Where Are They Now?

This is a new feature which The Win Column will run, whenever we deem appropriate.

Today's missing man: VICTOR PAGE, best known to the average sports fan as Allen Iverson's running mate (likely in more ways than one) while attending Georgetown.

Before even graduating high school, Page's father (of pneumonia) and mother (of AIDS) had died. Before enrolling at Georgetown, he had already been arrested for weapon possession and cocaine possession.

After leading the Big East in scoring (22.5 PPG) during the 1996-1997 campaign, Page declared for the NBA Draft -- he went undrafted. Coincidentally, Page blames "an evening of drinking and carousing" for his draft's status freefall. Makes sense, considering his night of "carousing" caused him to miss the next morning's pre-draft camp.

Page later went 11th in the CBA Draft -- he briefly ascended to the NBA in September 1997 as part of the Minnesota Timberwolves' training camp roster, but was cut a few weeks later when he lied to team officials about getting into a fight. In turn, he returned to the CBA to play for the Sioux Falls Skyforce. When he left the team in 2001, he left as the team's all-time leading scorer. His jersey, #20, was retired in 2004. His Skyforce years were, nevertheless, marred with violence and instability. His role in "The Christmas Day Massacre," an incident which occurred on Christmas 1997, is well documented...when mid-game, he took a broom from behind the basket and chased and jabbed an opposing player with it.

In 2003, Victor Page suffered his greatest setback when he was shot in the right eye while in his childhood neighborhood (in southeast DC). Page lost his eye completely and now wears an eyepatch. Are you laughing yet?? Page claims to know the assailant, but has never revealed his identity to police. In 2004, Page was arrested for another weapons offense and plead guilty to a lesser charge to receive probation. In that same year, his cousin Jerome Stroud killed two teenagers -- prosecutors at Stroud's trial suggested that the shootings were in retaliation for the shooting of Page.

The latest word relating to Victor Page is that an independent filmmaker is working on a documentary about Page's life.

While It Was Freezing Here

As a college environment, USC is on a whole different level...

While New England was hit with freezing downpours this past weekend, USC hosted a fundraiser for physically challenged athletes. As part of the event, there was a swim race between Pete Carroll and Will Farrell.

And as you would expect, the USC "Song Girls" stole the show when they all changed into bathing suits, took part in an intertube relay, then modeled bikinis designed by Pete Carroll's niece.

These events/pictures simply guarantee football and basketball (see OJ Mayo and Lil' Romeo) dominance at USC for the next decade. There is no better marketing ploy!

Lil' Romeo Commits to USC to Play Basketball

"It’s the R-O-M-E-O you know...And I roll with plenty of doe 'fo sho. Sloe po in the Bentley - yo let's go. No the tank ain't empty, we ova flow. Get your back in to it - keep it movin’...new No Limit is the movement. We taking over all the industries."

Lil' Romeo (real name: Romeo Miller, Jr.) has verbally committed to play basketball at USC, along with 2 scouts.com top 100 high school players in the country (starting in 2008). The 17-year-old is putting his rap career on hold, says his father / rap mogel Master P.

Lil Romeo will probably major in film at USC to polish his acting, in an attempt to pull off the trifecta -- something other rappers, athletes, and actors have previously failed at (see: Shaq Diesel, Ron Artest).

Durant to Celts?

With the news that Texas freshman, Kevin Durant, will enter the upcoming NBA Draft...it should be noted that he will leave as the 2nd most prolific scorer, as a freshman, in college history. The best?? None other than former LSU guard, Chris Jackson -- whom now goes by the name of Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf.

I have many thoughts and strong opinions on this coming draft class -- and I will make them known by week's end. But, for now...I would like to reflect upon Jackson's (nearly) unparalled potential:

At all times, Chris Jackson was the fastest player on the court. He could get to the rim at will --all while possessing unlimited range on his jumper. With the exception of very few (think the Tim Hardaway's of the world), he had the best handle -- and was a tremendous passer.

Per a piece on Temple3... Chris Jackson (aka, Abdul-Rauf) has been erased from the memory of most sports announcers because of his ill-fated professional decision to sit during the singing of the national anthem. There was no way for him to win by taking that position. His home was firebombed as a result of that decision. His NBA career did not end immediately, thanks to consideration from those Vegas gamblers: the Maloof brothers and owners of the Sacramento Kings. But, after his stint with the Kings ended, Abdul-Rauf played in Turkey, Russia, Italy and Greece.

Jackson suffered from Tourette's Syndrome. He became a Muslim over the course of his career and fasted during Ramadan (Olajuwon did the same thing during his career, but his frame and stature seemed to handle the weight loss much better).

When comparing Jackson's collegiate game to many other offensive superstars, his talent was certainly comparable to nearly all.

* Allen Iverson? Jackson was a much better shooter, a better ball handler, and equally as fast.

* Chris Paul? Not even close.

* Bobby Hurley? Different universe.

* Gary Payton? In college, Payton was still dominant on the box -- but his complete offensive game didn't start to take shape until later in the pro's.

* Tim Hardaway? Much, much slower -- and not as dominant from the line in clutch situations.

* Kevin Johnson? Explosive, great jump-shooter, tremendous wheels, and great free-throw shooter...but, all these attributes couldn't supersede Jackson's lightning quick release.

* Terrell Brandon? Close - all the tools, but 30 PPG (from a frosh) in the SEC is tough to match.

* Sam Cassell? All the old school tools any hoopster could ever ask for…not a speedster, but unnaturally clutch.

* Nash? Great player, but not comparable collegiately…apples and oranges.

* Pearl Washington? Aside from the speed, free throw shooting and jump shot range, they’re about even. Pearl could get streaky from outside, but that was not a reliable source of points for him.

* Sherman Douglas? Hell no.

* Stephon Marbury? Not from the outside.

* Kenny Anderson? Not from the outside.

* Mark Price? Everything - including the speed (if not the quickness in tight spaces and the hops) and free-throw shooting.

What it comes down to is...as a collegiate PG, only Isiah Thomas is/was comparable because "Zeke" could have scored at will for Bob Knight's Indiana teams. Isiah was an excellent free throw shooter, though not quite as good as Jackson. "Zeke" was a prolific passer. Both players had lightning quick hands and were terrors for opposing PG's to beat off the dribble - but, Isiah was the better defensive player.

LSU’s media guide refers to Chris Jackson as the “most celebrated freshman of all time.” It’s been almost 20 years...and counting.