South Africa vs. Mexico

9:45 a.m. (all times EST) The match is set to begin at 10 a.m... right now, ESPN is showing a preview of USA-England (which Chris Fowler indicated was a "glitch"-- nice start).

Bafana Bafana has the weight of a nation on its shoulders today and I'm looking for them to attack early and often.

Here's to another brilliant call from Martin Tyler... Happy World Cup 2010! (insert first World Cup on Facebook promo). Stay tuned to this post for live updates.

9:56 a.m. Great scene with the FIFA brass, RSA President and clubs opening up the Cup with a prayer for Nelson Mandela (who lost his 13-year-old great granddaughter today).

10 a.m. South Africa's starters are made up of eight from their local premier league and three from England's... interesting. Mexico No. 9 Guillermo Franco is the man to look out for.

10:06 a.m. As Tyler just pointed out, watch for Mexico's No. 3 Carlos Salcido to make plenty of runs from the left back spot as he just did in the first possession.

10:08 a.m. A few sloppy touches in defense from Bafana Bafana early, including one that forced a clearance off the 6-yard box. I've been very impressed with the pace of Mexico's wings.

10:12 a.m. Mexico is certainly smaller in the back four. I think it's important for South Africa to get build up and force a couple set pieces (now Tyler mentions the game vs. England at Wembley). That's where Mexico is weak. All of the excitement has been on Mexico's offensive third so far.

10:14 a.m. Great stat after eight minutes... Mexico has a 2-nil lead in shots and 81 percent of the possession. WOW.

10:18 a.m. As much as Mexico has dominated in the early going, their outside backs are sliding way too far up the field. They will be extremely vulnerable to counter-attacks. If I'm South Africa, I play a little kick and run.

10:19 a.m. As I said, there's Franco to head a corner over the bar. He was unmarked eight yards out. That can't happen.

10:21 a.m. Phenomenal give and go from Bafana Bafana... free kick 35 yards out dead on.

10:22 a.m. As expected, Steve Pienaar takes the set piece and it's about 6 yards over the bar... blatant mis-strike.

10:23 a.m. Mexico's Efrain Juarez draws the first yellow card of the World Cup at 17 minutes in on a delay of game... interesting call. Somehow, it results in Giovani Dos Santos collecting a terrible pass and going all the way down the field with it to miss an opportunity from 30 yards out just wide.

10:26 a.m. Still 0-0 as we approach the midpoint of the first half. Mexico is starting to see South Africa get a pep in its step and is attempting to slow the pace down a bit. Mexico's Oscar Perez is tested between the pipes for the first time today at the 23rd minute. A cross through the mouth of the six is knocked down and collected.

10:30 a.m. Stats at the halfway mark... Mexico up 4-2 in shots, 2-0 in corner kicks and 65 percent of the possession. Seven fouls for the Mexican side to five for RSA.

10:32 a.m. South Africa's Kagisho Dikgacoi is booked in the 27th for pulling Dos Santos down from behind... one yellow per side and the subsequent free kick is well high (a theme so far).

10:35 a.m. Intriguing observation... about 14 of the 22 players on the pitch have been wandering within a 30-yard area (near midfield). A couple defenders are hanging back with a designated attacker for the most part... not a lot of structure on either side.

10:37 a.m. Phenomenal jumping save off the forearm by Itumeleng Khune... turning away Franco on an overlaping run in the 33rd... a legitimate opportunity there.

10:39 a.m. Mexico's forwards are trying to adjust Khune's hips to the wing on every run through. Each pass has been across the 6-yard box and forced him to dive to cut off the lanes. I'm waiting for one of them to have one at the top corners... nothing yet in the 35th.

10:43 a.m. Goal disallowed on a corner kick offsides for Mexico... replay shows there was a defender on the goalline... bad call.

10:45 a.m. Another good set piece results in a header for Franco from 10 yards out and again and he doesn't direct it downward. Mexico should be up 3-nil but it's 0-0 in the 41st.

10:47 a.m. South Africa gets a series of corners but cannot capitalize on Mexico's issues in back. This is the best offensive stretch for them yet. They're not clinging for life heading into half... they are on the attack.

10:50 a.m. Clean first half... just one added minute. Mexico is content to hold onto it at midfield despite the fact that they should be up. And we have reached the half... 0-0. Back in a few minutes.

11:06 a.m. Dog is walked. Back for the 2nd half... South Africa is lowest ranked host nation in World Cup history. And we're underway again... one sub for RSA Tsepo Masilela (plays in Israel into one of the back positions). The stadium is packed, great atmosphere.

11:13 a.m. The first six minutes of the second half has been filled with a lack of control, the ball being thrown around via headers and one or two solid counters. Otherwise, not much in it. 0-0 in the 52nd.

11:15 a.m. I'm impressed by South Africa's use of the back-heel. It has allowed them to get off the bogged-up wings and into some dangerous territory for the Mexican defense just outside the 18. And as we say that, a brilliant strike off a thru ball to Siphiwe Tshabalala makes it 1-0 RSA. Lefty shot into the top-right corner... unstoppable. And Martin Tyler goes nuts with the name. Bafana Bafana up 1-nil in the 55th!

11:19 a.m. 83rd-ranked nation leads a Top 20 one... wow. First goal on African soil in the World Cup and another Mexican caution to show the frustration. I'm still in awe of that shot.

11:22 a.m. Great diving save by Khune to preserve the clean sheet in the 60th. There is electricity in the building.

11:26 a.m. 65th minute here. Promo for Group C match between USA and England tomorrow at 2:30 EST. Mexico is stunned... outshooting South Africa 10-4 with 63 percent of the possession. One great pass and a better shot are the only difference.

11:31 a.m. This isn't the Mexican soccer that has troubled the U.S. so much over the years. Perez makes a great sliding save, but this defense is so flimsy right now. It usually starts in the back for them, but not today. 0-0 as we hit the 70th with a caution on the RSA sub Masilela.

11:34 a.m. Not sure I agree with Mexico's sub in the 73rd... Javier Hernandez inserted for Franco. Taking away the man who created the only chances.

11:37 a.m. South Africa is dictating the game now. Tshabalala has forced Mexico to take risks now and it's playing right into Bafana Bafana's needs. 1-nil in the 77th, crunch time for Mexico in such an even group.

11:40 a.m. Crushing for South Africa... Rafael Marquez wide open on a cross in the 79th. Basically waited with the ball and picked a corner to tie it at 1-1.

11:43 a.m. Both goals in the second half... not surprising considering the nerves of the first 45 minutes of a World Cup. Another 10 or so minutes to go or we're looking at a draw in the initial match.

11:48 a.m. Mexico wastes a few chances off set pieces outside the box. At this point, South Africa is playing kick and run to try to get a result out of this. One point would be a disappointment after taking the lead, but they would have taken that this morning.

11:51 a.m. Katlego Mphela hits the post on a break-out in the 89th minute... what a chance. 3 minutes of extra time. Came off his shin and spun out on him.

11:54 a.m. South Africa was deep in Mexico's half but now the ball is being knocked around in the middle of the pitch. I think we're bound for a draw here in game #1. And there's the whistle. 1-1 is the final score between Mexico and South Africa. Khune looks devastated but they should be happy and go on to taking on France and Uruguay. 13 games unbeaten for Bafana Bafana.

Enjoy the rest of the games! GO USA tomorrow!

The World Cup

We're going to try to get this blog active again.

The 2010 World Cup starts tomorrow and some sort of posting is in order.

Talk to you in the A.M.

Not Done Yet...

Despite the fact that our Multimedia Sports Reporting class ended on Monday and I'm graduating in two weeks, this blog will try to stay afloat. As I attempt to enter the field of sports broadcasting, I'll post my thoughts on various topics right here.

Hope all is well in blog-land. Rutgers University '10!

The 2010 NFL Draft

In past years, my NFL Draft weekend has been a two-day event (the three-day format started this spring), including over 250 picks and a trip to New York City with friends to enjoy Radio City Music Hall. 2010's version turned out to be one of the most memorable sports experiences of my life-- and one I felt obligated to share on this blog.

