WHAT I WOULDN'T GIVE FOR ONLY ONE NIGHT: Sixer fans and Allen Iverson devotees already know the outlines of the story of how soulful pianist Bruce Hornsby was a crucial part of A.I.'s path to glory. In today's DN, Phil Jasner adds a surprising detail:

The Grammy-winning musician won't say he was the first, but he was among the first to catch a glimpse. And he saw it, not only as a spectator on the courts and fields of Bethel High, but - amazingly enough - firsthand.

Picture this: Hornsby, at 38, and Iverson, a high school senior just off the prison farm, going one-on-one.

"I had seen him in his state championship seasons," Hornsby says, taking a break from preparations for a recording session. "I had made a video with Spike Lee, and when Allen was arrested, I called Spike and asked him to send Allen some things to lift his spirits. Spike did that.

"I liked Allen, and I lobbied the governor [Douglas Wilder] and his chief of staff to pardon him. When that happened, Mike Bailey, Allen's basketball coach at Bethel, called and said Allen wanted to thank me. I said, "Let's play some ball." . . .

After that, it was Hornsby vs. Iverson, one-on-one. This time, it was halfcourt, the rules allowing for a maximum of three dribbles.

"I beat him three in a row, in front of witnesses," Hornsby says, this time laughing heartily. "I said 'Thanks for taking it easy on an old man.' But I didn't tell too many people about those games, because it truly wasn't believable."

Hornsby tells the story not to gloat, but to show a measure of pride in having known Iverson before he became the icon known as "A.I."

"I love the fact that I knew him then, when his nickname was 'Bubba Chuck,' " Hornsby says. "I can remember being in Hampton when he was in prison and seeing the grafitti that said 'Free Chuck.' "

Reminded last week of the one-on-one experience with Hornsby, Iverson broke out into what has become his signature smile.

"I let him have that one," he says, laughing.

Read that again: "taking a break from preparations for a recording session". Yes, gang, Bruce Hornsby is finding work. Wow.

(But, for real, read the story. I know that many non-Philadelphians unfortunately see him as a thug and a malcontent, but, truly, no one plays the game with more heart, or ability given the size. Also, if you read the whole thing, there's a Michael Cage sighting.)

I THOUGHT WILLIAM KATT WAS A SHOO-IN: AOL and the Discovery Channel have unveiled their list of 100 nominees for the Gratist American Evir, with the winner to be determined this June after a series of tv episodes featuring debates and audience voting.

Most of the nominees won't surprise you -- former Presidents, Founding Fathers, noted inventors, activists, etc. But Brett Favre? Ellen DeGeneres? George Lucas?

And you know he's my boy, but Barack Obama? Not quite yet. First of all, let's wait until they repeal the 22nd Amendment so he can complete The Great American Restoration in his last three terms as President, and, secondly, I can't find his theme song online anymore.

Who's missing from this list? While it's nice to see John Edwards, wouldn't Jonathan Edwards be more appropriate? And Dr. Phil isn't even America's greatest McGraw.

WHEN THE RAPPER JAM MASTER JAY DIED IN 2002, HE MADE A CAKE IN THE SHAPE OF A LARGE ADIDAS SNEAKER WITH A GOLD CHAIN AND TWO TURNTABLES ON IT: I believe that's all the encouragement you'll need to want to read this article about Cake Man Raven.

Seriously -- the barbecue cake for a dad's birthday? Wow.

SO, IS THERE AN OPENING FOR A SNARKY POP CULTURE BLOGGER? The Atlantic reports that Senate Democrats have created a "secret messaging group" to bounce ideas off of. The concept of a "secret messaging group" is amusing enough, but the membership is what makes it. Among the members are "American High" and "The War Room" producer R.J. Cutler and comic suspense novelist Harlan Coben, who's mastered the "hook and twist" premise with his recent stand-alone novels and whose Myron Bolitar novels are among my favorites. Any other unlikely strategic consultants who want to chip in?

IT'S TOUGH ORGANIZIN' INDIAN LABOR: Boston Rahb meets Thomas L. Friedman, Kelly's butt meets a camel's vibrations, we learn that gay men are everywhere and Gretchen never found an elephant she didn't want to ride, and, most of all, Joyce proves indisputably that Bald Is Beautiful on this leg of The Amazing Race.

(Are Meredith and Gretchen really older than Terri and Ian? Maybe, but they're also more annoying, and I f'n hated Ian because of how nasty he was to his wife. But Gretchen . . . it's not that she's unkind -- she's just like hearing chalk against blackboard, over and over.)

I loved how our last-place team again prepared for a non-elimination leg, and hated that all that separated them from their standing was a random error. Disappointingly, there didn't seem to be anything that any non-FF team could have done in this leg in terms of Detour or Roadblock skills to really improve their standing. (Still, this basic Race rule: if you see that all the teams are doing one Detour choice, switch to the other -- it's your best chance of passing them.)

Next week, we learn about a whole new way to end your military service. Yee-haw!

THE FRIENDLY STRANGER IN THE BLACK SEDAN: American Idol open thread. I'd put Anwar, Constantine and Vonzell up top, and, once again, Scott must go.

This week really is push or shove for what's left of Adam's early March predictions:

As of now, I do think we're looking at the reverse of last year, and we'll have a final six with five men and just one woman -- Nadia Turner -- unless Mikalah Gordon figures out where she left her personality or Bo Bice joins an ashram. Lord knows, I'm looking forward to his take on Neil Sedaka night or, God forbid, the return of Gloria Estefan night.

One prediction I feel comfortable making: some night in mid-April, Anthony Federov will deserve to be eliminated, but Vonzell Solomon will go home instead. Book it.

America, what did you think?

FELL IN LOVE WITH A GIRL: Sure, Page 2 may be thrilled that Maria Sharapova turned 18 today, but true jailbait cognoscenti had their party last week, when Joss Stone joined the ranks of the legal.