RSVP Pending, but Bernie gets Invite

Yankee fans have spent several yearing preparing for LAB (Life after Bernie). His surprise return in 2006 pleased most Bomber fans, especially after he proved he can still contribute. However, with the emergence of young outfielder Melky Cabrera, Williams appears to be the odd man out in 2007. He has spent the offseason fielding questions about his baseball future and appears set to make one of two decisions. Either accept the Yanees invite or concentrate on his music. To many, the Yankees offer is being pereceived as a slap in the face. That insulting offer basically offers Williams a non-guaranteed, non-roster invite to the Yankees' spring training in Tampa. It does not come as much of a surprise, but the future of Bernie Williams is a polarizing issue for Yankee fans.

The Bernie Williams offseason saga tugs at the hearts of Yankee fans. Centerfield has always been a larger than life position in the Bronx and Williams has established himself as one of the finest players to put on the pinstripes. While he has certainly slowed down, he proved last season that he can still hit big league pitching. Unfortunately, the fact remains that he no longer specializes in any facet of the game. To be an important bench player, you must do something extremely well. As hard as it is to say for life-long Williams fans, most Bomber loyalists would prefer the young Cabrera.

With Jason Giambi to assume DH duties, a righty/lefty platoon at first, and Cabrera slotted for the fourth outfielder spot, it has long been speculated that Williams would be squeezed out. While that seems to be the likely scenario, it is not necessarily the case. Assuming he accepts the invite, it's not inconceiveable that he could make the roster. The Yankees could opt to take less pitching or lighten their load at first base. If Carl Pavano comes out this spring healthy, their need for pitching depth will diminish. They re-signed backup infielder Miguel Cairo,who could share time at first with the light hitting Mientkiewicz as opposed to keeping inconsistent Andy Phillips on the roster. No matter how this all plays out, Yankee fans certainly appreciate all Williams contributed to their organization. He's been a class act since day one and a tremendous embassador of the game. If Williams decides to end his career, number 51's next stop will be Monument Park.

Cablevision Ruining NY Sports

For all cablevision customers interested in watching tonight's Syracuse-Notre Dame game: find a local bar. Tonight's Big East showdown is being shown on ESPN U, a channel not offered to cablevision subscribers. Add it to the list of specialized sports programming that cablevision continues to prevent its clients from viewing. It started off with the launch of the YES Network. Yankee fans were forced to either get DirecTV or miss a regular season worth of their beloved Bombers. Now it's stations such as ESPN U and the NFL Network who have been unable to strike a deal with the cable company responsible for many New Yorkers.

Were you interested in last Sunday's Senior Bowl showcasing most of the NFL's future stars? Needed a dish. Looking to follow your alma mater on ESPN U? Call DirecTV. Enjoyed watching the Knicks until Cablevision CEO James Dolan got his hands on them? Sure did. How many sports experiences can one man ruin for this region? Now I'm sure some of the blame must fall on these premium stations looking to push their product for a hefty sum. However, if other regional carriers have been able to find a compromise, I'm sure a deal could be made. For a sports enthusiast such as James Dolan, it's amazing that cablevision subscribers continue to get a raw deal on sports programming. Makes me really wish I had shelled out twenty bucks for the "Duck Folan" shirts that many Garden faithful sported during last year's NBA draft.

Tiger or Federer? Both Continue Domination with Weekend Wins

Sitting only two strokes behind a couple of tour rookies, you had to have a creeping suspicion that Tiger Woods would prevail at the Buick Invitational. On Sunday afternoon he turned the two stroke deficit in to a victory by the same margin to give him 7 consecutive tour victories. As he continued his dominance stateside, Swiss tennis sensation Roger Federer stated his case for world's best athlete on the other side of the globe. Federer defeated Chilean Anthony Gonzalez in straight sets to win the Australian Open for his 10th career Grand Slam victory. More impressively, Federer did not drop a single set en route to the championship. The two champions have formed a friendly rivalry with a continued focus on raising the standard for greatness. With their titles on Sunday, the debate rages on over who excels at their respective sport at a higher level. Compelling cases can be made for both but, as difficult as it is to choose anyone over Tiger, Federer's opponents seem to have no chance of beating this guy right now.

Both athletes have accomplished unthinkable feats since turning pro. Neither has conceded the #1 ranking in their sport for several years, nor does it look like either will in the foreseeable future. Each of their professions have unique challenges that make their accomplishments stand out. For Tiger, the depth of the field in golf is unparalleled. At each tournament a new face can have a spectacular four days and compete in any event. He even started to develop a rival in fellow American Phil Mickelson. The tennis world seems to be lacking a true number two player. Rafael Nadal currently holds that distinction, but has only derailed Federer in the French. Many Americans hoped Andy Roddick's coaching change and improved play would give him a shot Down Under, but he proved no match for the world's number one. Federer is riding a career-high 36 match winning streak and does not appear to be slowing down. There's no questioning that Woods has been, and will continue to be, an uncomparable force in golf. However, Federer's incredible odds to complete the Grand Slam in 2007 gives him the slight edge.

