NFL Draft Preview - New England Patriots

New England Patriots - Bill Belichick

Despite being the defending champions, the Pats have some holes to fill . . . New England lost Joe Andruzzi on the offensive line, Ty Law at corner, and Roman Phifer at linebacker due to free agency/salary cap casualties . . . then there was the unexpected health condition of linebacker Tedi Bruschi, who may not play this season . . .

This team has some work to do during Saturday's draft . . . speculation from the draft experts indicate the Patriots will be going with a cornerback with the last pick of the first round (number 32 overall) . . . that may be the wise move, but much like the Steelers who also have concerns at corner, there is an abundance of depth at corner in this year's draft, so don't be surprised if the Patriots look elsewhere in the first round . . .

It would not surprise me if the Patriots selected Michigan offensive lineman David Baas because of his versatality on the line . . . Baas started at guard for the Wolverines then moved to center last season and was co-winner of the Rimington Award . . . Baas has been impressive during workouts and has a the mean streak that offensive linemen need . . .

Everything may be pointing to the Patriots taking a cornerback at number 32, but don't be surprised if they go with Baas or another offensive lineman . . .

Death of two sports figures

On Monday the sports world lost two sports figures . . . 45-year-old Sam Mills died from cancer of the intestines . . . Mills was a former All-Pro linebacker for the Saints and Panthers

Also on Monday, former college basketball coach Clarence "Big House" Gaines died from complications of stroke which he suffered on Saturday . . . Gaines, who was 81-years-old, coached for 47 seasons at Winston-Salem State where he rang up 828 wins which ranks him fifth all-time on the NCAA career list behind Dean Smith, Adolph Rupp, Bob Knight, and Jim Phelan . . .

Deceiving score

It's true that the Yankee bats woke up last night after The Boss' mandate after getting their clocks cleaned by Baltimore this weekend . . . New York smoked Tampa Bay 19-8, however Yankee fans should not be breathing easier . . . luckily the offense erupted for 13 runs in the second inning because once again Jaret Wright had another poor performance on the mound . . .

Wright pitched 5.1 innings and gave up 11 hits and 8 earned runs . . . as I have said before, and will continue to say throughout the season, New York made a big mistake by giving this head case a three-year contract worth $7 million a year . . . he was garbage in Cleveland and lucky in Atlanta . . .

Take away the 13 runs that were scored in the second inning, and the Yanks lose 8-6 . . . The Boss should not be pleased with what he has seen from his pitching staff so far this season . . . tonight Randy Johnson starts for the Bombers . . . he has been unimpressive so far this year . . .

There is only 1 Kojak

USA Network is bringing back the old detective series Kojak with Ving Rhames as the star . . . Rhames may be a good actor but there is only one Theo Kojak and that is Telly Savalas, my Greek phillo (friend)

This past weekend I bought the first season of the original Kojak at DVD . . . Savalas was one smooth dude as Kojak . . . also starring on the show was Savalas' brother who played Stavros, another NYPD detective . . .

Funny thing though, I've watched seven episodes and he has yet to put a lollipop in his mouth and say "Who Loves Ya, Baby"

Telly Savalas was a man among men

NBC gets back on the field

CNBC's Maria Bartiromo reported that NBC Sports will be broadcasting Sunday night football as part of the new network deal with the NFL . . . Developing . . .

The Boss irked at team's awful play

After a horrible 1-5 road trip where the Yankees got swept by the Orioles and smoked by the World Champion Red Sox, "The Boss" finally spoke up -- and rightfully so . . . the Yankees pitching staff has been shredded . . . there is not one consistent starter while the bullpen is even worse . . . look for reliever Tom Gordon to be gone soon if he does not improve . . . after being rattled in the playoffs last year against the Twins and Red Sox, Gordon has picked up where he's left off . . . on Saturday he came in and gave up a three run homer which cost the Yankees the game . . .

N.Y. Daily News

NFL Draft Preview - Pittsburgh Steelers

Pittsburgh Steelers - Bill Cowher

The Pittsburgh Steelers are in a good spot at number 30 . . . if by some chance a player slides, the Steelers could be there waiting with open arms to grab him . . . who could forget when the Miami Dolphins snatched up a quarterback named Marino late in the first round after he kept sliding . . .

