In a gathering with reporters last summer, Milwaukee Bucks owner Herb Kohl made it abundantly clear this would be a "big" year for Bucks general manager Larry Harris.

The Bucks didn't advance to the playoffs last season and Kohl wasn't happy. He vowed the Bucks would turn things around this season, but, with the season nearing its halfway point, that hasn't remotely occurred.

As such, the rumors about Harris' status are flying fast and furious. There are some NBA officials and league insiders who are convinced Kohl already has made his determination on Harris' fate and has his henchmen looking for possible replacements.

Not surprisingly, one of the names prominently being mentioned is Doug Collins, who has held a variety of NBA positions over the years and is now a broadcaster for TNT.

I reported two summers ago, just after Terry Porter was unceremoniously dispatched as Bucks coach, that Collins was on the brink of taking over the Bucks' basketball operations. But Collins backed out at the last minute, claiming he didn't want to coach the team.

Now, based on conversations with several NBA officials, Kohl is courting Collins again. This time, money could be the hangup in reaching an agreement. While Kohl is paying Harris about $1 million a year, Collins is believed to be seeking $2 million a year or more.

If the price isn't right for either Kohl or Collins, I'm hearing Kohl would have more than passing interest in hiring long-time NBA executive Rick Sund, who began his career with the Bucks and still has ties with some of their officials. Sund is doing some TV work in Seattle after the SuperSonics fired him last year as their GM.

Furthermore, some officials claim Sund recently had an opportunity to join the New Jersey Nets but turned down the offer, leading some to believe he's bound for the Bucks.

From this vantage point, neither Collins nor Sund would be an upgrade over Harris. And I'm not the only one who harbors that opinion.

In the last week, I've talked to some Western Conference officials and they were in agreement on two things: 1) that Harris has made some blunders, most notably giving underachieving Bobby Simmons a lucrative, long-term contract, and 2) that the Bucks' record isn't indicative of the talent on the team.

They noted how Andrew Bogut is one of the best young centers in the game, how Mo Williams is one of the better young point guards in the game and how rookie Yi Jianlian is one of the best young power forwards in the game.

All of those highly-regarded players were brought to Milwaukee by Harris. He has obviously built a rock-solid foundation that could lead to long-term success.

Harris, as loyal and dedicated as any individual I've ever encountered in a pro franchise, deserves a chance to see his baby Bucks grow up.

McCarthy will strike it rich

Something to ponder:

What if Green Bay Packers GM Teddy "Bear" Thompson had hired his first choice - Brad Childress - instead of Mike McCarthy as the Packers' coach?

Would the Packers have gone 13-3 and be playing host to the Seattle Seahawks in an NFC semifinal playoff game Saturday at Lambeau Field?

I think not.

McCarthy has done a terrific job of getting his players to buy into his system and has maximized their potential.

More importantly, I've been told by several people that Brett Favre thoroughly enjoys playing for him.

McCarthy's performance certainly has been a stunning development because Thompson gave him a short-term deal and a low-paying one at that.

McCarthy is being paid a paltry $2 million this season. Only two other coaches in the NFL - Rod Marinelli of Detroit ($1.95M) and Mike Nolan of San Francisco ($1.6M) - earn less than McCarthy.

But that won't be for long. McCarthy is expected to get a well-deserved extension shortly. The feeling here is, if Packers' outgoing prez Bob Harlan can give Thompson a five-year contract for virtually doing little (name one impact player besides Charles Woodson that Teddy Bear has brought into fold in his three years on the job), McCarthy should get 10 years for doing a lot.

Long live the Emperor

While McCarthy ranks near the bottom in coaching salaries, Seattle's Mike Holmgren ranks at the top.

Holmgren, the former Packers and current Seahawks coach, earns a league-high $8 million - $1M more than New England's Bill Belichick.

Holmgren's contract calls for him to earn $9 million next season.

Call it a gut feeling, but it wouldn't surprise me one bit if Saturday's game against the Packers isn't only Holmgren's last game this season but his last game ever as an NFL coach.

Thrilling times

Talk to any high school kid who has played on the Bucks' homecourt at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee and they'll tell you it's an unforgettable experience.

The Case High School boys' basketball team had such a memorable moment last Friday, and got another treat in the process: meeting former Park High School and current Washington Wizards All-Star small forward Caron Butler.

"After our game and before his game against the Bucks, he was supposed to be out there on the court shooting around with his teammates," Case senior post player Steve Jaskulske said. "But he told them (his coaches) that he wanted to say hi to us, which was nice.

"He was real easy to talk to. He was even nice enough to take a picture with me."

Case senior guard Craig Trott, who had met Butler before, also was excited to chat with him again.

"We talked and I told him about our game," Trott said. "He's a good guy. He's got good character."

Knowing his place

God recently met with three of the NFL's best quarterbacks: Brett Favre, Tony Romo and Peyton Manning.

God asked Peyton, "What do you believe?"

Manning gave it some thought, looked God in the eyes and said, "I believe in hard work and staying true to family and friends. I believe in giving. I was lucky, but I always tried to do right by my fans."

God was impressed and offered Peyton a seat to His right.

Then, God turned to Tony and said, "What do you believe?"

Tony responded, "I believe passion, discipline, courage and honor are the fundamentals of life. I, too, have been lucky, but win or lose, I've always tried to be a true sportsman, both on and off the playing fields."

God was again suitably impressed and said Tony could take a seat to His left.

Finally, God posed the same question to Brett. To which Favre responded, "I believe you're in my seat."

Gery Woelfel is a reporter for The Journal Times. Gery can be reached by calling (262) 634-3322, Ext. 322, or by e-mail at gery.woelfel@lee.net Gery's "Woelfel World of Sports" blogs can be read at www.journaltimes.com