In the Nick of time

This tells you everything you need to know about how desperate Alabama football fans are to have a winner.
Last Saturday, during one of those made to order spring afternoons, 92,138 people crammed themselves into Tuscaloosa’s Bryant-Denny Stadium to watch a glorified scrimmage.
‘‘It’s ridiculous,’’ Alabama cornerback Simeon Castille said afterward.
He didn’t mean that as an insult. It was expressed with a sense of wide-eyed wonderment.
If a relatively meaningless spring game can generate that sort of insanity, imagine what the demand will be when Auburn or Tennessee visits.
It’s not as if there aren’t other things to do in Tuscaloosa on a lovely April afternoon. As long as Dreamland keeps slathering sauce on barbecued ribs, there’s at least one pleasant alternative to a spring football game.
This one was different, however, because it was Nick Saban’s first. If there hadn’t been a scrimmage and Alabama simply sold tickets for folks to come and gawp at the former LSU and Miami Dolphins coach, the place still would have been packed.
Alabama fans like their icons, and they've been searching for one whose likeness can be chiseled in alongside Bear Bryant on the school's version of Mount Rushmore.
There's still room seeing as how everyone from Ray Perkins to Mike Shula has crumbled under the weight of the pressure that accompanies the job.
But Saban brought a different level of expectancy with him. He’s won a share of a college national championship, at least, and he conducts himself with the steely-eyed demeanor to which Bear fanatics can relate.
So far, he’s played to that crowd effectively. He’s done little to dissuade the notion that he's aloof and occasionally caustic. He's jousted with the media throughout, but that's fine with the Alabama fans who believed him to be a jerk when he coached at LSU. The prevailing reaction seems to be: It's OK if he drips arrogance now because he's OUR jerk.
He wore a suit and tie during Saturday’s game (what, no houndstooth hat?) and often stood in the middle of the action. He had to know that most of the eyeballs in that stadium were locked on him most of the day.
‘‘The great passion and support that we have at the University of Alabama makes me feel great about being here,’’ Saban said. ‘‘I hope that we can continue to channel the energy in a positive way to get where we want to go and continue to build this program into something special that represents the state of Alabama and the University of Alabama in a positive way.’’
And that, ultimately, is what last Saturday was about. Positive vibes.
A football program that has suffered through NCAA probation and a failure to meet expectations is holding its head high right now.
There are window stickers in SUVs that simply say ''S'' with "The coach'' in small print underneath. Rest assured, Saban's approval rating is higher at this moment than the guy known by the capital W.
And, according to a story in the Decatur Daily, one family has already named a newborn daughter Saban.
All of this before Saban has even beaten Auburn, Tennessee or anybody else as Alabama's head coach.
But that’s what last Saturday’s outpouring was really about.
Sabanmania. It’s spreading.
More than 90,000 people filled a stadium and gave Nick Saban a standing ovation because he’s already provided them with something valuable.
Hope.

Thanks for nothing

Just wanted to express my disappointment with all of you.
Wednesday was National Columnists Day (yes, really. It was actually on the calendar bought at the Hallmark store). Obviously, I'm the only one who remembered it.
I would have thought that some of my regular readers — (yes, I have them, but they only seem interested in e-mailing responses to my columns rather than posting on the blog) — would have sent flowers, cards, a Rolex, something.
Nada.
I'm trying to move on, really.
I'd type some more but it's getting tough to see the screen through the tears welling up in my eyes.

Helping hand

Since I've used this forum to occasionally criticize Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick when he does something wrong, I think it’s important to note when he does something right.
Vick is donating $10,000 to assist families affected by the massacre at Virginia Tech, where he played college football. The Vick Foundation is also soliciting donations in Atlanta and some Virginia cities for the ''United in Caring Fund for Victims of the VA Tech Tragedy.'' Vick's foundation works in conjunction with the United Way.
According to information provided by the Vick Foundation, Vick's donation and other charitable contributions will be used to help victims' families with funeral services, transportation expenses and other support services.
‘‘When tragic things like this happen, families have enough to deal with, and if I can help in some small way, that's the least I can do,’’ Vick told the Associated Press.
Hopefully, more NFL players will follow Vick’s lead.