Otherwise, the Steelers need to improve their cornerbacks . . . Deshea Townsend and Willie Williams are the starters and second year corner Ricardo Colclough is a future starter . . . but the Steelers are one injury away from trouble at this position . . . and who is to say that Townsend and Williams play as well as they did last year . . .

The two studs coming out of college at the corner position are Pac Man Jones from West Virginia and Antrel Rolle from Miami – these guys will be long gone by the time Pittsburgh selects at number 30 . . . Auburn’s Carlos Rogers is the next rated corner, however some pre-draft sheets have Rogers being taken as early as number 15 to Kansas City and as late as the last pick in the first round . . . more than likely Rogers will be off the board by number 30 . . . if he is there – take him!!

That leaves Bill Cowher with a plethora of next level corners such as Fabian Washington, Marlin Jackson, Justin Miller, and Eric Green . . . because of the depth at this position in the draft, the Steelers may go another direction if Rogers if off the board and wait to snag a corner later in the draft . . .

Mel Kiper has the Steelers taking tight end Heath Miller from Virginia . . . however, I can see Cowher rolling the dice here and reaching a bit to take the multi-talented Matt Jones from Arkansas . . . Jones, who is 6-6 and ran the 40 in 4.40, was a quarterback at Arkansas and is projected as either a tight end or wide receiver in the NFL . . . a few months ago Jones was looking at being selected in the fifth round, but he has been impressive in individual workouts . . . he is a work in progress, but the type of player Cowher likes ala Slash Stewart, Hines Ward, and Antwaan Randle El . . .

The Steelers go with Jones here . . .

As far as addressing their need at corner, the Steelers can draft some raw talent later in draft by taking someone like Karl Paymah from Washington State or Stanford Routt from Houston . . . both players have size and great speed . . . there is also Daven Holley from Cincinnati . . . remember, last year in the second round Pittsburgh took Colclough from a little known school . . .

I see the Steelers draft shaking down like this:
30th pick - Matt Jones, wr/te, Arkansas
62nd pick - best cornerback
93rd pick - best running back

Next I preview the defending champion New England Patriots

NFL Draft Preview - Cleveland Browns

Cleveland Browns - Romeo Crennel

In less than a week the third new era of the "new" Cleveland Browns will begin . . . there was the failed tenure of Chris Palmer and Dwight Clark . . . then came the knight in shining armor, Butch Davis and his can-do ego . . . now the Romeo Crennel and Phil Savage era begins with their first NFL draft as the head honchos of the Browns . . .

General manager Savage has a decision to make . . . all pre-draft sites point to the Browns taking Utah quarterback Alex Smith . . . however, I’m not sold on this pick . . . first round quarterbacks are a dime a dozen and a risk unless your name is Peyton Manning or Carson Palmer . . . I think it is even a bigger risk taking a quarterback with a pick as high as the third overall . . . this year's draft does not have a stud q.b. to justify taking him at number 3 . . .

Look at some of the quarterbacks who have led their team to the Super Bowl in recent years: Brady, Delhomme, Warner, Collins, Gannon, Dilfer . . . who was that last guy? . . . yeh, Trent Dilfer who is now the Browns quarterback . . . I know that Dilfer and Collins were first round draft choices, but they made it to the Super Bowl after they flopped with their original team was claimed off the scrap heap . . . in this year’s draft, a quarterback would be a good choice if the Browns had, say the 10th or 14th overall pick, not the 3rd overall pick . . .

In what direction does boy genius Savage go? . . .

All signs point that the Dolphins will pick Auburn workhorse running back Ronnie Brown with the second pick . . . . unless Nick Saban is throwing up a smoke screen, this looks like a done deal . . . however, if Saban is bluffing and passes on Brown, then Cleveland should not hesitate and take the Auburn back . . . since returning in 1999, the Browns lacked a true stud in the backfield . . . William Green was a risky pick a few years back because of his off-the-field problems . . .

Also, I am not sold on newly acquired back Rueben Droughns from Denver . . . is Droughns the real deal or is he another by-product of the Denver running system, such as Olandis Gary and Clinton Portis? . . . if Brown is there – take him . . . if Brown is slow to develop, Savage has himself an insurance policy in Droughns and Lee Suggs . . .

Realistically though, it looks like Brown will be a Dolphin . . . so what now? . . .

