Ah, lecherousness.

She lasted one singles match. Two whole sets. And CBS Sportsline.com has a photo gallery in its Australian Open coverage for Anna Kournikova.

Granted, it was good news that she actually made it to a big tournament. It wasn't news she got dumped quickly.

But not quick enough.

Well, she lasted more than one day, though. Anna was paired with a real, live tennis player - Martina Hingis, not unpleasant to witness on a court - for doubles play.

And darned if the webmasters' prayers didn't come true.

Anna and The Real Player - that would be a good mixed doubles pair, Anna and A Real Player - have advanced to the doubles quarterfinals.

Click. Click. Click.

That's the sound of a camera, and then of mouses - mice? - throughout the land at computers.

While I'm all for pictures of, well, never mind, I'm a bit frightened to think about the coverage - and uncoverage - if she ever wins something held in a place we can find on a map.

Then again, I'll have plenty of time to prepare for the remote possibility.

Loughdmouthings

We hear it every time somebody leaves college early, but can anybody help me with that huge list of players who stayed for a senior year, got hurt, and watched that Hall of Fame pro career - in whatever sport - never get started?

And the huge list of players who dropped from sure first-round pick as a junior to much lower, or a late free-agent signing?

Just checking. ...

Attention, Falcons fans: Can you visualize Jon Gruden cruising around Buckhead a year from now? Shoppin' at the Mall of Georgia? Chest-bumping with Keith Brooking? Can you wait that long?

Let's look at the remaining employed NFL coaches and guess who starts putting Tums and Pepto on the weekly shopping list with Gruden out there. ...

Before the month is out, Mercer's women should be over .500 overall and could be in sixth place in the Atlantic Sun Conference.

Florida Atlantic, a notch above the Bears, has Georgia State, Campbell, and UCF in a row, all three teams higher in the standings.

Mercer's next five games are against the four teams lower in the standings.

The Bears intensity Saturday night against Georgia State was exemplary, and as much as has been shown on the home floor by either Mercer's men or women in awhile. For most of the game, they played with a "we're down one with 45 seconds left" mentality that did have a dry run, but it was countered by playing clutch down the stretch.

That, as coach Mark Slonaker will quickly and frustratingly admit, is missing from the men this season on any regular basis.

Yet if they do that - and treasure the basketball - they can knock off league co-leader Jacksonville (entering Wednesday night's play) at Porter on Saturday night ...

Some winners, courtesy of the San Francisco Chronicle and a few readers regarding Tonya Harding's latest trouble, like eviction from her apartment:

Said Alex Kaseberg: "When asked if she would represent herself in court Tonya said, 'I might take a whack at it.'"

Offered Jim Greene: "I know for a fact Tonya has rent money. Last night, I saw her and her ex-manager out clubbing."