NFL = Not For Long

New NFL commissioner Roger Goodell took a bold step by suspending serial idiots Adam ''Pacman'' Jones and Chris Henry for repeated run-ins with the law.
Jones, a Tennessee cornerback, will sit out the entire season, while Henry, a Cincinnati wide receiver, will miss eight games. After years of paying little more than lip service to the off-field thuggery of some of its employees, the NFL finally features a disciplinary policy with teeth. Players who keep a criminal attorney on constant retainer will get kicked where it really hurts -- in the wallet.
One of the few potential problems with the NFL's Get Tough measures is that Jones, Henry and other lawbreakers/headline-makers will sit idle. And, let's face it, do these guys really need more free time? They got in trouble in the first place for what they were doing off the field.
This is where their employers must step in. It's fine for the NFL to establish a clear disciplinary policy. But the league did so because of the disciplinary vacuum that existed at the lower level. Teams proved ineffective at policing their own members. For the most part, they were unwilling to do anything more than fine players because doing anything more could result in losing games.
The NFL must take steps to discipline those teams that are enablers. Two players arrested in one season? Fork over $500,000. Three players arrested in the same year? Sorry, you've just lost that third-round pick in the upcoming draft.
Measures like those would get the attention of owners and general managers intent on drafting the worst behaved athletes, crossing their fingers and hoping for the best.

Early Masters observations

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Well, my observations aren't that early. It's almost 2 p.m., but you must understand that the last player won't get off the course until around 8 today.
I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm really looking forward to that Lucas Glover-Bradley Dredge championship pairing tomorrow.
The TV ratings will tank if Tiger and Phil aren't in contention, which is a distinct possibility given the temperature (42-50 early afternoon) and British Open-style winds. One golf analyst suggested 75 will feel like par today.
Never thought it would be possible for a golfer to slip into a green jacket with a four-day total of 2-over par, but it just might happen.

Imus be a total tool

Am I the only person who finds it ironic that Don Imus and his morning radio show producer made such moronic comments about the Rutgers women's basketball team the other day?
Imus referred to the gals as ''nappy-headed ho's.''
Anybody seen a photo of Imus lately?
He's the last person who should be critical of anyone else's choice in hairstyles. Generally, the only way to get an Imus-style fright wig is to take a bath with a plugged-in toaster. No wonder he wears that crazy cowboy hat.

Another Masters update

AUGUSTA, Ga. — OK, it turns out Tiger Woods isn’t in danger of missing the cut. But another former Masters winner is.
Defending champion Phil Mickelson is plus-7 for the tournament through seven holes today, which puts him on the borderline for the cut. The cut is the top 44 golfers plus ties or everyone within 11 shots of the lead. Right now, the lead is minus-2, which means Mickelson will barely sneak in at the end of the day if he doesn't give up any more ground.
Your leaderboard at the moment includes former Wallace State-Hanceville (Ala.) Community College player Brett Wetterich and former University of Hartford hockey player Jerry Kelly (even-par). Justin Rose, Henrik Stenson, Tim Clark are at 2-under, but have yet to complete their rounds.

Hold everything

AUGUSTA, Ga. — OK, I’d like to amend the last blog, if I could. And, well, I can since I remembered my password and it is, after all, my blog.
Forget what I said in the previous post about Tiger Woods. Forget what I said about Brett Wetterich.
My comments about Augusta, Columbus and Bonefish Grill still stand, however.
Hold the 10-year Tiger Woods anniversary celebration.
Somebody cancel the order for a cake and party favors.
Right now, Woods might miss the Masters cut for the first time since 1996. He's made all 11 of 12 Masters cuts, but extending his streak of 10 straight might have gone gurgling into the waters of Rae’s Creek this afternoon. He splashed down on 12 and 13, making a bogey at the former and a par at the latter, but it definitely knocked him off stride. He shot a 39 on the front and he’s now 5-over par for the tournament.
As for Wetterich, he gave two strokes back since I last checked in, but he's sitting nicely with a two-day total of 2-under par 142. Not bad for a Masters rookie.
Maybe this is the year of the no-names.

