Yellows, Ludwick arrived at terms on a single-year deal

1 by 1, the Yellows happen to be checking off their listing of needs. Their latest move seems to possess seriously Monday evening.

Major league baseball.com has learned via a source that outfielder Ryan Ludwick has decided to a 1-year contract having a mutual choice for 2013. The amount remains unclear, however the Yellows were not likely to spend a great deal to fill their opening for any 4th outfielder.

The signing is pending an actual.

Ludwick, 33, batted .237 with 13 home runs last season inside a combined 139 games using the Padres and Pirates. He's a brief history with Yellows gm Wally Jocketty, getting performed for him using the Cardinals. Ludwick spent the 2007-09 seasons in St. Louis striking work-best 37 homers with 113 RBIs in 2008.

Before move, Cincinnati had only three outfielders with extensive large league experience on its 40-guy roster, and was searching for an outfielder who might be paired in left area with Chris Heisey. Ludwick may also play right area to spell Jay Bruce if needed.

An eternity .261 hitter with 117 home runs along with a .332 on-base percentage over nine large league seasons, Ludwick could bring some right-handed energy towards the 25-guy roster. Last season he batted .264 versus. left-handed pitchers and .228 against right-handers, but he's been better over his career versus. righties (.272 average) than lefties (.237).

Additionally to getting a history with Jocketty, Ludwick also offers were built with a fan recently in manager Dusty Baker, that has made multiple positive comments, both openly and independently. In 30 career games at Great American Ball Park, Ludwick has batted .276 with nine homers and 21 RBIs. Younger crowd includes a .921 on-base-plus-slugging percentage there.

Although he is doing softball bat in the right side, he throws left-handed.

The Yellows haven't released any details about the offer.

A week ago the club decided to terms with free-agent closer Ryan Madson on the one-year deal that guarantees the best-hander $8.5 million. This contract, too, is pending an actual.

In 2 December trades, Jocketty acquired a No. 2 beginning pitcher, Pad Latos, in the Padres and lefty setup guy Sean Marshall in the Cubs. Cincinnati continues to be searching for a backup shortstop. Jocketty stated on Friday he wished to possess left area and shortstop resolved with this week. He's now midway to his goal.

No hesitation about Beltran's health

Prior to Albert Pujols' departure, and for that reason prior to the Cardinals understood whether they'd possess the financial versatility to even pursue Carlos Beltran, the veteran outfielder had his eye on St. Louis.

That interest was later reciprocated, putting Beltran inside a place where he can help decrease the blow that Pujols' departure designed to St. Louis' selection.

That's presuming, obviously, he stays healthy.

He accomplished it this year, and that he offered no hesitation he would again when talking about his health in the organization's Winter Warm-up event on Monday. Coming off a season by which he performed 142 games -- 134 like a right fielder -- Beltran stated that there's little reason to think that his surgically fixed right knee is not prepared to handle another full-season workload.

"This past year would be a real important year for me personally,Inch stated Beltran, who went through surgery around the knee in The month of january 2010. "After returning in the [knee] injuries, it offered me a feeling of where I'm and just how much baseball I've left. It had been a great season for me personally.Inch

He hit .300 with 22 homers and 84 RBIs using the Mets and Titans this year.

Beltran credited a positional proceed to right area as type in helping him remain on the area all seasons, clearly since it lessened the floor he needed to cover. Nevertheless, he's also agreeable to moving to center area, if required.

That require is not likely to arise in April, as Jon Jay has already been penciled in because the team's beginning center fielder. But maybe it's a move manager Mike Matheny later views when the Cardinals would like to get Allen Craig regular at-bats once he's retrieved from their own knee injuries.

"At this time he states he feels great, and also the doctors have confirmed he looks good," Matheny stated. "It will likely be a juggling act to determine how he progresses with the spring. Spring can be a good test. That informs you plenty about how exactly their physiques are likely to have the ability to endure through the stress of a season. Inside a perfect world, I'd like to see him healthy. So when he's healthy, we've options."

Health was not ever a lot of an problem for Beltran until 2009, whenever a bone bruise cost him up to 50 % the growing season. The knee did not heal not surprisingly, compelling the surgery that winter. He didn't return until following the All-Star burglary 2010 and performed just 64 games. From 2001 to 2008, prior to the set of injuries-affected seasons, Beltran had made an appearance in a minimum of 140 games every year.

The limited action in '09 and 2010 made 2011 an especially critical year for Beltran, who also understood that his seven-year, $119 million contract could be at its finish following the season. His capability to remain on the area left gm John Mozeliak confident enough to sign him to some two-year, $26 million deal recently.

Only Matt Holliday and Chris Contractor can make more in 2012.

