Yes, folks! It’s actually that time of year. The longwinded overdone Spring Training is finally over. Well, almost as some other key players injure their index fingers in some meaningless weekend exhibitions and are DLed two months.

I can just hear the loud screams and cursing in every household right now. And if a key player does go down before the first pitch is thrown Sunday night on ESPN by Cards’ ace Chris Carpenter against the Mets’ Jose Reyes, it will give even more reason for shortening Spring Training by at least a couple of weeks. What’s the point of playing so many damn games anyway?!?!?!?!?!

Well, regardless, the season is less than 48 hours away. Or as the obnoxious new Amazin’s campaign would point out to Mets fans, “Your season has come.” Could they get any lamer? Being a Yankee fan, I’ll readily admit our fanbase has been spoiled by the success they’ve had the past decade. But at least our team doesn’t make idiotic slogans which insult the intelligence of most baseball fans. With apologies to Mets team mascot Mike Lupica! If you’re a fan of 29 other clubs, wouldn’t you just love that slogan to blow up in their face? I’d love to see the look on their mug if that team which is superior to any other Senior Circuit club somehow missed the postseason.

That said, it’s time to give our synopsis on who we believe has what it takes to make the postseason and take it all. So let’s get to our magic crystal ball!

AL East- With Toronto no longer a pushover and Baltimore a little under the radar, it won’t be easy pickings for the Yankees and Red Sox.
1.Yankees- Even with questions in the bottom of their rotation and bullpen because you know Joe Torre will overwork Scott Proctor and Ron Villone yet again, there’s just too much firepower here. Andy Pettite is a great addition. What will Kei Igawa and Carl Pavano give them with Chien-Ming Wang out early?

Prediction: Pencil them in for 95-96 wins and another AL East.
2.Red Sox- Just cause they have to be here and much like their bitter rivals, there’s way too much offense to mess this up. J.D. Drew might be overrated but he’ll supply some more protection for Manny and Big Papi. He’ll also play better D than the banged up Trot Nixon or gloveless Wily Mo Pena. From what we’ve seen of $103 million investment Daisuke Matsuzaka thus far, he looks like the real deal, meaning that Boston’s front three with Curt Schilling and Josh Beckett should be stacked. Jonathan Papelbon taking one for the team to move back to closer can only be seen as a plus because Joel Pineiro‘ better half would distract opposing batters more.

Prediction: Figure them for 93-94 wins which should be enough for a wild card.
3.Blue Jays- The front three of Roy Halladay, A.J. Burnett and Gustavo Chacin is very good. B.J. Ryan is a rock out of the pen. The Big Hurt should supply some extra BP for Vernon Wells and Troy Glaus. Alex Rios is an emerging star and Aaron Hill continues to improve at second. This team should be in it.

Prediction: 90 wins isn’t out of question but they’ll fall just short.

4.Orioles- Erik Bedard and a resurgent Daniel “Wild Thing Rick Vaughn” Cabrera give Baltimore a potent 1-2 to anchor the staff. The problem could be 3-5 who are occupied by Adam Loewen, ex-Yank Jaret Wright and washed up ex-Met Steve Trachsel. They better hope Wright regains the form he showed in Atlanta reunited with Leo Mazzone. Believe it or not, they could miss Kris Benson. Offensively, Miguel Tejada leads the way. He’s got plenty of support in Melvin Mora, Brian Roberts, Corey Patterson, Aubrey Huff and Ramon Hernandez. Nick Markakis really came in the second half last year. The Birds are hoping key pickups Jamie Walker, Chad Bradford and Danys Baez can get the ball to closer Chris Ray.

Prediction: 85 wins would be nice but figure them for .500 in a tough division.

5.Devil Rays- Is there really anywhere else to put this joke of a franchise? After ace Scott Kazmir, 2-5 consists of Jae Seo, James Shields, Casey Fossum and Edwin Jackson. Say what? This is what happens when a cheap management doesn’t want to spend what it takes to compete. They do boast some decent offensive prospects in Delmon Young and B.J. Upton. And Carl Crawford and Rocco Baldelli are All Star calibre outfielders. But how can they be taken seriously with that staff and Seth freaking McClung closing games? They should make the annual D-Ray theme song The Beatles’ “Help.”

Prediction: To quote Clubber Lang from Rocky III, “Pain.”

AL Central- Last year, Detroit got out of the gate quickly but faded down the stretch to drop the division on the final day of the season to Minnesota. Cleveland disappointed as did the White Sox. This year promises to be another dogfight.

