It's almost December, which means the list of the walking wounded in the NFL is mounting.

As you've paid increasing attention to sprains, strains and concussion protocols — likely as they pertain to your favorite real team or your favorite fantasy team — you might have forgotten that if the NFL has its way the regular season will be an even longer battle of attrition in the future.

Shouldn't the carnage from this year alone be enough to convince even the greediest of the greedy that an 18-game season is a bad idea? Unfortunately, I think we all know the answer to that.

big ticket Read a great piece by ESPN.com's Jackie MacMullan on Kevin Garnett and his unique brand of mentorship through the years.

don't look now The NBA's Western Conference, expected to be stout again, has been decidedly mediocre beyond Golden State and San Antonio.