The first rule of Fight Club is: you do not talk about Fight Club. The second rule of Fight Club is: you DO NOT talk about Fight Club!

- Brad Pitt (as Tyler Durden)

The NCAA is apparently following the Tyler Durden school of public relations these days. They've issued a ruling on the University of Memphis' appeal... but they aren't telling anyone what that ruling is.

The Memphis administration knows... but is claiming they're forbidden by NCAA bylaws from revealing anything.

I guess we can wait until next year's official NCAA record book is published, and see if the Tigers are still listed as a 2008 Final Four team.

As Rush the Court points out, it's this sort of behavior that destroys any faith the public might have in the NCAA's ability to police itself in a fair and reasonable manner. It's nice to see the Memphis administration pointing out the absurdity of it all.

The Basis for the Appeal

The NCAA's investigation into the Memphis program centers on the eligibility of one player from the 2007-08 national runner-up team -- Derrick Rose, the reigning NBA Rookie of the Year.

Rose is accused of having someone take the SAT for him.

There were additional allegations that the university provided improper benefits -- hotel and travel expenses, primarily -- to Rose's brother.

In August, the NCAA ruled that the Tigers' 38 wins and Final Four appearance from that season would be vacated.

It is worth noting that Rose was declared eligible by the NCAA's official clearinghouse before ever suiting up for the Tigers. This investigation didn't even begin until Rose was three months into his rookie year with the Bulls. The fact that the NCAA has declared that Memphis has "strict liability" in the matter -- even though the University was relying on the NCAA clearinghouse ruling as to Rose's eligibility -- is the basis for Memphis appeal.

More on this story: The NCAA vs. Memphis

In what is being termed a "mutual agreement," Allen Iverson and the Grizzlies are going their separate ways. He'll be placed on waivers on Tuesday, November 17th, and should be a free agent by Wednesday.

The New York Knicks will consider offering Iverson a deal. Charlotte and Cleveland have also been mentioned as potential destinations.

To fill the Iverson-shaped hole in their backcourt, the Grizzlies have signed another guard with a less-than-stellar resume, adding Jamaal Tinsley to their volatile mix. Tinsley spent last season being paid to stay away from the Indiana Pacers.

• Allen Iverson Career History
• Is Iverson a Hall of Famer?

Note to S-Jax -- be careful what you wish for.

Stephen Jackson's wish -- to be traded away from the struggling and dysfunctional Golden State Warriors and coach Don Nelson -- was granted earlier today. But it's hard to make the case that his new situation is an improvement.

Jackson and little-used point guard Acie Law are headed to the 3-6 Charlotte Bobcats. Veteran swingman Raja Bell and forward Vladimir Radmanovic are headed to Oakland in return.

For the Bobcats, Jackson fills an obvious need: perimeter scoring. But Jackson's best position at this stage of his career is small forward, and in Charlotte, that's Gerald Wallace's job. That means he'll slot in at shooting guard, where he'll be a defensive liability against the league's quicker wings. But his shooting ability should help open the floor for slashers like Wallace, Boris Diaw and Raymond Felton -- which will help the Bobcats far more than a defensive specialist like Bell did.

He's also a significant investment -- Jackson's contract runs through the next three seasons, and he'll make over $10 million in 2012-13 (when he's 34). That's sort of a strange long-term investment for the Bobcats to make, when everyone thinks they're trying to cut payroll and prepare the franchise for a sale.

Golden State gets rid of a malcontent and a little bit of payroll relief -- Bell's contract expires after this season, but Radmanovic has a player option for next year. It's hard to say how either player will fit into the Warriors' rotation, which is already over-loaded with wings -- especially when you consider the fact that neither of the new arrivals is adept at initiating an offense. Jackson's ability to run the point took a lot of pressure off Golden State's young backcourt. That ability will be hard to replace.

Jackson will become one of the primary scoring options for his new team, but his value in most fantasy formats will actually drop. Golden State plays at a breakneck pace on offense; there are turtles and snails that get up and down the court quicker than Larry Brown's Bobcats.

LeBron James has announced plans to give up uniform number 23 as a means of honoring Michael Jordan. "I just think what Michael Jordan has done for the game has to be recognized some way soon," James told reporters.

James wants the league's twelve other twenty-threes to follow suit. One of them -- Jason Richardson of the Phoenix Suns -- already declared he's on board via his Twitter feed, saying "the NBA should of retired 23 years ago."