1.Tigers- This is just gut feeling because this division could go to any other competitor aside from Omaha. Detroit suffered a big blow when staff anchor Kenny “Miracle Dirt” Rogers needed surgery to remove a blood clot. He’ll be out the entire first half. But if Jeremy Bonderman and Justin Verlander are legit, they’ll be fine. They also get Mike Maroth back. Their pen is arguably the best in baseball with Fernando Rodney and Joel Zumaya setting up Todd Jones. Gary Sheffield should stablize a lineup which also includes Pudge Rodriguez, Magglio Ordonez along with Carlos Guillen (just inked extension) and the overlooked Craig Monroe. What’s more? Expect bigger things from Curtis Granderson making this offense as lethal as their pitching. Yikes.

Prediction: 98-99 wins isn’t a stretch.

2.White Sox- After a disappointing finish to ‘06, GM Ken Singleton retooled by unloading Freddy Garcia to Philly for pitching prospect Gavin Floyd and another prospect. He also gave up on Brandon McCarthy- dealing him to Texas for two prospects including Nick Masset who should crack a rotation that still has former 2005 Cy Young winner Mark Buehrle, Jon Garland, Jose Contreras and Javier Vazquez. With fireballer Bobby Jenks closing games, the only question could be middle relief led by Mike MacDougal. The lineup will have plenty of power supplied by Jim Thome, Paul Konerko, Jermaine Dye and Joe Crede. Ex-Angel Darin Erstad should be a good addition and Tadahito Iguchi is a valuable part.

Prediction: As long as Ozzie Guillen doesn’t lose the clubhouse, they should be in contention all year long. We’ll give them 92-93 wins which means they’ll probably get edged out for the WC by Boston.

3.Twins- With rating AL MVP Justin Morneau and All Star centerfielder Torii Hunter along with defending batting champ Joe Mauer, the offense should be fine. Especially if Jason Kubel comes back healthy. Remarkably, it’s the pitching which is what has us skeptical. After two-time Cy Young winner Johan Santana, it gets really questionable. With Francisco Liriano lost for the season and Brad Radke now retired, Carlos Silva and Ramon Ortiz don’t strike fear in anyone. They better hope Boof Bonser and Matt Garza deliver or their vaunted pen which features Jesse Crain, Juan Rincon and underappreciated closer Joe Nathan is going to be heavily relied on.

Prediction: We’ll say 87-88 wins because Ron Gardenhire is a good regular season skipper.

4.Indians- The lineup which features MVP candidates Travis Hafner and Grady Sizemore should get enough support from Victor Martinez, ex-Sock Nixon, Casey Blake and newcomer Josh Barfield. David Dellucci is an overachiever. The rotation anchored by C.C. Sabathia has the potential to be great with Jake Westbrook, Cliff Lee and Jeremy Sowers all solid. So what could go wrong for the trendy pick? Their pen kind of sucks. If you’re entrusting faith in vets Roberto Hernandez and Joe Borowski to finish off the last two frames, it’s a recipe for disaster.

Prediction: They’ll score a lot of runs and be fun to watch but they’re in a very tough division. Don’t expect more than .500.

5.Royals- Was there really any doubt where they’d wind up? Yeah, Mark Teahen, top prospect third baseman Alex Gordon and ex-Rockie Ryan Shealy make them more interesting for the future. And it’s great to see Zach Greinke back in the rotation after a rough 2006. But any organization who hands out a five-year $55 million deal to the mediocre Gil Meche is out of its league. They also handed injury prone Octavio Dotel in excess of $5 million to close games. How long before he’s on the DL? We give it two months.

Prediction: About as much chance as Glass Joe had against Little Mac in Tyson’s Punchout.

AL West-Last year, the A’s took a big step by actually getting out of the first round and did it by sweeping the Twins. So did skipper Ken Macha get rewarded? No. Instead the peculiar Billy Beane axed him and promoted assistant Bob Geren. Yes. That Bob Geren! So, will it work? Remains to be seen. But the competition should once again come from the Angels.

1.Angels- After careful consideration, we decided on the Angels because they have deeper pockets which could factor in around the trade deadline. With a solid rotation that features John Lackey, Jered Weaver, Kelvim Escobar and Ervin Santana, they should be extremely tough. Factor in the usual strong relief corps with the addition of Justin Speier to recently re-signed Scot Shields plus closer K-Rod and it’s lights out. Last year, offense was their undoing. So they overpaid for Gary “HGH” Matthews Jr. who had one career season. Think they might want a do-over? He still should add some speed and D to the outfield. Chone Figgins, Vlad Guerrero and Garret Anderson are a terrific trio. Orlando Cabrera is solid defensively. If young guns Howie Kendrick, Casey Kotchman and Mike Napoli hit, suddenly a weakness will be a strength.

Prediction: 95 wins and just enough to edge the A’s for the division sounding off alarms in the Bronx.

