She Knows to Avoid Unguarded Moments

Tennessee’s Pat Summitt and Texas’ Jody Conradt have opposed each other numerous times in their coaching careers.

But Sunday’s basketball game at Knoxville, Tenn., is more than just an annual clash between two of the NCAA’s premier Division I programs.

Summitt and Conradt each recorded her 800th victory last season. There are six NCAA coaches with 800 or more wins; Summitt (828) and Conradt (827) are the only two women in the club.

Tennessee (7-0) is ranked second; Texas (10-1) is No. 5.

Summitt said she considers Conradt a good friend and a mentor. “When we were trying to build our program, Texas was the measuring stick,” said Summitt, whose teams have won six NCAA titles. “I’ve learned a lot from the rivalry.

“After our first win against them [Dec. 8, 1978] she told me, ‘You can never have too many guards.’ I never forgot that.”

More Tennessee and Texas: Sunday’s meeting could have occurred last March in the NCAA title game. Tennessee reached the final by defeating Duke, but Texas was thwarted by eventual champion Connecticut.

Trivia question: What is the top USC rushing performance in a Rose Bowl?

Plugged in: More than 50 players are expected to compete in the Super Bowl of Electric Football from Jan. 23 to Jan. 25 in Deerfield, Ill., at the game’s 10th anniversary convention.

Past champions include Ron Bell of New Orleans, an assistant district attorney who is the only three-time winner of the event.

“Once you’re the Electric Football champion, nothing else in the world matters,” Bell said. “I know my players have no thoughts or emotions, but they don’t know that.”

He is the king: LeBron James doesn’t need any more platitudes, but Marc Stein of ESPN.com writes that the Cleveland rookie is, so far, worthy of the attention.

“Carmelo Anthony’s impact with the Nuggets is undoubtedly reflected in the standings, but LeBron has exceeded every reasonable expectation in relation to the hype that preceded his arrival,” Stein said. “And James’ outstanding, unfettered play since the Ricky Davis trade suggests that his quality start was achieved in spite of a negative team atmosphere.”

Not his fault: Miami Dolphin Coach Dave Wannstedt, whose team has been eliminated from the AFC playoff race, might be out of a job soon. But Dan Le Batard of the Miami Herald isn’t convinced he should go.

“I understand the blame has to go somewhere, and the head coach will certainly do. All I’m saying is that firing Wannstedt isn’t quite as black-and-white as some of you seem to believe, especially when you consider that a 40-23 record rarely gets you fired in this sport.”

Trivia answer: Charles White ran for 247 yards in the 1980 Rose Bowl game as USC beat Ohio State, 17-16.

And finally: From Chicago Cub Manager Dusty Baker, speaking to Sportsline.com’s Scott Miller about the 2003 season: “I have to remember that I said I was here for improvement, which we did. The No. 2 thing I said was that this was the beginning, and it is.”