"This past year many people thought I wasn't likely to have the ability to participate in the outfield 140, 150 games," Beltran stated. "I demonstrated which was possible. I am just likely to still take proper care of myself. When you are getting older, you are focused and much more prepared, and guess what happens you need to do to be able to maintain yourself. This past year I learned several things I did not do previously. Among the finest to repeat individuals."

Weber returns Potential predators lose to Stars

Mike Ribeiro obtained two goals within the first period and also the Dallas Stars beat Nashville 4-1 on Thursday evening, destroying the return of Potential predators captain Shea Weber from the concussion.

Weber had skipped four games since getting hurt 12 ,. 23 inside a loss at Dallas inside a collision with Stars defenseman super bowl jersey Mark Fistric. The Potential predators introduced Thursday in the morning skate the defenseman have been removed to experience, and Nashville were built with a franchise-record seventh straight sellout for Weber's return.

But Ribeiro obtained two times with Loui Eriksson aiding on. Jamie Benn added an objective as well as an assist and Adam Burish were built with a goal because the Stars won for that second amount of time in two conferences using the Potential predators this year.

Gabriel Bourque obtained his first NHL goal for Nashville, which in fact had a 3-game winning streak clicked.

The Potential predators completed video from the hit towards the NHL, but Fistric wasn't punished. Jordin Tootoo dropped the mitts off a faceoff 1:46 in to the first period for any fight with Fistric which was more wrestling before Tootoo condemned the heavens defenseman towards the ice with both visiting the box for fighting.

Ribeiro put Dallas up 1- as he easily beat Nashville rookie defenseman Roman Josi and drawn on a backhander in to the open internet past Pekka Rinne at 4:18 from the first. Bourque tied it at 8:31 when Tootoo put the puck from behind the internet, and Bourque clicked it in in the slot over Kari Lehtonen's glove for that goal.

But Ribeiro put Dallas ahead to remain at 19:22 from the first because he backhanded a loose puck Rinne had become a glove on.

The Potential predators have been off since a conquer Calgary on New Year's Day, plus they looked sloppy the majority of the overall game.

It got worse within the second when Rinne passed the puck to defenseman Ryan Suter, who skated behind the internet before passing it back behind him. Rather than a teammate, Benn had a simple tap-in off Rinne's left skate for any 3-1 lead at 6:28.

The Heavens might have brought by more when Suter hit Steve Ott high throughout a brief-handed breakaway, and referees gave Ott a problem shot.

Ott's wrister clanked from the publish.

Ribeiro got hurt as he required a puck hard off a go in the point by teammate Trevor Daley with 33.3 seconds left within the second. Ribeiro skated off and came back putting on a cage safeguarding his face at 10:43 from the third.

Nashville coach Craig Trotz required his timeout at 12:40 from the third. It did not act as the Potential predators were built with a turnover close to the blue line snapped up by Benn, who passed to Wandell. He shot it, and Burish got a stick onto it for that 4-1 lead 13 seconds following the timeout.

Sullinger scores 21 as No. 2 OSU routs Duke

Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski was asked about an Ohio State player and almost chuckled.

"I wasn't focused on each of their guys," he said. "I was trying not to lose by 30."
It was that kind of night for the fourth-ranked Blue Devils.

Jared Sullinger scored 21 points and three teammates were close behind as No. 2 Ohio State roared out to an 11-0 lead and never looked back in rolling to an 85-63 victory Tuesday night in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.

