A few observations (and rants) on miscellaneous topics:

• At the urging of my co-worker Eric Stark, I joined a fantasy basketball league, and now I'm addicted.

I pay a lot more attention to the NBA than I used to, and I've had to familiarize myself with players I knew virtually nothing about.

As a Philly fan, I've always been familiar with the Sixers' roster, and many of the players on teams they compete against in the Atlantic Division, such as the Celtics. Then there are the superstars everyone knows, like Kobe Bryant and LeBron James.

But when it came to the rosters of West Coast teams — except for the Lakers — I was pretty clueless. And I had little idea who played for, say, the Memphis Grizzlies or Minnesota Timberwolves.

But now I'm well acquainted with Monta Ellis, for example, the Golden State shooting guard who averages 23-plus points a game. Of course, I'd appreciate him even more if he played on my fantasy team, but at least I know who the guy is now.

• I'm not having as much fun with fantasy football, however. In my one league, I've been having trouble all season with whom to play and whom to bench. And my decisions usually turn out to be dead wrong.

The Thanksgiving Day games summed up my frustration in a nutshell. I chose to start Eli Manning and Hakeem Nicks of the Giants over Tony Romo and Miles Austin of the Cowboys, so naturally Romo tossed two touchdown passes and Austin turned in a big performance.

Romo and Austin had been mediocre lately, so I went with Manning because he seemed to get his mojo back against the Chiefs last Sunday. And his Thanksgiving opponent, Denver, was reeling after four losses.

Well, Nicks was OK versus the Broncos, but Manning recorded his worst fantasy game of the year.

Thanks a lot, Eli.

• The Eagles' offensive line has been inconsistent this season, but one pleasant surprise is right tackle Winston Justice, who was rewarded last week with a four-year contract extension worth up to $20 million.

Justice, who assumed the starting role in training camp because of Shawn Andrews' chronic back problems, has allowed three sacks in 10 games and been whistled for just three penalties. Before this year, he was best known for that infamous game two years ago when he filled in for Tra Thomas and the Giants tied an NFL record by sacking Donovan McNabb 12 times.

In fact, that was the only game Justice started until the current season. And if Andrews' injury hadn't created the opportunity for him to be more than a permanent backup, that Giants game would probably have been Justice's NFL legacy.

To his credit, he took advantage of the chance, and I hope he has a long, successful career in Philly.

• I'm assuming Sixers GM Ed Stefanski is a patient man, or else he had no idea what he was doing when he tapped Eddie Jordan to be the team's coach last offseason.

Washington Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas, who played for Jordan, told the Philadelphia Inquirer's Kate Fagan that the Princeton offense Jordan runs is specialized.

"You need five passers, five shooters," Arenas said. "Athletes don't work in that offense, to be honest."

Hmm, passers and shooters. Does that sound like the current crop of Sixers to you?

If Stefanski is committed to Jordan and his system, then he may have to consider a serious overhaul of the roster. Otherwise, the Sixers will continue to be mediocre at best, and embarrassing at worst.