Friday's random observation

AUGUSTA, Ga. — I've covered eight of the last 11 Masters, if my memory is correct, which means I have the frame of reference to make the following observation.
Augusta is Columbus with a golf tournament.
Washington Road, which runs past the gates of Augusta National, is their Macon Road. It's a quasi-racial dividing line littered with fast food restaurants and strip malls. Both cities have South Atlantic League baseball teams playing in quaint stadiums situated on the water, although the Augusta Green Jackets don't have nearly as much difficulty drawing fans.
So, basically, Augusta only has one thing we don't. A pretty freakin' fantastic golf tournament. Oh, and a Bonefish Grill. Make that two things.
How much would Columbus' destiny have been altered if we had that one element that made Augusta what it is today?
A major golf tournament, I mean. Not a Bonefish Grill, although it would be nice to have one of those.
That's really all I have. Just pondering the one significant difference between two similar towns. That, along with the meaning of life and whether Tiger Woods will go bonkers and shoot a 67 today to take control of this thing.
He doesn't have to rush, of course, because he's Tiger Woods. He can wait and plan and vanquish the rest of the field on Saturday. There's plenty of time. Tiger has time.
Oh, one more thing before the mention of Bonefish Grill sets me off in pursuit of lunch here at Augusta National.
Brett Wetterich made the turn this morning having pushed his total to 4-under and he's holding it steady through 13 holes.
Never heard of him until Thursday, but that's what's great about the Masters.
The Brett Wetterichs of the world can have their time now. Tiger, who as I already mentioned is waiting and planning and plotting, should still have his time on Sunday.

Rough going

AUGUSTA, Ga. — If there’s any hometown magic left in the 71st Masters, it will probably have to come from Charles Howell III or Vaughn Taylor.
Native son Larry Mize, a long-time Columbus resident, is off to a rocky start on the 20-year anniversary of his 1987 Masters victory.
Mize bogeyed holes 3-7 on the front nine and made the turn with a 5-over par 41. He has yet to collect a birdie through 14 holes, but has unfortunately added three more bogeys.

Not so hard next time

Perhaps former Columbus High School star Frank Thomas should have checked his swing.
Thomas, the designated hitter for the Toronto Blue Jays, starred in a Canadian TV commercial that didn’t receive a passing grade from the nation’s regulatory agency for private network advertising.
In the commercial, Thomas returns home at night and hears two children creating commotion upstairs. He goes upstairs, enters a bedroom and finds two children engaged in a spirited pillow fight.
‘‘Hey, you guys are supposed to be in bed,’’ Thomas tells the boys.
One child hits Thomas with his pillow.
‘’Oh yeah?’’ Thomas responds, seizing the pillow.
He takes a healthy swing with the pillow, hitting the boy and sending him tumbling backward off the bed. A slight thud noise can be heard.
Thomas drops the pillow and jogs out of the room triumphant, as if he's just hit a walk-off home run.
The fallen boy raises his head just over the top of the bed and says, ‘‘Wow!''
A caption reads: ''Frank Thomas, designated hitter, Toronto Blue Jays. It's always game time.’’
The rejected commercial can be seen at:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMdelLmvUf0
Telecaster Canada ordered it reshot because of fears that it made light of child abuse.
Instead, Telecaster Canada's mandate reeks of humorlessness and sensitivity run amok.
Watch the commerical. It doesn't condone domestic violence in any way.
It's funny. The child gets up, healthy, happy and free of emotional trauma.
It's a clever piece of marketing built around Thomas, who stands just 13 home runs removed from becoming the 21st member of Major League Baseball’s 500 Club.
Baseball has plenty of problems already, with suspected steroid user Barry Bonds closing in on the all-time home run record, controversy over DirecTV's ''Extra Innings'' package and stratospheric salaries.
Thomas' commerical isn’t one of them.

