Five Good Questions with . . . Mark Curnutte of the Cincinnati Enquirer about the Bengals

Today's segment of "Five Good Questions" is with Mark Curnutte from The Cincinnati Enquirer....Mark is the NFL beat writer for The Enquirer and provided some feedback about the Cincinnati Bengals....

Q1. How serious do you think the Bengals organization is when they stated they were not going to draft players who have a history of off-the-field problems?
The Bengals are serious. They can not afford to mislead their fans again, which many believe they did a year ago. They should have no trouble finding talented players who fit what they need and what they do who will not get in trouble off the field.

Q2. Chris Henry (photo) has a load of talent but he is the league poster child of bad off-the-field behavior. Do you think Henry will be able to change his image and become an All-Pro athlete on and off the field?
From all accounts, Henry will be suspended some time later this week for at least part of the upcoming season, if not all of it. I would suggest that Adam "Pacman" Jones is the poster boy, though Henry's series of off-field legal brushes is troubling to the NFL.

Q3. Linebacker Ahmad Brooks had a bad reputation while at Virginia therefore many NFL teams did not take a chance on him in the supplemental draft. However, the team has not had any problems with Brooks as he is progressing on the field. Why has Brooks been able to stay out of trouble while many of his teammates have not?
Brooks is a relatively bright man who appears to have learned from his mistakes at Virginia. There seems to be a seriousness to him that Henry, for one, lacks.

Q4. Coming into the draft, what positions must the Bengals address?
Defense, defense, defense. I would say they need a playmaking linebacker, a safety and another cornerback, if not another defensive tackle. They do not have a third-round pick because of taking Brooks in the supplemental draft last year. They pick at Nos. 18 and 49 overall on Day 1 and should take defensive players with both. And they will need to take players, who, like first-round pick Johnathan Joseph in 2006, can contribute as rookies.

Q5. Rudi Johnson has been a workhorse the last few years, however, so many NFL teams are now using a two-back rotation. Do you think the Bengals will address the running back position early in the draft to try and get Johnson some help?
They did that in 2004 with Chris Perry, but Perry has essentially missed his first and third seasons with injuries. The team re-signed Kenny Watson as a free agent in March, and though he is not flashy, Watson is a solid runner and decent receiver out of the backfield. Plus he blocks like a beast, so much so Carson Palmer lobbied for his return. But you're right: A healthy Chris Perry to spell Rudi Johnson would help the run game. But I do not see the Bengals using a draft pick on a running back. They have Quincy Wilson around (former WVa player), who knows the system and could do more than a second-day pick.

I want to thank Mark Curnutte for taking the time to respond.....it is much appreciated!!!....

Supporting my fellow bloggers against Colin Cowturd

I am supporting my fellow bloggers after ESPN radio’s Colin Cowherd deliberately asked his listeners to flood The Big Lead blog in order to overload the server and force it to shutdown because they wrote something about him that he did not like....

Cowherd needs to grow up instead of acting like a child....he is supposed to be a professional....I could never see someone like Tony Kornheiser, Dan Patrick, Mike and Mike, etc do something as childish as this....

Cowherd needs to understand that when you are in the national spotlight, like he is, he has to accept criticism whether it is fair or unfair....no doubt there are people who do not like other media personalities....look at all the flak that Katie Couric has taken over the last year....but you do not see Couric acting childish and asking her listeners to overload a server....

Cowherd needs to get counseling....

Five Good Questions with . . . Sam Farmer of The Los Angeles Times about Dwayne Jarrett and USC

Today's segment of "Five Good Questions" is with Sam Farmer of The Los Angeles Times....Sam is the NFL beat for The Times and provided some feedback about Southern Cal wide receiver Dwayne Jarrett and other USC players who are preparing for this year's NFL Draft....

Q1. Many draft publications have Dwayne Jarrett being drafted in the mid-to-late teens. Do you think he is sorry he did not stay for his senior year to try and be a top 10 pick?
No, I think he's happy to be coming out this season, even though this is an especially strong draft class for receivers. There's certainly no guarantee that another year will bump up his stock. As always, players also have to weigh the risk of injury, a deep class, and/or an unspectacular senior season.

Q2. Character and off-the-field activities are a hot topic in the NFL these days. Do you think Jarrett may have raised some team's concerns after showboating a bit in the Rose Bowl?
No. I think some NFL teams might roll their eyes at showboating, but I don't think it would dissuade a team from taking a guy. Real off-the-field issues are a different story, of course. I talked to several NFL scouts about Jarrett immediately after the Rose Bowl, and they said he did nothing but bolster his value. He had 11 catches for a career-best 205 yards and two touchdowns and was chosen offensive player of the game.