Arenas says "I'd score 84 or 85" on Duke

It's no secret that lots of professional athletes play with a chip on their shoulder. After being passed up by every NFL team, New York Giants LB Antonio Pierce carries a list of all linebackers taken in the draft that year. Whoever's not in the league anymore, their name gets crossed off. Despite going undrafted, he has very limited company from that once lengthy list. This act of vengeance is being far surpassed by Wizards star Gilbert Arenas. Coach Mike Kryzewski and his staff on Team USA left Arenas off the team competing at the World Championships last summer. In response, Arenas has sworn revenge on those assistants, namely Suns coach Mike D'Antoni and Trailblazers coach Nate McMillan.

Let me preface the following with this: the call and response trash talking between D'Antoni and Arenas is some of the most clever banter I've seen. After D'Antoni wondered aloud how Arenas would do against Kryzewski's Blue Devils, the Wizards star answered back in a blog on nba.com:

"He'd like to see what I'm going to do against Duke. I thought it was funny because if I have the chance to go back to college, I'll give up one NBA season to play against Duke. One college game that's five fouls, right? ... 40-minute game at Duke, they got soft rims I'd probably score 84 or 85. I wouldn't pass the ball. I wouldn't even think about passing it. It would be like a NBA Live or an NBA 2K7 game, you just shoot with one person."

First of all, tremendous credit to D'Antoni for his unbelieveable creativity in asserting "He's gonna kill Duke." With this little retort, he managed to poke fun at the absurdity of Arenas desire to get back at men who "wronged" him without directly lashing out at him. Since players with Arenas' personality will never avoid a chance for some media attention, he took the bait. He managed to arrogantly, yet with such a matter of fact tone, demonstrate how confident he is in his abilities. It's a bit unsettling how much Arenas wants to get back at Coach K and staff, but his underdog mentality has led to monstrous on-court results this season.

Some sports "purists" hate stories like these, but the fact remains that the sports industry lies in the same bed as the entertainment world. It's stars are celebrities and America is consumed by the lure of entertainers. End zone celebrations, media trash-talking, and larger than life stars all come with the territorry. Almost all sports networks make it a point to prove the entertainment value of the teams they cover. Playful spats in the media, such as the one between Arenas and D'Antoni, are inevitable with the amount of time players and coaches spend catering to all media forums. It is at least refreshing to see one with wit and ingenuity.

Raiders Winning Race to the Bottom: Lane Kiffin becomes NFL's youngest coach

It's been a tumultuous several years for the Oakland Raiders. Their tail-spin begun after getting trounced by Tampa Bay in Super Bowl XXVII, but the situation continues to get worse. Rumors are circulating that Owner Al Davis is losing his mind, former star Randy Moss is not even a shadow of his former self, and Art Shell inexplicably received a second chance to run this once proud organization to the ground. Very few coaching candidates were brave enough to seek their recent head coaching vacancy. And who could blame them? There are very few bright spots in Oakland. They have some talent on defense, but their offense couldn't score on a Pop Warner team. Quarterbacks Aaron Brooks and Andrew Walter spent more time on their backs than inexpensive "escorts". One major selling point is that their on the clock with the first pick in the upcoming draft. With that in mind, Davis handed the keys to 31 year old former USC coordinator Lane Kiffin. The name should sound familiar. Kiffin's dad, Monte, runs the defense for coach Gruden in Tampa Bay. In his introductory post conference, the younger Kiffin promised to bring a "powerful" offense to Oakland. He knows a few things about powerful offense. He has spent the past six years working with Pete Carroll and the USC Trojans. Now that the Raiders have their guy, only one coaching vacancy remains. Kiffin is the youngest of the new head men, but none of the newly hired coaches are above the age of 45. A full list of the 2007 vacancies can be seen below:

TEAM	2006 COACH	2007 COACH	AGE OF NEW COACH
Arizona Cardinals	Dennis Green	Ken Whisenhunt	44
Atlanta Falcons	Jim Mora Jr	Bobby Petrino	45
Dallas Cowboys	Bill Parcells	??	??
Miami Dolphins	Nick Saban	Cam Cameron	45
Oakland Raiders	Art Shell	Lane Kiffin	31
Pittsburgh Steelers	Bill Cowher	Mike Tomlin	34

The average age of the new hires is slightly over 39 years. In comparison, the average coaching age around the league is over 50. It is interesting to evaluate age when examining NFL coaching positions because there is a very high turnover rate. Nearly three quarters of NFL coaches have been with their current team for three years or less. With young guys taking these jobs, it may be a sign of coaching stability for the future. It seems senseless to hire inexperienced coaches and not allow them a few years to put their stamp on the organization. Young leaders such as Kiffin and Tomlin should not be expected to create the instant turnaround enjoyed by Jets first year coach Eric Mangini. Hopefully all of these coaches will have ample opportunity to bring success to these underachieving franchises.