2.Athletics- They lost Barry Zito to the Giants and a crazy price ($126 million- damn that Scott Bora$). But they still boast Dan Haren, Joe Blanton and Rich Harden. The key will be Harden who hasn’t stayed healthy the past two seasons (31 total appearances). Esteban Loiaza and Joe Kennedy are serviceable. They don’t have to go long due to a pen which includes dynamic 8-9 duo Justin Duchscherer and Huston Street. The offense could take a hit with the loss of Frank Thomas but Beane did sign Mike Piazza to replace him as the DH. It should be a good fit. Nick Swisher, Eric Chavez and Dan Johnson should supply power. Shannon Stewart is a decent addition. Most important though will be the health of Milton Bradley and Bobby Crosby.

Prediction: You just know Harden, Bradley and Crosby are going to miss time. We’ll give them 92 wins which just won’t be enough for October.

3.Rangers- They fired Buck Showalter. So that’s a plus. The last two teams to do that (’96 Yanks and ‘01 D-Backs) went on to win it all the following season. But enough about that. Does this team have enough pitching? Kevin Millwood and Vincente Padilla are decent but not on the level of most top two starters. McCarthy and Robinson Tejeda are green. If they don’t pitch effectively, it’s lights out. The offense should be potent again with a very productive infield which features Mark Teixeira, Hank Blalock, Michael Young and rising star second baseman Ian Kinsler. The outfield has questions beginning with aging leadoff man Kenny Lofton and 2006 failure Brad Wilkerson. Frank Catalanotto was a solid addition at DH. Will they get anything out of Sammy Sosa? He had a great Spring but it remains to be seen. With ex-Dodger closer Eric Gagne starting the year on the DL, the steady Akinori Otsuka will close out games.

Prediction: Many like them as a sleeper but there are too many question marks with the staff. Pencil in 81-82 wins.

4.Mariners- The offense should be really good with the additions of the Jose’s- Guillen and Vidro to a lineup which features pending FA Ichiro, Richie Sexson, Raul Ibanez, Adrian Beltre and riser Jose Lopez. Ben Broussard could also provide some pop. Any rotation which hinges on a young gun (in this case Felix Hernandez) will probably struggle. Jarrod Washburn’s a decent No.2 but after that Miguel Batista, Jeff Weaver and Horacio Ramirez are mediocre. Unless they exceed expectations, the Mariners’ strong bullpen will be forced to enter games earlier which might limit the effectiveness of Julio Mateo and finisher J.J. Putz. Why did they deal away Rafael Soriano again for Ramirez?

Prediction: Can’t see anything better than .500 for this bunch.

Coming Later- Part II: The Senior Circuit

They fought tooth and nail with the NBA’s best all night. But it didn’t matter as Isiah Thomas’ Knicks fell in excruciating fashion to the Mavericks 105-103.

The defeat proved costly as the Nets lost to Detroit by five and Indiana fell to Orlando. Instead of gaining a valuable game on the now eighth place Nets, the Knicks (31-41) remained two back with just 10 left to play.

You certainly couldn’t fault the effort tonight even though one too many of a sloppy 26 turnovers ultimately did them in. It’s hard to complain though because of what they were up against. The Mavs are hard enough to beat as it is but the Orange and Blue weren’t fazed despite being shorthanded yet again at American Airlines Center.

They stayed with it and took the Mavs to the wire. Unfortunately, another heartbreaking conclusion would doom them when Stephon Marbury was blocked cleanly by Josh Howard before the buzzer sounded. It ruined what was an utterly brilliant night from Coney Island’s Finest who finished with a game high 43 on 14-of-29 shooting including 5-for-12 from downtown and 10-of-13 from the line. Unfortunately, what will be remembered was Steph’s costly turnover when he was doubled in the backcourt down one with no timeouts left.

Down one after MVP candidate Dirk Nowitzki sank his second free throw, Marbury was forced to give the ball up but his pass for Renaldo Balkman was intercepted by Jason Terry, who was then fouled with 17 seconds left. After Terry made one-of-two to put Dallas up a bucket, Marbury got the ball in the halfcourt set from rookie Mardy Collins. Unstoppable the whole night (especially the final quarter where he tried to will his team to an upset victory), No.3 made a strong move to the hole. However, his layup attempt was swatted away by Howard off the glass in bounds with two ticks to go. As the ball rolled to the top of the key, time ran out as Marbury and teammates were left with broken hearts.
In defeat, the Knicks got solid efforts from rookies Collins (8 pts, 3 dimes, 2 boards, 1 block, 1 steal in 33 mins) and Balkman (12 pts, 5 boards, 2 offensive, 4 steals in 32 mins). Both helped ignite a third quarter comeback from down 10 to keep their team in the game. They each finished the game getting valuable experience.