The Browns could trade down and acquire additional draft picks . . . that may be the smart move . . . this team has a lot of holes to fill . . . they need another offensive lineman and they could snatch an Alex Barron or Jammal Brown in the mid-first round . . . they also need a linebacker and Texas’ Derrick Johnson leads the list . . . he could possibly be taken around the 8th to 11th pick . . . to take him at number three would be a reach . . . Savage could slide down a bit and gamble that Johnson would be there at 7, 8 or 9 . . .

Maybe a trade could be made with Minnesota at number 7 being that the Vikings want either Braylon Edwards or Mike Williams at wide receiver . . . and it is quite possible both could be gone by then . . .

If the Browns cannot work a deal and are stuck with the third pick they may have to look at a playmaker such as Edwards . . . yes Browns fans, you may have to root for a Michigan player . . . since 1999, the Browns have draft a ton of average receivers who turned out to be busts . . . I’m sorry, but Dennis Northcutt and Andre Davis do not strike fear in cornerbacks . . . Edwards would be the first bona fide stud at a skill position for the Browns in many years . . .

If the Browns stay with the third pick, I say take Edwards . . .

In the second round Cleveland can address their need for a future quarterback by taking Auburn’s Jason Campbell . . . Campbell has been impressive since leading the Tigers to a perfect season in 2004 . . . he has also impressed the NFL teams during workouts . . . if Campbell is gone by the 34th pick, then Cleveland could look to build their offensive line by taking a David Baas, Ray Willis or Chris Spencer . . .

They should not consider taking Akron quarterback Charlie Frye just because he is from northeast Ohio . . . reports indicate that Frye has small hands and lacks zip on the ball . . . if Campbell is gone, the Browns should hold off and consider taking former Florida State quarterback Adrian McPherson or Georgia q.b. David Greene later . . .

McPherson has all the tools to be a stud, but he has a checkered past while in Tallahassee . . . it seems that McPherson finally has his head on straight and could be a steal in round 3 or 4 . . .

Predictions:
3rd overall pick - Braylon Edwards, wr, Michigan
34th overall pick - Jason Campbell, qb, Auburn
67th overall pick - Chris Canty, dl, Virginia
103rd overall pick - best offensive lineman on the board

During the course of the week I will be previewing Saturday’s NFL Draft . . . my next column will be a look at the Pittsburgh Steelers

Baseball Tidbits

USA Today's Hal Bodley chats with President Bush about baseball

Hal Bodley

The Cubs Dusty Baker preaches to reporters

Jay Mariotti

Happy McBirthday

Today is the 50th birthday of McDonald's . . . even though the cheapskates did not offer the public any deal, such as maybe 50 cent cheeseburgs or 50 cent fries, here are some interesting facts about this American institution:

- Ray Kroc may have been the founder McDonald's, but he wasn't alone in hatching his idea of fast food burgers . . . Richard and Maurice McDonald were pioneers of McDonald's and the quick service restaurant industry . . . Kroc was the founder of McDonald's Corporation . . . Richard and Maurice McDonald converted their barbecue drive-in with car hops into the world's first McDonald's limited-menu, self-service, drive-in in 1948, in San Bernardino, California . . . in 1954, Ray Kroc was granted exclusive U.S. franchising rights by the brothers . . . he opened his first McDonald's in Des Plaines, Illinois in April 1955

- McDonald's first mascot was not Ronald McDonald -- it was "Speedee" a smiling chef with a hamburger head

- Willard Scott was the first Ronald McDonald

- In 1955 a hamburger cost 15 cents and fries were 10 cents

- The famous Big Mac was introduced in 1968 by Jim Delligatti, one of Ray Kroc's earliest franchisees, who by the late 1960s operated a dozen stores in Pittsburgh

Odds on the next Pope

Now that March Madness is over and you have a couple of dollars burning in your pocket -- you don't have to wait until the Kentucky Derby on May 7th . . . the hottest betting going on right now is on who is going to be the next Pope . . . the BBC ran a story about all the betting taking place on who is going to be the next Pope (see link below)

BBC - Odds on the Pope

CURRENT ODDS

A realiable source has provided me with the current odds in Antigua . . . as of this morning, Dionigi Tettamanzi is the favorite -- a $10 bet would get you $20 . . . here are the frontrunners:

Tettamanzi (Italy) - $10 to win $20

Francis Arinze (Nigeria) - 10/30

Oscar Rodriguez Maradiago (Honduras) - 10/50

Joseph Ratzinger (Germany) - 10/50

Jaime Lucas Ortega y Alamino (Cuba) - 10/100

Also, if you still have a few more bucks and want to bet on what will be the name of the next Pope, here are your odds on that:

Benedict - 10/30

John - 10/30

John Paul - 10/50

Pius - 10/60

Andrew - 10/100

The odds on the next Pope being over 70 years old is high - you have to place $30 just to win $10 . . .