With the school year winding down and my time at Rutgers just weeks away from being over, it's hard not to think about the family and friends you've shared moments with throughout the course of your life. That's why Thursday night and the first round of the NFL Draft was so unbelievably emotional.

Boise State cornerback Kyle Wilson graduated from Piscataway High School in central New Jersey in 2005. He won two Fiesta Bowls in Idaho and was slated to be a top 30 pick based on some astonishing results at the Senior Bowl and his Pro Day. But, before all that, Kyle and I had attended the same household (that of the nephew of civil rights activist Percy Sutton) for the holidays since we were six years old.

About an hour before the selection show, Kyle and I were in his room preparing for what was going to be a crazy night among family and friends. He broke the ice by asking what my "post-college plans" were (in all likelihood, he's going to make over $10 million and I'll be freelancing for $10), which got a big laugh out of me. It was then I realized how important following your dream truly is.

When mayhem ensued in the Wilson household after the New York Jets selected him with the No. 29 pick, I interviewed him on a live webcam feed on Justin.tv so all those who couldn't fit in the house could watch. It was hard for me not to shake my head thinking that just a few years before, we were sharing dinner on Christmas.

While Thursday was unreal and I have already ordered my green Wilson jersey, a four-year tradition was continued on Saturday-- a Rutgers crew excursion to the final day of the NFL Draft at Radio City. A group of about eight to 10 of us has made this trek at 6 a.m. every year since 2007 and it never gets old.

We sat through picks 99-255 and yelled at ESPN personalities throughout the afternoon. Trey Wingo was great in the back-and-forth as always and Ron Jaworski opened up more this year too. Our group even got Mel Kiper Jr. to laugh at a few wisecracks and Todd McShay was a good sport in dealing with our heckling.

Since the emergence of Rutgers football as a respected program, the Scarlet Knights have produced a bunch of draft picks. Thursday night was the first time two RU players were selected in the first round (Anthony Davis and Devin McCourty) and when pick No. 237 came around on Saturday, we were getting nervous that no Scarlet Knights would be selected on Day No. 3.

After Minnesota took linebacker Ryan D'Imperio as a fullback in that spot, we treated the networks with a rousing rendition of the RU fight song and a few cheers. Wingo made mention of this and the tradition of a Rutgers presence at the NFL Draft lives on.

It was an exhausting weekend, but one I will never forget. If I'm not living in the New York City area next April, draft weekend will always hold a special place in my post-graduation life.

Greater Middlesex Conference Note:

With the selection of Davis and Wilson, Piscataway High School has produced three first-round picks in the last two seasons (Malcolm Jenkins was selected No. 14 in 2009). Dan Higgins has a powerhouse in Middlesex County and deserves a ton of respect.

Here's to future Rutgers students making the trip to midtown Manhattan and to enormous amounts of success for Kyle Wilson as a member of Gang Green.

Millennium for Moose

When Rutgers third baseman D.J. Anderson threw across his body to complete a 5-4 fielder's choice to end Saturday's RU-USF baseball game, Fred Hill became the 46th Division I head coach to win 1,000 games.

Before diving into the exciting yet awkward aspects of being a part of the moment, let me first say that having the game-ending call is something I'll never forget. "A Millennium for Moose" was my (slightly) preconceived call for the event that was more a hurdle for Rutgers (21-13, 10-2 in the BIG EAST) to clear than anything else.

Moose (Hill's nickname) is a New Jersey baseball legend. His entire 2010 roster is from the Garden State and his players all relate to his intensity.

It has been a tough few weeks for Hill. He has watched his son go through one of nastiest coaching divorces college basketball has seen recently. The fairy tale arrangement of a father-son duo leading programs at the same University is going to have a less than storybook ending.

But, for one day, everyone's attention was on the baseball diamond at Bainton Field for a good reason. The younger Hill, Bob Mulcahy and Tim Pernetti were all on hand to watch the amazing feat. While it wasn't exactly the most comfortable situation, everyone was finally "happy."

Thinking back to some of Hill's best teams, names such as Todd Frazier, Jason Bergmann, David DeJesus and Darren Fenster come to mind. RU was the class of Northeast baseball, while Atlantic 10, BIG EAST championships, NCAA appearances were the norm.

Whether or not the 75-year-old Hill has lost touch with the recruiting scene is irrelevant. He has coaches to deal with that and has earned the respect of a lineup lined with MLB talent. Hopefully, before Hill is gone, RU has a new facility to help him out.

With monstrous series coming up against Connecticut and Louisville, RU has an outside shot at the BIG EAST title. But, for the next few weeks, it'll be all about relishing the moment that Moose got No. 1,000.

The Jury is Out on Doc

It's so hard to get into a NBA game because the pace is watered down in comparison to the college game. You rarely find a superstar on every team who's committed to each play.

However, if there is one figure on the pro side of things that I've enjoyed following, it has been Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers. First of all, I repent for liking anything related to Boston sports. Secondly, please don't kill me Bill Simmons (read any of his Tweets or columns for an explanation).

The majority of NBA coaches are self-serving, condescending and bland. They refuse to say anything substantive with regard to basketball philosophy in talking with the media. Cue Doc Rivers.

The Chicago native lesser-known as Glenn Anton Rivers treats his job like he ran the point at Marquette and alongside the human dunk show, Dominique Wilkins, in Atlanta.

His playing accomplishments include a 10 assists per game average in 1987-- something we don't see enough in today's 1-on-1 dominated game. Also, anyone whose nickname was given to them by Rick Majerus is good in my book.

Now, I have to ask two questions. How does a coach only two years removed from a dominating title run draw so much criticism from his fan base? And, can basketball people understand if a man simply wants to spend more time with his family?

The Boston Herald is reporting that the 48-year-old cousin of Yankees broadcaster Ken Singleton is seriously considering stepping down as Celtics head coach at the end of the season.

If the reason is to watch his sons Jeremiah and Austin hoop it up at Indiana and in high school respectively, and his daughter Callie show off her volleyball skills, then more power to him. Having a father around at this point in their careers is very important to his kids.

But, if he's backing down because of the Boston media and fans or the potential breakup of the duo of Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce, then his priorities are misplaced.

The coach of any championship winner has one major obligation-- to attempt to build a dynasty. Once you bring a title home, it is important to stave off the tendency to slide back to mediocrity. Despite what some think, Doc is still on pace to make lasting waves in the Eastern Conference.

Say what you want about Doc's suave attitude and laid-back mentality, but he has three division titles in his time in Beantown. The problem is the momentum from the '08 run is slowly fading away.

If it's for the family, Doc, go enjoy yourself in Florida. If not, you owe it to your team to help them achieve the ultimate form of sports success.

Love for Lefty

I don't have the patience to play golf at any respectable level. It is a sport that takes unbelievable concentration, situational precision and a combination of strength and grace.

So, when I see Phil Mickelson win The Masters after having an extremely emotional and trying year, I have to admire the feat.

When Lefty walked up to the 18th green at Augusta National, he had to be in awe of himself. After going through an exhausting stretch of helping his wife and mother battle breast cancer, he had put together one of the best four-day periods on the par-fives of one of the most challenging courses in the country. Try getting yourself mentally prepared for that.

It's a pretty impressive accomplishment to shoot a 5-under 67 on Sunday at a major with Tiger Woods on your heels, an accomplished Lee Westwood leading the way and your ailing wife waiting with your kids at the clubhouse. Lefty's 13th hole summed up his determination-- not surprisingly, on a par-five monster.

After an unruly hook (albeit a bomb) took his tee shot into the pines, Mickelson took a risk only he would at that stage. Up two shots and a conservative back-nine away from a third Green Jacket, he sent a 6-iron from 207 yards within eight feet of the pin-- between the trees no less.

You could tell all of the emotion was building up when he had a wry smile in talking about the shot and his exchange with his wife after a birdie on the 18th. The celebration was much tamer than six years ago when he jumped in jubilation on that same green following his first major win. Excuse Phil if he's used up his quota for emotion this year.

I still can't believe any human who has gone through what he has this year could step up and go bogey free in the last round of The Masters. Phil's personality allows for it.