The league-wide retirement of a number would be a first for the NBA, but other sports have gone that route to honor all-time greats. Major League Baseball retired Jackie Robinson's 42 in 1997 -- the 50th anniversary of Robinson's debut in the big leagues. And the NHL has officially retired 99 for Wayne Gretzky -- and un-officially retired 66 for Mario Lemieux.

• LeBron Giving Up #23 to Honor Michael Jordan
• Should the NBA retire Michael Jordan's Number?

Byron Scott became the first NBA coach to lose his job this season when the Hornets dropped the axe this week. Scott's departure wasn't unexpected -- his contract expires after this season, and his high salary and middling job performance made him an obvious target for the perpetually cost-cutting Shinn family. When the Hornets stumbled out of the gate to a 3-6 record -- including a loss to the lowly Knicks -- Scott's fate was sealed.

Stealing a page from the Minnesota Timberwolves' "You made this mess, you clean it up" Playbook, the team has given general manager Jeff Bower the coaching job for the remainder of the season. The T-Wolves did the same last year with general manager Kevin McHale -- who, you'll note, is no longer employed by the team. Bower's short-term prospects seem similarly bleak.

Bower will be assisted by Tim Floyd -- the ex-USC head coach who quit earlier this year amidst allegations he made payments to representatives of Trojan guard O.J. Mayo.

In other words, he was probably willing to work cheap.

This situation is going to get worse before it gets better. Already there are reports that franchise player Chris Paul is not pleased with the development and the fact that he wasn't consulted beforehand. Meanwhile, the Hornets are painfully thin on the perimeter, where big-money free agents Peja Stojakovic and James Posey have been major disappointments -- and management is desperate to shed another $3 million in salary to avoid the dreaded luxury tax... so don't expect reinforcements.

Best guess? The 2010-11 season will be Chris Paul's last in a Hornets uniform... and quite possibly, the team's last in New Orleans.

Here's an observation that should terrify Memphis fans:

He leads by example.

- Ronald Tillery of the Memphis Commercial Appeal, on Zach Randolph

Uh, Mr. Tillery? That's the problem.

Phil Jackson gave Laker fans -- and fantasy basketball players -- a scare yesterday when he suggested forward/center Pau Gasol might not be back until Christmas.

Gasol is recovering from a hamstring injury and has yet to play this season. He has been listed as "day-to-day," which usually means "he won't play today or tomorrow, but he could go this weekend."

Not, "you won't see him on the floor for another five weeks."

Jackson later back-tracked, telling ESPN the Christmas comment was a joke, and that Gasol is still day-to-day. It's not surprising that he's frustrated with Gasol's progress -- what was initially diagnosed as a minor injury has already sidelined Gasol for a month.

• NBA Injury Updates

Syracuse will struggle to replace Jonny Flynn, Paul Harris and Eric Devendorf this season -- but one thing is clear: Jim Boeheim's trademark 2-3 zone is back this season.

The early-season nominee for quote of the year comes from Albany guard Mike Black, a freshman point who faced Syracuse in the Great Danes' season-opener. When coach Will Brown asked his floor leader to get the ball into the high post, Black responded, "Coach, I can't see the high post."

'Cuse won the game, 75-43 -- giving Boeheim 800 W's for his career.

Binghamton doesn't have a total monopoly on misbehaving basketball players this season.

• Five Arkansas Razorbacks players -- including starters Courtney Fortson and Stefan Welsh -- have been suspended while authorities investigate an alleged rape.
• Seton Hall guard Keon Lawrence has been suspended indefinitely after being charged with driving under the influence.
• Minnesota forward Royce White -- already in trouble for a run-in with a Mall of America security guard in October -- allegedly swiped a laptop. Another Minnesota forward, Trevor Mbakwe, is dealing with an assault charge he claims is a case of mistaken identity.
• The Sporting News raised the possibility that Villanova freshman Mouphtau Yarou is actually 25 years old, after discovering a player with a very similar name and home town listed as a participant in the 2007 FIBA Africa Cup. But according to 'Nova coach Jay Wright, they've got the wrong guy.

Back when the Bulls drafted Joakim Noah, Chicago Tribute columnist Rick Morrissey said he'd eat his column -- with salsa, no less -- if Noah became a productive NBA player within three years.

Three years later, a bulked-up Noah has become a double-double machine... and Morrissey has learned that three-year-old newsprint is tasty with a little tomato/jalapeno/onion.

Mental note: when predicting the future, don't offer to do embarrassing things when proven wrong.