Buckeyes fans chanted "overrated" at the Blue Devils in the final minute.
NBA star LeBron James had a front-row seat for the rout, but he was booed loudly when he walked to his courtside seat with Miami Heat teammate Dwyane Wade. That was about the only time the fans expressed any dissatisfaction with anything on the court.
"This basketball team is special," Sullinger said.
The Buckeyes (7-0) never trailed, weathering a Duke rally in the first half and then leading by 20 for most of the second half.
"Sometimes you just get your butt kicked," said Krzyzewski, who said his young team appeared tired.
Austin Rivers had 22 points and Mason Plumlee 16 for the Blue Devils (7-1), coming off wins over ranked opponents Michigan and Kansas in their previous two games.
William Buford scored 20, Deshaun Thomas 18 and Aaron Craft 17 for the Buckeyes, who gave the Big Ten a 4-2 edge in the conference matchups. Craft also had eight assists and five rebounds and was a terror on defense.
Few would have expected such a lopsided result. Duke came in with a record of 11-1 in ACC/Big Ten games and had beaten its last five Big Ten opponents — including conference bullies Michigan State and Michigan already this season.
The Blue Devils had also won their last four games in which both teams were ranked in the top five.
The Buckeyes led by 24 with 15 minutes left after Craft banked in a three — he laughed after it clanked in. The Blue Devils responded with a 7-0 run to get as close as 58-41 but Ohio State continued to control the paint. Sullinger was fouled and hit two foul shots, then powered up a shot off the backboard for a 66-43 lead shortly before clock trouble allowed both teams to take a breather with 8:42 remaining.
On consecutive possessions, Ohio State got a dunk by Sullinger and a three by Craft thanks to around-the-horn passing that found an open player.
"We were taking great shots," Craft said of the Buckeyes, who shot 59 percent from the field and made 8 of 14 3-pointers. "It all started with Jared inside. That just opens everything else up."
It was a festive, rock-concert sort of a capacity crowd of 18,809 at Value City Arena for the game, which was billed as the biggest nonconference home game ever for Ohio State.
One female student held up a sign meant for Sullinger that said, "Jared, will you marry me?" When Rivers — the son of Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers— had a turnover, the Ohio State student section chanted, "Daddy's boy! Daddy's boy!"
The first half was a shocker, with Ohio State setting the pace early, shrugging aside a Duke comeback and then pulling away for a gaping 47-28 lead at the break as Buford and Thomas each had 13 points.
"I was sort of the X factor," Thomas said with a grin.
The Buckeyes ran off the first 11 points — five by Craft and four by Buford — while Duke's younger players appeared nervous and tentative.
"They just jumped on us from the beginning," Plumlee said. "We weren't ready to play."
After Plumlee ended the cold start with a shot over Sullinger four minutes in, the Blue Devils regained their balance as Rivers and Seth Curry took turns beating the Buckeyes off the dribble for layups.
Plumlee's reverse dunk — the crowd howled that he traveled — cut Ohio State's lead to 18-17 at the 9:50 mark.
But just that quickly, the Buckeyes — who won their 29th in a row at home — streaked away again.
After Buford made two foul shots, Sullinger hit a leaner off glass and Plumlee protested his second foul, with the Buckeyes sophomore completing the three-point play. Substitute guard Jordan Sibert went high over the rim to tip in a miss before Buford scored in transition. Thomas then tossed in a half-hook from the left baseline to cap a 10-0 run that made it 28-17.
During that spell and beyond, the Buckeyes scored on eight consecutive possessions. When Craft hit a 14-foot jumper off a kickback pass from Sullinger at the 5:38 mark, it was 34-21. The lead never dropped below double digits again.
The Buckeyes, typically a mild-mannered team on the boards, won the rebound battle (33-27) and outscored the Blue Devils 15-0 at one point on second-chance points.
It was Duke's second game in Columbus. In the only other meeting in Ohio's capital city, the Blue Devils won 94-89 in double overtime on Dec. 30, 1964, at old St. John Arena.
The Blue Devils had won their last 35 games in November, dating to a 73-62 loss to Marquette in 2006.
But not tonight.
"I've had my butt kicked before," Krzyzewski said. "We've kicked some butt. Tonight my butt's sore."

Source: Ankle injury to sideline Osi Umenyiora

The Giants' nearly extinct pass rush of the last two weeks will be hard-pressed to return to its first-half-of-the-season form against the 11-0 Packers without one of its key elements. Defensive end Osi Umenyiora, who sprained his ankle early in Monday night's 49-24 loss to the Saints, had an MRI last night and, according to a source who spoke before that examination, it "does not look good" for him to play Sunday.
"He's probably out this week, maybe more," the source said, calling the injury a "bad sprain."
The Giants began the season without Umenyiora. He missed the first three games after preseason knee surgery and spending most of training camp in a standoff with the front office. He eventually returned and had been playing well.
Jason Pierre-Paul would start in place of Umenyiora for however long he is out. The second-year player leads the team with 10.5 sacks and had a strong performance against the Saints. Tom Coughlin called Pierre-Paul's effort in Monday night's game "outstanding."
Umenyiora has seven sacks, second on the team, but only one in the last four games. That coincides with a team dry spell. The Giants (6-5) had 30 sacks through the first nine games but only one in the last two, including their first game of the season without one against the Saints. They had only seven quarterback hits in those last two games, both losses.
Coughlin said teams have increased their protections to keep the Giants' four-man pass rush from reaching its destination.
"We need to look at that and perhaps up the percentage somewhat in terms of our pressures," he said. "But it would be great to get our guys going again and win those one-on-one matchups when they do occur . . . We didn't get a lot of things done, we didn't get to the quarterback as much as we wanted to, but it wasn't for a lack of effort."

MLB to interview A-Rod in poker investigation

Yankees star Alex Rodriguez will be interviewed by Major League Baseball as part of its investigation of his involvement in illegal poker games.

Rodriguez also faced questions about his gambling habits in 2005, when the Daily News reported he attended games at an underground poker club in New York. The slugging third baseman later acknowledged “it wasn't the right thing to do,” and checked with MLB before holding a charity poker tournament the following year.

Now baseball wants to talk to him again.

“We take this very seriously and have been investigating this matter since the initial allegation,” MLB said Wednesday in a statement. “As part of the investigation, the commissioner's office will interview Mr. Rodriguez.”