Keep Up with the Orange

Just wanted to invite everyone to check out my other blog at: http://mvn.com/ncaa-syracuse/. MVN is an independent sports media company that runs a network of sports blogs covering a variety of sports and teams. So far I'm the only one covering the Syracuse Orange, but that could change at any time. I should be updating it pretty frequently to cover Orange basketball players past, present, and future. Please check it out and leave feedback.

Rocket Returning?

The Yankees seem to think they're the likely landing spot for the Rocket. Today they announced that second baseman Robinson Cano will be switching his number from 22 to 24 if Clemens were to agree to sign. To refresh everyone's memory, 22 is the number Clemens wore during his last tenure in the Bronx. No one is trying to hide the motives behind the switch, not even Cano. According to the New York Post, Cano had the following to say:

"I was happy to give up the number to a future Hall of Famer if Roger comes aboard. Hopefully, he will be one of my teammates, I'll have the pleasure of playing with him."

Despite the switch, Clemens' camp remains mum on his intentions. In fact, agent Randy Hendricks went so far as to suggest a decision will not be made for quite some time. Just as it was a year ago, many speculate Clemens decision will come down to the Yankees, Red Sox, and hometown Astros. The Red Sox offseason spending splurge included $103 million (including the posting fee) to pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka. It is believed they are happy with their projected rotation, but they'd probably feel comfortable adding Clemens to send Jonathan Papelbon back to his closer's role. They spent an excessive amount of money bringing Matsuzaka, as well as J.D Drew and Julio Lugo, to Fenway that their offer may not be able to reach the Yankees. Clemens' hometown Astros seems to be the best fit for personal reasons. He enjoyed being close to family and being able to spend off days at home. This offseason the Astros acquired Carlos Lee, the big bat they've been missing throughout Clemens tenure. However, they may have spend too much on him to make a competitive offer.

The Yankees were not willing to be flexible on Clemens schedule demands a year ago, but reportedly would be more open now that veteran Randy Johnson has been traded. It has also been reported that Clemens and Johnson were not on good terms, so the Unit's departure also paved the way. Not only that, the money they freed up by trading Johnson, Sheffield, and Jaret Wright gives them flexibility. The announcement of the number switch should not be perceived as Clemens' imminent arrival in the Bronx. However, it does not seem rational the Yankees would make this kind of announcement if talks were not under way. There's no way they can feel comfortable with their current starting rotation and Clemens could be the final piece. While Cashman has looked to cut costs and get younger this offseason, there's no doubt he'd break the bank to bring back Clemens.

Pearl Shows off School Spirit

Bruce Pearl has not taken long to make an impact on the University of Tennessee. A year ago, his first season in Knoxville, he led the Volunteers to a #2 seed in the NCAA tournament and took home SEC coach of the year honors. He drew national attention for his flashy Tennessee orange blazer and his extreme enthusiasm on the sidelines. Tonight he again made news for his wardrobe selection, or more appropriately, lack thereof. At tonight's Lady Vols game versus top ranked Duke, Pearl sat shirtless with his players in the students section. His chest had a large orange "V" painted on as part of "Go Vols" (shown above, taken from http://msn.foxsports.com/wcbk/story/6398446). Save for the Boise State game, this is my favorite sports story of the new year.

Pearl's unbridled enthusiasm personifies what college athletics is all about. He understands that college sports is about the student-athletes. Having his players root on fellow students who fill a similar role on campus demonstrates everything that is right with amateur sports. School spirit seperates the NCAA from the professional ranks. By acknowledging and embracing that fact, Pearl shows his impact on the program is reaching far beyond their improvement on the court.

An Eighth makes Joseph Ninth Bengal Arrested

On a day where Miami police officers exonerated Falcons QB Michael Vick of alleged marijuana possession charges, Cincinnati Bengal CB Johnathan Joseph picked up the slack. The Bengals 2006 first round draft pick was arrested early Monday morning when the car he was riding in got pulled over. Joseph reportedly reached for his backpack when asked to get out of the car, prompting the officer to seize the bag. The backpack contained a small bag of marijuana nestled next to a video game.