If there is one thing that can be taken from this game and recent others, it’s that Thomas’ two first round picks don’t look one bit out of place. Remember when Balkman was labeled a bust on Draft Night last June? Look who’s getting the last laugh. All the South Carolina product does is work his ass off on D, get to rebounds and loose balls plus finish off fast breaks with dunks. He’s a bundle of energy just as the Knicks President/GM advertised. It’s also apparent that Collins plays a similar grinding style which was badly needed. If he can
improve his perimeter shot, the ex-Temple star will only get better.
Now, the Knicks must go back to the drawing board as they travel to New Orleans tomorrow night. Not an easy place to play or match-up. They must suck it up and come away with a ‘W’ regardless.

As for the Mavs, they improved to a ridiculous 61-11 (started season losing 4 of 6). The 61 wins are a new franchise mark. Nowitzki led the way with 30 including a perfect eight-for-eight from the charity stripe. He also achieved a milestone in the first quarter by hitting the 15,000 mark for his career. Congrats to the big fellow. Now go lead your team to their first NBA title!

If there was one difference between the teams Friday night, it was the all elusive makes from the free throw line that Thomas harped on after a recent Knicks’ defeat last week. The Mavs missed only four of their 39 while New York misfired on 11 of 37. That’s what separates an average team from a very good one. Maybe one day, Thomas’ club will get it right because it’s cost them a bundle of close games.

-This Knicks-Mavericks game is excellent. You want to talk about laying it on the line. That’s what Stephon Marbury and his teammates have done. They might not get it done against the NBA’s best but it won’t be due to lack of effort. But maybe due more in part to lack of bodies. When you have Mardy Collins playing big minutes and limited offensive options outside Starbury and Eddy Curry, it’s tough to keep pace with Dallas.

-Speaking of the Mavs, I wish I was making this up but Dallas has agreed to sign 44 year-old 20+ year veteran Kevin Willis to a 10-day contract if he passes a physical. Back in the day, Willis was as tenacious a rebounder as there was for the Atlanta Hawks the last time they were actually relevant. The cast included my all-time favorite player Dominique Wilkins, Spud Webb, Doc Rivers, Jon Koncak, Cliff Levingston, etc. Willis has been around forever. It’s seemingly amazing to think he actually could be part of a championship contender at this stage of his career. If you don’t believe this paragraph and think it’s a premature April Fool’s joke, read it and weep:

April Fool’s??? 

It’s Friday and a big sports weekend is almost upon us. So what’s on our mind? Let’s find out:

1.We’re really looking forward to tomorrow’s highly anticipated men’s Final Four in Atlanta. You have two potential great match-ups. It’s very possible that both national semifinals could go down to the wire.

In one game, you have the battle of the big men with Ohio State’s Greg Oden going up against Georgetown’s Roy Hibbert. But what also makes it intriguing are the other players who have outshined the centers thus far. The Buckeyes’ guard tandem of Mike Conley, Jr. and Ron Lewis has been brilliant so far with Oden foul prone. Meanwhile, the Hoyas have gotten solid contributions from Jessie Sapp, DaJuan Summers and Jonathan Wallace. But Big East Player of The Year Jeff Green has stepped up in big spots and could be the difference maker.

In the other semi, it only pits the defending champion Gators against last year’s runner-up UCLA. Billy Donovan’s team is trying to make history by becoming the first school since Duke to repeat (’91 & ‘92). Sixteen years ago, UNLV was aiming for an elusive repeat and looking to go perfect and into NCAA history. They played Duke- the same team they dismantled for their first title in 1990. But this time in the semis, the overconfident Runnin’ Rebels were upset by the Blue Devils, putting a silent halt to that perfect season. Will the same thing happen to the Gators when they face a team they dominated to win the championship a year ago?

The Bruins will be out for redemption. But can they stop the explosive Gators in their tracks? Florida can beat you inside with dynamic duo Al Horford and Joakim Noah and they can get you outside with the lethal trio of Taurean Green, Lee Humphrey and Corey Brewer. Brewer also is exceptional at slashing to the basket and wreaking havoc.

So how can UCLA contest with all this? For one thing, they’ll need to defend real well and fluster the Gators. They’ll also have to force some turnover and create chaos similar to how they took apart Kansas last weekend. Thirdly, the Bruins’ guard tandem of Arron Afflalo and Darren Collison will have to be magnificent. They made big shots against the Jayhawks and must do the same thing tomorrow. They’ll also need support from forwards Josh Shipp and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute plus center Lorenzo Mata.
If there is one clear advantage Florida has over UCLA, it’s on the interior where they should be able to control the glass. The Bruins can’t allow the more athletic Gators to dominate this aspect. A big part of Florida’s success is getting those second and third chances.

