The FBI has begun an inquiry into the police shooting death of 88-year-old Kathryn Johnston, who was killed in her Atlanta-area home during a questionable drug raid last week. Reportedly, Atlanta narco squad cops busted into Johnston’s small home armed with a so-called no-knock warrant, allowing them to forgo announcing their presence before busting down the door. By the time they busted in, Johnston was there, armed with a revolver, which she fired, striking three officers. Predictably, that led police to unload on Johnston, who died from a bullet wound to the chest. (The wounded officers are expected to recover, reports The New York Times.)

The Associated Press reports that the Dec. 12 date set for the Congressional District 23 runoff is being challenged by Latino groups because it coincides with the Feast of the Virgin of Guadalupe, a major religious holiday for Latinos. According to the story, Texas is simultaneously asking the U.S. Justice Department to approve the date because pushing it back further is impractical, and also claiming the state doesn't need federal approval because the court decision that created Dist. 23 this summer ordered that the runoff be held at the earliest date possible, which is Dec. 12. The League of United Latin American Citizens fears that holding the election on that date will suppress turnout in this San Antonio-to-El Paso district that is heavily Hispanic and deeply affect a race expected to be close: Republican Henry Bonilla led the first round of voting in the special election at 48.6%, while five Democrats combined for 48.7%, led by former Congressman Ciro Rodriguez, who previously represented Dist. 28. Given that the U.S. Supreme Court ordered Dist. 23 redrawn because the previous, Tom DeLay-engineered boundaries violated Hispanics' voting rights, it would be surpassing idiotic if this race were influenced by reduced Latino turnout. EDIT: The AP now reports that a federal judge has ruled that counties in the district may extend early voting through Saturday, Dec. 9, and the Rodriguez campaign has dropped its opposition to the Dec. 12 date.

My apologies on Tip Time's apparently notable absence. Whoever you are, please stop sending suicide threats: I can tell that you're bluffing just by the fact that you say you're looking forward to the Big 10 conference tournament in March for "Michigan's indirect revenge" (whatever that means) and have been praying to the good lord above in gratefulness for its overdue existence since 1998.

People who look forward to things and pray don't kill themselves, so, let's let bygones be bygones and move on to more pressing – heh ... that one was for you, Mike Andserson and Mizzou – matters. After a paid suspension following my initiating contact with an inattentive writer that fell somewhere on the spectrum between nudge and dry-gulch, I'm back to share some early thoughts on the 2006-07 Div. I Men's Basketball Season, now a few weeks old. Think of it as a tremendous burp after the ESPN-manufactured "Feast Week." Then think of me mumbling "My compliments to the schedule-makers" with a Cheshire cat smile on my face as I chuckle awkwardly.

With the previous week's last-second heartwrenching loss to the Buffalo Bills and last Sunday's dismal effort in a 26-11 defeat by the New York Jets; even I, Mr. Superdiehardfan, can safely call this year a bust and start looking toward next year's draft and off-season maneuverings. So, glass-half-full time. The Texans 2006 draft class is the strongest in the league. Straight up. Gary Kubiak's squad currently resides at 3-8, but he did his job when it came to drafting a solid core for Houston's hopefully bright future. In hindsight, not re-signing David Carr and drafting hometown hero Vince Young would have not only made the team a mint in jersey and ticket sales (and I guarantee you all those empty, paid-for seats at Reliant on Sundays would be filled), it would have been the best football decision as well.

The Wranglers host their open tryouts this Sunday, Dec. 3 at the Round Rock ISD Stadium (10211 Parmer Ln.) beginning at 9am (registration begins at 8am). If you think you've got what it takes to make it in the AFL here's your chance to find out. And, like the NBDL, the AFL has been a stepping stone in the path to the NFL with the most notable graduate being current Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner who won a super bowl with the Rams. Wranglers 2006 star wide receiver Derrick Lewis made the jump this year and is currently on the Houston Texans roster.

On Wednesday the Wranglers released their 2007 16-game regular-season schedule with their season-opener being held Sunday, March 4, 3pm when they play host to the Las Vegas Gladiators at the Frank Erwin Center. Austin won last year's matchup with the Gladiators 64-46. On Saturday, April 21 the Wranglers host the New Orleans Voodoo who were forced to take a year off due to the devastation of hurricane Katrina. Welcome back, Voodoo. Season tickets available now. To get yours call 339-3939.

While hard to swallow, there's some doubt as to the authenticity of Brewster "Emcee" McCracken's MySpace page. For one, we're sure Brewster has way more friends than just Tom. But dig this – it looks far more likely Mike Martinez is the real deal. He's even gone far enough to fill out one of MySpace's omnipresent surveys. Too bad his YouTube HTML skills are a little lacking.

Hmmm. Last login 11/29. At least he's not getting his MySpace Jumpoff on from the dais.

With Council seemingly going into hibernation early, the only fireworks prior to today's Redeemer zoning debate at 4pm (Hi Rich!) was an unexpected, ad hoc debate on the proposed "urban" Wal-Mart at Northcross Mall. Bloodletting, really. Members of Responsible Growth for Northcross, speaking during citizens communication, opened the entire loss-leading, family-sized can of worms, with their ire shared by most on the council.

How beautifully righteous it was for New Orleans Saints wide receiver Terrance Copper to haul in a Drew Brees Hail Mary at the close of the first half of a 31-13 victory over the Atlanta Falcons. Take that, Alfred Jenkins! Take that Steve Bartkowski! And to push Falcons quarterback Michael Vick so far into frustration that he would wind up having to catch media heat for flipping off his own disgruntled home crowd is something that makes Saints fandom a pleasure, albeit at times a vengeful pleasure. Yes, we are still indeed paying back punches landed more than 25 years ago, and if you are even thinking that I’m alone on that, please reference a sign held up at the Georgia Dome on Sunday by a visiting Saints fan that read, “Tickets, $100. Hotel, $200. Teaching my kids to hate the Falcons, Priceless.”

The NCAA College Cups – both men's and women's – are this weekend: semifinals on Friday, finals on Sunday, and every game is on ESPN2. Friday is a UCLA doubleheader: the Lady Bruins take on host and top-ranked North Carolina at 2:30pm, and the guys face Virginia at 5pm (the otUher semis – Florida State-Notre Dame women, and Wake Forest vs. UC-Santa Barbara men – will be shown tape-delayed on Saturday).
Sunday, Dec. 3 is the championship doubleheader: women at 11:30am, men at 2pm. Next week, Dec. 5-6, it's the final games of the Champions League group stage. ESPN2's games of the week are Barcelona-Bremen, Tuesday 1:30pm (it's win-or-go-home for defending champ Barca), and Manchester United-Benfica, Wednesday, 1:30pm (a Man U loss would send them packing early yet again). The full schedule is below ...