Joseph played extensively as a rookie and garnered a vote for AP Defensive Rookie of the Year. After an injury to veteran Deltha O'Neal, Joseph started the Bengals final seven games. While Marvin Lewis has helped resurrect this team from the ashes, the organization clearly paid a price for success. Following a successful 2005 season, the Bengals seemed to be in good position to repeat as AFC North champions. Instead, player arrests trumped victories 9 to 8 in the last nine months. Chris Henry lead the way with an astounding four arrests on a variety of misdemeanors, followed closely by fellow 2005 draftee Odell Thurman whose drunk driving chargers and failed drug tests cost him the 2006 season. Head coach Marvin Lewis has come under fire from several veterans who feel he needs to take stronger actions. The blame can not stop there. Eight of the nine players arrested this season have been drafted by the organization since 2003. Clearly the decision makers have been more concerned with taking Cincinnati out of the basement than drafting character guys. For some of these players their actions may be isolated and in no way a testament to their character. However, it is evident that several of these players do not deserve the opportunity to play football. In May, after the fourth arrest of Henry and the first for rookie AJ Nicholson, I cautioned on this blog that this could become a team epidemic. Several months later it has taken on Jailblazers proportions. The ironic part of this whole mess is the distractions prevented a talented team from performing up to their capabilities. Therefore the organization sacrificed character to win, yet could not even accomplish that goal. A message needs to be sent to these players by management. If they fail to, commissioner Goodell should hold the organization accountable and slap them with a fine.

Tuna Swims For New Waters

After weeks of "will he stay or will he go" questions, Bill Parcells has decided to step down as head coach of the Dallas Cowboys. The Bill Parcells four year plan didn't work in Dallas as it had in the past with the Giants and Patriots. He guided both of those franchises to the Super Bowl in his fourth year. His tenure with the Jets only lasted three years, so the theory had held its weight until the 2006 campaign in Dallas. With the emergence of Tony Romo around mid-season, prognosticators loaded up on the Cowboys bandwagon. However, a combination of late season struggles by the "next big quarterback" and a suspect defense tumbled big D out of first place in the NFC East. Romo's botched hold on a potential game winning field goal sent the 'Boys to a first round playoff exit.

Most NFL insiders are speculating that contractual issues led to his third retirement. While that is certainly feasible, many other problems were present. First of all, it is no secret that his relationship with "the player" was tenuous at best. It is being reported that Parcells often referred to T.O in coaches meetings as "his highness". The old school coach was often visibly irritated by Owens' charades. Furthermore, and this may just be optimism stemming from a division rival, Parcells' may not feel he has a true contender. Romo became a bit exposed as team's kept him in the pocket and he had trouble holding on to the football. There is a lot of talent on both sides of the ball, but Romo may not be as good as advertised. No matter what the reasons, Parcells will not return to sidelines in 2007. With his track record of coming back from definite retirememts it is not unfathomable that Parcells will coach again one day. However, he's not getting any younger and may finally be ready to call it a career. His two championships with the New York Football Giants should be enough to earn him a spot in Canton.

Samardzija to focus on Baseball

You can take one name off Mel Kiper Jr's big board. Notre Dame wide receiver Jeff Samardzija has decided to give up football in favor of a pitching career with the Chicago Cubs. It is being reported that Samardzija, the Cubs fifth round selection in the amateur draft a year ago, received a five year deal worth $8 million to focus on baseball. If recent history is any indication, this may have been a mistake. Former Michigan QB Drew Henson, once projected to be the top pick in the NFL draft, chose the Yankees riches instead of a football career. After a few disappointing seasons in the minors, he is trying to catch on in the NFL. Cubs phenoms Kerry Wood and Mark Prior have failed to stay healthy which could be a product of the farm system.

Many people were excited by the prospect of another two sport star. The 1990's enjoyed the varying successes of athletes such as Brian Jordan, Deion Sanders,and of course, Bo Jackson. Samardzija made a name for himself by making acrobatic catches seem easy and setting new records for the Fighting Irish. His big frame and tremendous hands could have made a huge difference in many teams' red zone offenses. He originally intended to give both sports a try, but it's hard to fault him for choosing one over the other. College baseball does not receive much publicity, but he's been oustanding as a pitcher for the Irish. In 50 career appearances he has a 21-6 record with a 3.82 earned run average. The Cubs will have him report to their class A affiliate, which is managed by hall of famer Ryne Sandberg. It seems that he's played his last down as a receiver, but we can all hold out hope he'll try to become the next two sport star down the road.

Apple Doesn't Fall From The Tree- Big Brother Mike in trouble

Marcus Vick heard all the critics. While he racked up misdemeanors, everyone asked "Why can't you be more like your big brother?" Apparently the two aren't so different after all. Just months after flipping off home town fans, Falcons quarterback Michael Vick could be facing further trouble stemming from an aiport incident allegedly involving marijuana. Flying from Miami to Atlanta, Vick was asked to hand over a bottle of water he was carrying due to a suspicious aroma. Against his will he handed the bottle over and was allowed to pass through security. It is reported that a security official retrieved the bottle from a trash can to further investigate. The police report, in regards to the bottle, stated the following.

"The bottle was found to have a compartment that contained 'a small amount of dark particulate and a pungent aroma closely associated with marijuana'. The compartment was hidden by the bottle's label so that it appeared to be a full bottle of water when held upright."