Afterwards, I caught Leon Hall, the outstanding Michigan corner on the way to the bus. He told me: "He's pretty much Dwayne Jarrett, as advertised. I knew he was good before this game, but after today? Definitely."

If Jarrett made a big error this offseason, it was his decision not to work out at the combine. That was a mistake -- and one that could cost him.

Q3. Outside linebacker Dallas Sartz is projected to be a 5th or 6th round pick. Do you think Sartz could be a "sleeper" pick and make an impact in the NFL?
By all accounts, Dallas is a good kid with his head on straight. That could help him make a roster. I don't think he'll be more than a special-teams player.

Q4. Some publications have wide receiver Steve Smith to be selected late in the first round while others have him going in the third round. Where do you see him going and why?
I think he's a second-round pick in the Keary Colbert mold. He runs crisp, precise routes and he's sneaky fast. I can see him being a No. 2 receiver within three years.

Q5. Besides USC players, are there any other PAC-10 players who are "sleepers" in this year's draft who may have an impact in the NFL?
I like Cal RB Marshawn Lynch, ASU tight end Zach Miller, UCLA kicker Justin Medlock, Stanford ILB Michael Okwo, Arizona S Michael Johnson, and one more USC player - C Ryan Kalil

I want to thank Sam Farmer for taking the time to respond.....it is much appreciated!!!....tomorrow we will hear from Mark Curnutte from The Cincinnati Enquirer about the Cincinnati Bengals....

Five Good Questions with . . . Paul Strelow of The State (Columbia, SC) about Gaines Adams

Today's segment of "Five Good Questions" is with Paul Strelow of The State newspaper in Columbia, S.C.....Paul covers Clemson football and provided some feedback about Gaines Adams, one of the top ranked defensive linemen, and other Clemson players who are preparing for this year's NFL Draft....

Q1. Many draft publications have Gaines Adams (photo) as the top rated defensive end. Tell us what makes Adams this highly rated.
Adams possesses what few at his position do -- the quickness and burst to mount a speed rush from the DE spot, while also retaining the size and strength to be an every-down player against the run. Adams still has his weaknesses -- he has yet to develop the counter interior move to offset the outside bull rush, and he must improve his hand techniques. But the raw tools are there.

Q2. Adams had 12.5 sacks and 16.5 TFL last season. Who currently in the NFL does he remind you of?
Simeon Rice, without the chip on his shoulder -- for better and for worse.

Q3. Cornerback C.J. Gaddis is rated low for his position. This is the same guy who held Calvin Johnson without a catch this season. Why is Gaddis rated so low?

Some feel he's a tweener between safety and corner. He's stout and a superb athlete, but he does not display a good feel for the game, nor does he make a ton of plays. It's true that Johnson was held without a catch, but that was as much Clemson's ability to rattle Tech QB Reggie Ball.

Q4. Draft publications have good and bad things to say about wide receiver Chansi Stuckey. What does Stuckey have to improve upon in order to be successful at the next level?
Someone as slight as Stuckey has to develop a niche to get his foot in the door. He is quick rather than fast, so if he can be a more consistent pass-catcher and make the adjustment to being a slot receiver who can take the beating going over the middle, he'll make a career for himself.

Q5. What future NFL draft "studs" are currently on the Clemson team who we should keep an eye on in the future?

Rising sophomore RB C.J. Spiller has future 1st-rounder written all over him. He's shifty with sprinter's speed and good vision, and in many circles has been compared to Reggie Bush. Senior LT Barry Richardson (6-7, 330) will be a first-day pick and possibly a 1st-rounder if he improves finishing his blocks. Junior RB James Davis, sophomore RG Thomas Austin and sophomore DE Ricky Sapp are guys to keep an eye on down the road as well.

I want to thank Paul Strelow for taking the time to respond.....it is much appreciated!!!....tomorrow we will hear from Sam Farmer of The Los Angeles Times about Dwayne Jarrett and the USC players who are preparing for the draft.....

Five Good Questions with . . . John Davis of the Oxford (Miss) Eagle - NFL Draft

Today's segment of "Five Good Questions" is with John Davis of the Oxford (Miss) Eagle....John covers Ole Miss football and provided some feedback about Patrick Willis, the top rated inside linebacker in this year's NFL Draft....

Q1. Patrick Willis (photo) is considered the top inside linebacker in the country even though many people did not see Ole Miss play this year. What is your observation of Willis?
Willis is the best linebacker in the country simply because he is either making every play or in the vicinty when a tackle is made. He seems to be everywhere on the field. He also played through several injuries his junior year and nothing ever stopped his production. For a guy who grew up watching Miami Hurricane football in person, Willis is as good as Ray Lewis or Mike Barrow. He will be in the pros for many years.

