The Nets' winning example

Winners never quit, and quitters never win. That's one of the many worthy maxims from the sports realm. And the New Jersey Nets, despite their dismal record this season, aren't quitters. Nor, thanks to winning three of four games after losing 63 of their first 72, are they still at risk of recording the worst won-lost record in NBA history.

Though the ongoing "March Madness" of the NCAA tournament has been grabbing most of the recent basketball spotlight, the lowly Nets finally earned a bit of positive attention Monday night with a 90-84 victory over the San Antonio Spurs. That outcome didn't just elevate them to 10-64 and assure that they would surpass the 9-73 mark of unprecedented futility etched by the hapless 1972-73 Philadelphia 76ers.

It boosted their sights toward a loftier goal.

New Jersey center Brook Lopez, in the giddy aftermath of Monday night's triumph, explained: "The way we're playing, I think there's a chance we can catch Minnesota."

That chance dimmed a bit Wednesday night when New Jersey lost to Phoenix and Minnesota beat Sacramento. But the Nets, now 10-65, can still finish with a better record than the 15-60 Timberwolves.

And folks in real-life slumps of their own shouldn't lose sight of this inspiring reminder from suddenly amazing Nets:

Losers who refuse to quit can become winners.