Rodriguez is on the disabled list and wasn't with the team Wednesday night in Chicago.

“I don't really have any comment on that,” manager Joe Girardi said before the Yankees played the White Sox. “Let baseball handle those things.”

Star Magazine reported last month that several people saw A-Rod playing in games hosted at Hollywood hotels and residences. His publicist denied that Rodriguez participated.

Rodriguez's name is not mentioned in any court filings in relation to the games.

MLB said at the time that the report was the first the commissioner's office had heard about the accusation and baseball officials would look into the matter.

A spokesman for the Yankees declined comment when asked about Rodriguez on Wednesday. A message was left seeking comment from Richard Rubenstein, Rodriguez's publicist.

The 36-year-old Rodriguez had right knee surgery on July 14 but is expected to resume baseball activities on Thursday at the Yankees' facility in Florida. The three-time AL MVP is hitting .295 with 13 home runs and 52 RBIs this season.

Rodriguez ranks sixth on the career homer list with 626. He needs 137 to break Barry Bonds' all-time record.

NFL wants to cut guaranteed pay for first-round picks

The NFL wants to cut almost 60% of guaranteed pay for first-round draft picks, lock them in for five years and divert the savings to veterans' salaries and benefits.


More than $525 million went to first-rounders in guaranteed payments in 2010. The league wants to decrease that figure by $300 million, according to documents obtained by the Associated Press.


The league's offer would free a total of more than $1.2 billion over four years through 2015 — $37.5 million per team overall — and slow the growth rate of guaranteed payments to first-rounders, which the documents show increased by 233% from 2000 to 2010.


Such quarterback busts as JaMarcus Russell ($32 million), Matt Leinart ($12.9 million), David Carr ($15 million) and Joey Harrington ($13.9 million) received guaranteed payments that totaled $367 million in the last 10 drafts.


Guaranteed money paid to top-10 selections since 2000 reached nearly $2 billion. Guaranteed payments for all first-rounders were at $3.5 billion. The average career length of a first-round pick since 1993 is 9.3 years.


The Cheap NFL Jerseys  Players Association was not immediately available for comment.


COLLEGE SPORTS


Fox Sports, Big 12 have TV deal


The Big 12 Conference and Fox Sports announced a 13-year cable television contract that is worth $90 million, according to SportsBusiness Journal. The conference also has an on-going contract (through 2015-16) with ABC and ESPN. It has been reported that the contracts are worth a combined $130 million to the Big 12. Every Big 12 home football game will be shown on either ABC, a Fox network (including FX) or on what are called "institutional platforms" such as Texas' new Longhorn Network.


The Pacific 12 Conference is negotiating new TV contracts for the expanded league. During a conference call discussing the new Big 12 deal, Fox officials declined to comment on negotiations with Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott.


— Diane Pucin


An MRI on the injured left knee of UCLA safety Tony Dye revealed a mild sprain, the Bruins said. His availability for spring practice will be determined on a daily basis. Tight end John Young's return to practice this spring is "doubtful," the school said. He has an injured left shoulder. The Bruins will scrimmage during Thursday's practice instead of Friday's because of Coach Rick Neuheisel's plans to attend the funeral of former UCLA offensive coordinator Homer Smith in Alabama.


Arizona forward Derrick Williams is heading to the NBA. The Pacific 10 Conference's player of the year said he will sign with an agent and won't return for his junior season. Williams averaged 19.5 points and 8.3 rebounds while shooting 59% as a sophomore this season, leading the Wildcats to the NCAA tournament's West Regional final.


ETC.


Tennessee Titans wide receiver Kenny Britt was arrested in his hometown of Bayonne, N.J., on Tuesday after an officer reported seeing him speeding. Britt, 22, faces charges of eluding the officer, hindering apprehension and obstructing governmental function, Bayonne Police Chief Robert Kubert said.


Britt was driving his Porsche at 71 mph in a 50-mph zone Tuesday afternoon, according to Kubert, who said Britt drove away from the officer and was eventually found on side street walking away from the car. Kubert said Britt first denied being in the car, then denied driving and then finally admitted he was behind the wheel.


Police said a passenger in the vehicle with Britt also faces three criminal charges.


Detroit Pistons forward Charlie Villanueva was suspended for five games without pay by the NBA for initiating an on-court altercation with Cleveland's Ryan Hollins, trying to get at the Cavaliers' bench and twice attempting to enter their locker room Monday. Villanueva served the first game of the suspension Wednesday. The remaining four games will be served next season.


Rafael Nadal began his bid for a seventh straight Monte Carlo Masters title with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Jarkko Nieminen at Monaco. The top-ranked Spaniard, who next plays Richard Gasquet, did not face a break point against the Finn and extended his winning record at the clay-court tournament to 33 matches. Third-seeded Andy Murray defeated Radek Stepanek, 6-1, 6-4, winning his first match since the semifinals of the Australian Open.


