The cold, dull winter air has left me to ponder many things. The lack of class work early in the semester has left me in a winter Wunderland. I have plenty of time to wonder about the Wunder — or lack thereof — of it all.

So I wonder:

u … if Eastern women’s basketball team leader Pam O’Connor will decide to redshirt this season. If she does, can the rest of coach Linda Wunder’s 1-12 Panthers redshirt too?

-… if the San Francisco 49ers have the sense to fire Steve Mariucci, who was known for running a conservative offensive attack with high-powered weapons like Terrel Owens and Jeff Garcia, when will the Chicago Bears come to their senses? They too have a conservative coaching staff in the form of Dick Jauron and John Shoop. Here’s hoping Bears General Manager Jerry Angelo tells him to shoo and to go join Mooch in the unemployment line.

– … if Eastern senior guard and national scoring leader Henry Domercant scores close to 30 points per game, will he be lonely at the top? Senior forward Jesse Mackinson and guard J.R. Reynolds barely reach double-digit scoring. Domercant leads the team in rebounds, and no one else is close. The Panthers’ version of the Caped Crusader better find a Robin — and fast.

u … why the professional golf season starts in January with little fanfare. Well, for one, Tiger Woods wasn’t playing. So that leaves me to wonder, if someone other than Tiger swings, does anyone hear it?

– … if the men’s basketball team will ever win on the road again. The Panthers won’t have a chance at hosting a playoff game if they can’t win on the road. Although Eastern may have the best home advantage in the Ohio Valley Conference simply because it has the smallest gym, ahem, arena, Eastern must figure out a way to win on the road because it won’t win all of its home games this year. If the Panthers can’t prowl away from Lantz, they won’t even make the OVC Tournament.

u … if Bartolo Colon can be the savior the White Sox need to keep them out of the colon of the American League Central? The last time the Sox went to the well for an ace they didn’t fare so well and landed David Wells.

– … what is a Saint Louis Billiken? It rhymes with Millikin, another opponent for the Panther swim team.

– … if the shot heard ’round the Ohio Valley Conference came from a gun former Tennessee State University basketball coach Nolan Richardson owned? Instead the shot was a Beebe, Dan Beebe to be exact. He resigned to take a job with the Big 12 Conference could silence the bang on future OVC expansion plans.

– … if the Fellowship of Christian Athletes care what the Panther mascot’s new name will be. The athletic department decided to delay the announcement of the new name to make it coincide with Saturday’s, Fellowship of Christian Athletes night. I wonder if I’m just bitter the athletic department won’t be using my suggestion for a mascot name, — Raul.