As hard as it is for me to believe, Marquis Daniels is not someone police are investigating  in connection to some criminal activity.

The Associated Press is reporting that Daniels, whose troubles with the law rival that of NFL bad boy Pac-Man Jones, is not a suspect in a rape that allegedly took place during a “small gathering” at Daniels home in the upscale Indianapolis suburb of Carmel.

I know I rail Larry Bird a lot on this blog but I think it’s worth noting that this was a guy that Pacers GM Larry Bird traded for and then stood by even after he was involved in numerous off-the-court incidents, many of which involved teammate, the oft-injured , under-producing Jamaal Tinsley. Tinsley appeared to have learned his lesson about behaving himself after his car took automatic rifle fire after an incident at an Indianapolis nightclub.

I think all Pacer fans are looking forward to the end of the Bird/Walsh regime, the rebuilding of this franchise and the return of a team that the community can be proud of because this isn’t it.

We are oh-so-close to the beginning of college football and eventually the start of the NFL season and I personally can’t wait. There is nothing better for me than waiting around on a Saturday night for a big game in the SEC or Big Ten under the lights. Can’t wait.

__________

No, seriously…

This guy really did attend the Ray Charles Driving Academy.

Canadian airline loses a very important piece of luggage.

__________

Jermaine O’Neal backs off his trade demand/ The Indianapolis Star’s Bob Kravitz.

Packers rookie running back Brandon Jackson is impressing everyone in Green Bay.

The NFL Network to make games pay-per-view?

Joe Paterno says the Big Ten needs to reinstate the bye week.

Michigan defensive coordinator Ron English isn’t concerned about all the holes he must fill.

Urban Meyer may not redshirt freshman QB John Brantley after all.

Texas QB Colt McCoy is ready to go after impressive freshman season.

Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis still pretending that freshman Jimmy Clausen won’t start for the Irish.

Cal QB inexplicably dyes his hair various shades of blue.

USC’s trio of tailbacks coming on strong.

__________

Well-rounded news… 

New iMacs to look like the iPhone?

A nice piece in the LA Times on the trend of artists playing entire albums at live gigs.

Steve Allen to sell his portion of DreamWorks.

A poignant cartoon by Mike Luckovich of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution today as flight delays hit a 13-year-high.

Harold Perrineau talks to Entertainment Weekly about returning to Lost.

A Top Chef bracket that beats the pants off ESPN’s stupid “Who’s Now?”

PopCandy’s breakdown of Lollapalooza.