The Factor was made the 7-5 favorite in a field of 13 for the $1-million Arkansas Derby on Saturday at Hot Springs. The Factor drew the No. 3 post for his return to Oaklawn Park, where the 3-year-old colt trained by Bob Baffert won the Rebel Stakes by 61/4 lengths last month.


The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission's License Review Committee denied Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Rick Dutrow Jr. a license to race in the state in 2011. Lisa Underwood, the executive director of the committee, said the unanimous denial was based on Dutrow's "consistent disregard for the rules of racing." Dutrow, who met with officials for an hour before the decision was rendered, can appeal.

Fredette an AP All-American, Robertson Trophy winner

The 2010-11 college basketball awards season began in earnest Monday with BYU’s Jimmer Fredette collecting two huge prizes for his outstanding play in leading the Cougars to their first NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 appearance in 30 years.

Fredette was selected as the winner of the Oscar Robertson Trophy by the United States Basketball Writers Association, given annually to the best player in college basketball by the 900 or so journalists who belong to the USBWA.

The senior guard was also named Associated Press first-team All-America, earning 64 of the 65 first-team votes for the honor. Duke’s Nolan Smith, Purdue’s JuJuan Johnson, UConn’s Kemba Walker and OSU’s Jared Sullinger also made the first team.

Fredette is BYU’s first All-American since Danny Ainge in 1981.

“If you go out and play your game and have confidence in yourself, you can accomplish great things,” Fredette said. “That’s what I’ve always said in my head, and it has worked out.”

The AP said the voting was done before the NCAA Tournament.

“I think that it is a great accomplishment. Unbelievable,” BYU coach Dave Rose said. “It shows how good his work ethic is. He’s a player who has worked his way into an All-American. What he’s meant to our program over the last four years — it is really kind of immeasurable.”

The Robertson Award will be presented to Fredette by Oscar Robertson himself in Houston on Friday in conjunction with the Final Four.

The other three major national player of the year awards — the Naismith College Basketball Player of the Year, the Associated Press Player of the Year and the John Wooden Award — will be presented in April.

Fredette is the second Robertson Trophy winner from the Mountain West Conference. He joins Utah’s Andrew Bogut, who won the award in 2005.

Utah State’s Tai Wesley and Utah Valley’s Isiah Williams were named Honorable Mention All-Americans.

Sprint Cup: Kyle Busch wins again at Bristol

BRISTOL, Tenn. — The situation was perfect for Carl Edwards to issue some payback on Kyle Busch.

Instead, Edwards passed on a chance to knock Busch out of the lead over the closing laps at Bristol Motor Speedway.

As Busch pulled away for Sunday's win — his fifth straight dating to August in major NASCAR races at the Tennessee track — Edwards regretted not racing harder to potentially steal the victory. The two have a history at Bristol, and Edwards is still smarting from contact between the two last month at Phoenix that he believed wrecked a car capable of winning.

"I told him after Phoenix that I still owe him one, but I'll save it up," Edwards said. "I thought I'd be able to race with him harder for those last 15 to 20 laps, but he took off and I just couldn't get back (near) to him to race."

That Edwards considered revenge was a surprise to Busch, who seemed mystified that Edwards could be holding any sort of grudge against him.

"I have no idea what I'm owed from, you'd have to ask Carl," Busch said, later adding when asked specifically about Phoenix, "Carl says what Carl says. I don't know. And when and where it comes, I do not know."

It didn't come Sunday after Busch beat Edwards and Jimmie Johnson off pit road following the final pit stops on Lap 430 of 500. That gave him the lead over all but one of the final 70 laps in the Jeff Byrd 500. The racing at the beginning of each restart was intense, but Busch consistently pulled away.

Edwards briefly grabbed the lead on Lap 474 after side-by-side racing, but Busch took it back for good the next lap.

"I was trying to drive away from him so he wouldn't have the opportunity to get to me," Busch said of his strategy with Edwards. "When he got to me that one time, I'm like 'Oh, man. That was your shot. Nice try. You didn't get it done.' "

Busch did, pulling away to complete a sweep of the weekend — he also won Saturday's second-tier Nationwide series race. Busch has five Cup wins at Bristol, which ties him with older brother Kurt in NASCAR's top series, and has 11 victories spanning the three national series at the 0.533-mile bullring.

Kurt Busch, who came in tied for the Sprint Cup points lead, took sole possession of first, one point ahead of Edwards.

Kyle Busch, who drives a Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing, dedicated the win to the manufacturer and employees in Japan trying to recover from the recent earthquake and tsunami.

Johnson, the defending race winner, finished third and said he waited for a dustup between Busch and Edwards that could have given him the win.

