Feb. 1
I recently read a great story by Malcolm Moran of USA Today that brought tears to my eyes. It was about Father Tony Lehmann of Gonzaga and the Zags' basketball program.

	Gonzaga guard Dan Dickau (21) takes it to the basket to the tune of 19.6 ppg.

Lehmann has been diagnosed with leukemia. After reading the comments of Gonzaga coach Mark Few, it's obvious that Father Tony is one very special person. Our prayers are with him for a miraculous recovery.

My heart goes out to Lehmann, someone I have not met, although I would love to meet him someday. He is in the same category as Father Mike from New York City, who represented the New York City Fire Department so well and lost his life, giving it up for others.

Meanwhile, the fans are out in full force at The Kennel, rooting the Zags on to big things again this season. The Gonzaga story brings delight to any basketball junkie. Think about this small school and what it has accomplished -- the Zags are one of three programs to reach the past three Sweet 16s (along with Duke and Michigan State). That is special.

Led by senior guard Dan Dickau, Gonzaga is ranked 14th in the ESPN/USA Today coaches' poll and 11th in the AP poll. Heading into the weekend, the Zags are 19-3 (6-1 in the West Coast Conference). Pepperdine leads the WCC (7-0 in conference, 14-6 overall).

Gonzaga's fans have responded big-time to this outstanding team; basketball is a way of life in Spokane, Wash. No less a judge than Jud Heathcote -- who won a national championship as the head coach at Michigan State -- has rated this Gonzaga squad better than the edition that made the Elite Eight and challenged Connecticut in 1999. That UConn team went on to win the national championship over Duke.

Dickau is as good as any guard in the nation, leading the West Coast Conference in scoring (19.6 ppg). He has been brilliant. Unfortunately for Dickau, there's a kid named Jason Williams who lays claim to the title of "best point guard in America."