Tough love

Ute basketball coach Jim Boylen said last week that it took some love to bring out the best in Mountain West MVP Luke Nevill.

"I used to hug Luke every chance I got," said Boylen.

He said during his first year as coach, Nevill would just stand there, arms stiffly at his sides, looking awkward and uncomfortable when Boylen hugged him.

"My mom's a hugger and I'd hug Luke in the weight room after games and he'd just stand there ... but about the last eight months he's finally hugged me back. That says something. He didn't feel good about expressing that — and I know he loves me," said Boylen. "Sometimes you've got to force it on him."

Which raises a question: Could that be what's wrong with Andrei Kirilenko?

Maybe all he needs is an big, sentimental man-hug from Jerry Sloan.

Defense, defense

Sloan underwent knee replacement surgery just a few days after being eliminated from the NBA Playoffs.

Now that he's on the mend, this might be a good time for him to consider suiting up and showing his team how it's supposed to play defense.

Here's guessing that at 67 he could still do a better job on Trevor Ariza than the Jazz did.

Presumptuous

Michael Vick's lawyers say they're moving forward on a new bankruptcy plan.

Reports say the plan is based mostly on Vick's assumption he will resume his NFL career.

Isn't that a bit like assuming he's going to get an administrative job with the Humane Society?

Aim high, my man, aim high.

Buff Barbie

Churchill Downs teamed with toymaker Mattel to create the latest in pre-teen item: the Kentucky Derby Barbie.

The doll, made to commemorate the 135th running of the Derby on May 2, featured a floral sun dress, fake pearl necklace, sandals and an oversize white hat.

Word is they're already working on a Major League Baseball Barbie, complete with uniform, glove, bat and hypodermic needle.

Logically thinking

Just in time for the new "Star Trek" movie, Tampa Bay pitcher Joe Nelson has named a pitch he holds between his middle and ring finger the "Vulcan change-up."

"It was either going to be Nanu-Nanu from 'Mork & Mindy,' or the Vulcan," he told the St. Petersburg Times. "And Spock just seemed like a cooler character than Mork did."

Not necessarily.

It's not like Spock ever hooked up with Pam Dawber.

Manny mom

Kevin Graham, 1280 The Zone, on Manny Ramirez testing positive for a female fertility drug: "The good news is he's pregnant and it's a boy."

E-mail: rock@desnews.com