Good luck, guys

AUGUSTA, Ga. — They are as ubiquitous as franchise restaurants along Washington Road and they keep even longer business hours.
Ticket scalpers, or ''Event Attendance Facilitators'' as many of them might prefer to be known, just might outnumber the actual amount of folks who manage to pass through the gates of Augusta National Golf Club.
These guys are everywhere -- talking on cell phones in the shade of the I-20 overpass, holding up signs saying "We Need Tickets'' or "Buy and Sell Masters Badges.'' Most of them are doing this with limited success, of course, because Masters badges remain the toughest ticket in professional sports.
An estimated 30,000 tournament badges are in circulation. The face value for a tournament badge is $176, but the limited supply and extreme demand mean some online entrepreneurs and street-side hawkers will be able to command as much as $4,000 for one.
Scalping is legal here, as long as it's done by a licensed broker and business is conducted at least 2,700 feet from Augusta National. Over the years, the scalpers have multiplied like rabbits. Some large ticket brokerage companies have even gone so far as to purchase or rent homes in Augusta to cater to prospective clients and project an aura of professionalism.
If you don't have the coin to purchase a tournament badge, you can always enter Augusta National's annual public lottery for practice round tickets. Face value is $31 for the Monday round and $36 for Tuesday and Wednesday.
Then again, if you trust in your bargaining abilities, you can always try the entrepreneurs who set up shop along the four-lane road to the course.
You can't miss them.
They'll be the guys sitting in lawn chairs snuggled up with their cardboard signs in front of Hooter's, McDonald's, Dunkin Donuts and any other restaurant with passable coffee and free restroom access.

Final Foresight

The best sporting event in the world will tip off in, oh, about T-minus six hours and counting.
In terms of drama and edge-of-the-seat entertainment, there’s really nothing else that can compare to the NCAA Final Four.
So let’s make a few predictions. I've been correct on a few thus far -- I had Florida, UCLA and Georgetown in my Final Four, but so did another 23.4 million or so hoopheads globally. That Kreskin-like power of prediction emboldens me to bounce these ideas out into the blogosphere:

UCLA vs. FLORIDA
Breakdown: UCLA represents the basketball equivalent of fingernails scraping a chalkboard. The Bruins provide non-stop annoyance on defense, thanks to the trapping defense employed by coach Ben Howland. They clog passing lanes as quickly as an Outback bloomin' onion will your arteries and often produce turnovers with well-timed low post double-teams.
Florida represents a much tougher assignment in that regard because big men Al Horford and Joakim Noah have decent handle and are excellent passers. Plus, the Gators can use 6-foot-8 Corey Brewer as a psuedo-point guard of sorts to see over defense if necessary.
Both teams will rip it from 3-point range. The Gators knock down 40 percent from beyond the arc, while UCLA's Arron Afflalo, Darren Collison and Josh Shipp can fill it up.
To me, the game will hinge on whether UCLA can deny the low post from the Gators.
Prediction: Florida guard Taurean Green breaks down the UCLA defense and Horford and Noah prove to be too much too handle ... Florida 78, UCLA 73.

GEORGETOWN vs. OHIO STATE
Breakdown: This will be like the movie Jurassic Park, where the T-Rex's fight each other to the death. It's rare to see two 7-foot players of comparable ability joust at the college level. Takes me back to the days of my youth -- Ralph Sampson vs. Patrick Ewing.
Georgetown's 7-foot-2 Roy Hibbert isn't quite as dynamic as Ewing was, but he takes up a LOT of space and plays air traffic controller in the lane. Ohio State 7-footer Greg Oden may be a freshman, but check the birth certificate. I swear he looks like he's 32, at least.
The only problem is that both players have demonstrated a knack for getting into early foul trouble. Hopefully, the referees won't call it too tight and deprive us of a great individual matchup.
Both teams have outstanding supporting casts as well, with forward Jeff Green driving the Hoyas’ bus and point guard Mike Conley Jr. and shooter Ron Lewis making clutch shots for the Buckeyes.
Prediction: The Hoyas and Buckeyes are even in personnel, but I love Georgetown's concepts. They play a variation of the Princeton offense and run back cuts better than those slow-footed Ivy Leaguers. ... Georgetown 81, OSU 78.