I guess it makes sense that a guy who has watched the two most important women in his life never give up hope would find a way to see the light at the end of the tunnel no matter what.

There's not much else to say about how cool this weekend was to watch, but I'll leave you with this.

When golf serves you an impossible shot between two trees, go for the green. Because, in the end, there are more important things in life.

Thanks for the life lesson, Lefty. We owe you one.

Maniacal Monday

ESPN's Adam Schefter started the day with an appropriate comment on his Twitter. "Busiest day of the sports year," he wrote. Once again, Schefter was right.

The men's college basketball title game, Opening Day around the MLB, a Tiger Woods press conference at Augusta and reaction to Donovan McNabb being traded within the NFC East lined an insane 24 hours.

Brad Stevens is still boss. That was one of the top three championship games I've ever seen. Thankfully, Gordon Hayward has a couple more years of college ball, or he'd be shooting 45-foot runners for the rest of his life. I was really impressed with the poise of a young Butler team which only graduates one starter-- Willie Veasley-- who played the poorest of all the Bulldogs. They almost won it "for all the small schools," but they'll never be forgotten.

Opening Night and Day in Baseball Land. I can't wait to get out to the Bronx soon and experience the pleasure that is a day at the ballpark. For now, I'm left to console the throngs of Yankees fans who too quickly jump to conclusions after one game out of 162. Yes, Joe Girardi made a mistake by going to Chan Ho Park right out of the gate (the binder comes into play pretty quickly), but you have to be happy with the way the lineup looks. As for the Mets, Mike Jacobs is hitting fourth? He'd have some problems cracking the Yankees 25-man roster (sarcasm alert). I'm curious to see how long that experiment of breaking up the right-handed hitters lasts. In other news, Albert Pujols is a machine-- news at 11.

Speaking of the local news, Tiger Woods at the Masters was story No. 1 on CBS. Are you kidding me? I understand this on ESPN, but the 11 p.m. news? I thought Tiger did a decent job outside of being fresh to a couple of reporters. The apology to his fellow players was sincere and I think he realizes how annoying the fanfare associated with his return is for all of his peers. I, for one, hope he plays as well as he did before Elin-gate, but I'm skeptical. Golf is a game of repetition and he's been through more "therapy" sessions than 18-hole rounds since Thanksgiving.

As a Giants fan, you have to love the Eagles' stupidity. After thinking about my initial feeling that it was classless to dangle Donovan McNabb around as bait, I realized it was just dumb to keep him inside the NFC East. As much as Andy Reid wanted to please his loyal quarterback, you've just set up two very awkward rivalry games for this fall. Donovan has a confusing color scheme in his career-- bright orange at Syracuse, green in Philly and that ugly off-red in Washington. The fact that some Eagles fans are pumped about this deal is comical.

I'm going to miss the college basketball season. It was an amazing March Madness, but I'm ready for some Yankees baseball. Cheers to a maniacal Monday in sports.

A True Hoops Dream

I love Opening Day as much as the next guy. With two hours left until first pitch of Yankees-Red Sox, I'm almost too pumped up to write about baseball. So, I'll wait a couple days to get the early-season impressions fully developed.

With arguably the most exciting NCAA Tournament set to end tomorrow night in Indianapolis, it's an appropriate time to feature a coach who personifies the term "hoops dream" and even reminds you a bit of a Hoosiers actor in the process.

Watching Butler roll through the Dance with Brad Stevens at the helm has been a joy for so many reasons. Here are my top five thoughts on why the 33-year-old is officially the coolest coach in college basketball.

1. He followed his dream. As an aspiring sports broadcaster, I can understand the stresses of trying to break into an ultra-competitive profession. After playing college ball at DePauw University and landing a white-collar gig at Eli Lilly, nobody would have blamed Stevens for giving up the game he loved. But when a non-paying position at Butler opened up under Thad Matta, Stevens was quick to jump on it. The fact that he trusted his abilities enough to sign up for training at Applebee's says a lot about his character. And then, he reaches the top of his profession and coaches in a national title game within 12 years-- wow.

2. His story includes a wooden backboard and a driveway court. Can you script this any better? I envision a young Jimmy Chitwood asking the next-door neighbor whether he could borrow some court time when I heard about this one. Every kid in Indiana grows up hoping they can replicate a Milan High School run or come close to shooting like "The Hick from French Lick." I wish I still had a hoop to shoot at every day and outside of playing catch with your dad, that's about as all-American as it gets.

3. Stevens still hoops it up. Ask Gordon Hayward or Shelvin Mack what it's like to guard your coach-- they'll know pretty well. Despite denying that he was ever any good at basketball in Indy suburb Zionsville or in college, Stevens still averaged nearly 10 points per game at the Division III level. But, the part that makes him stand out from other coaches is that his competitive spirit forces him to challenge his students to 2-on-2 games. We always hear about Tom Izzo's free throws before practice (I feel for the poor guy-- high school sports moments stick with you), but having your coach cross you up and then talk trash must be a whole different experience.

4. He genuinely never wants to leave Butler. I know that we've been conditioned to stay cynical when it comes to the college basketball coaching carousel. And, I'm a person that never believes a coach will see out his extension or mega-deal when they are announced. However, for some reason, I really believe that Stevens wants to stay home. As someone who lived a mile from or at Rutgers University his entire life, I can understand his loyalty. He doesn't seem like he embraces the bright lights and just goes about his business. While I love to see the best coaches teaching the elite talent, I'm rooting for Stevens to sign a lifetime deal and get a statue outside of Hinkle Fieldhouse.

5. His sideline decorum is unmatched in college basketball. You have the older guys like Jim Boeheim and Jim Calhoun who sit down for the majority of the game and then go buck-wild on the first official that forgets they're around to display their executive check. You also have a younger "coach" like Bobby Gonzalez who doesn't stop whining from tip until buzzer. Stevens understands etiquette and stern teaching. He's calm, cool and collected during the game, but emotional on the practice court. He relates to his players and keeps them level-headed at the most trying of times. That's coaching.

Here's to Brad Stevens and good luck to Butler University on Monday night. You have one solid coach.

Typical Boston... College

This has been one of the busiest two-week periods in the last decade of the college basketball coaching carousel-- and the Final Four hasn't even tipped off yet.

However, yesterday's news from Chestnut Hill announcing the firing of longtime Boston College hoops coach Al Skinner was shocking. That is, only if you haven't followed BC athletics before.

Before defending one of the most dignified coaches in the game, let's give you a brief history of the Eagles' athletic department's track record.

July 1, 2005: BC decides to move to the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), joining Miami and Virginia Tech in their defection from the Big East. The former two made sense geographically, but in that trio, Boston College is definitely Fredo Corleone. A coalition of Big East universities came together to sue the college, but it didn't do enough damage to offset the financial benefits the Eagles received in the switch.

You have to admire how quickly a founding member would jump ship-- that's classy stuff.

January 7, 2009: After hiding in relative obscurity due to lack of success on the playing fields, BC made another splash in the form of a back-stabbing move a year ago. Jeff Jagodzinski was 20-8 in two years at the helm of the football program, with 11 conference wins in that time span. He was unceremoniously dumped for interviewing for the vacant New York Jets job without AD Gene DeFillippo's permission. So much for exploring the market without repercussions...

March 30, 2010: Al Skinner has been at Boston College since 13 years ago this month. During his reign, he posted seven 20-plus win seasons, eclipsed the illustrious 25-win plateau three times and made seven appearances in the the NCAA Tournament. He has a National Coach of the Year award and the most wins in school history to add to that list as well.

Now, according to the school, they've had a "mutual" parting of ways. Let's be honest-- the fact that his name was circulating around the St. John's job was enough for BC's athletic department to have its feelings hurt.

Maybe BC should look in the mirror. Hopefully, a coach will someday burn them before getting the hook first.

The Case for Kyle Wilson

With the NFL Draft starting in primetime three weeks from Thursday, it's time to put our Mel Kiper hats on and take a look into the first round at Radio City.

One of the most intriguing and under-the-radar battles in the first 25 picks is who's going to be the first cornerback off the board in 2010.