So what could help UCLA if they’re to pull it off? The Gators have yet to play their ‘A’ game in any of their previous four tourney victories. They haven’t gotten out of the gate fast and usually let opponents hang around, relying on their talent to prevail down the stretch. That strategy usually can backfire in the biggest games. The bad news for the Bruins is that the Gators are very determined to repeat and probably will come better prepared.

So, who do we think will prevail? Let’s just stick with our initial final selection which was the Hoyas against the Gators for all the marbles on Monday night with Florida repeating making history. If they play up to their potential this weekend, nobody is better.

2.Regarding the hot rumor about Kentucky offering Donovan their job according to a published report, it’s our sentiment that this kind of thing should never happen during what’s supposed to be the biggest weekend for college basketball. Shame on the Wildcats and shame on everyone involved. This isn’t the appropriate time for this sort of thing and can easily distract Donovan’s players as they aim for a little history. We’re in agreement with CBS analyst Billy Packer, who earlier today appeared on WFAN’s Mike & The Mad Dog and trashed this nonsense. It’s not fair to the Gators nor to the rest of the competitors this weekend. Unfortunately as both Mike Francesa and Chris Russo pointed out, there’s nothing sacred about college athletics anymore. Ethics are tossed out the window. It’s all about greed and need these days. What ashame.

3.Good luck this weekend to the Rutgers Lady Scarlet Knights in their bid to win the NCAA women’s basketball tournament. They’ll have to beat a tough LSU team and then either of the remaining favorites in the top seeded battle between Tennessee and North Carolina. It would be a great story if the underdogs from Piscataway came away champions.

4.Nice to see Texas freshman Kevin Durant rewarded for his outstanding season. He became the first freshman to ever win AP National Player of the Year- receiving all but two votes from a 72 national media panel which selects the top 25. Durant was brilliant in averaging 25.8 points-per-game (PPG) which ranked fourth in the nation and also pulled down 11.1 boards-a-game. For the season, he shot an efficient 47 percent from the field including 42 percent from three-point range and also was a solid 82 percent from the free throw line. The honor was well deserved. Wisconsin’s Alando Tucker garnered the other two votes to finish a distant second.

5.Josh Boone has contributed mightily lately to the Nets’ recent run at another playoff berth. In their last two wins, the former UConn center has put together back-to-back 20+ point games in increased minutes. In fact, his 21 and 10 during a home rout of the Pacers the other night was the 2006 first round pick’s first NBA career double double. The inspired play couldn’t come at a better time for Lawrence Frank’s club.

6.Meanwhile, the Knicks learned today that they lost shooting guard Quentin Richardson for the remainder of the season due to back surgery. This didn’t come as a surprise as the former Sun had sat out the last several games after being in and out of the lineup with back problems. It’s just another blow that Isiah Thomas’ Orange and Blue will have to overcome if they’re to get into the postseason. Tonight, they have the dubious task of trying to get their second straight win at the NBA’s best in Dallas. Best of luck.

7.Hockey hasn’t been in the spotlight much lately unless it’s a fight which KO’s an enforcer or a blatant cheapshot which creates controversy. But Pens’ wunderkid Sidney Crosby is changing that dynamic. The league’s leading scorer was recently featured on ESPN’s site in an interesting video comparison with childhood idol Wayne Gretzky. It has fascinating shots of both young stars as they take the league by storm. Check it out here:

Crosby vs Gretzky

8.Big weekend for the locals (Rangers and Islanders) as they fight their way to possible playoff berths. The Isles play Buffalo and Ottawa back-to-back nights while the Blueshirts face the Flyers and Leafs Saturday and Sunday.

-Congrats to the West Virginia Mountaineers on winning their first NIT championship since 1942. They shot the lights out in a 78-73 victory over the Clemson Tigers tonight at Madison Square Garden- going an efficient 12-for-20 from downtown. They were led by senior forward Frank Young, who finished his college career in style by scoring a game high 24 points including six treys. He averaged better than 22 points during the NIT to garner Most Oustanding Player honors. His superb play helped shoot down the Tigers in a close first half. With his club up by two, Young began a 12-2 run to close the half with two three’s. They would go into the locker room up 12. Clemson got it down to single digits in the second half but never fully recovered. For Wva, De’Sean Butler chipped in with 20 while Darris Nichols added 13 and nine assists.