Q2. Character and off-the-field activities are a hot topic in the NFL these days. What type of player is Willis off-the-field?
He is an outstanding character guy. He is a good student, always showed up for media interviews and donated his time to local charities and school children. There aren't too many better than Patrick.

Q3. Can Willis handle the speed in the NFL?
He ran the second fastest 40 time at the combine at 4.49. He's plenty fast and he has great anticiapation, which makes him even faster.

Q4. Besides Willis, what other Ole Miss player(s) should we keep an eye for this draft or even in future NFL drafts?
Yes, Rory Johnson should be a late round pick at linebacker. He had a good season, only played one year after transferring from JC, but is quick and has good size.

Q5. Which other SEC players can be considered "sleepers" in this year's draft who may have an impact in the NFL?
Quinton Culberson from Miss. State could be considered a sleeper. A lot of the SEC teams will have a bunch of players in the draft, but most are so well known, I don't know if they're sleepers or not.

I want to thank John Davis for taking the time to respond.....it is much appreciated!!!....tomorrow we will hear from Paul Strelow of The State newspaper in Columbia, S.C about the Clemson players, including stud defensive tackle Gaines Adams, who are preparing for the draft.....

A few Final Four thoughts

Here are my thoughts on the Final Four....

- I want Joakim Noah on my team....let’s be honest, the kid seems a little wacky but how many other All-American candidates go out and set picks or screens for his teammates?.....he is just as happy grabbing 10 rebounds and dishing out 5 assists instead of scoring 20 points....he plays with a controlled reckless abandon.... I could see him being the next Dennis Rodman at the next level....a player who will do all the dirty work for his team....

- It seemed as if Florida coasted through the first four games of the tournament....but when it came to the Final Four, they kicked it up a notch against UCLA and Ohio State....

- My favorite quote of the tournament - many people, including me, thought a hungry UCLA team would beat Florida after losing to them in last year’s title game.....before the game Noah commented, "be careful what you wish for"......he was right.....

- I assume Noah, Horford, Brewer, and Green will be leaving for the NBA even though they are only juniors....

- If Florida does lose those players, the Georgetown Hoyas will be the team to beat next year if Jeff Green or Roy Hibbert do not leave for the NBA.....

- Greg Oden - gone....

- Billy Donovan now has a tough decision to make - stay at Florida or go to Kentucky.....how many of his current Florida players return next season will be a factor.....say if all four Gators decide to forgo the NBA once again and try for a three-peat, then I believe Donovan stays.....but if the nucleus of his team leaves, look for Donovan to be in Kentucky blue next season....

Florida will repeat

Florida - 4.5 vs. Ohio State
Tonight Florida could make history by being the first team in 15 years to win back-to-back basketball titles....and I think Florida will do it, but there are some keys to the game....

1. The Gators must take control of the game early and not let Ohio State hang around....if the Buckeyes are, at worst, within 6-7 points with 10 minutes to go, the Gators are in trouble....

2. Florida must control Mike Conley.....let Greg Oden do what he wants, Conley is the key.....

3. The Gators must not let up.....even if Florida is up by 20 points, they cannot relax until the game is officially over.....Ohio State is on a lucky streak right now and things are rolling for them.....just ask Tennessee or Xavier.....if Florida gives Ohio State even a small opening, the Buckeyes will take it....

4. All the motivation favors Ohio State....the Gators whooped them earlier this year....plus OSU wants to avenge the BCS title game slaughter....

5. God will be making another trip to the Georgia Dome tonight.....the Gators cannot let him bother them....

In the end, Florida wins by 10.....

Put me in coach - Here are the 07 baseball predictions

PLAY BALL!!!....here are my predictions for the National League....
NL East
1. Phillies - Charlie Manuel may not make the season, but someone will push the right buttons with Howard, Utley, and Rollins in the lineup....Ryan Howard is the anti-Mark McGwire....don't be surprised if they trade for Mike Piazza late in the year since he is a Philly native....
2. Mets - the Mets will lead the division at the start, but they lack starting pitching....unless they trade for someone at the break, they will fall short.....thank goodness for the wilcard....will have to trade youngster Milledge for pitching....maybe Milledge and others to Cleveland for one of their pitchers - C.C.?
3. Braves - the A.T.L. may have the best pitching in the division....they need a big year from the Jones boys....
4. Marlins - will someone please tell me how you fire the Manager of the Year?.....
5. Nationals - it seems like years ago since that first year season in D.C......

NL Central
1. Brewers - the beer will be flowing in Milwaukee....
2. Cubs - you have to give ownership credit - they went out and got a good manager and spent for the best free agent.....
3. Cardinals - St. Louie got hot in the playoffs....but don’t forget they struggled down the stretch last season....
4. Astros - Lance Berkman will take the MVP this year.....
5. Pirates - things are starting to look up in Steeltown.....maybe the division next year?.....should have traded for Josh Hamilton....
6. Reds - speaking of Hamilton....he will be one of the few bright spots in the Queens City....

