Northwood University Seahawks coach Rollie Massimino turns 77 on Nov. 13

IT'S NOT UNTIL this weekend, but we're wishing all the very best for one of college basketball's coolest coaches ever, Rollie Massimino. In West Palm Beach, Fla., to lead the Northwood University Seahawks to what he hopes will be their second consecutive trip to the NAIA Final Four, he'll have a few games under his belt by Sunday, when he turns a spry 77. Coach Mass was back in town two months ago to have a cancerous tumor removed from his lung. He's now undergoing chemo and still working his day-night job. Our starry-eyed predictions for the guy who put 'Nova on the map are obvious: More wins during many more seasons. And come back an' see us sometime, wouldya?

Tomorrow, we'll be wishing birthday bests to one-time Philly blues woman Bonnie Raitt, who jams 62, and prancing poker player Beth Shak, who bluffs 42. Thursday, evanescent, do-it-all Eve raps 33. Friday, The Fanatic's Mikey Miss (-anelli) yammers 56, and Medford's one-time McBeal Calista Flockhart fords 47.

- Lauren McCutcheon