"We were all running really hard, and there were a couple moments where I thought I might be given a big gift," Johnson said. " … There was nowhere for me to go if I got up in there and raced with those guys."

Kenseth, Edwards' teammate with Roush Fenway Racing, was fourth followed by Richard Childress Racing teammates Paul Menard and Kevin Harvick.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. was flagged for speeding on pit road, which might have cost him a top-10 finish. He was 11th, coming back from one lap down.

There were no tire issues despite concern when Goodyear's product struggled through Friday. The supplier called for almost 1,300 new right-side tires to be shipped from North Carolina, and they were distributed before Saturday's practices. NASCAR called a competition caution at Lap 50 to check the tires, and there were no noticeable issues.

NCAA tournament selection process doesn't have to be right, but it shouldn't be a secret

The problem with the NCAA tournament bracket that was unveiled Sunday night isn't the product.

Debate over who got in and who didn't is going to occur every year whether the field consists of 64 teams, 68 teams or the 96 teams the NCAA will someday shove down our throats.
And while only one member of this year's tournament selection committee has actually coached Division I basketball - Stan Morrison, who last did so in 1998 -
the process isn't necessarily the issue either.

The problem is accountability - specifically, the committee's utter lack of it. Without it, we have no way of knowing whether the process was fair or not.
Something is rotten in Indianapolis.
Through the years, the tournament selection committee, especially whomever is chairman, has mastered the art of the non-answer. Ask a committee member whether the sun will set in the west today, and you will be told that a very careful study will be done on that question and the committee will do a great job coming up with the answer and that the sun is extremely well-coached but it may or may not have enough votes to set in the west.
This year's committee chairman, Ohio State Athletic Director Gene Smith, who probably should have resigned that position last week to tend to his day job in Columbus, wouldn't answer the simplest and most obvious questions Sunday night.
Why didn't Virginia Tech make the field? Smith's answer, once you filtered out all the babble about "quantifiable criteria" and how well-coached the Hokies are, was this: The Hokies didn't get enough votes.
No kidding, Mr. Chairman.
When Smith was asked whether the ACC tournament championship game between Duke and North Carolina had decided who got the final No. 1 seed, he went off on a body-of-work tangent and claimed one game didn't decide the last No. 1 seed.
Does he seriously think anyone believes that? Is he saying that if North Carolina had beaten Duke for the second time in the past eight days and had lost one game in two months, Duke still would have been the last No. 1 seed? If so, then the committee is doing an even worse job than people think.

The committee's hypocrisy is in trying to keep all its decision-making processes secret while at the same time claiming "transparency."

Smith says Virginia Tech didn't get in because it didn't get enough votes. Fine. Who voted for the Hokies? Who voted against them? If members of Congress have to vote publicly on tax increases or whether or not to go to war, why in the world shouldn't tournament selection committee members have to explain why they voted for or against teams? All the voting is done by computer now; every single vote should be made public.
Committee members have absolutely no problem with accepting the many perks that come with their roles, but they don't seem to own the responsibility. No one forces anyone to be on the committee. If you want to be a member, you should have to explain what you did and why.
Here's another question that should be answered: Who was responsible for scouting the ACC this season? Before the season, each committee member is assigned three conferences (presumably someone takes four because there are 31 altogether). The NCAA supplies each member with satellite TV and any game tapes necessary to keep track of the leagues throughout the season.

So, who was the ACC's scout this season? Did he vote for or against Virginia Tech? What did he say about Virginia Tech in the room? Who was the scout for Conference-USA? What did he say that got UAB into the field? Is the scout for the Big Ten being given a "man-of-the-year" award by Comissioner Jim Delaney for somehow getting seven teams into the field?


In an e-mail response to two questions directed to Smith on Monday - who was assigned to the ACC this season and who voted for and against Virginia Tech? - NCAA spokesman David Worlock wrote that the committee does not release the results of any vote taken or who scouts which conference but did-at great length-explain all the information that is available to the committee members.

The committee has an absolute right to get it wrong. No one is perfect, although it doesn't appear anyone in power cares about improving the committee's basketball IQ. This summer, Smith and Morrison will be replaced by two men who have never been Division I coaches. That means there will be zero ex-coaches on next year's committee.

What the committee does not have the right to do is act as if honest answers regarding the selection process would somehow jeopardize national security. It is worth noting that the last thing the committee does Selection Sunday afternoon is prepare the chairman by agreeing on answers for the questions most likely to be asked. Saying Virginia Tech didn't have enough votes isn't an answer, though; it's a dodge.

Anyone familiar with the term "Watergate" knows the cover-up is always worse than the crime. After the past week, Smith should know better than anyone. (See: Tressel, Jim).

Every year, several schools believe - often correctly - that their being left out of the NCAA tournament field is unfair. One can make the case even the most egregious omissions are mostly the results of honest mistakes.