NL West
1. Dodgers - LA will win a playoff series this year -- and maybe more.....should dominate a weak division....
2. Padres - how much longer can Wells and Maddux go?......
3. Diamondbacks - Brandon Webb may be the best pitcher no one knows about.....have some good young players coming up....
4. Giants - its transition time in the Bay.....Bonds finishes with 32 homers....
5. Rockies - at trade deadline time, contenders will be lining up for the services of Todd Helton.....

NLDS
Dodgers over Mets
Phillies over Brewers
NLCS
Dodgers over Phillies

Now to the Junior Circuit....
AL East
1. Yankees - maybe Carl Pavano will do something before the end of his contract.....
2. Red Sox - you don’t spend all that money for D. Mat and not make the playoffs....after a year off, Beantown is back in the playoffs....Big Papi finally gets his MVP....
3. Blue Jays - they locked up Vernon Wells and have Roy Halliday as an ace and BJ Ryan as a closer....too bad they are stuck with the Yanks and Bosox....
4. Orioles - remember when the Orioles were always contenders....where have you Earl Weaver?...
5. Devil Rays - good young talent....but same old team.....I have 1 word - contraction!!!.....

AL Central
1. Twins - starting pitching is the key....after Santana, there is not much there....great hitting team with Mauer, Morneau, Cuddyer, Hunter, and Kubel.....a Greg Maddux would look good in a Twins uniform....
2. Tigers - lineup will be powerful with Sheffield on board.....pitching will be solid, but they will lose out to Boston for the wildcard....
3. White Sox - they key is Mark Buehrle....he was in the tank last year....Chisox still have very powerful middle of the order in Thome, Konerko, and Dye....
4. Indians - Sizemore is the best young player in the AL.....Hafner will crack 40+ homers....but their manager sucks....
5. Royals - give this team a few years....like the Pirates in the NL, their worst days are behind them.....two words - Alex Gordon!!!....

AL West
1. Angels - this team has some of the best young players with Brandon Wood, Howie Kendrick, Jered Weaver, etc.....and don't forget Vlad is still there....
2. Rangers - young pitcher Eric Hurley will give this team some hope....new manager Ron Washington is supposed to be a "player's manager".....
3. Athletics - Billy Beane cannot pull a rabbit out of the hat every year....plus this is the first year without a Hudson, Mulder, or Zito in the rotation....
4. Mariners - the most coveted prize at the trading deadline will be Ichiro....

ALDS
Twins over Red Sox
Yankees over Angels

ALCS
Twins over Yankees

World Series
Twins over Dodgers - what the heck....it takes some grapefruits to go with the Twins....

Final Four Predictions

After doing some yardwork and painting around the house, I now have time to give my predictions for today’s Final Four....

Georgetown -1 vs. Ohio State - from the beginning of the tournament I called for Georgetown to win the title, so I am not backing off now....however, Ohio State concerns me even though the Hoyas are the better team....but somehow the Buckeyes are on a lucky streak of late and we all know what could happen.....the 3 concerns I have are:
1. Georgetown ripped Ohio State last year in the second round of the tournament....even though most of the Buckeye players from that team are no longer there, I know Thad Matta is using that for motivation....
2. Like I stated earlier, Ohio State has been fortunate....a blown call in the Xavier game kept OSU alive....who knows what can happen now....
3. God will be in the house....yes, Jim Tressel will be at the game....
I still am going with Georgetown even though the sweatervested wonder will be at the Georgia Dome.....Georgetown by 6

Florida -3 vs. UCLA - in my brackets, I had Florida playing Georgetown for the title....but this Bruins team is playing some solid basketball and great defense.....for 1 year the Bruins have been stewing about the shellacking they took from the Gators in last year’s title game....very few college teams have an opportunity to redeem themselves by playing basically the same team 1 year later.....UCLA will take advantage of the situation.....Bruins by 1 point....

All I know, forget about Joakim Noah or Greg Oden stealing the show....the real show stopper is this UCLA cheerleader...WOW....

Five Good Questions with . . . David Andriesen of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Today’s segment of "Five Good Questions with . . . " is with Seattle Mariners beat reporter David Andriesen of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.....

Q1. With a history of erratic pitching, which Jeff Weaver did the Mariners sign, the one who pitched for the Cardinals in the World Series or the one who was cut by the Angels?
My first thought when they made that signing was, "Do they really not feel like they already have someone in the organization who can go out and lose 14 games next year -- and for the major league minimum instead of $8 million-plus?" But the Mariners are convinced he turned the corner when he was traded to St. Louis in the middle of last season. In talking with Jeff, it sounds like he really did get bogged down trying to make too many adjustments with the Angels and a lot of his problems were mental. He has not had a good spring, however, and will be the most expensive No. 5 starter in baseball.