Following a playoff in which we had a 96-point game (Arizona and Green Bay), defense will be at a premium in the upper-half of day one. The general consensus is that the top two corners are Florida's Joe Haden and Boise State's Kyle Wilson-- the latter of which deserves much more respect.

Coming out of Piscataway High School in New Jersey (which is expected to produce three first-round picks in two years-- Malcolm Jenkins and Anthony Davis being the others), Wilson was under-recruited as a defensive back and kick-return specialist.

Standing in at 5-foot-10 and close to 200 pounds, his college career has an impressive list of highlights. Two Fiesta Bowl titles, 159 tackles, 11 interceptions and five touchdowns (three off of returns and two from picks) are detailed in his CV.

Most scouts will admit that his hip-rotation ability and footwork are on par with, if not better than, Haden's. A 38-inch vertical jump and 4.43-second 40-yard dash at Friday's Pro Day solidified his spot as an elite cornerback.

There are very few multi faceted threats in the NFL. Not many guys are willing to mark the top wide receivers around the league and then take a beating by fielding punts. Wilson is not only willing, but eager to do this.

When Wilson appeared on my show on WRSU last month, he reiterated that WAC football doesn't get enough respect. With two BCS bowl game wins in four years, you'd have to agree with him.

To sum up the confidence around the Wilson marketing machine, his brother Gerry created a bus with an elaborate image of Kyle on its side and drove it around the country to his games.

The real question is whether the NFL Draft is ready for the small-conference kid to finally get the nod over the established power. If there was ever a perfect scenario for it, the 2010 cornerback battle is the one.

The Glass Slipper Fits Multiple Times

STANFORD, Calif.-- We're back after a lengthy Spring Break. Currently, I'm sitting in the elevated press row at Maples Pavilion with my WRSU colleague Kevin O'Rourke taking in the second round NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament game between Stanford and Iowa (Rutgers lost to the Hawkeyes on Saturday).

On the men's side, there is no doubt that this weekend was the most exciting start to March Madness of my lifetime. Here are a few lingering thoughts from a wild four days of hoops.

Down Goes My Champ!

So much for my ability to pick national champions with ease. Kansas was the first No. 1 seed to go down this year and the Jayhawks' All-American starting five couldn't even make it out of the first weekend.

Cedar Falls was in a frenzy as the University of Northern Iowa pulled off the stunner of the decade on a clutch (albeit gutsy) 3-pointer by Ali Farokhmanesh. You have to love coach Ben Jacobson trying to rationalize the shot attempt the next day, but hey, it went in.

Bill Self may be one of the most overrated tournament coaches in the country. If not for a buzzer-beater by Mario Chalmers, he would have nothing to show for all the times he's led teams to No. 1 rankings in the regular season.

GO BIG RED!

As you read on this blog weeks ago, Cornell is legit. Steve Donahue is one of the best coaches in the country (here's to hoping he stays to establish an Ivy League dynasty) and Ryan Wittman can really shoot it.

The boys from Ithaca were the easiest No. 12 seed, Sweet 16 pick I've ever seen-- an overrated Temple team and an offensively-anemic Wisconsin squad were exposed by them.

Now, they get to play No. 1 Kentucky at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse-- only an hour from campus. Wildcats coach John Calipari appealed to Big Blue Nation on Twitter with regard to scooping up tickets, as upstate New York is going crazy over both the Orange and the Big Red advancing into the second weekend.

CBS Sidebar

Being in California this weekend, I must have gone into the Bill Raftery twilight zone because Vern Lundquist and him dominated the West Coast CBS coverage.

Bill had a couple great lines this weekend. "A Kiss to Remember" on a shot during the Saint Mary's win over Villanova was almost as good as his line earlier in the game about a multi-colored mouthpiece. "That's a man who must have a lot of confidence (pause) with the ladies."

Hoosiers Speeches

While Cornell and Saint Mary's will have to give underdog speeches in their locker rooms next weekend, only coach Brad Stevens and his Butler Bulldogs squad can embrace the true nature of a Hoosiers-like scenario.

Not only do they get to face the best offensive team in the nation in Syracuse, but they actually play their home games at Hinkle Fieldhouse-- made even more famous by the legendary movie in question.

Stevens may look 20 years old, but as long as he can keep Matt Howard-- his power forward of that age bracket-- out of foul trouble, Butler can give the overconfident Orange an interesting challenge. Basketball philosophy will be on full display, as Stevens will look to shoot over and cut behind the 'Cuse 2-3 zone.

I'm not sure you can beat the intensity of the games we saw this weekend, but it's worth a try. March Madness is truly the best!

Farewell to Freedom Hall

One of the nation's most historic college basketball arenas will close its doors this weekend in epic fashion.

Freedom Hall, home to the University of Louisville Cardinals, has housed some of the greatest players in college hoops history as well as some legendary moments in basketball lore.

I've had the pleasure of calling a pair of games in the 18,865-seat facility over the past couple of seasons. You could tell that the place was slowly getting older (it was built in 1956) and that it was missing many of the necessary aspects of a modern-day arena.

One of the redeeming aspects of Freedom Hall is that it's located right in the middle of the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center. To watch an entire city converge on this setting is a sight every college basketball fan would appreciate.

This weekend, the Cardinals will end the building's regular season slate (let's hope they don't have to host any NIT games if it comes to that) against the No. 1 team in the land-- Syracuse.

While most recent college hoops fans won't know this, the University of Louisville hosted six Final Fours in 12 years during the late 1950's and throughout the 60's.

It'd be improper to think that this arena fell out of favor during the last decade. Last year, the Cardinals were fifth nationally in home attendance-- averaging closer to the concert capacity of over 19,000 than its listed, reduced basketball seat limit.

All of the tradition that goes into the state's high school basketball tournament seeps out of the nooks and crannies of the building. Additionally, the school is Top 10 in all-time program winning percentage and has been victorious in approximately 80 percent of its home contests.

College studs such as Samaki Walker and Wes Unseld walked those halls and the coaching duo of Denny Crum and Rick Pitino is pretty impressive.

The Cardinals have made 34 NCAA Tournaments since the building opened and will look to bring that positive vibe to a brand-new, state-of-the-art downtown arena next winter.

All college basketball fans should feel lucky to have watched games at Freedom Hall-- it will be missed as a venue in the sport.

Revisiting Luke's Legacy

Notre Dame head coach Mike Brey announced today that senior forward Luke Harangody might not return this year due to a right knee bone bruise.

If that's the case, it would end the college career of a bulldog post player that made his mark in the toughest, underneath-the-basket conference in the nation-- the Big East.

Whether you love or hate "The Gody," his stats don't lie. He scored in double figures every game he played this season. He averaged a double-double with 20-plus points per game in each of the last three years of his career.

He may not be your typical Hoosiers-mold, Indiana player (6-foot-2 and skinny, growing up shooting jumpers on a farm through a hoop without a net), but that's why he's so perfect for Mike Brey's system. You need Luke to complement Brey's multitude of shooters like Ben Hansbrough, Tim Abromaitis and company.

I understand why a lot of people believe he can't succeed in the NBA. At 6-foot-8 and 250 pounds, a guy shouldn't shoot under 50 percent from the floor. He made a concerted effort to improve his 3-point shooting and I believe the 36 percent from his junior year is a better representation of what to expect down the line.

Harangody needs his knees under him, so this might be the best decision he ever makes. His style of play is so bruising that it can take the energy out of you while watching it. The argument that he's soft because he likes to shoot over taller players has merit, but in the pros, it could be an asset once he gets with a shooting coach.

I can't overstate how impressive it is for any Big East post player in this decade to score over 650 points in three consecutive years. With defensive presences like Hasheem Thabeet, Roy Hibbert and Hamady N'Diaye (yes, he of 346 career blocks) roaming the paint nowadays, it is a true display of Harangody's scoring versatility.

He won a Big East Player of the Year, was in the top 10 in Division I in both scoring and rebounding for an entire season and had 25 double-doubles in one campaign.