Smart move for Dawgs

The University of Georgia has made more than a few mistakes over the years when it comes to coaches.
Ray Goff, anyone?
Glen Mason?
The ungraceful ouster of Vince Dooley as athletic director?
The disgraceful exit of Jim Harrick and his staff?
The Bulldogs did something right Wednesday.
They gave basketball coach Dennis Felton a two-year contract extension through 2010-11 and bumped his annual pay up to $760,000, a $50,000-per-year raise.
It’s a gesture well-deserved in light of what he’s done since taking over as the Bulldogs’ head coach. He’s 58-62 in four years, but that’s indicative of the mess he was forced to clean up when he arrived on campus. He guided Georgia to a 19-14 record and an NIT berth this past season and took them to the fringe of NCAA tournament consideration.
That should tell you that he has the goods when it comes to X's and O's. He's also signed an impressive recruiting class that includes highly-regarded 6-foot-9 forward Jeremy Price. Best of all, he seems intent on rebuilding Georgia basketball the right way.
Don’t be surprised if the Bulldogs are in the NCAA tournament next March. They weren't far off track this past season and will only get better.
It was smart of Georgia to recognize the potential Felton holds before other schools started taking notice.

Bracket going bust

How’s your NCAA tournament bracket doing?
Yeah, mine too.
The good news is that my pre-tournament Final Four picks -- Florida, Kansas, Georgetown and Texas A&M -- are still dribbling at this point. The bad news is that, for the second straight year, my wife is absolutely killing me on overall picks and stands to win our mutual wager. The loser picks up dinner at a restaurant of the winner's choice and, well, it looks like I'd better start warming up the old Visa card in the bullpen.
I know where I went wrong. I bought into the notion that this tournament would produce another warm-and-fuzzy George Mason, a team with pedestrian credentials that would shock the basketball world by reaching the Final Four as a 10 or 11 seed. So, as you can imagine, I received a rude awakening that fairy tales aren't written every year.
I thought I was smart to pick a mid-major from Virginia to spring a first-round upset. I picked the wrong one. Should've gone with Virginia Commonwealth instead of Old Dominion. In retrospect, it was also a terrible idea to pick Arkansas over Southern Cal in the first round. Apparently, I learned nothing from their last two football meetings (cumulative score: USC 2,367,521 ... Arkansas 3).
Live and learn.
So today, I'm trying to regain whatever street cred I lost as a prognosticator.
Let's take a look at this week’s Sweet 16 matchups.

SOUTH REGIONAL
(3) Texas A&M vs. (2) Memphis
Breakdown: In addition to having a clutch shooter and unparalleled playmaker in guard Acie Law IV, Texas A&M possesses a team full of lock-down specialists. The Aggies give up 59.3 points per game and practically crawl inside the jerseys of 3-point shooters. They allow opponents to make just 29.4 percent of their 3-pointers, and that means Memphis could be in trouble. The Tigers excel in transition, but could have difficulty forcing the tempo if leading scorer Chris Douglas-Roberts is sidelined by a balky ankle.
Prediction: Still sticking with the Aggies. I'm thinking Law, aka Captain Clutch, makes the difference late. Texas A&M 71, Memphis 66.

(1) Ohio State vs. (5) Tennessee
Breakdown: The size differential is about as profound as it gets. Ohio State has a well-rounded 7-footer in freshman Greg Oden. Tennessee has a 6-foot-4 quasi-power forward in Dane Bradshaw. Actually, the Vols don't fit traditional position descriptions because they play all over the court. If Chris Lofton and Bradshaw are burying 3-pointers, it will reduce Oden's impact.
Prediction: I think Ohio State is vulnerable. Xavier should have finished off the Buckeyes over the weekend. Tennessee won't be fazed by OSU's talent, having lost to the Buckeyes 68-66 in January. ... In an upset, I'm thinking Tennessee 79, OSU 74.

