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Boy, are things different with Andrei Kirilenko back in the Jazz lineup.
Except for the losing, of course.
Sunday night's Kirilenko totals: 14 points, three rebounds, two assists, three steals and two blocks — in 14 minutes.
Still, those numbers don't come easily. He told the media after Saturday's first game back: "Sometimes my mind was ready to get the rebound but my body didn't."
Yeah, we know how that goes.
That was Greg Ostertag's problem, too.
Me and my shadow
We've seen people eating worms on "Fear Factor." We've seen Simon Cowell telling "American Idol" contestants they are fat. We've seen way too much of "Survivor."
But the worst may be yet to come.
Orlando Magic guard Doug Christie and wife Jackie are planning a VH-1 reality show, based on the life of your ordinary obsessive NBA couple.
Christie is the guy who makes hand messages to his wife when he scores a basket. The best way to describe it is that he appears to be trying to get a signal from space. His wife is the NBA spouse most likely to accompany her hubby to a TV interview, road trip or even a meeting with the coach.
"What's wrong with me wanting to be around my husband?" she asked the Orlando Sentinel.
Um, because you can get a technical for having six people on the court?
Comparable stats
New York Mets catcher Mike Piazza is thinking of settling down.
Piazza is planning on marrying former Playmate Alicia Rickter. He also once dated "Playmate of the Millennium" Darlene Bernaola. (Poor Piazza can't even get named player of the year.)
Anyway, he reportedly told a newspaper he's had as many as 100 lovers.
How nice for him.
Piazza calls that getting around. Wilt Chamberlain called it halftime.
Farewell present
There was quite an incident in Orlando last week.
A guide dog was on the court during a break in the Magic-Pistons game, as part of a fund-raising drive. But before leaving, the dog left a "present" on the court.
The dog had no comment, but sources at the kennel say it was still upset about the deal that sent Tracy McGrady to Houston.
Courting attention
Move over, Venus and Serena.
Now the guys are getting into the act.
Spaniards Rafael Nadal and Feliciano Lopez showed up at the Australian open wearing three-quarter-length pants.
"Whatever gets people talking — good, bad or ugly," said American Andy Roddick. "If people are talking about tennis, that's a good thing."
True, but couldn't they just draw attention by swearing at the line judge?
E-mail: rock@desnews.com