Boffo 'Nova!

Villanova crushes the Duke Blue Devils making my bracket that much more of a winner!

Armstrong crash

I hope it's not serious. I'm looking forward tp the Tour de France comeback in July.

Armstrong falls during Castilla and Leon race
By CIARAN GILES
Associated Press Writer

BALTANAS, Spain (AP) — Lance Armstrong was taken to a hospital Monday after crashing during the first stage of a five-day race in Spain.

Armstrong fell in a pile-up about 12.5 miles from the stage's finish. The seven-time Tour de France champion, who is making a comeback to cycling and is riding with the Astana team in the Vuelta of Castilla and Leon race, may have injured his collarbone.

Team spokesman Philippe Maertens said the American cyclist was taken to the hospital by ambulance, and race organizers said Armstrong was being treated at the Rio Carrion hospital in Palencia.

A bracket of evil....

A bracket for those more into politics than basketball
http://act.credoaction.com/bracket/

Sane tips for March Madness viewiing

As I try to work my way through my DirecTv version of NCAA Championship viewing, over the years I've come to the conclusion that you only need to really catch the last two minutes of a game. Especially the last 30 seconds of a close game when the two teams start engaging in the classic 'let's see how many times we can foul the other guys so we can get the ball back.'

Mackey wins second iditarod

By MARY PEMBERTON

Associated Press Writer

NOME, Alaska (AP) — Lance Mackey has done it again.

The 38-year-old son of 1978 Iditarod champion Dick Mackey crossed the finish line Wednesday in the 1,100-mile Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race hours in front of the competition, joining an elite group of only two other mushers to put together three consecutive wins.

When Dick Mackey battled Rick Swenson for the win, he did it with one second to spare.

REAL March madness

is traveling 1,100 miles in the cold and snow hanging onto a sled pulled by a bunch of cold, hungry huskies.

Iditarod is Lance Mackey's race to lose

ELIM, Alaska (AP) — A third championship seems almost certain for Lance Mackey in the 1,100-mile Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.

The two-time winner reached the Elim (EE'-lum) checkpoint at 4:20 a.m. Tuesday, putting him 123 miles from the Nome finish line.

But the race was marred by the deaths of two more dogs. Race officials say tests will be done to determine the cause of death.

The dogs were on the team of rookie Lou Packer, of Wasilla. He who was found Monday 22 miles past the Iditarod checkpoint by searchers in a plane. A dog on musher Jeff Holt's team died last week.

Sixty-seven teams began the race nine days ago in Willow north of Anchorage. Eight mushers have either scratched or been withdrawn.

NCAA Championship selection

Wake Forest in the Midwest bracket gets to go where it's warm in Miami;
Michigan State should wipe up Robert Morris in Minneapolis;
UConn Huskies will take care of the Choo Choos;
Miss. State heads to Portland to meet the short-haired UDub huskies;
Go Big Red! Cornell is up against Missouri in Boise;
Oklahoma State/Tenn. look pretty well matched;
Binghamton is up against Duke. Oy, go SUNY!!!;
Clemson heads to Kansas City to met the Wolverines.Ouch.

Octo-OT's

After the Syracuse Orange men pulled out a victory over the UConn Huskies in 6 overtimes, can an OCT-OT be far off?

And speaking of TO's....Terrell Owens was spotted at the Clemson/Georgia Tech ACC game at the Georgia Dome on Thursday. It was one and done for the Clemson Tigers.

http://www.greenvilleonline.com/article/20090313/COLUMNISTS05/903130330/1002/SPORTS

Manny Ramirez is just as childish as ever

Economic downturn and March Madness

With only a few days to go, many are preparing their annual March Madness brackets pools. But will the current economic environment take a toll on the betting? Will the pools be cheaper to enter, or will people who used to play a few brackets limit their spending to only one? I know in past years I have played the conventional choices and then filled out a sentimental bracket. You know, like picking Cornell to take the first round game because a daughter went to school there. Go Big Red! Or choosing Iona from New Rochelle or the Bradley Braves from Peoria. Or any SUNY school.

Will bars see less spending as the NCAA tourney progresses? Just a few less chicken wings or more pitchers rather than imported beer?

The ACC has sold fewer tickets to their championship in Atlanta than in past years.

And speaking of the ACC, a few of the projected brackets have the Clemson Tigers heading to either Boise or Portland. Yeah, right, I don't think too many fans will shell out bucks to schlep out West from South Carolina.

Wonder if this year's tournament will be a money maker for the NCAA?

Marching into Madness

Noticing that weekly newspapers are starting to print their March Madness brackets. Wonder how many I'll have to copy before I get my choices right.

ACC championship starts tomorrow down in Hot Lanta. Maybe I'll root for the Clemson Tigers just to see how far they can go before they choke.