I wonder what all the commotion and excitement is over the celestial light show caused by the Leonid meteor shower. That's what I see every time I close my eyes.

Spent the week in Memphis and the ubiquitous presence of Elvis Presley really struck me. What does it tell us about ourselves that Elvis gets more play here than the Rev. Martin Luther King?

Speaking of Elvis ... I'm still trying to figure out if that was Vince Carter crooning "Are you Lonesome Tonight?" or Chris Webber's rendition of "Jailhouse Rock" that I heard as I drifted off last night.

"Heartbreak Hotel" ... I was also stunned to find out that Memphis still hasn't gotten over what happened to them 30 years ago in the NCAA championship game.

	Sorry Kobe and T-Mac. But Dallas' Steve Nash is the NBA's MVP so far.

"All Shook Up" ... It was probably a good thing that I spent Wednesday night in the library and church rather than glued to the big screen for the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show that I "heard" was on television.

Why do we seem so surprised that the Los Angeles Lakers can't win a thing without Shaq. Take the MVP off any championship team in the history of the league and you've got the same story.

The spotlight is clearly on Tracy McGrady and Kobe Bryant as the early MVP candidates. But I need look no further than Dallas' Steve Nash. How can you beat undefeated?

Why do people get all over Kobe Bryant when he shoots 43 percent from the field while Allen Iverson's 37 percent is accepted as "just being Allen"?

Why is it a bad thing for so many Los Angeles Clippers to be in their contract years but a good thing for Gary Payton?

I know that the Pacific Northwest is an environmental haven but the "gathering of eagles" that is the Seattle SuperSonics is ridiculous. That team can play and you have no idea, as a former Blazer, how much it pains me to say so. Desmond Mason is my early choice for Sixth Man of the Year and give Executive of the Year honors to whoever cleared the dead wood that was Vin Baker.

Speaking of environmental quality, if you're in need of some peace and quiet, I suggest attending an Atlanta Hawks game.

When is Master P going to give it up? Why doesn't he just buy the Nuggets? If he can't make Denver's squad, what kind of game does he really have?

"It's Now or Never" ... Neither the Washington Wizards nor Boston Celtics have come anywhere close to playing to their potential this year. Is there anything worse than underachieving?

Why isn't every team honoring and thanking David Robinson on his farewell tour? The man is next to perfect. What has he ever done wrong? This is unconscionable.

Are people really trying to compare Ron Artest's work ethic and tenacity to Michael Jordan's? But Artest's tenacity does makes me feel so much better about the Knicks' choice of Frederick Weis in the draft that year.

	For those of us constantly traveling, I was amazed to see that the airport screeners are now searching people's heads. What do they do when they see daylight through Tom Tolbert's ears?

When the Miami Heat and New York Knicks play, does somebody have to win? Remember when we used to anticipate that matchup?

Being in Memphis with Elvis and all makes me think of Bob Dylan's description of life there: "And people just get uglier and I have no sense of time." Or is it more appropriate to "think what price I have to pay to get out of going through all these things twice"? Oh mama, can this really be the end?

Do all the bottom feeders know that no team in the last 12 years with the worst record has won the lottery for the No. 1 pick?

I'm a big believer in the maxim "failing to prepare is preparing to fail." But when I heard George Bush say, "We are ready for any unforeseen event which may or may not happen," I became more than a little concerned.

For those of us constantly traveling, I was amazed to see that the airport screeners are now searching people's heads. What do they do when they see daylight through Tom Tolbert's ears?

I see where Susan Sarandon now wants a rest stop named after her in New Jersey. I thought Chris Childs already did that?

I really wish NBA players would stop talking about playing down the line for some other team. How about doing something now for the guy who's paying you today? Do something -- one time!!!

Are people still wondering about Yao Ming? The rush to be the first to criticize can often lead to a stampede off a cliff. As Elvis says "Return to Sender."

Bill Walton, who is an NBA analyst for ESPN, is a regular contributor to ESPN.com.