Q2. The Mariners have almost $26 million tied up in their two corner infielders, Sexson and Beltre. Which of those two players do you think could be traded during the season if the Mariners fall out of contention?
Sexson is thought to be the more likely trade bait of the two. He doesn't hit for average but does hit a ton of home runs (just not in critical situations), which makes him appealing to other teams, especially someone with a smaller ballpark. The Mariners have several other options at first base, including Ben Broussard, who's on the bench but started for the Indians a year ago. Beltre brings the added dimension of terrific defense at a difficult position, and there is no obvious heir to third base in the organization.

Q3. Pitcher Mark Lowe was impressive last season with his fastball. How are the Mariners going to utilize him?
Mark's season ended prematurely with an elbow injury that has required two operations. He isn't expected back before midseason, and everyone will be holding their breath to see whether he comes back with the same stuff.

Q4. Will manager Mike Hargrove make it through this season?
Not unless they win and stay in the hunt for the division. The owner declared this winter that both Hargrove and GM Bill Bavasi are "on the hot seat," and the team brought in manager-in-waiting John McLaren, the No. 2 man behind Lou Piniella during Seattle's best years, as bench coach. If this team comes out of the gate 7-22 or something, Grover is probably history.

Q5. Who is the best minor league player coming up for the Mariners and when will he make it to The Show?
Baseball America says it's outfielder Adam Jones, a converted shortstop who is still learning to play center field and didn't hit in a major league stint last year. They need him to be ready to take over in case they trade Ichiro at the trading deadline or lose him after the season (he's in the last year of his contract with talks at a standstill). Last year's first-round draft pick, right-hander Brandon Morrow, absolutely blew everyone away this spring and it looks like he's going to make the team as a reliever despite having only a handful of minor league games under his belt.

I want to thank David Andriesen for taking the time to respond.....it is much appreciated!!!!

Five Good Questions with . . . Jim Souhan of the Minneapolis-Star Tribune

This is the first installment of a new segment on Stiles Points called "Five Good Questions with . . . .".....the purpose of the segment is to get an in-depth opinion of people who are involved with sports.....today’s segment is with Jim Souhan, sports columnist of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune....Souhan began writing for the Star-Tribune in 1990 and has covered the Vikings and Twins....we asked Souhan five questions about this year’s Minnesota Twins....

Q1. There is talk that this may be Torii Hunter's last season with the Twins, if he should go elsewhere, who are some of the young candidates to take his place? Is Denard Span a possibility?
Span is almost a lock to be Torii's successor, and Torii knows it. He flew Denard to his home in Texas this winter for workouts and career guidance. Torii is looking for a big contract, and the Twins are trying to figure out how they're going to afford Santana, Mauer, Morneau and Nathan. Span most likely will be the Twins' leadoff hitter and centerfielder next opening day.

Q2. Have the Twins done a good enough job to patch-up the rotation with Francisco Liriano out for the season?
No. They're starting the season with three veterans who have spotty resumes at best. Carlos Silva has looked terrible this spring. Ramon Ortiz has looked OK, but he's had four straight poor seasons. Sidney Ponson actually looks the best of the three, but he's a rather unpredictable chap. He once punched an Aruban judge in a beach fight. Not many big-league pitchers can say that. Boof Bonser is a solid young pitcher who should be fourth or fifth in the rotation. In this rotation, he's second.

Q3. What type of spring training did young pitchers Boof Bonser and Matt Garza have?
Bonser has been fine. Matt Garza looked dynamic but the Twins want to see him develop better command of his off-speed pitches, so he's been sent to the minors. He, Glen Perkins and Kevin Slowey will compete to be the first pitcher called up.

Q4. Does Ron Gardenhire get enough credit for the job he does year-in and year-out?
He's very good at running the clubhouse and instilling a sense of cameraderie and daily competitiveness in his players. Tom Kelly was a better strategist, but then TK was better than almost anyone at in-game strategy. Gardenhire and pitching coach Rick Anderson also have excelled at pasting together rotations that survive and bullpens than excel.

Q5. Will Johan Santana, Joe Mauer, and Justin Morneau be with the Twins for their entire career, or will the move on like so many other good Twins players?
I can't see the Twins ever letting St. Paul Joe (Mauer) leave. Morneau wants to stay, and I think that's probably (going to happen). Santana will want about $20 million a year, and I can't see how the Twins can afford to invest 30 percent of their payroll in a guy who plays 33 times a year. Closer Joe Nathan should be a priority, because with him the bullpen is exceptional, and without him it could collapse.

