guys in green, The NEW YORK DAILY NEWS hears that Charles Dolan really believes his Knicks will be the next Celtics.

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Mike Florio at PRO FOOTBALL TALK reports that Zach Thomas has agreed to a deal with the Dallas Cowboys that “carries a $1 million signing bonus and a $1 million base salary in 2008. Thomas also can earn up to $1 million in incentives. Though it’s technically a multi-year deal, the structure will make it essentially a one-year relationship.”

The multi-concussed, former Texas Tech Red Raider had previously met with the Patriots (who offered him a contract on the spot) and the New Orleans Saints.

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GROSSMAN WRECKS KNEE, LEAVES THURSDAY NIGHT GAME: AOL FANHOUSE reports that Bears QB Rex Grossman left in the first quarter of Thursday night’s contest against the Redskins with a knee injury.

Since the game was broadcast on the inaccessible NFL Network, we await confirmation via Pony Express next week.

• WITH LEATHER wants to know if you know how to Ram it:

• MR. IRRELEVANT is disturbed by the way the media thinks Sean Taylor had it coming.• THE GHOSTS OF WAYNE FONTES hits the bookshelves to find literary help for these sports figures.

• Some drunk Ole Miss gals give their thoughts on the dearly departed Coach Orgeron:

• LARRY BROWN SPORTS finds Lou Holtz in an uproar over the Internet.• Before their big Sunday matchup, THE SPORTS HERNIA compares dueling QBs Eli & Rex.

• 100% INJURY RATE tries to cure itself of Olympic fever, as they run down past mascots of the Games:

• FOOTBALL JESUS LAS VEGAS takes a fond look back at all the College GameDay signs at last week’s Kansas-Missouri game.• CHICAGO BULL finds the Illinois football and basketball coaches are exact opposites.

PATS CLINCH AFC EAST; CALI NFL TEAMS 3-0 IN WEEK 12: There was a possible reason why New England had such a close call against the Eagles - the Patriots were too caught up with winning the AFC East:

Even before Tom Brady & crew hit the field Sunday night, the Pats clinched their division thanks to Buffalo’s loss against Jacksonville. And there’s still 5 weeks left in the season.Meanwhile, the Bills defeat meant the state of New York went winless in NFL action this holiday weekend. (The Jets lost to the Cowboys on Turkey Day, and the Giants were blown-out by the Vikings on Sunday).

On the flip side, the state of California notched a 3-0 record for Week 12 (San Fran over Arizona in OT, Oakland over KC, San Diego over Baltimore).With the Jaguars’ win and Tampa Bay beating the Redskins, the Sunshine State could also reach the same undefeated mark, if Miami somehow beats Pittsburgh on Monday night.

But the biggest shocker of all must be Rex Grossman somehow leading the Bears to victory.

• BIG TEN TAILGATE starts early, and we do mean early, as a Minnesota 9-year-old is cited for underage drinking:

• DEUCE OF DAVENPORT presents, “Everything You Wanted To Know About Groin Injuries (But Were Afraid To Ask).”

• RIVALFISH stretches on the bench, as they peek into a day in the life of Bears non-starter Rex Grossman.

• THE BEAUTIFUL GAME shows this soccer player feeling a little testy after scoring a goal:

• MY BRAIN SAYS RAGE pings off about banning metal bats in Pennsylvania.

• EPIC CARNIVAL lays down the law, as they offer these new rules for NFL fans.

• As LeBron gets ready to host “Saturday Night Live” (is that show still on?), Jeff Gordon of FOX SPORTS races in to tell these celebrity athletes, “Don’t quit your day job“:

• And when King James isn’t starring in lame skits, he’s teaming up with Russian racketeer Maria Sharapova to help fight poverty.

• STORMING THE FLOOR gives away news that NBA star Carmelo Anthony is in a charitable mood these days.

• FAN IQ has their boogie fever bought out, as Chad Johnson’s next end zone dance will be brought to you by GoDaddy:

• Speaking of Ocho Cinco, we finally have a winner in his Yahoo-sponsored Touchdown Celebration Showdown.

• ALL-AMERICAN PATRIOTS quenches our thirst, as Kevin Durant becomes the first-ever NBA rookie to sign a deal with Gatorade.

• MR. IRRELEVANT feels the anger rising within, as Redskins RB Clinton Portis just wants the damn ball:

• FIRE JOE MORGAN doesn’t find it Natural that the Rangers would play that song after a Sammy Sosa homer.

• RUMORS AND RANTS just won’t let some things go, as Vince Young is still miffed about