Talk about a loaded curriculum vitae-- one that should propel Harangody into the discussion about the most effective post players in the history of the conference.

Make it happen, Kenny Williams!

I will make it no secret on this blog that my baseball team is the New York Yankees. I have been a Bronx Bombers fan my entire life and had the pleasure of attending the first-ever playoff game at the new Yankee Stadium.

With that being said, I did live in the north suburbs of Chicago for two summers while in high school. Due to Wrigley selling out every day, I got the chance to watch the White Sox in person on a regular basis after taking the Red Line downtown.

A little news item broke this week concerning General Manager Kenny Williams' offseason plans-- centering around San Diego Padres first baseman Adrian Gonzalez. Apparently, Chicago pitcher Jake Peavy is selling his old teammate to his new club and creating some buzz around the south side of the Windy City.

Here are five reasons why this would be an awesome move for the White Sox.

1. The Tigers got younger-- Despite keeping hurler Justin Verlander for $80 million, the Tigers got rid of Curtis Granderson and, in my opinion, became a more inexperienced baseball team this winter. The AL Central is always up for grabs, with Minnesota, Detroit, Chicago and Kansas City staying very conservative year-in and year-out.

2. If it makes Jake Peavy happy, go for it-- Before getting injured over the past couple of seasons, Jake Peavy was one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball. Granted, his entire career has been spent in the National League, but anyone with a career sub-3.30 ERA and a .231 batting average against is solid in my book. If the 2007 NL Cy Young brings some of his stuff with him from the left coast and is reunited with a teammate, he could really shine.

3. Right Field at U.S. Cellular is bomb city-- I was at the 2003 Home Run Derby at "The Cell" and man, the ball travels in that stadium. With the fenced-in VIP area in right sticking into the outfield, it creates a nice little seam for lefty hitters to do work. A-Gone would welcome that, even if Petco is a hitter's park.

4. Jim Thome and Johnny Damon-- First, the White Sox let Jim Thome go. Then, they whiffed on signing Johnny Damon. I know it's going to be hard to convince the Padres to trade Gonzalez because he's a home-grown talent who draws fans to watch a bad, young team, but Kenny Williams has to make a push. He hasn't done too well for himself this year.

5. He's Adrian Gonzalez-- The fact that there are four reasons not mentioning Gonzalez directly shows you how big of a slam dunk this would be for the White Sox. Yes, his batting average won't wow you (.277 in 2009), but the 40 home runs and 99 RBIs from last season were impressive. Right now, he's only making a shade over $3 million and he came close to an OPS of .960 in '09. Add that to the fact that he's durable (Gonzalez only sat two games last year) and you create a winning solution.

There you go, Kenny Williams. Work the Padres hard for Adrian Gonzalez. You won't be disappointed.

Scholastic Sports Tragedy

I wish I could bottle up the energy and dedication that goes into being a high school athlete or coach.

Some of my greatest memories as an adolescent came on the soccer field or the baseball diamond-- all while playing for coaches I admired and for whom I would run through a wall.

Last June, the ugly side of scholastic sports reared its ugly head in Iowa, when legendary Aplington-Parkersburg High School football coach Ed Thomas was killed by a former player in the middle of the school's weight room.

This was the same coach that helped rebuild his community following a devastating tornado that tore down buildings and left the town craving for a pick-me-up in the form of high school football. He was the man that led multiple students toward NFL careers-- including stud Green Bay Packers defensive player Aaron Kampman.

24-year-old Mark Becker has pleaded not guilty to the shooting by reason of insanity as the trial goes to jury this evening. He claimed the coach was Satan and that he was being "tormented" by him.

Is this simply an isolated incident from a former player that was clearly mentally disturbed? Or, is it a case of athletes not being able to take a coach's advice in stride or using the correct state of mind?

Yes, there are some high school coaches that push kids too far-- some that even abuse athletes physically and mentally. Those leaders should be reprimanded and kept away from gifted students perfecting their craft.

However, there are many superb instructors around the country at the high school level-- Saint Anthony (NJ) basketball coach Bob Hurley comes to mind-- and the Ed Thomases of the world deserved to be understood.

As a high school athlete, it is your responsibility to learn the game, work hard and give it your all every practice and contest. Your coach will challenge you physically and you should challenge your coach mentally. A good leader will embrace this give-and-take, thus creating a healthy relationship.

As we await the verdict in Iowa, I only hope that high school athletes around the country realize the importance of developing a working relationship with their coach. It will help them in school, on the field and most importantly, in life.

I know I'm not the only one sending my best to this Iowa community tonight.

U-S-A, U-S-A!

I never found a way to get into hockey as a kid. It had all the elements of sports I follow religiously-- a quicker pace than basketball, the physical nature of soccer and the strategy of football. But, because I grew up in New Jersey, hockey just wasn't in the forefront.

However, I haven't been as into an Olympic event as I was last night while watching USA-Canada. The 5-3 victory was intriguing for a multitude of reasons.

It put Buffalo Sabres goalie Ryan Miller on an international pedastal after posting 42 saves. For New Jersey Devils fans, watching Brian Rafalski and Jamie Lagenbrunner beat Martin Brodeur must have been a bit awkward. And, with today being the 30th anniversary of "The Miracle on Ice" in Lake Placid, there was a little extra emotion added to beating the hosts while wearing the throwback USA jerseys from 1980.

In no way, shape or form am I trying to compare the two wins. One revolutionized the sport, calmed political tensions momentarily and had no-name kids beating the world's best from overseas. The other was an upset, but just because the United States hadn't defeated Canada in "their sport" since 1960.

The fact that the U.S. avoids Canada and Russia until a potential gold medal showdown makes this win even sweeter. ESPN's Barry Melrose said on the day of the opening ceremonies that if the United States took home gold that it would send equivalent shockwaves through the hockey world to those felt in 1980 (which I find to be a ridiculous statement).

The closest thing linking those two teams is that defenseman Brooks Orpik is named for 1980 coach Herb Brooks (pictured)-- no other parallels can be made.

Yes, it was awesome watching Ryan Kesler send an all-out diving shot into an empty net to end things, but it can't compare to Mike Eruzione dancing after a goal in New York or Jim Craig turning away 36 shots against Boris Mikhailov and the Soviets.

Americans should enjoy watching this scrappy group of hockey players make a run toward a gold medal. But make no mistake about it, it won't create thousands of new hockey fans like Al Michaels' call and the U.S. squad's accomplishment did three decades ago.

The Battle of New Jersey

Rutgers had a chance to make a statement to the Big East conference this weekend against Connecticut. Despite an 18-point loss, the Scarlet Knights (14-13, 4-10) have a lot to play for in the last two weeks of the season.

RU is not only still in the running for some form of postseason play, but there is still the task of fighting for conference tournament seeding. But above all, there are two meetings with its hated rival from South Orange-- the Seton Hall Pirates.

With the first of two games on Tuesday in Newark (the return trip to the RAC will be played March 4), it's always fun to think back to some great moments in this series-- one that is not as publicized due to a lack of success in the New Jersey basketball programs.

Rutgers trails by seven in a series that will "celebrate" its 56th and 57th meetings this month. Here are my Top 3 memories from the last decade of RU-SHU hoops.

3. Feb. 23, 2002-- 66-60 RU-- This game was coined the "Seton Brawl." It was Senior Night for Rashod Kent, one of the most beloved players in the history of Scarlet Knights hoops. After a short-lived NFL career (yes, football), Kent had a rough run-in with the law and served some time in prison for drug-related crimes. But, on this night, he was his unbelieveable, undersized center self. RU guard Jerome Coleman was on fire from deep and when his Paul Robeson High School teammate Mike Sherrod was thrown into Section 118 by SHU's Marcus Toney-El, all heck broke loose on the floor. Watching Gary Waters and Louis Orr try to break that fight up was comical.

2. Feb. 8, 2005-- 62-61 RU in OT-- I feel like every game in this rivalry gets a nickname. The Hall fans deemed this one "The Les Jones Affair." Jones was a well-known Big East ref and he may have cost college basketball one of the best multiple-overtime games in the last decade. But, when Quincy Douby rose for a jumper with time expiring in overtime, Donald Copeland got a bit too close. There was no contact, but Douby got the call (he was a sophomore at the time and was one year away from leading the conference in scoring). He calmly hit the second of two free throws to send the RAC into a frenzy.

