John Thompson

LAS VEGAS -- For many, the frenzy of four high-profile basketball tournaments operating simultaneously here this week is a highlight of the summer. Former Georgetown coach John Thompson has another view. He says the scene is more evidence that the game is troubled. "So much is built on promises that aren't being kept, people are bribing others -- it's not regulated, and it's not regulate-able," Thompson, 67, said Monday as he watched the USA Olympic basketball team practice at Valley High.

1 Chalk again: With all four No. 1 seeds alive in the Elite Eight for the first time since 2003 and three of the four No. 2 seeds alive -- only Wisconsin lost -- this is going down as a by-the-book NCAA tournament. 2 Maybe it's Memphis: After 25 consecutive wins, the Tigers are getting a lot more difficult to dismiss.

Well, at least this time around, Art Shell won't have to take as much heat for not playing Marcus Allen. JOHN THOMPSON \o7Chino \f7\o7 \f7

Marty Schottenheimer is definitely superior to Bill Belichick in instructing his team how to celebrate with class. Belichick is just a little better at making sure his team has a reason to celebrate. JOHN THOMPSON \o7Chino \f7 To "The Drive" and "The Fumble," Marty Schottenheimer can now add "The Challenge." BRIAN S. DICKER \o7Culver City \f7 The team anthem should be changed from "San Diego Super Chargers" to "San Diego Stupid Chargers." BOB DALLAPE \o7Laguna Niguel \f7 It appears Bill Plaschke has the same feelings about seeing a Marty Schottenheimer-coached playoff game that I have about reading his columns.

Sorry, Mark Cuban. It's just not a good year for Mavericks. John Thompson Chino

John Philip Thompson, 77, who expanded his family's business into the nationwide 7-Eleven chain, died Tuesday of brain cancer in Dallas. Thompson held top positions in Southland Corp. -- now 7-Eleven Inc. -- for more than 30 years after being named president and chief executive at age 35. He was a community leader and philanthropist in Dallas who made Southland the largest contributor to the Muscular Dystrophy Assn., raising $81.5 million. Thompson's father, Joe C.

John Thompson, the JetHawks' relief pitcher who had a 6.13 earned-run average last season in Lancaster, returned to the Hangar saying he was a changed man, and Wednesday night he was rewarded with a promotion to double-A Memphis. "I'm really excited," Thompson said. "I learned a lot down here. I learned that you just have to keep the ball down and inside on guys."

John Thompson can throw a baseball harder than most pitchers in the major leagues. And now that he's stopped showcasing his arm so often, Thompson might actually have a shot at making the majors. Last week Thompson explained his recent struggles simply: "Anyone can hit a fastball when they know it's coming." So, relying less on his fastball, Thompson has not allowed a run in his last four outings, spanning 5 1/3 innings.

With a few good outings, John Thompson can get his earned-run average back below his hat size. It's been one of those weeks for the JetHawks' reliever. In two appearances, he was 0-2, blowing ninth-inning leads of at least two runs each time. He gave up six runs in two innings. "This is definitely a funk," Thompson said Friday, a day after giving up four runs in the ninth inning of a 6-5 loss to the Lake Elsinore Storm. "This is not me. This not anyone. No one should be getting hit this hard.

Georgetown Coach John Thompson, whose proposed involvement in a company that operates slot machines in Las Vegas concerned school and NCAA officials, said Wednesday in Atlanta that he won't pursue the business venture. Thompson had applied for a state gaming license to become a partner in the company that operates slot machines at Las Vegas' McCarran International Airport. He said he changed his mind after speaking with Georgetown's president, the Rev. Leo J. O'Donovan, Wednesday morning.