Vick is not the first athlete to be caught with drugs, and certainly will not be the last. The alarming thing is, why have that bottle on you at a commercial airport? Athletes too frequently believe they are above the law and take unnecessary risks. Not to condone drug use, but it's hard to believe they couldn't afford to just waste their remaining "stash" and purchase again in their next location. Their ego's lead them to believe they can get away with drug smuggling because they are larger than life. This particular case did not involve that, which makes it even more puzzling. If he merely carried a bottle that had marijuana residue, why not throw it out before you got to the airport? Was it a treasured water bottle bong that he and his friends created to smoke out of? It seems senseless that he would have kept the bottle unless he routinely used it to either smoke from or carry illegal substances in the hidden compartment. Either way, with all he stands to lose, the risk certainly outweighed the rewards.

In comparison to its steroid policy, the NFL is lenient against so-called "street drugs". Players are subjected to tests infrequently and the punishments lack severity. It almost seems like the league accepts that its players will participate in recreational drug use. Since it is not perceived that these drugs will enhance their performance on the field, owners and league officials cast a blind eye. The plight of Ricky Williams cast a light on recreational drug use, particularly marijuana, but a player needs to fail tests several times before penalties kick in.

This incident may have larger ramifications for Vick. With a new coach and many pundits questioning Vick's ability to lead a successful franchise, he's not guaranteed to be Atlanta's opening day starter. Lots of people are high on backup Matt Schaub and new head man Bobby Petrino could want to put his stamp on this franchise. Petrino has stated his offensive philosophy will be based around Vick, but the organization is clearly disturbed over this incident. If not for his league-high contract, Vick's starting quarterback position wouldn't be so solidified.

Gilbride Promoted to Offensive Coordinator

The Giants announced today that quarterbacks coach Kevin Gilbride received a promotion to become the new offensive coordinator. His predecessor John Hufnagel left the team after being stripped of his playcalling duties prior to the regular season finale. Gilbride assumed those responsibilities in the Giants final two games and apparently showed enough to the organization to remain on board. He's been the coach most closely associated with Eli Manning throughout the young quarterback's career.

This move elicits mixed emotions. There are many positives to this move. Both owning families have stressed the importance of maintaining stability in the organization so retaining coaches aligns with that notion. He also brings over 30 years of coaching experience, including a head coaching stint in San Diego. The offense did show improvement during his two game tenure as play-caller and he has proven to be effective in that role in the past. However, the organization is concerned about the progress of Eli Mannning. Gilbride has had three years to work with the franchise quarterback and he has not progressed at the rate he should be. Ownership emphasizes continuity, but this is an organization in need of a new direction. Departed GM Ernie Accorsi has acquired playmakers who need to be allowed more freedom. In coaches Coughlin and Gilbride, the offense is adhering to an old school philosophy with new school players. A new face (or faces) would have been a refreshing look to an underachieving offense that is losing it's most valuable player. Now that they've decided to promote "in-house" for the offensive coordinator, they should look to fill other voids from outside. Bringing in someone like Steve Sarkisian (the USC quarterbacks coach) to work with Eli Manning would be a terrific move. Sarkisian is certainly a stretch as he searches for a head coaching position, but the Giants need to make a big move in whoever they bring in.

Newest SI rates Nichols best in Big East

With the preseason hype surrounding Paul Harris and the perennial disappointing performances by he and fellow classmates, you can't blame people for overlooking Demetris Nichols heading in to the 2007 season. Behind torrid three point shooting in the Orange's first 19 games, Nichols has emerged as the Big East's top scorer. Most of his damage has come from beyond the arc, but his more aggressive play has also led to improved production in the paint. His free throw percentage has also improved to nearly 90%. In this week's Sports Illustrated, Nichols receives attention for his superlative efforts. Under "Three-Pointer" in the College Basketball section, the magazine said the following:

"Demetris Nichols is the best player in the Big East. Syracuse's 6'8'' senior forward was leading the league in scoring (18.9 points a game) through Sunday and was fourth in three-point shooting (47.1%) and 11th in blocks (1.39)."

That's pretty high praise considering the Big East features All-American candidate Aaron Gray of Pitt. Nichols has always possessed a tremendous shot, but was often gun shy in his first three years. He's playing with more confidence this year as the "go-to" guy. His impact on defense can not be underestimated. Along with Terrence Roberts and Daryl Watkins, the length in the back-line of Syracuse's 2-3 zone has caused fits for opponents. Boeheim has also long praised his man to man defense, citing his quickness to stay with guards and size to defend the bigs. With last night's game in the balance, Nichols drew the assignment of containing the hot shooting Marcus Sikes. When Syracuse goes to man, it is usually Nichols in charge of shutting down their top scorer. If he can avoid the scoring lapses that have plagued his career, Nichols should develop in to a lethal scoring option.