1. March 9, 2008-- 64-61 RU-- Rutgers was on a nine-game losing streak heading into this one and had nothing to play for except the rivalry on the last day of the regular season. The Scarlet Knights hadn't won since beating Villanova and Pittsburgh in back-to-back games over five weeks prior. Down by as many as 17 points, it looked as if RU's first game on Seton Hall's new home court ("The Rock") would go about as well as every game at Continental Airlines Arena. After Jamar Nutter tied the game with five seconds left, JR Inman hit a running three-pointer as time expired in one of the best basketball endings you can script. Yes, it ended RU's season at 11-20, but it destroyed Seton Hall's hopes of a NIT bid.

I can guarantee one thing. Two meetings in 10 days between Rutgers and Seton Hall will create a bit of tension on the New Jersey college basketball scene.

And by the way, coaches Freddie Hill and Bobby Gonzalez hate each other-- a lot.

Enjoy.

The Tim Higgins Story

I may be one of a small group of people that will read every word of Dana O'Neil's ESPN article on veteran college basketball referee Tim Higgins.

When the casual fan watches a college hoops game, they're focusing on the star players, the marquee coaches and the student sections. Having attended hundreds of on-campus Big East tilts over the better part of 21 years, I have a general idea of the tempo of the game before tip-off.

Once I see the trio of officials, the complexion of the 40 minutes has already been decided. And, that's what makes O'Neil's look at the lifestyle of a college basketball referee so interesting.

Sometimes we forget that these refs work day jobs too-- as vice presidents of sales companies and high school principals (see Tim Higgins and Bob Donato).

We also forget about the grief they get from players, fans and coaches for two hours straight every night. Nobody officiates a perfect game and even I lose sight of that occasionally.

ESPN doesn't caption the picture in the piece this way, but I'm 100 percent sure that its from a Texas at Providence game in Jan. 2004. I'll never forget Providence coach Tim Welsh (who would go on to lose to Rutgers on a Herve Lamizana buzzer-beater a few days later) staring over Higgins' shoulder with Texas head man Rick Barnes. Higgins was reviewing the floater that would create the "light-up backboards" in college hoops.

Rewind to 10 years ago. Higgins calls a Miami basket good at Villanova that clearly leaves the shooter's hand after the buzzer. There was no replay and this is the event that stays with the veteran, highly-acclaimed official to this day.

I had the chance to meet Higgins in Feb. 2006 in Piscataway when he called the infamous Rutgers-Marquette game that led to Gary Waters' firing. Until that point, I didn't respect referees as humans. I looked at them as robots that flew from game to game and were paid to take a beating from fans due to their ineptitude.

I never once saw an official talk to a fan pre-game before that day. With 30 inches of snow in New Jersey, only a handful of people were able to get to the RAC (I walked). Higgins went around the lower level of the arena and personally thanked the fans for coming out in his deep tri-state area accent. That moment made me realize that refs are people too. As corny as it sounds, that was refreshing for a college hoops junkie. I could now respect every aspect of the game.

With last week's intentional foul on Kris Joseph in the Syracuse-Louisville game--given out by Higgins-- making national headlines, all of the talk is about how poorly Higgins calls a game.

Five years ago, I would have agreed. Now, I know how important officials are to college basketball. Props to the Tim Higgins figures in the sports world-- we owe you some more respect.

ESPN article on Tim Higgins

Bracketology with Danny B(rackets)

I wonder how many books on sport sociology and statistics line the Saint Joseph's University office of Joe Lunardi.

He gets the chance to provide analysis for basketball broadcasts at one of the most interesting venues in the nation at Hawk Hill. Then, as his "day job," Lunardi posts an updated NCAA Tournament bracket and makes television appearances creating and bursting bubbles around the nation.

That must be a pretty cool gig.

With 2010's version of March Madness quickly approaching and Top 10 upsets becoming the norm-- No. 3 Syracuse and No. 8 Georgetown fell to Louisville and Rutgers (*cue RU cheers*)-- it's time to take a quick look at contenders and pretenders. We will look deeper into the bracket during the conference tournaments.

Contenders

1. Kentucky-- Yes, I dislike John Calipari. And yes, I think that John Wall's tendency to turn the ball over and DeMarcus Cousins' attitude could come back to haunt the Wildcats in a late-game situation. But, there is no doubt in my mind that this is the most athletic team in the nation. Patrick Patterson is a legitimate post player turned 3-point shooter and if the complementary scoring shows up after the SEC Tournament, UK has to be the title favorite.

2. Kansas State-- This isn't a trendy pick because the (other) Wildcats don't defend as well as other elite teams (they give up nearly 70 points per game). Your two guards (Jacob Pullen and Denis Clemente) average a combined 36 points per contest and Frank Martin is the scariest coach in the nation. That's a solid equation for success.

Pretenders

1. Temple-- Joe Lunardi is definitely a Philadelphia homer. How is Temple a No. 5 seed? I hate to continue my crusade against the Atlantic 10 (just kidding, I enjoy it very much) but I can't believe that analysts are discussing more bubble teams from this conference than anywhere else. Juan Fernandez and Lavoy Allen are complete players but other than that, I'm not impressed by the Owls.

2. Michigan State-- Tom Izzo is an amazing coach-- probably the best in the country. Kalin Lucas and Raymar Morgan are NBA prospects, but without a bulldog rebounder like Goran Suton, they won't make it past the Sweet 16. They win games in the ugly, Big 10 fashion-- unlike the 2008-2009 Spartans team that sprinted to the national title game.

More to come on the full brackets during early March...

Tobacco Road-ish

Maybe it's because there was 20 inches of snow on the ground outside my house. Or, maybe I was just too tired after spending six hours at a Rutgers Athletic Center with 100 people inside of it (Blizzard 2010 smacked New Jersey).

But, watching Duke-UNC last night seemed different. For my entire life, this has been the second best rivalry in American sports-- right behind the Yankees and Red Sox. As a college hoops fan, you marked your calendar for the mid-February and early March tilts at the Dean Dome and Cameron Indoor.

Wednesday's leg one was a defensive basketball game-- Coach K's favorite kind of hoops. However, there were points when Roy Williams looked like he was trying too hard and when Ed Davis (4 points, 5 rebounds) looked more like a second-round pick than a sure-fire lottery selection.

Watching Jon Scheyer (pictured; 24 points on 5-of-9 from 3-point range) reminded me of J.J. Reddick at times and, in turn, some better moments in this rivalry.

Maybe the aura and mystique faded a bit because of this crazy little stat. The game put now No. 7 Duke (20-4, 8-2 in the ACC) against unranked and sliding North Carolina (13-11, 2-7).

Against a comparable schedule, UNC is one game better than Rutgers (12-12, 2-9 in the BIG EAST). The team in Chapel Hill is falling fast.

Roy Williams will get a ton of breathing room and rightfully so. If you win two national titles in five years, you can survive one NIT season. However, on Tobacco Road, you don't get much time to rebuild.

I'm sure Williams would have loved Tyler Hansbrough back on the court yesterday. None of his Tar Heels seemed to understand the importance of protecting the Dean Dome against Duke. And, that's a sad fact.

Let's hope it's a better game at Cameron Indoor next month.

Looking Back at a Super Game

We Ain't That Bad!

Congrats to the "Who Dat Nation" for an outstanding football game and the first Super Bowl title in Saints history.

The big story in Super Bowl XLIV was the amazingly efficient, smart performance from Drew Brees. 32-of-39 is the best number, considering it tied Tom Brady's Super Bowl record for completions. The 288 yards, two touchdowns and 114.5 QB rating are solid totals as well, but the 7.4 yards per completion stat shows the kind of football Brees loves to play.

He's not going to kill you by throwing it 30-plus yards downfield. But, if you give him space at the second level (which struggling Colts linebackers did in coverage), he will abuse you. There were a couple of the "no, yes" throws that I mentioned last week but he didn't turn the ball over. That wins football games.

