Summitt Conference

Tuesday was media blitz day for Pat Summitt, with appearances on Rosie O'Donnell, the QVC home shopping channel, and Charlie Rose's late-night PBS talk show. Of these, she probably had the most fun with Rosie, who ragged her for her Southern accent and shot baskets with Chamique Holdsclaw and Kellie Jolly. But she had the best interview with Charlie Rose—right before rapper Ice Cube. North Carolinian Rose, famously a basketball fan, seemed almost giddy to have Summitt across the table, chattering as she tried to answer his questions. During the conversation, Summitt reaffirmed her commitment to stay with the Lady Vols and her lack of desire to coach a men's team. "There's nothing for you but to coach in Knoxville," Rose concluded, as she agreed—and poo-pooed rumors of a run for governor, a suggestion she said had come from "my so-called friends.

"I would really be frustrated," she explained. "Think how long it takes to get anything done in politics" compared to basketball, where she says, "I've got my stat sheet at the end of the game." The Middle Tennessee native also added her affiliation might be a dilemma. "I'm not a Republican—I'm closer to a Democrat," she said, adding that her brother is a Democrat state representative. "In East Tennessee, I'd be encouraged to run as a Republican."

Doggywood

We took our well-bred pompous smirks for a walk down the Market Square this week, confident we'd see plenty to make fun of at the Dogwood Arts Festival—but had to look hard to find it. This week, devoted to folk crafts, features authentic chair-caners, authentic lye-soap brewers—even a genuine big-bearded blacksmith plying his trade with a bona-fide anvil in front of the Soup Kitchen. Granted, much of it's on loan from Dollywood, but this week on the Square seems almost (gulp) worth your time. Even the music seems more authentic so far, with more bluegrass bands than the nonstop off-key karaoke show that dominated last week.

Pretty Boys and Pretty Horses

We hear by Monday's USA Today that Leonardo DiCaprio is considering the lead in a major motion picture based on Cormac McCarthy's award-winning novel, All the Pretty Horses. The Knoxville-raised author left for Texas several years ago, but he's still sighted at Perry's now and then. Next, we'd like to see DiCaprio try on another McCarthy character, Knoxville desperado Cornelius Suttree. Just kidding.

Boys Vs. Girls

Warning: Do not, repeat—Do not, agree to shoot baskets for money with Joe Sullivan. The mighty Metro Pulse mogul had been trying to sucker someone into a hoops contest all winter and was finally successful in luring Ann Furrow into a game of horse last week. How could Furrow have known that Sullivan has spent most of his life perfecting a never-fail money shot? When someone attempted to warn her that she was stepping into an ambush, the foolhardy Furrow talked tough: "Probably some wimp shot."

Well, she was right—but she was nevertheless forced to eat her words when Sullivan took her out in three consecutive games at the Tyson Place gym, with UT Women's Athletic Director Joan Cronan officiating and Anne's husband Sam Furrow—owner of Knoxville Motor Co. and general moneyed-man-about-town—catering the major sports event. As spectators (including Bill Arant and the Knoxville Sports Corp.'s Gloria Ray) gaped in horror, the shameless publisher stood under the hoop and dispatched Furrow with his admittedly wimpy yet deadly granny shot.

This One's For All The Readers Who Don't Watch Local TV News or Read the Daily Paper and Will Write Us Mean Letters If We Don't Report It:

Hoo-ray's closed for good on Saturday.