Rob Kirby started his Division I basketball coaching career at UALR under Mike Newell will be the new top assistant at the University of Memphis.

Kirby, one of the nation’s top recruiters along with Glynn Cyprien at Texas A&M (formerly of the the Arkansas Razorbacks), has made stops at Mississippi State, Georgetown and LSU.

My brother-in-law, Frank “Fish’ Fisher passed away this morning after a hard-fought battle with his failing heart.

The truth be known, he hung in there until after my sister could enjoy Mother’s Day.

My sis, Sue, and he went to visit my mom and had a great two hour tour of some of their old haunts.

Later, after leaving mom’s, he had to be taken to the emergency room and he refused to be admitted. Said he wanted to go home. He died peacefully a few a hours later with my sister a few feet away.

This is a tough time of the year for those of us who suffer sinus problems because of the Pine and Oak trees blooming.

A couple of years ago I got so fed up I finally took my daughter’s advice and went to see Graves Hearnsberger, and ear-nose-throat doctor.

After examining me he prescribed a nose drop for me (currently you can only get it at Walgreen’s on Rodney Parham) that has worked miracles. I still can’t stay outdoors for long periods of time, but I haven’t had a sinus infection in two years.

This is strange timing for players to announce they are leaving, even more odd that Brandon Mitchell is one of those.

The following statement is from University of Arkansas football head coach Bret Bielema:

“After concluding post-spring meetings with every member of our team, Austin Flynn, Defonta Lowe, Keante Minor and Brandon Mitchell have been granted their release from the University of Arkansas football program. Through meetings with these student-athletes, a determination was made that it would be mutually beneficial for them to pursue their goals elsewhere. Brandon is on track to earn his degree this summer and utilize the NCAA graduate transfer exception to play immediately this fall. We fully support them and wish them all the best moving forward.”

There’s a 70 percent chance of rain for the Kentucky Derby, which means anything can happen.

This is not a great crop of 3-year-olds, unless one of them distinguishes himself with a huge victory Saturday.

My picks are in tomorrow’s paper, but keep in mind, I’m not a handicapper, just a horse lover.

Los Angeles Lakers General Manager, Mitch Kupchak, has said he hopes Dwight Howard will be with the Lakers next year.

After his much ballyhooed exit from Orlando, Howard was not the savior the Lakers were hoping for, especially with Kobe Bryant hurt, but will teams really be lined up to pay him the money he is going to demand after this season.

Howard is a great player, but when he got kicked out of the final playoff loss for fighting he lost the confidence of many of the fans and former players.

One man is never a team. Not Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Bryant or Howard.