But the refusal to be accountable for such mistakes is anything but honest. And there's not an excuse for allowing it to continue.

Ravens Union Representative Says Extension Means Progress Toward NFL Deal

Chris Carr, a players’ union representative from the Baltimore Ravens, said he’s optimistic that the National Football League and its players union resume efforts will make progress this week toward a new labor contract.

League and union officials -- arguing over how to divide $9 billion in revenue and avoid a work stoppage in the U.S.’s most- watched sport -- on March 4 agreed to a seven-day extension of their current collective bargaining agreement.

Had last week’s deadline had passed without agreement or an extension, the owners could have locked out the players and shut down the sport a month after the Super Bowl championship game drew the biggest audience in U.S. television history. That a lockout hasn’t happened is a sign that an agreement can be reached this week, Carr said.

“If they thought the best strategy was to lock the players out, they would not delay,” the Ravens’ cornerback said in an e-mail. “I am optimistic.”

George H. Cohen, head of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, said the extension would end the evening of March 11. Cohen, NFL Players Association Executive Director DeMaurice Smith and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell all declined to discuss specifics of the talks when they left mediation on March 4.

“There’s a commitment on both sides to engage in another round of negotiations at the request of the mediation service,” Smith told reporters in Washington. “We look forward to a deal coming out of that.”

Antitrust Lawsuits

The union could have abandoned its role in the talks and become a trade association, starting a process that would let individual players file antitrust lawsuits against a shutdown of the sport. The union used the same legal tactic after a 1987 strike broken by replacement players, spawning about 20 lawsuits -- including one that helped create free agency.

It’s a “good sign” that the union hasn’t decertified and the owners haven’t instigated a lockout, Carr said.

“The owners go about their business in a way that’s very conducive to getting a deal done, the players as well,” said Carr, who’s in his seventh NFL season. “I know the union has been doing everything they can to get a deal.”

Asked how he gets opposing sides to agree on issues, Cohen, who brokered a contract agreement last year between Major League Soccer and its players, said it’s not easy.

“The answer is based on longstanding -- look at my gray hair -- experience in collective bargaining negotiations,” he told reporters outside his office.

Negotiating Topics

Along with how to divide the league’s record revenue, negotiation topics include health-care for retirees, extending the regular season to 18 games from 16 and limiting salaries for rookie players.

The week-long extension came three days after U.S. DistrictJudge David Doty in Minneapolis ruled that team owners improperly negotiated $4 billion in television rights fees they might have tapped in a work stoppage. He will consider damages in a yet-to-be-scheduled hearing.

Doty, ruling on March 1, upheld a union complaint that the NFL improperly negotiated to receive about $4 billion from its most prominent television partners -- CBS Corp. (CBS), News Corp. (NWSA)’s Fox, Comcast Corp.’s NBC, Walt Disney Co. (DIS)’s ESPN and DirecTV (DTV) -- even if a work stoppage cancels games in 2011.

Repaying Stadium Bonds

A day after Doty’s ruling, the rating company Standard & Poor’s halved, to one year, a two-day-old estimate on the impact of a work stoppage on the ability of the NFL to repay stadium bonds.

A lockout that extends into the season, which begins in September, would empty stadiums financed with a combined $7 billion in taxpayer money, interrupt the schedules of the largest U.S. broadcasters and leave fans without the sport that last season was watched by a record 207.7 million viewers.

The league estimates the labor dispute has cost $120 million in ticket sales and sponsorship revenue, and that the total would increase to $1 billion if it takes until the scheduled start of the season in September to reach agreement.

Every week of lost games would diminish revenue by about $400 million, according to Jeff Pash, the league’s chief negotiator, and Eric Grubman, the NFL’s executive vice president of business ventures.

Owners voted in 2008 to opt out of the deal, saying it didn’t account for costs such as those of building stadiums. They want to double the amount of revenue set aside for expenses before paying players, according to the union. Under the current agreement, about $1 billion is deducted before player payrolls are calculated, for costs related to stadiums, marketing, NFL.com and the NFL Network, according to Smith.

Paid Too Much

Grubman, a former executive at Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (GS), said the deal gives players too much money before accounting for costs. New stadiums raise league revenue, for example, thus increasing income for players. Meanwhile, owners bear the finance and operation costs.

The NFL’s popularity historically has bounced back from work stoppages. Paid attendance was about 13.6 million the season before a 57-day strike in 1982 and 13.3 million the season after. It reached a then-record 13.9 million three years after the 1987 strike, the most recent work stoppage.

The possibility of a lockout leaves governments that have subsidized NFL stadiums wondering if those facilities will stand empty during the season. Mayors and city officials of Houston, Miami, Minneapolis, San Diego and Kansas City, Missouri, have written the NFL saying a lockout may cost millions in revenue and wages for workers at stadiums, hotels, restaurants and other businesses that depend on games.

