With 6:24 left in the first half of last night’s game, Jerry D. Bayless became a man. He turned forty. And while the Salim comparisons may be premature, there’s no denying that young Jerryd isn’t happy about his Wildcats being labeled “soft” or “one year away.”

According to Greg Hansen’s article in today’s Star, Jerryd considers himself a “soldier” on Kevin O’Neill’s team. And he surely wasn’t the only one to enlist. Brielmaier, McClellan, Wise, Hill, Horne, and Budinger all deserve medals of honor for their gutsy performance. Even Walters, in his limited but vital 8 minutes of “space taking”, should be mentioned. But the night doubtlessly belonged to Bayless.

I don’t care what his birth certificate says, Jerryd Bayless is a man. He’s forty. It’s time for his name to join the (already long-winded) Mayo/Love/Beasley/Singler/Rose/Gordon conversation.