While you were watching MLB, NFL and NHL, the NBA began

ESPN's SportsCenter is certainly not at a loss for highlights right now. As opposed to the usual summer lull where the only major sport being contested is baseball, the end of October/Early November is a time of great excitement.

All four major sports, MLB, NFL, NBA and NHL are being played. Baseball is finishing up the playoffs, football is hitting its mid-season stride, and hockey is several weeks into the season.

My roommate was stunned when I informed him that the NBA season had already started. Lost amongst his cheering for his hometown Phillies, he failed to recognize that the 76ers are currently in second place in the Atlantic Conference. Here's some more of this season's highlights which you may have missed:

1) New look Cavs: Off to a slow start, the Cleveland Cavaliers, led by MVP and league megastar Lebron James, fell just short last season, dropping to the Magic in the Eastern Conference Finals. Over the off-season, Cleveland faithful were sparked by the acquisition of 15-time all-star and three time NBA finals MVP Shaquille O'Neal. Teaming LeBron and Shaq seemed as close to a sure bet to going to the playoffs as possible. But the Cavs dropped their first two games to the Celtics and Raptors.

2) First Israeli in the NBA: Omri Casspi of the Kings became the first Israeli-born player to play in the NBA when he checked into the game on Oct. 28 against the Thunder. Casspi wasted no time in making his presence felt, scoring 15 points in his debut and making seven of nine shots in 19 minutes. Casspi, a native of Holon, Israel, was the Kings' first round draft pick this year, and wears jersey number 18 (a spiritual number in Judaism).

3) Bat-tastic: Manu Ginobili is a hero in his native Argentina and now he's a hero of chiroptophobes (fear of bats ) everywhere. A bat flew into the AT&T Center during the middle of the Spurs-Kings game, ironically on Halloween night. Halting play, Spurs staff could not catch it as it swooped around the court. Enter Manu, who eyed the beast flying towards him and in a show of incredible hand-eye coordination swatted it right out of the air with his bare hand. He then carried the creature off the court to thunderous cheers.

"When you can't dunk anymore, you have to find a way to make it into the news," Ginobili said. Ginboli posted on his Twitter after the game that he had to get a rabies shot.

4) Dem Rooks: The 2009 NBA Draft was very guard-heavy, and so far the point guards have not disappointed. Brandon Jennings of the Milwaukee Bucks leads the rookie pack, averaging 22 points per game on 50 percent shooting from the three point range.

The Timberwolves were criticized for not being able to sign Ricky Rubio, but Jonny Flynn has been solid for the Wolves, averaging 14.8 points and 3.3 assists. Stephen Curry and Ty Lawson have also performed well for the Warriors and Nuggets respectively.