Also featured in this week's Sports Illustrated is blue-chip recruit Donte Greene. Greene comes from the same Baltimore area high school, Towson Catholic, that produced former star Carmelo Anthony. He grew up playing on Anthony's Team Melo AAU squad and considers himself a friend to the Nuggets star. His athleticism from the wing has earned him favorable comparisons to his predecessor at Towson Catholic. It was just announced that he, along with fellow 2007 recruit Johnny Flynn, was named to the 2007 USA Basketball Junior Select team. A few weeks ago the magazine focused it's high school sports section on two other recruits for next season Antonio (Scoop) Jardine and Rick Jackson. The two are teammates at Neuman-Goretti, a Philadelphia area high school. Flynn, Greene, Jardine, and Jackson form one of the nation's top recruiting classes for next season.

A Tale of Two Halves- Orange hang on despite sloppy second half

Since arriving on campus in the fall of 2003, the class of 2007 have been like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. They've shown promise in spurts, but have a horribly inconsistent side that is scary to Orange fans. Tonight's victory over Cincinnati assumed the same identity. The Orange raced out of the gates and held a double digit lead for nearly the entire first half. However, the combination of hot three point shooting by the Bearcats and a high number of turnovers by the Orange allowed Cincinnati to take their first lead of the game with just over a minute to play. A pair of Eric Devendorf free throws with 12 seconds to go provided the go-ahead points in a 77-76 victory for the Orange. The win pushed the Orange to a 15-4 record and four victories in their first five conference games.

Orange fans have to be disappointed that their team couldn't put this game away earlier. The lead peaked as high as 19 at several points during the first half and the size of the front line gave Cincinnati fits. When Daryl Watkins and Terrence Roberts weren't blocking shots, they were altering them. On the offensive end Roberts was getting easy points in the paint, and the Orange outscored the Bearcats 18-4 in that department. Guards Josh Wright, Eric Devendorf, and Andy Rautins did a great job in transition, giving Syracuse a decisive edge in fastbreak points. The Orange can attribute a lot of their recent success in their ability to score in transition, but that disappeared in the second half.

Speaking of disappearing acts, the greatest display may have been put on by Terrence Roberts. Roberts dominated play in the first half; piling up 16 points and providing tremendous defense. He followed that up with just one point in the second half. Frontcourt mate Daryl Watkins wasted a tremendous opportunity in this game. Towering over the entire Bearcats roster, Watkins did not score a single point. However, he did key a tremendous first half defensive effort and ended up with eight blocks. Watkins has been playing terrific basketball but did not assert himself enough offensively in this game. Luckily, the Big East's leading scorer Demetris Nichols provided the punch offensively. He paced the Orange with 22, hitting four shots from beyond the arc. His only problem has been settling for the three. Nichols has shown his tremendous catch and shoot abilities, but needs to create more getting to the basket. The big guys received a boost with the return of Matt Gorman, although he did his damage from the perimeter. Gorman drilled two three pointers and allowed Boeheim to go with an eight man rotation for the first time in several games. With freshman Paul Harris only playing four first half minutes, an eight man rotation may be a bit of an overstatement.

Boeheim notoriously shortens his bench in Big East play, but it's tough to imagine why Harris is collecting splinters on the bench. Harris, the preseason choice for Big East newcomer of the year, has seen his minutes dwindle in conference play. He's struggled with his outside shot and has been very deferential to the upperclassmen. The emergence of Andy Rautins has certainly cut in to his minutes, but it's hard to imagine that a player of Harris' caliber will continue to sit and watch. Although Devendorf and Wright did a tremendous job distributing in tonight's game (15 assists combined), they continue to make questionable decisions. They are turning the ball over too frequently and the backcourt could really use Harris' tremendous playmaking ability. With seniors Roberts and Nichols fading for stretches, Devendorf bailed the offense out of its late game funk. He scored 12 of his 17 points in the second half to go with his team high 8 assists. The biggest problem plaguing Devendorf has been lacksadaisacal passes. Too often he tries to throw fancy passes in crowded areas. Wright's turnover problems have come from trying to do too much. Whether it's pushing the tempo too fast or trying to get too creative, his ball-handling has been a major source of concern.

Turnovers nearly cost Syracuse the game despite nailing 10 3's, shooting over 50% from the floor, and over 80% from the free throw line. Guards Devendorf, Rautins, and Wright combined for 10 of Syracuse's 21 turnovers while Cincinnati committed only 8 as a team. The visitors also connected on 13 three pointers, including 8 from forward Marcus Sikes. Star freshman Deonta Vaughn struggled for most of the night, but finished with 13 points and a team high 5 assists. Vaughn had seven of his points in the Bearcats 10-0 run late in the second half to cut the deficit to one. Appropriately it was Sikes 3 pointer with a 1:13 left that gave Cincinnati its first lead of the game at 75-73. Four clutch free throws in the final minute by Nichols and Devendorf proved to be the difference. A loss to the Big East's last place team at home would have been devastating for the Orange, especially with the way they dominated most of the game. Until the Senior class can give a consistent 40 minutes, the Orange will have to battle. However, if they can get more steady play, they have the experience and talent to be a very dangerous team.