WEST REGIONAL
(1) Kansas vs. (4) Southern Illinois
Breakdown: I love, love, love the way Southern Illinois plays. There's a cockiness about the Salukis, who have played man-to-man defense on every possession this season. They are small but physical and will challenge anybody. That said, Kansas has too many offensive options for them. Don't see how the Salukis are going to solve Brandon Rush, who absolutely decimated Kentucky.
Prediction: Sorry, Salukis. ... Kansas 80, Southern Illinois 68.

(2) UCLA vs. (3) Pittsburgh
Breakdown: Thanks to the matchup of Ben Howland vs. his former Pitt assistant, we'll see the Mentor vs. Student story that CBS loves so much. Pitt center Aaron Gray could be a factor, but UCLA has quickness at every position. They've also proven they can play a halfcourt game, as evidenced by their ability to hold their first two tournament opponents to a combined 91 points.
Prediction: Arron Afflalo breaks out of his shooting slump. UCLA 75, Pitt 67.

EAST REGIONAL
(2) Georgetown vs. (6) Vanderbilt
Breakdown: Vanderbilt might be the most frightening draw among the non-No. 1 and 2 seeds. The Commodores can spread the court and bury you with 3-pointers. SEC player of the year Derrick Byars went berserk against Washington State, scoring 15 of his 27 points on treys. Note to Georgetown: Box-and-one? Of course, Vanderbilt will have trouble doing anything inside the line if Georgetown center Roy Hibbert stays out of foul trouble. The kid looks like Patrick Ewing of a lesser god.
Prediction: Both teams run variations of the Princeton offense. G'town might run theirs a little bit better... Hoya Paranoia 61, Vanderbilt 57.

(1) UNC vs. (5) USC
Breakdown: UNC sophomore forward Tyler Hansbrough took off the Phantom of the Opera mask he wore after having his nose broken against Duke and absolutely went off against Michigan State. The Heels push the ball and have an athletic frontcourt led by Hansbrough and Brandan Wright.
Prediction: UNC 84, USC 71.

MIDWEST REGIONAL
(1) Florida vs. (5) Butler
Breakdown: The Gators have outscored their first two tournament opponents by 46 points in the second half. They have yet to play a complete game in the NCAA tournament and that doesn't bode well for plucky Butler. Look for Florida forward Corey Brewer to provide an impossible matchup for the Bulldogs.
Prediction: Florida 70, Butler 56.

(3) Oregon vs. (7) UNLV
Breakdown: Oregon doesn't have a deep bench, but the Ducks have been one of the hottest teams down the stretch this season. They've won eight games in a row, largely because they defend well and make their free throws (75.6 percent as a team). UNLV has a solid backcourt with Kevin Kruger and the wonderfully-named Wink Adams, but will have trouble slowing down the Ducks.
Prediction: In the words of a certain spokesduck ... Af-lac! Oregon 83, UNLV 76.

Hoop Heaven

By now, you’ve filled out your NCAA tournament bracket and made plans to play hookey from work Thursday to celebrate the beginning of March Madness.
The promise of wall-to-wall basketball is a great reason to become one with your recliner. Here are some of the first round games that hold the promise of high entertainment value:

* East Regional:
No. 3 Washington State vs. No. 14 Oral Roberts -- We’ve come to expect upsets in 3 vs. 14 games, and this could be the one. Washington State features competent guard play and the odds-on favorite for national coach of the year in Tony Bennett, but the Cougars haven’t been to the NCAA tournament since 1994. Oral Roberts enters the tournament with some momentum, having won eight of its last 10, and features a dependable inside scorer in power forward Caleb Green (20.8 ppg, 9.3 rpg).
No. 5 Southern Cal vs. No. 12 Arkansas -- Arkansas (21-13) backed into the field on the strength of its performance in the Southeastern Conference tournament and could give USC fits. Forward Charles Thomas and center Steven Hill provide the Razorbacks with a commanding size advantage.

