What have we learned so far this season?

That, for some reason, Chris Mills fighting Bonzi Wells, then confronting the Blazers at their locker room, then using his car to block the path of their team bus as it tried to leave The Arena in Oakland, is viewed as less heinous by the league office than Rick Fox slipping down the hallway to get another word (and punch) in on Doug Christie.

That a paltry $50,000 fine (with no suspension) for a head coach who not only questions the intentions of officials generally, but names a specific referee and basically accuses him of cheating, leads one down paths that one doesn't really want to go down.

	The NBA made BET founder Robert Johnson the first black majority owner in major pro sports.

That, while the league is still not where it needs to be in terms of advancement and opportunities for people of color in all positions, it is advanced enough to accept a check for $300 million from an African-American billionaire. That does matter.

That the Blazers are not worth supporting on the floor until they get serious about what they do off the floor.

That the Wizards are chasing -- what did their coach call it last year? -- fool's gold, and that they need to get the kids back on the floor, no matter what it does to their record.

Ditto the Bulls.

That Jeff Bzdelik is doing a great job coaching the Nuggets, no matter what their record is.

Ditto Hubie Brown.

That Isiah Thomas might know what he's doing.

Ditto Frank Johnson.

That Big Dog may not have been the whole problem in Milwaukee.

That Yao Ming may be the second-best center in the league right now, which is really bad news for the rest of the league.

That LeBron James is the most hyped thing to come out of Ohio since WKRP.

	Allen Iverson, right, deserves a spot on Team USA.

That Allen Iverson had damned well better be on the Olympic team, because there are other guys on the team (and who will be on the team) who have previous transgressions on their docket, too. And that it will be a shame if Steve Francis isn't on the Olympic team, because no one has wanted to represent his country more.

That the Mavericks are, basically, right where they were last season, and will have the same doubts in their minds until they beat somebody good four times in the playoffs.

That no matter what their record is today, the Lakers are still one good month away from putting the fear of God back into everyone that's got their chests stuck out today.

And that family and friends are worth more than they ever have been. Make some time for them this holiday season, and join me in extending holiday wishes to the following: