Quick Hits: Tiki to NBC; 'Evident Progress' by Thomas

• Well, it's official. Tiki Barber has retired from the NFL. The ink was barely dry on his retirement papers when news broke that Barber will join NBC later this year. The New York Times is reporting that the former Giants running back will join the Today show as a news correspondent in April and will also appear on NBC's Sunday night football program. The Times also reports that the network will have a news conference tomorrow to announce the "multi-year, multi-million dollar" deal.
• The Knicks under Isiah Thomas as coach seem to be doing something right. They are on the verge of matching last season's win total before they even reach the All-Star break and Jim Dolan is happy. The Star-Ledger reports that Dolan told the players before Saturday's loss to the Utah Jazz that Thomas doesn't have "anything to worry about right now." While we agree that the Knicks have made progress since last year, it's hard to imagine a team that can get any worse than the dreadful '05-'06 Knicks.

Photo of Tiki Barber in December's game against Washington by AP/Nick Wass