Long Island's Finest

Hofstra no longer has a football program, but that doesn't mean the pride of the artists formerly known as the Pride can't shine on the big stage. 106.5 million people (the most watched TV show ever) saw Marques Colston grab seven receptions for 83 yards and nearly 12 yards per catch. The former seventh-round pick had a "gimme" pass go off his face before hauling in some very tough outside routes later on.

Staying with the Saints' receivers, Toledo's Lance Moore (at just 5-foot-9, 190 lbs.) completed one of the most impressive two-point conversions that you'll ever see. Props to the CBS "SuperVision" cameras for picking up that play with some outstanding angles.

The Bayou's Own

I really thought that I'd never hear the name Tracy Porter again after he picked off Brett Favre in the NFC Championship Game. The second-year player, who was born in Louisiana, proved me wrong.

He picked the right time to jump a poorly-executed route by Reggie Wayne and returned a fourth quarter interception of Peyton Manning 74 yards to ice the game at 31-17.

To all of the pundits who are calling Manning a choker-- give up your jobs, now. Peyton threw for over 330 yards and was well on his way to leading another comeback drive. He is still one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play the game... period.

Tracy Porter made a couple of great signal callers shake their heads on two of the biggest stages possible in the NFL.

RU Rah-Rah

A shameless plug for Rutgers is on its way (cover your eyes if you hate New Jersey).

The Colts' goalline stop in the second quarter was a combined effort by two former Scarlet Knights-- Gary Brackett and Eric Foster.

Brackett, Indy's defensive captain, was the only player in the game with double digits in tackles (13 and 12 of which were solo).

CBS Puts on a Show

While I wasn't a huge fan of Phil Simms' analysis, I thought that Jim Nantz and the entire CBS crew did a phenomenal job. Nantz is always a good storyteller-- even if he's not that exciting-- and CBS utilized their new cameras very well. Add that to some very quick stat work with the onside kick after halftime and you've got a great broadcast.

As for commercials, I give Doritos the win for the night. Great stuff with the kid, the creep and the mom.

Overtime

I wish I could have been in Roger Goodell's booth during the Colts' fourth-quarter drive. Watching him squirm while thinking about a potential one-drive overtime would have made my night. I had to settle for Betty White getting crushed and Punxsutawney Polamalu instead to put me on the floor.

Take Care, Football...

The Super Bowl is awesome. The NFL is just okay. I'm not that sad to see this football season end (especially as a Giants fan). Let's bring on March Madness and Spring Training.

College Basketball Arenas

I needed to get a bit of sleep after a 35-hour trip with Rutgers men's basketball to Louisville, but this blog post idea was generated last night.

After announcing yesterday's game at legendary Freedom Hall (an 18,865-seat arena that the Cardinals are moving out of at the end of the season), I thought I'd throw my top five college basketball arenas list up on the web.

If we had this conversation back in 2003, the RAC at Rutgers may have had a shot of cracking the list-- but it will take quite some time to restore the "RAC-mosphere" that once existed.

Let's go from five to one... enjoy. Happy Super Sunday!

Honorable Mention: Allen Fieldhouse (Kansas)-- "Rock Chalk Jayhawk" gives me chills.

5. Peterson Events Center (Pittsburgh)-- Pitt really got this one right in every way possible. Whether it be the decision to put the students wrapped around the court or the idea to construct courtside luxury boxes, the Panthers have the best home court in the Big East. It may take years to walk up that hill to "The Pete" but it's well worth the effort.

4. Dean Smith Center (University of North Carolina)-- I've had the pleasure of calling two games in this building and the second time was even better than the first. Stepping into this gigantic building with all the powder-blue seats empty and looking into the rafters at Michael Jordan's jersey is one of the greatest basketball experiences you can have. It isn't the loudest arena out there (which hurts its standing), but the locals all know the game like the back of their hand.

3. The Pit (University of New Mexico)-- At over 18,000 seats and literally under sea-level, The Pit was the "RAC of the West" during my childhood. In the Mountain West Conference, UNM hosts some quality competition in this building and when it shakes, the steep seating arrangement makes for an intimidating crowd set-up.

2. Rupp Arena (Kentucky)-- Louisville's new arena was required to seat one person under the capacity of Rupp Arena because UK basketball fans in the state legislature wouldn't approve of it otherwise. "The Eruption Zone" in the student section (which does not have actual seats and thus requires two hours of standing) is one of the cooler ideas in college sports. UK has some of the most rabid fans in the country and let's put it this way, you better contend for the title every year.

1. Cameron Indoor Stadium (Duke)-- I don't like Duke basketball. I'm not a huge fan of Coach K. But as old and as small as Cameron Indoor is, I still envy the Blue Devils' fans every time I watch a game at this arena on television. From the old-school aspect of the announcers sitting in elevated booths to the students almost touching players on the sideline, Cameron is an amazing venue. The noise level at Duke is unmatched around the country, so it's worth a look in person (considering it seems like it'll be Mike Patrick and Dickie V every time you turn on ESPN there).

Conference tournaments are just a month away!

Super Sunday

The Super Bowl is a national holiday. We find creative ways to step it up from the party of the year prior as long as we don't have a rooting interest.

As a New York Giants fan, Super Bowl XLII was way too emotionally-charged. Yes, it was one of the best sports memories of my life, but no Super Sunday should ever create that many heart palpatations.

I previously mentioned that this year's "Big Game" may have the best quarterback matchup of all time. Drew Brees makes the prototypical "no, no, no... yes, yes, yes" throw into the smallest of windows. Peyton Manning's audibles and precision will make any defense shudder-- even one led by safety Darren Sharper.

While the Saints defense is capable of imploding up front (watch out for a big game from the combination of Joseph Addai and Donald Brown), their main concern should be at the second level. Reggie Wayne, Austin Collie and Pierre Garcon (sorry for the lack of cedilla-- thank Blogger) are outstanding, intermediate route runners.

Moving to the other side of the ball, I don't understand why the Colts defense doesn't get more credit. Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis may be a top defensive-end combo in the history of the NFL. Rutgers product Gary Brackett is one of the league's most underrated middle linebackers. And even without Bob Sanders, the Colts secondary hasn't been totally exposed.

Beyond Freeney's health (that ankle may look as pretty as Brett Favre's doctor photos), there are two monstrous, head-to-head tilts that will decide this game.

No. 1-- Peyton Manning vs. Darren Sharper-- The best quarterback of this generation is going up against a top-five safety of this decade. Get your popcorn ready. We know Peyton will do his homework to the point that his eyes will be bloodshot from watching tape. Sharper has a sneaky tendency to cheat with his plant foot and the analysts have been quick to point it out. If Reggie Wayne can utilize the double-move, the Colts could score early off some misplaced Super Bowl aggression from the Saints D.

No. 2-- The Colts secondary vs. Devery Henderson, Marques Colston and Robert Meachem-- The Saints receiving core flies under-the-radar somehow, despite having some serious "wingspan guys." Colston was a seventh-round pick out of Hofstra (which no longer has a football program) and the "Who Dats" have been able to piece-meal this trio into a formidable crew.

There will be a lot of points in this game. It may be a case of whoever has the ball last wins this one. I hope, for the sake of the game, Dwight Freeney can lace 'em up.

Until he shows me a reason to think otherwise, I'll trust Peyton Manning to win another Super Bowl.

Super Bowl XLIV-- Indianapolis Colts 30 New Orleans Saints 24

Enjoy Super Sunday!

John Calipari is Not a Leader of Young Men

College basketball coaches have a few responsibilities.

They are supposed to win basketball games in order to create a buzz around their program. It’s also important that they make sure their athletes learn the game of basketball in a way that could develop them into NBA-level players. And, most importantly, they’re supposed to be positive role models for men between the ages of 18 and 21.

The nation’s No. 3 team (Kentucky) is led by a man that does not fulfill the third important requirement—John Calipari.

Yes, Calipari wins basketball games. Yes, he produces NBA players. But, look back to each step of his road in coaching and you’ll see that he is far from a role model, both on and off-the-court.