Boggan Clutch in Big XII Thriller

It's been a long road to Stillwater, Oklahoma for senior Mario Boggan, but what a sweet ride he's taking the Cowboys on now that he's there. Oklahoma State is the ninth school in eight years for the talented big man and for all those who haven't taken notice, he emphatically announced his arrival last night. With a leaning three pointer in the waning seconds of triple overtime, Boggan keyed Oklahoma State's victory over Big XII rival Texas. In a battle of the conference's two brightest stars, Boggan edged UT freshman standout Kevin Durant. Both led their teams with 37 points, while Boggan grabbed 20 rebounds to Durant's 12 boards.

While OSU's star had the bigger night, it's Durant's immediate impact that has taken the Big XII by storm. He's averaging over 30 points in conference play, peaking at 37 in two games this month. Surrounded by other talented freshman, the rangy wingman has drawn comparisons to former Syracuse standout Carmelo Anthony. Despite an off shooting night Durant scored in many different ways. He demonstrated excellent range, an ability to score down low, and most importantly commanded the ball with the game in the balance. It's clear that he'll be a one and done guy, but is already a leading candidate for Player of the Year honors. Texas must also be commended for how they fought back. Featuring a starting lineup of four freshman, the youngsters battled back in each overtime period. Freshman guard DJ Augustin looked very impressive getting to the basket and an aggressive defense led to fast break points to close gaps. With more collegiate experience, this will be a very dangerous team in March.

The most disappointing, albeit irrelevant, story line of last night was the OSU fans. Their team came in with a higher ranking, yet the fans stormed the court. Given the right circumstances, I'm certainly pro-court storming. It allows fans to interact with the players. The perceived accessibility of college athletes is part of what makes people more attracted to the NCAA than professional sports. But any game in which you are either ranked higher, favored, or should win prohibits a fan from rushing the floor. Great win for the Cowboys, huge loss for their fans.

Reese Named GM

As expected, director of player personnel Jerry Reese received his promotion to General Manager of the New York Football Giants. On the day his predecessor Ernie Accorsi formally stepped down, the Giants announced Reese would be the man to replace him. Reese has earned respect in the organization with his scouting abilities for the NFL draft. In 1994, Reese took a position in the organization in the scouting department. His ability to identify talent has made him a valued employee ever since. He's been instrumental in several key draft decisions since assuming his previous role in 2003, including uncovering Osi Umenyiora out of Troy.

It has been presumed since last year that Reese would inherit the position. Once Scott Pioli decided to stay in New England, the move was pretty much confirmed. Reese led a solid 2006 draft for the Giants, but the bigger questions will be how he upgrades the team through free agency. He's a "draft-first" guy, so may not be willing to break the bank on a prized talent. Studying under the Ernie Accorsi school, pass rushers and cornerbacks should be on his mind. Roping in a playmaking corner should be his first priority when the Giants go on the clock with the 20th pick in the 2007 draft.

Lights Out- Pats Win, then mock Merriman

The Bill Belichick led New England Patriots refuse to conform to NFL parity theories. In the rampant free agency era, teams are not supposed to consistently win. Especially with the way the Patriots go about their business. Old veterans become cap casualties and no-name newbies come in and get the job done. With a 24-21 win at San Diego earlier today, the Patriots advance to the AFC Championship game for the 4th time in the last six years. While Tom Brady led the charge, new faces like Reche Caldwell and Jabar Gaffney were difference makers. No catchy nickname has been bestowed upon these recent Pats, but they've certainly earned their place among NFL dynasties. Even in a game where Brady struggled, he managed to make plays when the team needed them. They received the fortuitous bounces even the great teams need, and one play may have sent the Chargers to their early offseason.

Clinging to an 8 point lead late in the fourth quarter, Chargers safety Marlon McCree picked off an errant Brady fourth down attempt. Take a knee, and the Chargers can ride their MVP to grind out the clock. Instead McCree tried to make a play and learned a little more about the Patriots mystique. Jack of all trades Patriots wideout Troy Brown stripped the ball and fellow receiver Reche Caldwell recovered to re-claim possession. The former Charger Caldwell would be on the receiving end of a Tom Brady touchdown a few plays later that brought the Pats back within two. Taking a page out of Boise State's playbook, a direct snap to Kevin Faulk tied the game at 21. If you've watched the Patriots under Tom Brady, you knew what would come next. Given a chance late in the game, Brady led the Patriots in to field goal range. The only difference was that rookie kicker Stephen Gostkowski needed to convert, not Mr. Clutch Adam Vinatieri. Gostkowski connected for the decisive points, but left plenty of time for the Lightning Bolts. The Chargers drove to the Patriots 37, but a Nate Kaeding 54 yard field goal attempt fell short.