I want to thank Jim Souhan for taking the time to respond to the questions.....it is nice that he took a few minutes to help out a blogger....

Why do people hate the Florida Gators?

Sometimes you just can’t win.....

Florida is the most hated team left in the Big Dance.....it is understandable why most people would feel that way because of the Gators success on the court with their showboating superstar in Joakim Noah and slick coach Billy Donovan.... basically, American sports fans hate successful teams....

Even though I picked Georgetown to win the tournament, it would still be nice to see the Gators win back-to-back titles because players like Noah, Al Horford, Corey Brewer, and Taurean Green all by-passed the big money of the NBA last year in order to comeback to try and win another title....

Now if these players all chose to opt for the NBA, after beating UCLA to win the title last season, the majority of sports fans would have called them money hungry and cried for the days of their youth when players stayed in college for four years....

From what I read about Noah, off the court he is a very engaging person who is smart and has many opinions about world events and societal problems....Noah could be considered a "model" student-athlete....he’s a young person who is not only a talented athlete but a talented person in class....also, I have yet to hear any of these four players names linked to arrests, DUIs, drugs, etc that can be found with other successful college athletes....

So after this tournament, Noah, Horford, Brewer, and Green have another decision to make....being they are all juniors, the Fab Four can decide to comeback and try for a possible three-peat (if they win this year).....

But no matter what choice they make, they will be vilified for it....

Remembering Al McGuire

Every year during the NCAA Tournament I always think about former Marquette head basketball coach Al McGuire....

McGuire was a street tough Irishman who was a quirky odd bird of sort....he came from the hard streets of New York City and started his coaching career at a little school in North Carolina called Belmont Abbey....

Of course, he gained his notoriety as the head coach of then Marquette Warriors....it has been 30 years since McGuire won his only national title at Marquette in his last game as head coach.....his team, led by Butch Lee and Jerome Whitehead, beat Dean Smith’s North Carolina 67-59 in Atlanta, where this year’s Final Four will be held....

McGuire was a different coach alright.....over 90 percent of all his players eventually graduated from college.....he recruited his players from inner cities....he once said, "My rule was I wouldn’t recruit a kid if he had grass in front of his house. My world was a cracked sidewalk....

He cared about his players.....while at Marquette, one of his best players Jim Chones had to make a decision whether to leave school early and enter the NBA draft or stay for another year....Chones grew up dirt poor and had five younger siblings....McGuire told him, :"When I look into my refrigerator and then I look into Jimmy’s - I told him - take the money"....

After retiring, McGuire probably gained greater fame as a college basketball analyst for NBC and later CBS....

Who could ever forget his screams of "Ahhhhhhhhhhhh......Holy Mackerel!!!....Holy Mackerel!!!"...after Georgia Tech stunned Southern Cal with a buzzer beater shot in the 1992 tournament...

There was the other time when he started dancing with the Syracuse players and fell down on his behind....

Basketball was his trade, but he was passionate about other things such as riding his motorcyle or collecting toy soldiers.....he loved seashells, balloons, clowns, and weepy country songs...

McGuire died in 2001 from leukemia.....in his last few days, after being hooked up to IVs for over two weeks, McGuire’s long time friend and former assistant Rick Majerus came to visit him....McGuire disconnected all his IVs and asked Majerus to get him a hamburger with onions and a hot fudge sundae....he was determined to go out "his way....

They don’t make them like Al McGuire anymore....

So this weekend, when the Final Four is about to tip-off, raise a frosty glass of beer to Al McGuire in honor of the 30th anniversary of Marquette winning the national title...

The last title game rematch - Duke-UNLV

The early line is out....Florida is favored by 3 ½ over UCLA.....the Georgetown-Ohio State game is Pick....
UCLA has waited an entire year to erase the thumping they received from Florida in last year’s title game.....
1991 was the last time there was a rematch of the previous year’s championship game.....the rematch also took place in the semifinals when defending champ and undefeated UNLV played Duke....
The two teams met in the 1990 title game with the Runnin Rebels routing Duke 103-73.....the Rebels were led by Larry Johnson, Stacey Augmon, Greg Anthony, and Anderson Hunt while the Blue Devils had Christian Laettner, Bobby Hurley, Grant Hill, and Thomas Hill....
While Jerry Tarkanian’s Rebels were routing everyone they played in 1991, Duke had one eye on a possible rematch....it happened in the semifinals in Indianapolis....
As you know, Duke got its revenge by beating UNLV, then two nights later, Coach K got his first championship by beating Kansas.....
Both Billy Donovan of Florida and Ben Howland of UCLA should remind their team about that 1991 Duke-UNLV game.....it is an interesting history lesson for both teams....