At Massachusetts, he “unknowingly” allowed a star player (Marcus Camby) to receive payment during his time in Amherst. He also then almost got into a fistfight with legendary Temple coach John Cheney at a press conference. He fled before NCAA sanctions came down on the school.

In Memphis, Calipari led another stacked team deep into the NCAA Tournament, losing in the championship game to Kansas. But, his star player (Derrick Rose) was found to have cheated on the SATs, forcing the school to vacate a record season in wins. Calipari was gone before the NCAA ruled on the Tigers’ fate.

Now in Lexington, Coach Cal has as talented a team as he’s ever assembled. Point guard John Wall is a lock for No. 1 overall pick in this year’s NBA Draft but Calipari continues to demean him in public, even after a near double-double performance this weekend against Vanderbilt.

Then, he has the audacity to tell Wall to call his former players in the NBA (Derrick Rose and Tyreke Evans) for advice. Good call, Coach. Have the 18-year-old kid call two one-and-done players for life counseling. That’s really doing your job.

John Calipari may win basketball games, but I’d never want him leading my program or coaching anyone I care about.

A Potpourri of Sports Items

Here are five interesting stories to start the second month of 2010.

You’re my boy, Red!

I’m officially a college hoops junkie the second I start a blog entry with the topic of Ivy League basketball. Last week, I complained about Temple being in the Top 15—now I think Cornell isn’t getting the respect it deserves.

The Big Red (18-3) slid into the rankings at No. 25 this week, having just disposed of an accomplished Harvard squad by 36 points! Their only three losses are to two Big East teams (Seton Hall and Syracuse) and to the nation’s No. 1 (Kansas) after leading late at Phog Allen.

Chances are Cornell will end the year at 28-3 (with 10 Ivy League tilts remaining) and for a team in that conference to put up over 76 points per game is an accomplishment by itself. I’m curious to see if they can crack that total against Princeton next week—when there could be a combined 10 possessions in the first half.

Powder Blue isn’t in Style

Before we move away from college basketball, let me just add that it warms my heart to see that North Carolina (13-8, 2-4 in ACC) isn’t even receiving a vote in this week’s ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll. Roy Williams asked if it “could get any worse” for his Tar Heels after a blowout loss at home to Virginia. Yeah Preacher Roy, it must be tough winning two national titles in five years.

Stop picking on Rex

Maybe it’s because his father had a big mouth as he was cultivating the “46 Bear” NFL defense, but the media seems to have something against New York Jets coach Rex Ryan. Yes, it probably wasn’t a good idea to flip the bird to Miami Dolphins fans in public but the infatuation with his bad-boy attitude continues.

Do people want every coach to turn into Bill Belichick and never say anything substantive? With these kinds of crackdowns, any ounce of personality a coach possesses will be sucked out quickly.

Channing Frye?

As a college basketball guy, I don’t like the style of basketball played in the pros. It’s slow, boring and there’s no defense. And to add further insult to rudimentary issues, a center (who was OKAY on his University of Arizona teams) is going to take part in this year’s 3-point contest.

Somehow, Channing Frye sits at second in the league in shots made from distance (114). He’s certainly a system beneficiary (even with a new coach in Phoenix). 6’11”, 245 pounds and playing under 30 minutes per game—yep, sounds like someone who deserves to take part in an All-Star weekend SHOOTING event.

Early Baseball Tidbit

Just to take a quick look into the free agent market in Major League Baseball (while pitchers and catchers report in a couple weeks), I’m excited to see the Seattle Mariners building a formidable team out in the AL West.

Seattle signed Ryan Garko today—who can provide some pop to an already solid Mariners lineup.

Don’t forget they’ll have the best one-two in baseball with Cliff Lee and “King Felix” Hernandez.

Who says February is a boring sports month? March Madness notes will stream in soon.

Mr. President Provides Commentary

During the winter months, this blog will have a lot of news and notes surrounding college basketball (easily my favorite sport) as well as special interest stories all around athletics. Once pitchers and catchers report, you'll also get plenty of baseball analysis.

While Rutgers (the University that will provide me with a degree in May) was busy picking up its first Big East win of the season, a fellow conference member had a very special afternoon. Georgetown not only dominated Duke from start to finish but President Barack Obama was in attendance in Washington D.C. for the entire game.

The coolest part of the situation came when the President joined Verne Lundquist and Clark Kellogg in the CBS broadcast booth. As an announcer, watching their interaction with him was a highlight of my sports day. Verne was clearly nervous, but Clark had some outstanding back-and-forth with Obama.

Not only did Obama break down Greg Monroe's drive to the hoop with professional ease (and let's not forget the lack of Kyle Singler help defense as the President pointed out) but he made sure to let Kellogg know that he'd be coming for his job in three... err... maybe seven years.

Side Note: I have a VHS copy of the Rutgers-Penn State 1989 Atlantic 10 championship game during which a very young Clark Kellogg tosses it back to an equally youthful John Saunders in the ESPN studio... pretty cool stuff.

Watching the President interact with sports broadcasters in a classy and knowledgeable manner was very refreshing. I could live without seeing the video of his drive on Tyler Hansbrough again, but all in all, great job by CBS getting him on the air.

Now, if only Bill Rafftery was there... oh man... maybe we could have heard a presidential "ONIONS."

David Lee Got Snubbed

It has been a long time since the New York Knicks had a legitimate gripe over a player being left off the NBA All-Star Game roster. They have every right to complain today.

There are few players in the Eastern Conference that produce gaudier stats or work harder than forward David Lee.

Since graduating from Florida in 2005 (where he played on some stacked pre-title Gators teams), Lee has consistently improved leading into the 09-10 campaign.

Yes, the Knicks have 27 losses in 45 games, but if an undersized power forward (6'9" 250lbs.) can post almost 20 points and 12 rebounds per game in that team environment, he deserves to be showcasing his skills in Dallas.

Add 3.4 assists per contest to Lee's line and you realize that the NBA left out a scoring threat with monster rebounding numbers and solid interior passing ability. At nearly 37 minutes per game, Lee's shooting 56 percent from the floor.

And if you're from the school of "what have you done for me lately," Lee's 68 points, 42 rebounds and 10 assists in the last five days (three games) should be plenty to change your mind.

David Lee should be in the NBA All-Star Game. Too bad the Knicks' futility ruined that for him.

Interesting Note to Add...

ESPN just ran a very interesting full-screen board that is very relevant to our first topic.

The teams that have defeated the nation's No. 1 haven't fared too well the next time they take the court.

Tennessee beat Auburn, but Kansas St. lost to Oklahoma St. and Connecticut suffered a bad loss to Providence.

Let's see if South Carolina can bring the top-ranked spoilers' record to .500...

College Basketball's No. 1 Teams in Trouble

Back in 2007, being ranked in the No. 2 slot in the college football polls was a sure-fire way to immediately lose a game.

Early in the 2010 conference season in college basketball, it's the top spot that has produced the same fate around the country.

After looking virtually untouchable in a soft out-of-conference schedule (before being tested by the fiesty Big Red of Cornell), Kansas relinquished their No. 1 ranking after losing to a decimated Tennessee team in Knoxville.

Fellow Big 12 rival Texas jumped up after looking flawless against UNC (which doesn't look as impressive now-- bang-up job by the Tar Heels in the early part of ACC play). But, a week of poor decisions by Rick Barnes' squad led to two road losses in a row at Kansas State and Connecticut.

And now last night, undefeated Kentucky suffered a close loss in mediocre South Carolina's building, with Devan Downey showing Cincinnati how much they lost with another 30-plus point performance. John Calipari hadn't lost a regular season game in a very long time until the buzzer sounded Tuesday.

Lesson learned-- don't take No. 1 for granted. Road tests in any major conference can spell trouble, especially when a top-ranked team is protecting its newfound glory. President Obama warned UK... they clearly didn't take his advice to heart.

NOTE: South Carolina was fined $25,000 by the SEC after its student body stormed the court following the win. I understand safety protocol, but this adds so much excitement to college basketball. Why discourage it?

Comment away...