John Beilein’s Mountaineers finished the season 27-9. Though they weren’t good enough to qualify for the NCAA 65 field, they continued to execute the coach’s Princeton offense to perfection using perfect backdoors and solid backcuts to knock down open three’s. If you’ve watched his teams from the past few years, then you know how difficult it is for opponents to defend and also explains why they went pretty deep in the previous two NCAA tourneys (2005-Elite 8, 2006-Sweet 16).

That’s why it’s ashame that they didn’t have at least one more win or a good enough schedule to make the Big Dance once again. You have to believe had they got in, nobody would’ve wanted any part of them. They certainly would’ve been a much tougher out than Arkansas, George Washington or freaking Stanford. But it wasn’t meant to be. Of course, it does point out how difficult the decisions are for the committee every year. It’s impossible to get every one right.

Either way, West Virginia didn’t let it affect them in what was an ultracompetitive NIT which also featured Syracuse, Oklahoma State, N.C. State, Kansas State, Air Force, Drexel and Mississippi State.

The way these kids competed speaks to the high amount of pride they had and also tells you that the NIT (especially getting the chance to play in NYC) isn’t just some secondary tournament. It gives them a unique opportunity to play in the postseason and play under the spotlight. For some it means extending their careers. For others, it means getting valuable postseason experience which can benefit them longterm.

Kudos to everyone involved for making a difference!

-Guillermo Canas has beaten Roger Federer twice more in a month than Andy Roddick or most ATP top 10 players aside from Rafael Nadal. Maybe there is a way to agitate the world’s best player. By staying in long rallies and winning the mental battle. Something Canas and Nadal have been able to do unlike so many other foes. But if you saw how Federer lost that third set tiebreak the other day in which coincidentally he dropped both sets in tiebreaks which never happens, then you know that his Argentine opponent got to him. How else could you explain a routine forehand way long and a mistimed overhead into the net? Canas recently returned to the tour after a 15-month hiatus away due to violating doping policies. Before his suspension, he was a top 20 player who was dangerous and could beat almost anyone. After posting another impressive win over a quality opponent in Tommy Robredo Thursday down in Miami, it’s obvious that he’s back. While he’s a solid baseliner who’s had success on hard courts against Federer, his best surface is clay which means he could be a factor at this year’s French Open. Keep a close eye on him.

-If you had the pleasure of watching the NCAA 3-point and dunk contests, it was very entertaining as usual. And in the three-point contest, Purdue’s Katie Gearlds edged out Oregon’s Aaron Brooks 17-16 by making the final two three’s from the corner including the money ball. In the dunk contest, Georgia Tech’s Mario West pulled off a between the legs windmill jam to upset Michigan’s Brent Petway. Solid coverage by ESPN though we don’t need to see media-ho Erin Andrews interviewing these players after every freaking round.

-When everyone is talking about the Mets and Phillies for the NL East like it’s some foregone two-horse race, you know who our sleeper is? The Braves. More than either team, they upgraded their bullpen significantly by picking up Rafael Soriano from Seattle and Mike Gonzalez from Pittsburgh while re-upping vet closer Bob Wickman. If last year’s pen didn’t blow so many games late, the Braves would’ve been right there. Figure John Smoltz to have a big season in his walk-year. Tim Hudson will need to bounceback. If there are questions with the rotation, that no longer should be the case with the pen which should bolster their chances. The offense still will be led by the Jones boys (Andruw and Chipper) along with emerging stars Jeff Francoeur and Brian McCann. With Edgar Renteria setting the table, Atlanta should be able to manufacture runs.

-So Kenny Rogers is starting the year on the DL due to a tired arm. And we’re left pondering if the crafty southpaw didn’t use enough sandpaper during the Spring?!?!?!?!?!

-When former President Bill Clinton still has much better support than wife Hillary, it might not be encouraging news for her 2008 campaign chances.

-Did anyone else laugh at President George W. Bush’s comedy routine poking fun of his approval rating and Vice President Cheney last year during the Radio and TV Correspondents’ Association dinner the other night? We still could’ve done without Karl Rove impersonating a rapper. There are some things that politicians just shouldn’t try.

-Sports movies seem to be the trend these days. A top 25 list was compiled yesterday. It’s interesting to say the least. No argument on Rocky being ranked No.1 but we’re wondering how they put Bull Durham ahead of Hoosiers, The Natural and Field of Dreams. Sure, Bull Durham is comical and there are some good aspects but it’s not better than the other three. How A League Of Their Own is so low (24th) makes no sense at all. That was a pretty darn good sports flick and deserves to be much higher. Even Slapshot outside the top 10 seems a little on the low side. What’s hard is that you can’t pick every movie to make the cut. But we could definitely see some others in there like Mighty Ducks I or Seabiscuit. I guess it all depends on preference making for a great debate.