In some other tidbits.....most people assumed Tony Kornheiser would not be back in the Monday Night Football booth for ESPN.....but it was reported this morning by Newsday that Joe Theismann got the boot.....the report stated that Ron Jaworski or Bill Parcells may replace Theismann....

What was Warren Buffett doing at a Cleveland Cavaliers game on Sunday night?.....

If you ask me, this great tandem of Carmelo Anthony and Allen Iverson has not blossomed as expected.....the Nuggets are still 6th in the Western Conference.....

Did North Carolina drop a bomb in the last five minutes of regulation or what???.....that has to be one of the worst five minutes ever for a Roy Williams coached team....

What about Duke ACC Player of the Year Lyndsey Harding.....on Saturday, Harding had a chance to win the game for the Lady Blue Devils.....down by 1 point against Rutgers with a tenth of a second left, Harding, the All-American, went to the free throw line for two shots.....yep, she shot two bricks.....Duke finished the season with only 2 losses, but nothing to show for it....they did not win the ACC Tournament and failed to make the Final Four....

Kobe Bryant is finally DA MAN!!!

Kobe Bryant is finally happy....after years of playing second fiddle to Shaq, Kobe is now Da Man in Los Angeles.....
On Friday, Kobe scored 50 or more points for the fourth straight game – a mark that only Wilt Chamberlain accomplished....
Kobe has three World Championship rings....so he is in no rush to try and chase after an elusive title like that of Kevin Garnett, Steve Nash, or Jason Kidd....its all about Kobe – 24/7/365....for now, I believe Kobe is more concerned about getting his name in the record books.....

The Houston Texans made a good move by trading for Atlanta back-up quarterback Matt Schaub.....nothing against former Houston quarterback David Carr....Carr is still young and could be successful if on a more experienced team with an actual offensive line to protect him....
Maybe Carr accepts a role as a back-up for a year or two and then take over as the starter....a team that might fit that bill is Carolina....Jake Delhomme is the starter, but he is on the backside of his career....and as was evident late last season, the Panthers need a quality back-up if Delhomme should suffer an injury....

It was time for Tubby Smith to move on from Kentucky.....he was never truly accepted as the head coach in Basketball Capital USA.....Smith had to always defend his coaching ability while at Kentucky.....if he could turn around the dismal Minnesota basketball program, Smith will no longer have to answer any of his critics....

Some names mentioned to replace Tommy Amaker as the head coach of Michigan are Sean Miller of Xavier and Bruce Pearl of Tennessee.....both are good coaches, but I would be hesitant to have them lead Michigan basketball after both coaches could not seal the deal against Ohio State in the tournament.....Michigan already has enough experience with coaches who play Ohio State tough, but somehow always come up short.....

I am also hesitant about Miller after he was not vocal about the blatant no-intentional foul call last Saturday against Greg Oden......maybe Miller did not want to grandstand his mentor, Thad Matta.....but I am sorry, he needed to be more vocal about the official’s poor call....basically, Michigan needs a coach who flat-out hates Ohio State....

Elite 8 Call
Ohio State -3 vs. Memphis - the Buckeyes are fortunate to be in this situation after two lucky victories....I don’t see them "lucking out" again....Memphis plays in a weak Conference USA....Buckeyes win by at least 8 points today....

Kansas -2 vs. UCLA - like OSU, Kansas is also fortunate to be playing after their lackluster effort against Southern Illinois.....even though Kansas is the higher seed, UCLA is basically playing in their backyard in San Jose.....I just think Kansas is due to make the Final Four under Bill Self.....it will be a close game, but Kansas wins by 5.....

Is it 2002 again?

Have I been asleep for the past five years???....

I thought it's 2007, but after watching the last two games Ohio State played in the basketball tournament, I swear it is 2002....

Ohio State fans know 2002 pretty well.....that is the year their football team undeservingly won the BCS title....

That is the year when they won 7 games by 7 points or less.....the season when they would convert of fourth down when they had to, but their opponent couldn’t....

Another similarity is that an official played a role in one of their victories....Buckeye fans, you know that was not pass interference in the Fiesta Bowl and that was an intentional foul by Oden....

If this is a 2002 season all over again, God played a major role in it after his inspirational speech in January....
Maybe....just maybe this team is destined to win it....sometimes the best team does not always win....