Despite some sloppy play, the excitement of the final period made this a memorable game. Unfortunately, the lasting images may have come from the postgame coverage. Cameras caught a frustrated LaDainian Tomlinson trying to get off the field, but apparently in a rift with several Patriots players. We would learn later his reactions stemmed from the Patriots celebrations. Speaking to the press after the game, Tomlinson had the following remarks:

"I would never react in that way. I was very upset," Tomlinson said. "When you go to the middle of our field and start doing the dance Shawne Merriman is known for, that is disrespectful. They showed no class and maybe that comes from the head coach."

Merriman has certainly earned a bulls-eye on his back since his failed drug test. Although it did not receive press at the time, Patriots linebacker Mike Vrabel celebrated an earlier play with Merriman's trademark dance. We've seen this time and again with T.O mocking Ray Lewis, Hines Ward imitating Owens, and on several other occasions. The loss clearly just paid its toll on Tomlinson and it's understandable why he was so visibly upset. However, if you're going to call attention to yourself, you have to be prepared for this to happen. It's commendable that he stuck up for his teammate, but took it too far in calling Belichick classless. Tomlinson is undoubtedly one of the most professional men in the NFL, but this lapse in character will stick with him for a while.

Lewis Becomes First Sacrifice

Once Tom Coughlin kept his job, it was clear the organization would place blame in other places. Today they started with defensive coordinator Tim Lewis. Lewis, Coughlin's first hire in 2004, lost his job after his unit ranked 25th in the league. Amazingly, he spent Wednesday with Dolphins owner Wayne Huizenga interviewing for their vacant head coaching position. This certainly will not be the only coaching change and should signal a major transformation to the coaching staff. Unfortunately for Lewis he spent much of the season with starters who were originally intended for backup roles. That still does not justify many of their shortcomings. The defense's inability to generate a pass rush led to their 28th ranked pass defense. Stopping third downs, particularly long situations, and keeping teams from scoring in the red zone plagued the defense all season. He received some criticism early in the season for his misuse of free agent acquisition LaVar Arrington. It seemed throughout the season he used players in ways they were not effective and never really showed the innovative blitz packages that made him a prized commodity.

In other news, it is being reported that Jerry Reese will be promoted to General Manager next week. He has been highly regarded within the organization for years and recently been very instrumental in the draft process. The Giants enjoyed a very successful 2006 draft with Reese's heavy influence. He's the most qualified "in-house" candidate and is a very good fit for the job.

Bonds Failed Drug Test

We've read through this script before. Pro Athlete X fails drug test because of lame reason Y. Of course, it is never the fault of the cheater. Whether it's a teammate, a substance the player thought followed regulations, or a vindictive masseuse (my personal favorite), athlete X is the victim. Suspensions are dolled out, excuses mocked but accepted, and X usually returns to the field. It all disintegrates due to lack of interest in the protagonist. Today the lead role got some star power. Reporter TJ Quinn of the New York Daily News has revealed that Barry Bonds failed a drug test for amphetamines in the latter half of the 2006 MLB season. Due to a labor agreement, the first failed drug test for amphetamines is supposed to be kept confidential. The players are enlisted in awareness classes, but are not subject to fines or suspensions. A second positive results in a 25 game suspension. However, Quinn unearthed Bonds' results and undoubtedly raised suspicions of his alleged steroid use.

Let's revisit the scenario above with Barry's gem. Barry Bonds fails drug test because he took the substances out of Mark Sweeney's locker. What a class act. What's with Giants and throwing teammates under the bus this year? However, there is no evidence that Sweeney failed any tests and he vehemently denied any foul play. This story comes at a critical time. The baseball world has its attention on Mark McGwire's failure to make the Hall of Fame due to the steroid cloud. Bonds is being investigated on possible perjury charges and MLB has been court-ordered to hand over drug tests from the 2003 season. It also brings to light MLB's varying policies on drug use. A first time steroid offender gets a 50 game suspension whereas amphetamine use warrants a slap in the wrist. Unfortunately, it's a not so surprising double standard.

Anabolic steroids increase muscle mass, which is why many people attribute the power surge of the late 1990s to players abuse of the substance. Amphetamines give a boost of energy and possibly additional focus. It's extremely helpful in withstanding the drain of a 162 game schedule. One reason you might think baseball would be more lenient on steroid use is the simple fact that long balls saved the sport. Officials turned a blind eye in 1998 while McGwire and Sosa salvaged the league. But now that teams are generating high revenues again, they're trying to retro-actively police the game. By enacting harsher penalties, Bud Selig is giving a "mea culpa" ten years too late.

Hidden underneath this big mess is Bonds' somewhat unclear future. Many believed he signed with the Giants, but the two sides have been hung up on the language of the contract. There is some speculation that the failed test could have huge repercussions on getting the deal finalized. Bonds currently sits 22 homeruns shy of Hank Aaron's all-time record so it would be surprising if the Giants don't break him back. Stranger things have happened. Just ask anyone who has failed a drug test.