* South Regional:
No. 7 Nevada vs. No. 10 Creighton -- Nevada forward Nick Fazekas, a 6-foot-11 senior, brings an NBA-quality skill set to the court. As good as he is, the Wolf Pack could be undone by so-so defense. Creighton is balanced and features a lethal shooter in Nate Funk (17.6 ppg, 54 3-pointers, 86.7 percent on free throws).
No. 8 BYU vs. No. 9 Xavier -- It’s hard not to like the Xavier Musketeers, who have won nine of their last 10 behind guard Drew Lavender (11.2 points, 4.6 assists per game).

* Midwest Regional:
No. 5 Butler vs. No. 12 Old Dominion -- Butler rose to as high as 10th in the Associated Press poll, but have been in a freefall of late. The Bulldogs are 4-4 in their last eight games. On the other hand, Old Dominion might represent a surprise Sweet 16 team-in-waiting. The Monarchs have won nine of their last 10 and are tough in the paint. Post players Arnaud Dahi and Valdas Vasylius both average more than six rebounds per game.
No. 6 Notre Dame vs. No. 11 Winthrop -- The Big South Conference owns a 1-15 record in NCAA tournament play, but so many of us have bought into Winthrop as this year’s George Mason. Because of the difficulty of the regional, it's difficult to envision the Eagles getting past the round of 32. This might represent the most entertaining first-round matchup.
No. 7 UNLV vs. No. 10 Georgia Tech -- The Yellow Jackets have won just one true road game in the last two years and have been up-and-down all season, but I have a feeling about them. Point guard Javaris Crittenton is a complete player who could carry Tech to a couple victories.

* West Regional:
No. 8 Kentucky vs. No. 9 Villanova -- Kentucky coach Tubby Smith really, really needs a win or two in this tournament. The Wildcats have lost six of the last nine games and the statements made UK's athletic director shouldn’t be taken as iron-clad votes of confidence. The fact is, this team has underachieved -- and has for a couple seasons now.

What games are you most looking forward to watching? Better yet, who are your Final Four picks?

Around the Horn

ATLANTA — Since I’ve got a break in between games at the Southeastern Conference basketball tournament, let’s talk about football.
Specifically, let’s take a look at what’s happening just up I-75 in Flowery Branch.
In another 20 minutes or so, the Atlanta Falcons will introduce newly-signed wide receiver Joe Horn at a press conference.
After blogging the other day about the free agents the Falcons lost, what do you think of the decision to offer a 4-year, $19 million deal to Horn?
He’s easily the most recognizable free agent signed by the Falcons to date, the others being fullback Ovie Mughelli, linebacker Marcus Wilkins and cornerback Lewis Sanders. But it's too early to tell if the Falcons bought something more valuable than a recognizable name off the free agent market.
New Orleans released the 35-year-old Horn, partly because the development of other receivers made him expendable. But there were also concerns about his age and durability. He missed six games last season due to injury and only managed five touchdown grabs in the last two seasons.
Still, you have to like his body of work even if there are questions about whether his body can hold up. His career numbers -- 576 catches, 8,501 yards and 57 touchdowns -- make him an intriguing acquisition.
If nothing else, the Falcons can look to Horn as a player-coach of sorts. Roddy White and Michael Jenkins flashed some potential last season amidst all the dropped passes, but will benefit from Horn's guidance.

