Biggest loser in Dr. Mark Honea’s resignation at Memorial are the kids in the Port Arthur Independent School District who stood to gain so much from his academic and coaching acumen. Starting with three high profile PA athletes named Kenny Harrison, Elijah Burkins and Kevin Everett, who would never have gotten into Texas, Baylor and Miami, respectively, without Honea’s tireless work on their behalf, the list of those who are better off today because of what he did in 30 years in the PAISD is lengthy. That Memorial principal Ramona Lee saw fit to load him down with a much heavier than anticipated schedule, and put him in a situation where in his words he felt “humiliated,” is troubling and appalling, and PAISD superintendent Johnny Brown is ultimately accountable because all indications are that he knew what was going on. If he didn’t, he should have. Because Titans football coach Harrison and AD Andre Boutte twisted Honea’s arm to get him to return to Memorial, and were vocal in his support, suggests Lee might have been making a statement that she wasn’t about to cater to the athletic program. Beyond that, if Lee would treat Honea the way she did, you have to wonder what other teachers and coaches may be putting up with. Honea, of course, was unlike 99 percent of school district employees in that he was in a financial position to make like Johnny Paycheck and tell the PAISD to take its job and shove it. Again, though, the big losers are the kids who stood to gain so much from his expertise. And now I can’t wait to hear the spin control.

Memorial ex Jamaal Charles will apparently make his first start for Kansas City next Sunday at Jacksonville. It will come almost one year to the day that Jamaal got his only extended playing time — Nov. 2, 2008 against Tampa Bay — and responded with 18 carries for 106 yards. Ironically, that opportunity for Charles came about much like this one, with volatile Larry Johnson being suspended. Why the woeful Chiefs haven’t better utilized his immense talents since that day against Tampa is puzzling. A second irony of Jamaal’s big day against the Bucs, incidentally, was that Bridge City’s Matt Bryant stole some of his thunder by kicking a 30-yard game-winning field goal in overtime . . . You have to wonder where Roy Williams is mentally after watching Miles Austin become Tony Romo’s go-to receiver with the Cowboys. Williams, of course, was supposed to be the man when Jerry Jones shipped first, third and sixth round draft choices to Detroit for him last October, then shoved Terrell Owens out the door a few months later. But compare what Austin has done in two games — 16 catches, 421 yards and 4 touchdowns — to what Williams has done in 17 games — 31 catches, 428 yards, 2 TDs. That’s got to be very, very difficult for the former Texas Longhorn to reconcile . . . Austin, by the way, seems to have been the magic elixir in getting Romo back on track. After the Oct. 4 Denver game, Romo was the NFL’s 24th ranked passer with a rating under 80. Thanks in no small part to Austin’s heroics, the Dallas QB has jumped all the way to No. 10, with a rating of 94.7.

Finally got my hands on the ESPN College Basketball Encyclopedia mentioned in this space a couple of weeks ago. First place I went was to the page devoted to Lamar. Somewhat surprising was the fact the book’s researchers picked Jack Martin, not Billy Tubbs, as the best coach in school history. Tubbs, who said he thought that was the right call, got a nice consolation prize by being named the best coach at both Oklahoma and TCU . . . Not surprising among ESPN’s choices was Mike Olliver being named the Cardinals best player of all time, the 81-77 victory over No. 5 Oregon State in the second round of the 1980 NCAA tourney being selected as the school’s “Game for the Ages, ” and 1979-80 team being picked as Lamar’s best ever. There were a couple of eye openers on Lamar’s all-time top five, with Attiim Browne and Alan Daniels joining Olliver, B.B. Davis and Don Bryson. I loved Attiim Brown, and really liked Alan Daniels, but I could never have picked them over Tommy Sewell and Clarence Kea . . . According to Lamar basketball coach Steve Roccaforte, Kenny Dawkins put on quite a show last Sunday during a tryout for officials from the Houston Rockets and their D League affiliate — the Rio Grande Valley Vipers. “Kenny had a great day,” said Roc, who made the trip to Houston to watch. “They told me Kenny ranked in the top two of 28 players there.” Dawkins will find out Thursday, when the D League has its draft, if he was impressive enough.

It may turn out that Brad Mills was a great hire as the Houston Astros manager, but the way his hiring went down didn’t exactly change the perception of owner Drayton McLane being more interested in cutting corners than hiring the best man. Manny Acta was the first choice of Houston’s baseball people, but turned down the job because the Astros would only offer him a two-year contract. Acta, instead, accepted a three-year deal to manage Cleveland. SI.com’s national baseball writer Jon Heyman didn’t do much for the Astros image, either, when he named his worst NL Executive Award the Ed Wade Award. Wade, of course, is Houston’s GM . . . It’s pretty obvious nobody carries a grudge quite like Bobby Knight. Knight, who learned a couple of months ago that he was one of seven due induction into the Indiana University Intercollegiate Sports Hall of Fame on Nov. 6, kept everybody guessing on whether he’d attend. During that time, Dick Vitale practically begged his good friend to be a big enough person to take part in the festivities. The pleas, however, fell on deaf ears. Knight announced last week he wanted nothing to do with the school that once fired him. Wonder if any of our local media will be brave enough to challenge him on it when he’s in Beaumont to speak Nov. 16. I would, but I’ll be at Lamar’s game that night . . . It’s taken eight years, but the Houston Texas are finally No. 1 in the NFL in something. Forbes Travel, which did its homework, ranks the Texans as having the best pre-game tailgating site of anybody in the NFL. Rounding out the top five were Kansas City, Buffalo, Green Bay and Philadelphia. Dallas was not even in the top 10.

Who would you pick as the greatest American sports star of all-time? The Harris Poll tackled that question recently and determined Michael Jordan to be No. 1. Close behind was his good buddy, Tiger Woods. They were followed by Babe Ruth, Muhammad Ali and Brett Favre. I can buy the top four, although I’d probably make Ali No. 2, but Favre has no business in that group. It’s debatable whether he’s even in the top five quarterbacks of all time . . . All those NFL blowouts — five games last week were decided by 28, 28, 30, 36 and 38 points — are causing bookmakers in Las Vegas to take a beating. With favorites going 9-3-1 in NFL week 7, estimated losses in the Vegas sportsbooks topped $8 million. The MGM Grand reportedly had to pay out seven 10-team parlays at 700-1 odds and two 11-teamers at 1,400-1. Chances are none of the casinos will be shutting down anytime soon, however. In the fiscal year ending June 30, Nevada’s football wagering handle was $1.092 billion, with profits of $46.2 million. Meantime, those who pay attention to the betting lines are going to see favorites giving some really big numbers when they play bottom feeders. San Diego, for instance, is 17 over Oakland today . . . Brett Favre’s return to Green Bay this afternoon, which is the second game of Fox’s doubleheader, will probably rival the World Series for the media spotlight. It’s also been a bonanza for those who resell tickets for profit, aka scalpers. Two on the 30-yard line were said to be selling for $2,800, which is an almost unheard of figure in Green Bay.

Sports editor Bob West can be e-mailed at rdwest@usa.net