Let me see if I get this straight. The guy who finished second is talking trash about the guy who finished No. 1? I am going to have to talk to my man Don MacLean, who is the color analyst for UCLA radio, to see if we can get Kerry Keating some help.

That’s so amusing that I have to state it again. No. 2 is taking shots at No. 1?

And as for Butler’s getting a paid holiday for Valentine’s Day, MacLean and I will talk to coach Ben Howland and see if we can’t get Kerry a day off.

I am still giving some thought to the best dressed in the NBA. There are so many stylish guys and I don’t want to forget anybody. Until then, here are some thoughts on Angela’s latest Fashion Power Index.

To begin with, it’s good to see my man T. Jones is in the mix. I think Angela was just trying to give Kerry a little boost for his self-confidence. It’s not really a top 10 unless Tony is included so it’s good to see him back where he belongs. I do question the No. 4 ranking, but more importantly is the name that is right behind Tony in the rankings.

On the head-coach list, Angela makes a statement including Temple’s John Chaney at No. 10. Before everyone starts questioning Angela’s fashion eye, let me tell you -- This is an excellent choice.

It’s not all about how straight your tie is during the game. Coach Chaney’s coaching style doesn’t lend itself to wrinkle-free attire, but his clothing style is second to none. John sports a lot of high-end threads. His socks probably cost more then most coaches spend on an entire ensemble.

I am not certain, but I have to think that Coach Chaney does a little shopping at Boyd’s in Philadelphia.

I like the fact that Angela has created “The Chaney Factor,” which speaks to the overall quality and not necessarily the television appearance. Angela should also work on “The Keating Factor,” which would recognize coaches in spite of their major wardrobe shortcomings.
 

FIVE TO WATCH
Jan. 24, 2005

A few years back I found out that my good friend, Tony Jones, was getting some run in Angela Lento’s Fashion Power Index. Since that time I have kept tabs on the FPI and the Runway to the Fashionable Four. Last March, with a little assist from yours truly, Tony styled his way to the title of best dressed. He had a tough contest with UCLA assistant coach, Kerry Keating, but there was never any doubt that Tony would prevail. With one under his belt, it’s now time to repeat. The toughest thing in sports is repeating, but Tony has all the gear to get it done.

From now until the Runway concludes in April, I will be checking in with some thoughts and opinions. In the coming weeks I will offer up my Top 10 for the best dressed in the Association. NBA players take their fashion very seriously so it’s not easy to put together a list of the ten best.

The thing about NBA fashion is that you have to dress for a lot of different situations and it's all about personal style. You'll see the suit and tie look, the casual jeans look, the turtleneck look, the jersey look and all different types of personal styles. Some things work better for different guys. Look for that list in the coming weeks.

For the purposes of this feature, I offer up five stylish coaches that will make a run at the title in St. Louis.

- Tommy Amaker (Michigan): Some people may not like the mock turtleneck look, but Tommy can mix it up with the best. His off-the-court gear is always tight.

- Bruiser Flint (Drexel): Bruiser has a good eye for fashion. He is another guy that always looks smooth, both on and off the court.

- Rick Pitino (Louisville): He normally has that elegant and responsible look. He has the experience of having coached in the pros and he has taken that look to the college ranks.

- Perry Watson (Detroit): He’s very sharp. Being a couple of years older than some of the other stylish guys I think he has set an example for a lot of the younger guys on how to dress and how to coach.

- Willis Wilson (Rice): Willis Wilson is a big time leader to his players in terms of style. If I am not mistaken, he has a dress code for his players. He has also done a really nice job of improving his program.

Lastly, I am still miffed that Tony isn’t No. 1 in the first FPI of 2005, but I am wondering how it’s possible that he’s not even ranked in the Top 10. I will be catching up with Angela to find out what the story behind this oversight.