Welcome to Christmas morning aka opening night of the NBA! In honor of the best day of the year, today's wire check will be all about the best league in world.

First lets sum up everything else.

* Raiders need to draft a quarterback

* Alex Smith is good, Jeff Garcia would be better

* The Giants need a hitter but will overpay for Holiday instead

* The A's need a new GM

* The Sharks are better than ever and the only team worth rooting for.

NBA

* Don Nelson is excited for the season ... I am excited for his resignation. [SF Gate]

* According to some the Warriors are the second worst team in the West. This writer would be a good example of a Dub fan (aka someone who has been watching NBA basketball for less than 5 years and thinks this Warriors team is really bad when really it is one of the best Warrior teams in the last 14 years. You can read my preview tomorrow) [SJ Merc]

* Who says the Clippers are cursed? [ESPN]

* Still the best sports information site on the internet. [CNNSI]

* You know whats funny, I have been calling for this lineup change for over a year. [CC Times]

* Everyone agrees, the Warriors are not going to the playoffs [ESPN]

Football

The 49ers offense looked terrible in the first half, coming off a bye week, so Singletary switched things up at half time and Alex Smith looked really good almost a yer to the day after Singletary pulled JT O'Sullivan in favor of Shaun Hill. [SJ Merc]

Gwen Knapp says Smith had nothing to lose, but coming off the becnh hurt his ability to lead the two minute offense. [SFGate]

Maiocco asks if this was all in the script? [Press Democrat]

Darrius Heyward-Bey: Seven games played, 4 receptions 64 yards.

Michael Crabtree: One game played, 5 receptions 56 yards.

The Raiders got blasted and everybody owned up to it, except one. JaMarcus Russell. Nuff said. [SFGate]

Baseball

Big Mac is back! Weird. [SFGate]

More Big Mac stuff. Inman says Big Mac's return will provide great theater. I'm not so sure that "No Comment" qualifies, but what do I know? [CC Times]

John Shea is optimistic the Dodgers will crumble next season. RT and I aren't quite so sure. [SFGate]

Baseball

You want a divorce? Okay, you're FIRED! [The Big Lead]

FOX has now opened the flood gates on drunk waterfall jumping. [Deadspin]

Bruce Jenkins states the obvious, which apparently eluded Mike Scioscia, Darren Oliver sucks. [SFGate]

It's all Nick Swisher's fault! Not really, but NY media has to blame someone. [ESPN]


Football

Does anybody care about the Napa D.A.? Anybody? [SFGate]

Despite the non-charges, Mark Purdy is skeptical of Tom Cable's innocence. [SJ Merc]

Kevin Lynch sets the over under on Crabtree catches on Sunday at 2.5. I'll take the over. At least one bubble screen and one quick slant per half. [SFGate]

Basketball

Stephen Curry wins a starting spot by default. [SJ Merc]

Football

* Guess what? The Niners need a passing game. In other words, the world doesn't need a third world war. [National Football Post]

* Wait a second, I thought JaMarcus Russell looked good last weekend!?! How dare you attack the savior of the Raider franchise! [ESPN]

* I would be too positive too if I had his contract. What does he care if he sucks? [SF Gate]

* If you can break a subordinates jaw while on the job and not get charged than we are looking at whole new way of doing business in CA. As a small business owner, I am in favor of Tom Cable avoiding charges. [SJ Merc]

Basketball

* The newest problem with the Warriors. HINT: It is not winning too much. [SJ Merc]

* The scouts agree ... the Warriors are going to be great this year!! [CNNSI]

Baseball

* The biggest winner of this years NLCS is ... [MLB]

Basketball

Warriors' pre-season is almost over. Yawn. [SJ Merc]

Football

Should fans cheer or boo Crabtree? [SFGate] Really? How about this, if he plays well, cheer him and if he plays poorly, boo him?

Kawakami says the pressure is going to build on Shaun Hill over the next few weeks. Alex Smith, be ready. [SJ Merc]

What's taking the Napa D.A. so long to decide whether to file charges in the Tom Cable/Randy Hanson incident? [SJ Merc]

Q&A with Gary Kubiak for this Sunday's 49ers' game against the Texans. [Press Democrat] Who asked this question? With your corners, do you stay on one side or do you have Dunta Robinson shadow the top guy? Did they expect an honest answer? Why not ask which downs they plan on blitzing, too?

After describing the Giants-Raiders game as scrimmage-like, Antonio Pierce is now complimenting the Raiders after they beat the Eagles. [Sac Bee] Gee, thanks for beating our division rival. You're not as bad as I said you were. Could you also beat Washington and Dallas?

Baseball

Bud Selig recently said he has no plans on expanding instant replay in MLB. Then the "worst call of all time" happened. [Yahoo!] Your move, Bud.

Baseball

* Thank god the Giants don't have a closer that just tries to throw the ball 100 mph and really has no idea where the ball is going. Oh wait ... [SF Gate]

Football

* Let the ass kissing of Michael Crabtree begin. I really hate the Chronicle. [SF Gate]

* You want to know what the lock of the week is ... the Jets because there is no way the Raiders can win two games in a row. [SF Gate]

Hockey

* One of the better teams in hockey got worked last night by my favorite team ... San Jose Sharks. [SJ Merc]

Basketball

* Jackson promises peace against Bryant because he wants to play for the Lakers. [CC Times]

Basketball

Tim Kawakami has 25 reasons that Robert Rowell should be fired. Love it. [SJ Merc]

Captain Jack is now just Jack. [SFGate]

Why Jack needs to go from WFB. [SJ Merc]

Baseball

October, so cruel! At least, Bruce Jenkins thinks so. [SFGate]

John Shea is already speculating on a LA-LA World Series. Lame. But, he mentions Molina could get interest from the Mets and a Cain-Fielder trade is damn unlikely. [SFGate]

Sabean and Bochy get two year extensions. Meh. [SFGate]

Football

Mark Purdy doesn't have any glowing things to say about Michael Vick. [SJ Merc]

Isaac Sopoaga is seeking donations for tsunami victims. [SJ Merc]

Antonio Pierce said playing the Raiders felt like a scrimmage. Ouch. [CC Times]

Hockey

Is Torrey Mitchell always hurt? C'mon. [SJ Merc]