God Spoke to Brother Thad's Team

Back in January after Ohio State lost to Wisconsin, head basketball coach Thad Matta was befuddled about his team....the Buckeyes had three losses on the season and was preparing to host nationally ranked Tennessee in the "mecca of basketball" - Columbus, Ohio....
After much gut wrenching thought and prayer, an idea came to Brother Thad....."let me ask God to intervene"....
So Brother Thad scurried to the gates of heaven at the Hayes Football Complex....there he fell to his knees and ask God himself if he would be kind enough to speak to his feeble basketball team.....after saying 20 Hail Tressels, God smiled and agreed to assist Brother Thad in his dilemma....
God pulled on his grey sweatervest and adjusted the American flag pin on his shirt and away he went as he walked across the Olentangy River to meet with the basketball team...
Brother Thad’s prayers were answered....as God spoke to the Goliath-like players, not a dry eye could be found in the Buckeye lockers....before his eyes, he saw his young men become enlightened and strengthened to the point of where they broke out in song -- Carmen, Ohio....
Brother Thad has proclaimed that the speech was one of the greatest talks he has ever heard.....
Since then, Ohio State has not lost a basketball game....they have risen to the heights of number 1 in the nation....just last week, God’s work came through again as a referee suddenly, and mysteriously, was unable to move his arms in the position of an intentional foul....
Yes all non-believers.....God is here on earth -- and he resides in Columbus....

Why March is Magical

Each year CBS concludes its coverage of the tournament with its traditional "One Shining Moment" clip of highlights from March Madness....
However, right before the clip begins, to me, the best part of the entire tournament is when CBS takes a few minutes to roll its credits while showing the winning team cutting down the nets....the raw emotion and excitement from not only the players, but also the cheerleaders, fans, and parents is unmatched....
What makes this also a special moment is that each player, no matter if he is the star or a walk-on 12th man, climbs the ladder and gets his opportunity to cut a piece of the nets....that is every kid’s dream from the time they are shooting baskets in their driveway or in a park....for that one moment, they get to take those few steps up the ladder and be acknowledged for their contribution....all the hard work and sacrifice was worth it....
This is best shown in a clip I found on Youtube from the 1987 tournament when Indiana beat Syracuse.....back then, even the losing team remained on the floor and awaited the presentation of the runner-up trophy....when watching this clip, just look at the contrasting emotions between Syracuse and Indiana....look at their eyes....look at the excitement....look at their faces...
This is why March Madness is great

One Shining Moment 1987

Ranking the Sweet 16

1. Kansas - the Jayhawks are playing the best ball....they are kinda like on the same roll Florida was last season....
2. North Carolina - Tyler Hansbrough (photo) may "will" this team to the title...he has been a monster...
3. Georgetown - I still believe the Hoyas will win it all....Roy Hibbert and Jeff Green can take over a game....
4. UCLA - they almost blew the Indiana game....the Bruins have the experience of making it to the finals last year....
5. Florida - this is flat-out the most talented team left, but it seems like they have a lack of focus at times.....they need to step it up....
6. Tennessee - the Vols will beat Ohio State....they are a seasoned team who played in a tough conference....Lofton is a legit leader...
7. Ohio State - over-rated!!!.....they played in a weak conference and lucked out against Xavier....
8. Texas A&M - the Aggies proved something to me by beating Louisville in Lexington....
9. UNLV - the Rebels impressed me with Kruger and Umoh running the show...plus head coach Lon Kruger has been to the Final Four before....
10. Memphis - the Tigers have the impressive numbers - 30+ wins....but the competitions gets tougher now....
11. Pitt - the Panthers are capable of beating UCLA....but then I could see them getting smoked by Kansas.....plus, they could not close the door on VCU the other day....
12. Southern Illinois - Tatum and Falker have been impressive this season....
13. Butler - A.J. Graves baby!!!....if the Bulldogs have the lead late in the game, Graves is the best free throw shooter in the land...
14. Vanderbilt - Derrick Byars (photo) is the best player no one has heard of....Byars, not Noah, Horford, Lofton, etc, was the SEC Player of the Year....
15. Oregon - the Ducks stop quacking....
16. Southern Cal - the Trojans have made a nice run....but it ends now....

Tournament Quick Hits

Now that the first two rounds are done, here are some tournament thoughts....
The tournament committee made a massive error by putting Arkansas and Stanford in the tournament....both teams were not competitive in their first round losses....
Syracuse, Kansas State, or even Akron should have been selected before Arkansas and Stanford....
It seemed as if Florida was not playing hard in their win over Purdue....
Just like in football, the Big 10 was the most over-rated conference....Wisconsin and Ohio State were ranked in the top 5 most of the year because the conference lacked strong teams who were consistent throughout the year....
Wisconsin got bounced yesterday by UNLV and by rights, they should have lost on Friday to Texas A&M Corpus-Christi....
I wonder what Jerry Tarkanian is doing?....
Ohio State needed help from a referee’s no-call to survive against Xavier....
Tennessee will beat Ohio State on Thursday night....
Greg Oden reminds of Robert Parrish....
Kansas has been the most impressive team so far....
There are no double-digit seeded teams left...
For the first time, all number 5 seeds survived their first round game against the 12 seed...
Tyler Hansbrough is the best center in college basketball this year....