On a wing and a player

To the last free agent leaving the Georgia Dome: Please remember to turn out the lights.
The Atlanta Falcons will look decidedly different under first-year head coach Bobby Petrino this fall, and that can't possibly be a bad thing given the last two late-season collapses.
But Petrino and general manager Rich McKay can't afford to make any mistakes with regard to the free agent market or the April draft.
Atlanta’s defense took a serious personnel hit Monday when defensive end Patrick Kerney accepted a 6-year, $39.5 million offer from the Seattle Seahawks. The Falcons couldn’t afford to ante up to keep their 1999 first-round choice, who was an unrestricted free agent, and their defense will likely suffer for it.
When John Abraham was healthy last season -- granted, it was brief -- he and Kerney formed perhaps the league's most dangerous pass-rushing duo. Which player would you double-team? Unless the Falcons pull a surprise player out of free agency, Abraham’s numbers (assuming he stays healthy) will likely suffer as the result of more attention from blockers.
Most of the other losses appear minimal. Offensive guard Matt Lehr, who received a four-game suspension during the season after a positive test for steroids, was released. No problem there since the Falcons are getting away from their old cut-blocking ways.
Wide receiver Ashley Lelie, a free agent, signed a two-year contract with San Francisco on Monday. Again, no big loss. Reputedly an answer to Atlanta's need for a deep threat, Lelie caught just 28 passes for 430 yards last season. It's true that he was wasted in a heavily run-oriented offense, but he dropped quite a few passes.
Aside from Kerney, the only significant loss to date was fullback Justin Griffith.
He revealed himself to be a versatile back last season, filling in at tailback late in the year when injuries left the Falcons with no other alternatives. In addition to being an effective blocker, he was a very capable receiver that the Falcons didn't utilize enough. Fullbacks don't really plug into Petrino's schemes either, so a decent player became expendable.
Still, a big, versatile back who can hammer defenses in short yardage looms as one of the Falcons' many needs.
What would you like to see them do on draft day?
With the 10th overall pick, it's unlikely Georgia Tech receiver and NFL combine freak Calvin Johnson would still be on the board. There's been some talk that LSU safety LaRon Landry, a fierce hitter with sound technique, could be in their sights.
Of all the Falcons' needs, which do you think is the most glaring?

A moment of silence

The death of Daytona Beach Thunder player Javon Camon after Monday night's game against the Columbus Lions serves as an unfortunate reminder that helmets and shoulder pads don’t guarantee invulnerability.
Camon, who had intercepted three passes in the game, was knocked unconscious by Columbus’ Cedric Ware. Nobody has taken issue with the cleanliness of Ware's hit. It was simply a matter of two fast, strong men of comparable size colliding violently.
Those who witnessed it, from Columbus coach Jason Gibson to Daytona Beach team officials, described it as being no different from any of the forceful blocks and tackles routinely featured on the ESPN highlight loops.
Quarterbacks get decked from the blindside every day. Special teams players get knocked off their feet during kick returns.
We're used to seeing them get up. Some of them are woozy and wobbly-legged, but they always get up.
Ware got back on his feet Monday night with a concussion. Camon, who was treated on the field by paramedics, died of cardiac arrest en route to a nearby Daytona Beach hospital.
Both young men are victims of circumstance. Camon was described by his coach at South Florida as a bright young man with a ready smile. A life full of promise was interrupted far too early.
Meanwhile, Ware will try to play on while battling through the cruelest sort of emotional trauma.
There will be unimaginable grief in knowing that a chance collision on the football field resulted in a death.
And, undoubtedly, there will be a mix of guilt and relief in knowing that he was able to get up afterward.
Please remember both young men in your prayers.

Fore play

We've heard of soccer riots and soccer players head-butting opponents in the World Cup.
This week, however, there was an entirely new example of a soccer player behaving like a butthead.
Craig Bellamy, reputedly a hot-tempered player for English Premier League power Liverpool, is in hot water for attacking teammate John Arne Riise with a golf club.
According to the Associated Press, Bellamy must pay a $155,000 fine after belting Riise in the back of the legs during an argument that took place at a team training camp in Portugal.
The cause of the argument could very well make professional sports history.
Bellamy bludgeoned Riise because of an argument over a karaoke contest.
We can only hope the team doesn’t place bets on the outcome of the next ‘‘American Idol’’ episode or else it could lead to a riot.
Bellamy’s future with Liverpool is in doubt, but Riise wasn’t seriously injured.
He can still play, but he might think twice before he grabs the microphone again on karaoke night.