Get to your piggy banks and let the betting begin!!

Health Minute - The top killers in men and women

The leading cause of death in women are as follows:
1. Heart disease - most people think cancer is the top killer in women - NOT!
2. Cancer
3. Stroke
4. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) - example - bronchitis, emphysema
5. Alzheimer's disease
6. Diabetes
7. Accidents

The leading cause of death in men are as follows:
1. Heart disease
2. Cancer
3. Accidents
4. Stroke
5. COPD
6. Diabetes
7. Influenza and pneumonia

Clinton finds a friend

Interesting column about Bill Clinton and the Bush Boys - Boston Globe

The Kings get their Rings - Boston Globe

Yankees show class - N.Y. Daily News

Kids cuss too much - Washington Post

A look back at Tiger's run - Washington Post

One week complete

Here are some thoughts after one week of baseball:

On the Indians
- Aaron Boone may be a steal for the Tribe . . . he played well in the field and is hitting at the plate . . . general manager Mark Shapiro did well by signing the injured Boone last August
- he may never be an All-Star, but Casey Blake is just a plain ole simple baseball player . . . this guy can play any position . . . offensively, he is a solid hitter
- the Tribe propoganda team (aka Cleveland media) built up shortstop Jhonny (yes it is spelled that way) Peralta during spring training . . . he was supposed to be the next Barry Larkin . . . through four games played, Peralta has committed four errors . . . it's funny how the Cleveland media failed to mention that Peralta is a liability in the field
- the Indians better hope that Dave Riske and Arthur Rhodes can close games because Bob Wickman will not make it through the entire season as a closer

By the way, whatever happened to John Rocker? . . .

On the Yankees
- from day one I have stated that the Yankees made a mistake by signing pitcher Jaret Wright . . . Wright had one good season -- and that was last year in the National League . . . 1 good season!!! . . . Wright is a headcase who couldn't handle the pressure when the Indians fans got on his case -- what is he going to do when the New York fans start on him? . . .
- the Yankees Mariano Rivera better get ready to hear the chant "Who's your daddy" during his next appearance at Fenway Park . . . the Red Sox have gotten into the head of the greatest closer of all time
- Bernie Williams is in the last year of his contract with the team . . . he has gotten off to a terrible start batting .063 and has stranded runners in scoring position often

Other nuggets
- Tampa Bay's Jorge Cantu had three homers during the week . . . I say he won't finish with 20 on the year . . .
- are the Angels officially the Los Angeles Angels???? . . . I lost track . . .

Series of the Week
Yankees @ Red Sox - the Yankees head into Fenway on Monday after beating the World Champs 2 out 3 last week . . . on Monday the Sox players get their World Series rings and raise the championship banner . . . the Yankees players should sit in the dugout and watch the ceremony to refresh their memories after choking last October . . . here are the possible pitching match-ups

Monday - Mussina vs. Wakefield - Yankees win
Wednesday - Wright vs. Arroyo - Red Sox win
Thursday - Johnson vs. Schilling - Yankees win

Prediction - Yankees will take 2 of the 3 games

Final Call

Illinois vs. North Carolina

These two teams have been eyeing each other since December....both teams can claim they are a team of "destiny"....these are the two best teams in the country.....Carolina has a great inside game with Sean May, but I have seen them struggle from the three point stripe quite often this year which could come back to hurt them....

Even though they beat Louisville on Saturday, I think the Illini relied a bit much on Dee Brown, Luther Head, and Deron Williams shooting the three ball.....Illinois has to get a bit more points in the paint tonight....

