WE'RE NOT DEAD YET.

Not only did the Hornets improve to a robust 9-0 in games that are part of my 10-game package in which Chris Paul doesn't leave in the third quarter with a groin injury, but the Wasps showed some much-needed signs of life Sunday heading into the playoffs. Getting swept? I think not.

The man is named Charles Alexander. I know Charles Alexander, and that ain't him. Unless he had a crazy transformation in Atlanta this weekend. Bob has a theory that Brittany gets around. I don't know about that, but I've been saying "Thank you, Brittany." a lot lately. I get it from the Hornets PA announcer, who says that phrase 15 times a game.

A couple of months ago, I told Tina that my other ticket might have her name on it because it would be difficult to get someone to come with me on Easter. However, two weeks ago, I was talking to Minkus online and ended up inviting him to the home finale against the Mavs.

On Good Friday, I had this conversation with my father.

Dad: So, you're not taking your mother to the game Sunday?
Me: No. I'm taking Minkus. Why?
Dad: Well, she seemed pretty upset about it. You told her she was going and then changed it. I think she had her heart set on going.
Me: Uh-oh.

I then had to tell Minkus that he couldn't come, and I told Tina that Minkus cancelled to do family stuff. All's well that ends well, I reckon.

And oh my god, it's Tina on the Genepool. That's her looking up at something. Our seats were in section 110, aka Peja's 3-point club. I didn't receive a membership card.

As part of the apology for screwing up my Rockets' tickets, I was given a seat upgrade Sunday (another reason Tina was mad she wasn't going). Those be $70 tickets, yo.

I miss you, Tyson. Please come back healthy in the playoffs so we have somewhat of a chance. Please. See that guy next to you. That's Melvin Ely. He bad. So very bad. You play in playoffs. K? I'm glad we have an understanding.

The officials pause the game randomly in the second half. After a near-minute huddle, they announced the result of their discussion: Three seconds were added to the Hornets shot clock. Damn, if I had known the delay had so much riding on it, I'd have been fine with giving them a conference room and a telephone to call David Stern.

This is all the free stuff I got from the Hornets fantastic finale.

1) Two team posters. That was easy. The first 10,000 fans got those.

2) Two free hats. My ticket rep found me in the corridor at halftime and gave me these two free hats as part of his ongoing apology for the Rockets tickets snafu. Keep in mind that I ended up with more expensive tickets to that game and didn't miss a single play.

3) For the third time this season, my section won a prize as a result of a silly contest during a timeout. For the first time, however, I collected the prize, and for the first time, a key member of the team didn't suffer an injury (see CP3 and Tyson). The other main difference was Paul wasn't with me uninvited. Otherwise, I think West breaks his brain or something.

My section won a Rouses reusable grocery bag. We're going green! I went to collect it at halftime outside Section 122.

Lady running the stand: Section 110?
Me: Yes.
Lady: Here you go.

She never asked for my ticket. So, we didn't really win anything. Anyone could have came by, agreed that they were from Section 110 and accepted a free bag.

Also, Laura bumped into me at halftime, and we had a lovely discussion about Money Brown, Easter dinner and playoff tickets. She again called me a stalker. But, I ask you, who keeps finding who at these games?

THE TINA CURSING CORNER

My mom thought I was driving too slow on Airline on the way to the Hornets-Mavs game. "What are you doing? It's fucking Airline Highway." Then, a few minutes later. "Come on. You have fucking five cylinders. It's meant to go."

On the walk from the car to the Arena, mom and I discussed Paul's snoring keeping me awake during our week in Houston. "That snoring can be so fucking aggravating. You can't sleep. It's so fucking loud."

Back at home, mom and I watched Monday's episode of 24. Jack is running the show from the FBI office. "Fucking Jack just takes over, huh?"

During a commercial, I flip on the Masters to see how Phil and Tiger are doing. "You ever play golf before? It looks fucking boring."

I'm picking at our Easter candy. "Tomorrow, this bullshit will all be on sale at the store."

TV WEEK IN REVIEW
I just caught up for the week. Let's have a rundown. (Jim: What the hell is a rundown?)

Chuck: Love the dad angle. Like Chevy Chase as a villain.
Heroes: Good episode. Skeleton dig intriguing.
Scrubs: Nice running theme with the Brady Bunch. They should have used it more.
The Office: Watching it again while I write this.
Parks and Recreation: Solid premiere. Will keep watching.
House: Thanks CNN for spoiling the surprise. R.I.P. Kutner. I'm hoping the Dream Team reassembles by season's end.
24: Tony rules!
SNL: Bon Jovi opposite band Jon Bovi returned. "Your hatred is like Good Medicine." LOL.
Harper's Island: Not a bad start. Should get better.
Reno 911!: Jones and Junior get drunk before takeoff on a plane. Ha.
30 Rock: Liz is a slut.
Lie to Me: Tina's favorite show right now.

And that's about it for the week.

I HEAR THEY'RE PARTYING IN ARGENTINA

Tiger, Phil charge. Old dude blows it. Three-way playoff. Ah, a tradition unlike any other. The Masters on CBS. My headline: AN ANGEL GETS HIS JACKET. Get it? Like instead of gets his wings.

PARTING SHOT
Don't ask why, but Lopes googled Destiny Lane and found out that she plays for Jacksonville State. (And here I thought he'd get stripper results.)

Lopes: She plays for the Gamecocks.
(A pause while a few of us decide whether to comment.)
Liam: I heard she played with them.

THE DAILY TOP LIST
My favorite five moments/plays of the Hornets season from games in which I attended. I went to 16.

5) Tyson returns. Feb. 25 vs. Pistons.
And the word rescinded was added to my vocabulary. The one CCC in the game was special.

4) JuJu's double block. March 7 vs. Thunder.
Wright interrupted a fastbreak by deflecting the ball. It went to another member of the Thunder under the goal. JuJu then blocked his shot and saved the ball to CP3, who took it the other way where Posey drained a 3.

3) Paul's buzzer-beater. Jan. 19 vs. Pacers.
Fading away 3-pointer. Yeah, baby.

2) Peja's 3-point barrage. Jan. 26 vs. 76ers.
In the fourth quarter, Peja went on a 15-0 run by making five consecutive 3-pointers. From the same spot. Bob and I loved it so much, we got yelled at by the usher for being disruptive. (Note: The clip only shows three of the consecutive treys.)

1) Paul enters record book. Dec. 17 vs. Spurs.
Paul deflected a pass in the corner and corralled the ball, marking the 106th game in a row he got at least one steal. Beating the Spurs was nice, too.