What's Kurt done lately? Good question

While Rams fans sit at home and drum their fingers through the playoffs and await next season, Kurt Warner is just trying to keep his fingers healthy while doing the same thing.

Warner went through a battery of tests on his throwing shoulder last week. The Rams' medical staff thought he had rotator cuff damage, although the tests revealed nothing. It's just one more item on the list of reasons why Warner could be on his way out.

Step into the wayback machine and travel to the first week of August. It's preseason and the Rams are dreaming up different scenarios for their third Super Bowl in four years. Standing in the middle of most of those is two-time NFL MVP and Super Bowl MVP Kurt Warner. If someone suggested trading Warner then, they'd be at the bottom of a dog pile, and I'd be on top.

Now it doesn't seem so ludicrous. In fact, it seems logical -- the only thing to do. In this league, the popular argument is "What have you done for me lately?" Fans are calling for Warner's pink slip. But a two-time MVP deserves at least two chances, don't you think?

After all, that's how Warner got where he is. The Rams offered him a second chance, and things worked out. It's not as if his ability to throw a football disappeared. That's not possible. He was obviously hurting long before any fans knew.

You just never know, but here's how you'll know what to do this week:

Thursday

If this was professional wrestling we'd call this a royal rumble. But, since we're talking high school wrestling, we'll call it a quad meet. Central hosts Jackson, Poplar Bluff and Dexter at 5 p.m.

When Scott Mellanby was with the Panthers in the late 1990s he was melancholy. Now he's Blue, but he's salvaged his career. Mellanby is tied for the team lead with 15 goals, and he has 26 assists. His career best came in 1995-96 when he scored 32 goals and 38 assists with Florida. The hard work will pay off when Mellanby receives his own promotional night. The Blues host the Islanders, and it's Convenient Food Mart and Pepsi Scott Mellanby Magnets night for all fans with a paid admission.

Friday

If you're a basketball nut you're about to be as giddy as a junior-high girl going to a Justin Timberlake concert. This weekend will feature a terrific high-school rivalry as well as the usual full slate of games. Scott City will travel to hostile Notre Dame Friday night. The Bulldogs took the first meeting this season in the quarterfinals of the seMissourian Christmas Tournament, a 52-50 win in a game so sloppy it made pre-school basketball look professional. This one will be exciting no matter what. 8 p.m.

I missed the Harlem Globetrotters in St. Louis last week, and chances are you did, too. Here's your chance to seek redemption from your kids for a bad Christmas. The Original Globetrotters will be in Memphis Friday night at 7:30 p.m.

Saturday

Experience the tradition. This is the only thing traditional about Southeast Missouri State University's seasons, and what a tradition it is. When Indian fans get their first men's basketball schedule, this game goes under the highlighter. Murray State and Southeast get their first crack at each other at 7:30 p.m. B.J. Smith and the Otahkians get things started at 5:30.

If you choose the Memphis route while you're in Graceland you can see a great Tigers game, too. The Memphis Tigers will host South Florida at 7 p.m. Who says a weekend with the family isn't fun?

David Wilson is a sports writer for the Southeast Missourian and a junior at Central High School. His column appears every Monday.