My pick is Illinois because of the three-headed monster of Brown, Head, and Williams

Illinois 87-81
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For more information on the Master's golf tournament this week, check out it's website:

The Masters

National League Predictions

National League

East
1. Marlins - the Fishies are back -- they added Delgado for power and Leiter for depth on the staff -- if Beckett and Burnett can pitch to their potential, the Fish will contend for best record in N.L.
2. Braves - everyone learned a lesson last year -- never ever count out Atlanta as long as Bobby Cox and Leo Mazzone are in the dugout -- 45-year-old Julio Franco is a freak of nature
3. Mets - Omar Minaya made some noise in his first off-season as the new G.M. -- Pedro and Beltran give the Flushing crowd something to get excited about -- the young third baseman Wright is supposed to be a STUD -- Mets hurt themselves though by trading young pitcher Kazmir last July -- that will bite them for many years to come
4. Phillies - Jimmy Rollins is the best shortstop in the National League -- Thome is good for about 45 boomers -- Phils will trade closer Billy Wagner for prospects
5. Nationals - baseball is back in D.C.!!!!!

Central
1. Cardinals - they now have Mark Mulder on the pitching staff -- Rolen is still nursing injuries at third base -- they have a new middle infield too -- but Cards win division
2. Astros - the loss of Berkman hurts -- the loss of Beltran hurts -- that equals a second place finish
3. Cubs - this is the most frustrating team -- they have a great 1-2-3 on the staff in Prior, Woods, and Zambrano -- but the first two are always hurt -- the Cubs will feel the loss of Moises Alou more than the loss of Sammy
4. Pirates - the Bucs played with a lot of spirit last year -- maybe, just maybe they can start to see the light at the end of the tunnel
5. Brewers - in two years the Brewhahas will win the division -- they have a stud pitcher in Sheets -- three young studs coming up Fielder (1b), Weeks (2b). Hardy (ss) -- watch this team
6. Reds - this team has no hope

West
1. Padres - I had the Giants to win this division until Bonds began pouting -- Jake Peavy is a young solid starter -- the Padres will win by playing small ball in this spacious park
2. Giants - I love the acquisition of Moises Alou -- if Bonds was here, the Giants may win everything -- but who knows what is going on
3. Dodgers - Dodgers take a step back after making the playoffs last year
4. Diamondbacks - spent some money to get the fans interested again -- still a work in progress
5. Rockies - besides Todd Helton and Preston Wilson, I can't name anyone else on this team -- the Rockies should be contracted -- no one cares about baseball in Denver

NLDS
Cardinals over Braves
Marlins over Padres

NLCS
Marlins over Cardinals

World Series
Yankees over Marlins

American League Predictions

American League
East
1. Yankees - the Yanks win the East -- but Boston still gets the wildcard -- Giambi will improve this season now that he got rid of all those muscles -- A. Rod will win the MVP
2. Red Sox - the Beantown Boys want to show that last year was not a fluke
3. Devil Rays - B.J. Upton is one of the best youngsters in the game -- Aubrey Huff is the best unknown player in the game -- Devil Rays will improve -- Kazmir is a good young arm
4. Orioles - one and done in Baltimore for Sammy
5. Blue Jays - who are half of these players?

Central
1. Tigers - I am not drunk -- the Tigers will win the division -- they have good young pitchers in Bonderman and Maroth -- Magglio and Pudge are a solid in the 3-4 hole -- Dimitri Young adds the spirit ala Boston's Kevin Millar
2. Twins - Minnesota loses Koskie and Guzman -- Twins will be a good team -- but its the Tigers year
3. Indians - somehow the Indians feel they will automatically win this division this year -- team still lacks a true number 1 starter and is depending on a creaky armed closer
4. White Sox - this team just can't get over the hump -- it seems like Frank Thomas is always hurt -- Buerhle and Garcia are good 1-2 pitchers -- but that is all
5. Royals - two years ago this team looked like they were making a move -- it was a fluke -- Tony Pena is a good manager though -- just stuck in a bad situation

West
1. Angels - Anaheim got a taste of the playoffs once again last season -- they will make a trade in the summer to acquire another ace -- will F. Rod be able to hold down the closer's job, if so, the Angels will be fine
2. Rangers - Texas showed life last season as they contended until just after Labor Day -- Mark Texiera is the best young hitter in the game -- a future MVP
3. Athletics - too many changes -- you don't get rid of Tim Hudson and Mark Mulder and think you can still win the division -- NO WAY!
4. Mariners - give the owner credit -- he went out and got Sexson and Beltre -- this team will contend next year

ALDS
Red Sox over Angels
Yankees over Tigers

ALCS
Yankees over Red Sox

Pope John Paul II

A person didn't have to be Catholic to admire the work of Pope John Paul II...