Pash said he wouldn’t be surprised if owners attend talks this week.

“I think there has been enough discussion and enough substance to the discussions that the mediators thought it makes sense to come back and keep at it,” he said.

Lakers, Clippers escape with Bad Kobe 18 points

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Bryant scored 18 of his 24 points ANGELESK OBE in the third quarter, Pau Gasol added 22 points and the Lakers won their third game in four days-Star Game break, the　cheap jerseys　Clippers in Los Angeles Friday night to beat tired 108 -95.

Andrew Bynum had 16 points and 11 rebounds in another win for the Lakers breeze, which lost three times in a row, before co-host of Weekend All-Star with his rival had disadvantages alley.

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Bryant went to the booth and two minutes before half-time after injury to his right elbow. All-Star Game MVP back with a monster fourth to third place and beat the Clippers for themselves.

Randy Foye scored 24 points, five 3-point shots for the Clippers, which finally ended a tour of 11 games with nine defeats.

Blake Griffin had wrapped 22 points and 10 rebounds for the Clippers longest trip for any team in the NBA this season - a trip that you think is the second longest in league history.

Clippers rookie Eric Bledsoe had problems, rather than traded point guard Baron Davis, managing only eight points in two of his 11 shots and eight assists.

Griffin had a different group of high energy in the same arena in which he hit a car last weekend, but could not stop the NBA champions twice in the second half before they jump to.

Bryant went to the bench grimacing Lakers Foye on the dirt a three-point attempt with 3:03 left in the first half and went into the cabin after a brief conversation with trainer Gary Vitti.

But Bryant led a race 11-2 in the third quarter with four bridges, including a 3-pointer put the Lakers by 76-62. Bryant was relentless, winning two more baskets in the final seconds and a friend shortly after the final buzzer sounds.

Bryant and Gasol in the fourth quarter, a lot of rest for the showdown on Sunday with New Road Oklahoma City.

Bryant was also beaten in his left hand while fouled by Foye in the first quarter. He played in many hand injuries in recent years, including an arthritic finger that is bothering him last season.

After almost the whole month in a row, while the Grammy and the All Stars from the Staples Center is busy, the Clippers play their first home game since February

2 on Saturday night - but it goes against the Boston Celtics, making back-to-back games against both defending conference champions, a stretch of four games in five days cap after the break.

Additionally, the new Clippers Mo Williams and Jamario Moon were in the building, but can not play until his physical Davis in Cleveland, the trade to Los Angeles is complete with the Cavaliers.

NOTES: The Lakers have won two of three against the Clippers. His series of the season ends next month. ... Clippers G Eric Gordon said he expects to play next week, but that is not true when it reconvene. Scoring 24.1 points per game has been since Jan. 25 with a sprained right wrist and a small broken bone in the city. ... The Clippers have won nine of their last 10th ... Fans near the field included Steve Carell, Heather Locklear, Dr. Drew Pinsky and director Adam McKay.

Red Wings' Brad Stuart feels good in return

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TAMPA, Fla. -- Detroit Red Wings defenseman Brad Stuart logged 21:10 in ice time in his first game back after missing 15 games with a broken jaw.

"You appreciate the cheap jerseys little things a little more when you're away from it; going out for warmup and the hearing the crowd was something that you miss when you're not playing," Stuart said. "Nice to be back out there."

Stuart, out since Jan. 7, was reunited with defense partner Nicklas Lidstrom.
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"I felt a little rusty, but my legs felt good," Stuart said. "I just had to make sure I moved my feet. Readjusting to the speed of the game was the biggest thing."

Stuart was leading the team in hits and blocked shots before he was injured.

"Obviously, Stewie's going to help us big-time," coach Mike Babcock said. "He's a great player, he's a physical player, he's a good penalty killer.

"With all players that have been away, usually they're pretty good for a bit and they dip and then they come back. So it's a hard league in that it's so fast and it takes you a while to catch up."

Odds & ends
• Joey MacDonald will start in goal for the Red Wings Friday in Florida. It will be his first start since a 3-0 loss in Nashville on Feb. 5 and his first appearance since he replaced Jimmy Howard midway through a 4-1 loss to the Predators on Feb. 9.

• Defenseman Ruslan Salei is expected to return to the lineup on Friday, after being given a few days to spend with his family in California.

• Center Valtteri Filppula (sprained left MCL) skated Thursday for the first time since getting injured on a check from the New York Rangers' Brandon Dubinsky on Feb. 7. He is not likely to return until Tuesday at home against San Jose, at the earliest. He'll wear a brace for the rest of the season.

• Goaltender Chris Osgood was on the ice in full gear for the fourth time, going through various movements to see how he feels after surgery on Jan. 11 for a sports hernia. Osgood hopes to start practicing and taking shots next week.