The NY Hockey Report is a show myself, Gary Harding and Joe McDonald co-host every Wednesday nights between 8 and 9. We usually will cover the three metroarea locals (Rangers, Devils and Islanders) and other hockey issues.

This is our second season. It’s gone well thus far. Last night, it was just Gary and I as we brokedown the wild Eastern playoff race as both the Rangers and Islanders try to make the cut with only 10 days left.

Here is the show archive:

NYHR 3-28-07

Both of us also made a cameo appearance on the Faceoff Hockey show. Faceoff is in its fifth season and runs directly after our show going for two hours between 9 and 11. It’s a comical look at the game from host Scotty Wazz, Sean O, Jonny P and Marc with a ‘C.’ They are also frequently joined by sidekick Laura. Spectors’ Lyle Richardson is a regular who gives daily insights and trade rumors. Gary and I appeared in the second hour for about 15 minutes last night. Here’s the show archive:
Faceoff 3-28-07

Faceoff which is broadcasted from Sean’s basement in D.C. also has gone video this year. They can now be found on YouTube every week. Here’s a show from the previous month:

Faceoff 2-21-07

If you like puck, check our shows out when you can. Each is archived with podcasts available.

No. This isn’t an article we’re writing. That will come soon about a topic that’s been on my mind for a while now. However, since this is the articles section, I came across a very interesting read about what’s happened to the senior trio who led George Mason to last year’s miraculous Final Four, making it the first Colonial school to get there after upsetting a Uconn Huskie team filled with future NBA pros (Marcus Williams-NJ, Josh Boone-NJ, Rudy Gay-Mem, Hilton Armstrong-NO, Denham Brown-Sea).

So what’s happened to Jai Lewis, Tony Skinn and Lamar Butler since their brilliant play in upsetting NCAA powers Michigan State, North Carolina and Uconn along the way to an improbable Final Four?

As yahoo writer Josh Peter explains in this outstanding exclusive feature Seeking Cinderella, life hasn’t exactly gone as planned for the three who gave America such thrills- proving that it was possible for a mid-major to get to the Final Four.

While they made a ton of money for the school, their coach Jim Larranaga and the Colonial Athletic Association, it hasn’t been as easy a path for the trio. Much like their epic run a year ago, this is the story of the underdog.Find out why their stories are so great as they journey around the world in attempts to succeed at the pros.

-The Knicks got a huge win over the Cavs at home- taking it 97-93 to stay afloat in the Eastern playoff race. Nursing a one-point lead with under 10 seconds left, Stephon Marbury drained a contested trey with 8.5 remaining to seal it. The ball rattled around the basket before going down. Isiah Thomas’ struggling club also got a big final quarter from center Eddy Curry, who scored 13 of his 25 in the last 12 minutes. The win was only their second in their last seven and improved the club to 31-40, enabling them to keep pace with the seventh place Nets who posted a 118-94 blowout victory over Indiana. The Knicks trail New Jersey by two games and gained a game on eighth place Orlando (lost to Boston in 2 OTs 105-96) to pull within one and a half with 11 games left.

It’s going to take a lot for the Orange and Blue to make the playoff cut. They still have two games against the Nets down the stretch and have yet to prove they can beat them when it counts. That must change if they are to get in. The fact that they can beat the LeBron James Cavs is proof they can play with anyone. Do they have what it takes to silence the predictable cynics? We’ll see.

-It might not have as much prestige as the men’s Final Four in Atlanta this weekend but if you want to see some big time hoops, tune into tomorrow night’s NIT championship between West Virginia and Clemson. Both teams posted one-point wins Tuesday to get into the title game. The Mountaineers rallied from 14 down in the second half to beat Mississippi State 63-62 on Darris Nichols’ three point buzzer beater. The Tigers held off a pesky Air Force bunch to post a 68-67 win to setup what should be an entertaining final at Madison Square Garden. While the NIT might not have as much media coverage or hype, it does boast the best stage for a big game at the Mecca in NYC. You want atmosphere. Watch tomorrow night’s game!

-The women’s Final Four is set for Cleveland. Top seeds North Carolina and Tennessee joined surprise semifinalists LSU and Rutgers Tuesday with respective wins over Purdue and Mississippi. UNC defeated Purdue 84-72 to advance to a match-up against the Lady Volunteers, who blew the doors off Mississippi 98-62. The Vols have beaten their four previous opponents (Drake, Pittsburgh, Marist and Mississippi) by an average margin of 27 points. They’ll take on the Tar Heels this weekend in what is their 17th trip to the Final Four under legendary coach Pat Summitt.

