Faint memories of a guy named 'Kurt'

When we last left Kurt Warner, he was standing on the sidelines in street clothes with a concussion.

Just weeks before that he was prophesying about the team's return to the Super Bowl and his return to the ranks of the NFL elite.

I believed then, as I do now, Warner's comments made him the most vulnerable quarterback in the NFL at the start of the season because he stood to lose the most and could fall the furthest.

And fall he did.

He fell so far we almost forgot about him, until just four weeks ago against Chicago. That's when Rams coach Mike Martz turned to Warner and asked him if he was ready to go in.

Of course, the always eager Warner threw down his headset and strapped on his helmet and made like Fred Flintstone with a "yabba dabba doo," right?

Nope. Instead he said it wouldn't be fair to take Marc Bulger out at this point.

The Rams came back to win the game and went 4-0 since. As it turns out, Kurt was right.

It doesn't matter how ugly Bulger's stats look in the boxscore, as long as he's winning. The Rams have a system going and they have a rhythm in that system. The presence of Warner would do a lot to upset that rhythm.

The thought has crossed my mind several times this week, and I am terribly curious to see how Warner would perform. But Martz cannot risk controversy now.

It's a cruel reality that Warner's career as a Ram is over, but such is the life as an NFL quarterback. Warner lost his job the same way he earned it. Funny how things work out -- or don't.

Here's something you can work out, your week ahead:

Today

Southeast Missouri State's women's basketball team hosts Northern Illinois. The Otahkians are the only show tonight. They tip-off at 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday

Take a Pepsi can with you if you're going to get tickets to the Blues game against Columbus. When you buy one ticket you get another free with a Pepsi can. Also, the first 15,000 fans receive a hat from Schnucks and Pepsi. Faceoff is at 7 p.m.

Friday

There's plenty to choose from tonight, locally. Central makes its home debut after two tough tournaments in two weeks. Central hosts Farmington at 7:30 p.m.

The HealthSouth Holiday Classic Tournament begins this week. Poplar Bluff has finished first or second six of the seven years the tournament has been in existence. This year Poplar Bluff isn't even in the tournament (good news for the rest of the field). Play begins at 3 p.m. with Farmington and Central JV, then Notre Dame and Perryville at 4:30, Sparta and Dexter at 6 p.m., followed by Jackson and Central at 7:30.

Saturday

Of course I wouldn't leave out the biggest wrestling tournament of the year. The final day of the two-day Tiger Classic begins today at 10 a.m. The tournament begins at 4:45 p.m. Friday with opening ceremonies.

It's student night again at the Savvis Center. Celebrate Christmas vacation and the holidays properly. Blues host Coyotes at 7 p.m.

David Wilson is a sports writer for the Southeast Missourian and a student at Central High School.