For 15 years (1963-1978), Pope John VI ruled the Catholic church....after his death in 1978, the new pontiff, John Paul I, was set to usher in a new era.....but that era never happened as the new pope died suddenly of a heart attack after just one month as the leader of the Catholic church....

The Cardinals reconvened and ended a 400 year reign of Italian popes when they selected a 58-year-old Cardinal from Poland named Karol Wojtyla who became known as Pope John Paul II.....

For 26 years Pope John Paul II crossed boundaries and creeds to preach peace.....he traveled to African nations to South American nations.....he was hailed by Fidel Castro in Cuba and the Jewish leadership in Israel......he was an extraordinary man who will be missed....

Being Greek Orthodox, the pope is not the leader of my religion.....however, a person's religion cannot deter the fact that John Paul II was a genuine man who cared about people no matter who they were.....

Totus tuus -- totally yours

Basketball Official at the Heart of March Madness

Ron Cole
News Editor - Youngstown State University

John Clougherty knows all about March Madness.

A 1968 graduate of YSU, Clougherty’s 30-year career as a college basketball referee has put him at the center of some of the most memorable basketball games in NCAA history.

He was in Lexington, Ky., in 1985 when Rollie Massimino’s Villanova Wildcats beat the Georgetown Hoyas, led by Patrick Ewing, for the NCAA basketball championship in one of the most historic upsets in college basketball history.

He was on the floor in the Seattle Kingdome in 1989 when Michigan beat Seton Hall, the first overtime in an NCAA final game in 26 years.

And he was in Indianapolis in the 1991 NCAA semi-finals when Mike Krzyzewski’s Duke Blue Devils upset the seemingly unbeatable UNLV Rebels of coach Jerry Tarkinian.

“It has been an incredible run,” Clougherty, 61, said from his home in Raleigh, N.C.

In all, Clougherty has refereed in 12 Final Fours and four NCAA championship games. In 1989, he received the James A. Naismith Award as the nation’s most outstanding collegiate basketball official. After officiating in the Southeastern Conference tournament in Atlanta March 10-13, he traveled to Oklahoma City to referee games in the first round of this year’s NCAA tournament. He then was assigned to second round games in Albuquerque, N.M.

And to think it all started at YSU.

A native of suburban Pittsburgh, Clougherty transferred to then Youngstown University in 1964 from Michigan State University. In a course taught by YSU Hall of Fame golf coach Bill Carson, Clougherty learned about officiating basketball and started officiating YSU intramural games for $3 a game.

After graduating from YSU in 1968 with a bachelor’s degree in health/physical education, he earned a master’s degree in education from Kent State University. He then accepted a teaching job at Wake Forest University in Winston Salem, N.C., where he got a license to officiate high school games.

In 1973, he moved into the college ranks, and two years later started working games in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Since then, he has officiated 70 to 80 games a year in nearly all of the nation’s major college basketball conferences, including the ACC, Southeastern Conference, the Big East, Big 12, Atlantic 10 and Conference USA.

“It’s a blast,” said Clougherty, who also owns a Honig’s store in North Carolina, which sells supplies for sports officials.

In his three decades wearing the stripes, Clougherty has shared the hardwood with some of the game’s best players, including Michael Jordan (“The best overall, all-round player I have seen.”), Akeem Olajuwon (“The best big guy. He was better than Ewing and Ralph Sampson.”) and Shaquille O’Neal (“A man among boys.”)

“It’s much harder now officiating a game,” he said. “At one time, it was more of an open, free-running game. Today, you have more physical, stronger kids. Every team wants to win the game in the weight room now.”
Keys to being a good referee? “There’s no substitute for experience, but you have to have good instincts and good reaction time,” he said. “This game is too fast. If you have to think too much, the game will run right by you.”

Printed with permission. Article appeared in Youngstown State University's YSUpdate.

Newsbits

Some interesting articles in Tuesday, March 29th newspapers

Jayson Stark - ESPN's baseball columnist looks in-depth of the new era without the bulging forearms and muscles

Chicago Tribune - This Illinois team is "special"

Louisville Courier - Louisville coach Rick Pitino looks for a way to beat Illinois

Detroit Free Press - Columnist Drew Sharp writes how Tom Izzo brought his team back from the brink

Raleigh News Observer - Former Carolina coach Matt Doherty's role in this year's success

Sports Illustrated.com - Stewart Mandel is dreaming of the dream match-up