For LSU and Rutgers, they weren’t expected to be here. The Lady Tigers overcame the shocking resignation of their coach Pokey Chatman due to alleged wrongdoing with a former player. It’s a credit to assistant and temporary coach Bob Starkey and his players as they marched on to their fourth consecutive Final Four. Meanwhile, the Lady Scarlet Knights are still flying high after their stunning upset of Duke and then impressive double digit triumph over Arizona State in the Regional Final at Greensboro to make coach C. Vivian Stringer the first coach to guide three different schools to the Final Four. Can the Knights stun the country and take it all? Like the football team which took the nation by storm last year, they believe it’s their time! We’ll soon find out.

-Who ever would have believed that Carl Pavano would go from permanent DL man to Opening Day starter for the Bronx Bombers this Spring?!?!?!?!?! Thought so!

-Good for the Mets that they elevated impressive rookie hurler Mike Pelfrey over the washed up Chan Ho Park for that elusive final spot in their rotation. The 23 year-old distinguished himself this Spring and earned the nod. It’s not only a better choice for this season but longterm as well.

-How long before Lastings Milledge replaces Shawn Green in right?

-Kudos to Jonathan Papelbon for being a team player and returning to the closer role in Boston ending the failed Joel Pineiro experiment. As long as he stays healthy, this should make the Red Sox a better team instead of the rollercoaster adventure they would’ve been at the end of games.

-It really is ashame to see what’s happened to former Cubs’ ace Mark Prior. He hasn’t been the same since all his injuries and now was optioned to Triple A to start the season. A far cry from how dominant he was a few years ago at Wrigley. He had a rocky Spring and definitely could use a confidence boost. Hopefully, he’ll be able to regain the form he showed once before. We’re rooting for him.

-Say what you want about hockey no longer being on ESPN because outside of the self-explanatory HNIC’s Don Cherry, we can’t think of anyone else who’s more passionate about the game than Barry Melrose. It’s ashame that he’s not on a network which covers it because this man knows the game as well as anyone and always makes solid points. SC anchor John Buccigross who has his first book out on former NHLer Keith Jones is right behind! Try telling NBC and Versus pronto.

-After their 4-3 win over the Devils, the Sabres have pretty much wrapped up the East’s top seed and home ice. They got nice third period goals from Jochen Hecht and the returning Ales Kotalik to prevail over New Jersey- splitting the season series of what could be a possible ECF preview. Lindy Ruff’s club is finally getting healthy at the right time which might be bad news for the rest of the conference. Only Maxim Afinogenov, Tim Connolly and Paul Gaustaud remain out with injuries. Buffalo should take solace knowing they’ll be getting the dangerous Afinogenov back in time for the postseason. As for Connolly and Gaustaud, don’t expect them back anytime soon. In the mean time, rookie Drew Stafford continues to elevate his game and could be a factor this Spring.

Kudos to leading scorer and Hart candidate Daniel Briere on becoming the first Sabre since Pat LaFontaine back in 1995-96 to reach 90 points. His nifty backhand feed on Hecht’s second goal of the night helped the All Star Game MVP (31-59-90) the plateau. At 5-9, 177, he’s not the biggest in stature but try telling that to opponents as he dances around them and wins loose puck battles in the corners to setup goals. It’s hard to fathom that Buffalo GM Darcy Regier somehow stole this guy from Phoenix for career underachiever Chris Gratton (now with Florida). Already a lopsided deal, if the miniscule playmaker leads the Sabres to their first ever Stanley Cup, it will go down as one of the all-time heists.

-Meanwhile, for the Devils, they blew an opportunity to gain valuable ground on the Penguins. Both teams now have five games remaining as they duke it out for the Atlantic. Each has 98 points but the Devs still have two tiebreakers in their favor- one being wins (45-44)- the other being the season series (won 5 of 8). If they finish tied, it’s advantage New Jersey which also would mean the East’s second seed and home ice- avoiding a potentially dangerous opening round match-up with Ottawa. It should be interesting to see who prevails.

-With Martin Brodeur (44 wins) and Roberto Luongo (43 wins) not far off Bernie Parent’s NHL record mark of 47 victories, it’s worth noting that the ex-Flyer great established the record in 1973-74 while playing in 73 games. Back then, they played four less games and there was no overtime. Just imagine how many more wins he could’ve had. It’s hard to say how the record would be looked at if either netminder eclipse it. And while it would be a worthy accomplishment, it would also have been helped along by the shootout. It’s still quite amazing to think that Parent’s record has lasted this long.

-It’s nice to know the NFL is finally paying attention to how disorderly some of their players have been off the field. Let’s see how stiff they come down first on Pacman Jones before kissing their ass like all the networks.

-Vince McMahon vs Donald Trump (hair on line) in Wrestlemania XXV isn’t exactly bringing back classic memories of Hulk Hogan vs Andre The Giant.