Riggleman resigns-- drafting and dominance-- plus the Wiener role...

Nothing quite says summer like the pool. My new apartment complex has a pool-- perfect for reading, relaxing and doing the crossword while avoiding sunburn. Unfortunately there's the occasional Candlestick Parkesque wind... not ideal for reading a newspaper or eating chips. I still have yet to lock down my summer reading... previous winners include The Cloud Atlas, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo trilogy, and Founding Brothers.


But nothing interrupts a lazy day other than a surprise resignation-- Jim Riggleman leaving the Nationals after a 38-37 start is somewhat of a surprise; evidently he wasn't pleased with his 2012 option status and threatened to walk if it wasn't resolved. This comes as the team wraps up an 8-1 homestand and is over .500 this deep in the season for the first time in six years. Zimmerman's back... and hitting well. Michael Morse continues to camouflage Jayson Werth's underachieving with a breakout season of his own. And the pitching isn't porous (although they still have their moments). Right now, it's a great time to be a Nationals fan... as for the first time since their arrival-- the upside is here! But then Riggleman bluffs and is called on it and walks off into the sunset. Did he at least wave the victory sign before he boarded the helicopter?



The NBA Draft is front and center this week; most media outlets try to pattern their coverage around the blueprint of the golden goose that is the NFL. Unfortunately, while most pro football fans dabble in following the college game- there's a bigger disconnect with the NBA and NCAA. Plus the European factor-- imagine if the Redskins picked a defensive lineman from Turkey (truth be told you could make the case for the Skins signing a defensive lineman who was a turkey), followed by a cornerback from Italy. And with just two picks for each team and 60 overall selections, the draft is over before you know it. Sixty players doesn't even get you 30% of the way through the NFL draft.



Will the Wizards pick the right player? This is the team that picked Kwame Brown. So things have a way of happening. In a draft as shallow as my swimming pool (3 feet-- NO DIVING) they might get some pieces who can help them win in the future. With the 6th, 18th and 34th selections the perfect world would yield an impact player at 6... a contributor at 18 and a 12th man at 34. Many of the mock drafts (and there are a multitude of them) have the Wizards grabbing a pair of foreign players (Czech forward Jan Vesely and Lithuanian big man Donatas Motiejunas) with your guess in the second round (as things often are). One of the websites has Jordan Williams lasting until the 42nd pick... not ideal for skipping your last year at Maryland, especially with a lockout looming.


If you watched any of the U.S. Open over the weekend, you'd think that Rory McIlroy is going to win the next 25 majors in a row. The Irishman did lap the field and led wire to wire after making Congressional his little playground, but let's allow him to win a few before we jump all over ourselves. Ernie Els won three majors in his 20's... and I thought he'd be good for three more-- but no dice. David Duval hasn't added to his total. McIlroy has been anointed the future, and as the window closes on the generation of Phil/Ernie/Vijay (I would have bet the world Els or Singh would have been the one to get to 4 majors instead of Lefty)... the new breed of golfer that grew up during Tiger's reign is here. And winning.

Whither Tiger Woods? As he recovers from leg injuries, golf's number one lightning rod stands four majors shy of Jack Nicklaus' record. Four years ago as he was winning back to back PGA's after taking consecutive British Opens the year before (he also has repeated at Masters champ and won consecutive PGA's earlier in his career)... I thought he had a true grandslam in the future with a few other wins-giving Tiger eventually 20-21 majors. Now he's got a 10-15 year window to get four... and while I still think he can get there... I thought Tom Watson had 3 majors in him after age 33. Woods' career somewhat parallels Jacks in that each had an early dominant streak (Jack won 7 from 1962-67, Tiger won 8 from 1997-2002) followed by a mid-career peak (Jack took 7 from 1970-75, Tiger took 6 from 2005-08). Nicklaus added four more in his 1978-86 twilight... and you'd think Tiger could do the same if not better- once his knee works.

Last but not least, who plays Anthony Wiener in the TV movie? Keep in mind Alyssa Milano and Drew Barrymore both took shots at Amy Fisher on competing networks. I threw the question out on Facebook and some responded with Adrian Brody-- he seems a little too high-class for a quickie TV movie. Fisher Stevens is an inspired choice... as is Dustin Diamond (he would be on the CW version). Johnathon Schaetch, meanwhile, is still building off his role as Jimmy Mattingly in "That Thing You Do!"... and although I can't recall anything of note he's done since, would be a good fit in the creepy Congressman role. Now to cast his wife, interns and the porn star...

Fading through the door into summer...

Moving month has been madness for me. I recently changed addresses for the first time in 7 and a half years... and throughout each step I remembered why I hadn't moved in 7 and a half years. There wasn't just stuff I hadn't used in 7 years-- there was stuff I hadn't looked at in 7 years. Lesson learned: I've already started hoarding for my next move.

Usually June and July are my recovery months after the madness that begins with training camp and doesn't let up until the last playoff game is done on the hardwood and ice. As I gear up for buying Phil Steele's College Football Guide, plenty of thoughts...:

Heat dissipate-- as the NBA season is put to bed, the Miami Heat wonder what they need to do to actually hold a championship celebration (as opposed to last years anticipation). Perhaps they could trade Chris Bosh for a low post monolith... or get a fourth quarter heart transplant for Lebron James. Kudos to Dallas coach Rick Carlisle for making every right move. Watch the league follow the Mavericks trend by having their coach boast ridiculous hairstyles.

Another parade Bruin-- After 39 years of near misses... with uber-talented teams outworked (by the '74 Flyers) or under-manned units coming up short (Oilers in '88 and '90)... or teams that couldn't beat the damned Canadiens (77-78-79...you get the picture). This title gives the Boston area 7 pro championships in 9 years (Pats' first SB technically the 01-02 season)... a grandslam of sorts. While cities have managed double-plays (Baltimore Orioles and Colts, 1970 or Pittsburgh Pirates/Steelers 1979)... the only other metropolitan area I can recall having all four win titles within a short window would be New York: Jets 68, Mets 69, Knicks 70 & 73... and Islanders 80. Or you could backdate the Knicks 73 and use the Yankees 77 and Giants 86. Either way it's 12 or 13 years. Truly a great time to be in and around the hub. I only wish I invested in DuckBoats back in '01.

Horse sense-- the Triple Crown came and went in the blink of an eye... with three different winners and a buzzless Belmont. Once again I dream of a day where they gap the races better to accommodate how three year olds are run today. It would be as if they made starting pitchers throw every third day because baseball was bound by tradition-- now even four and five days off accommodate modern major league hurlers. Couldn't the Preakness be held Memorial Day weekend? Why not move the Belmont back to Fourth of July weekend?

Of Lockouts and Labor... it's the perfect non-story story. No progress is made? Is the season in danger? Will they be able to play a full slate? Word is players and owners met earlier this week-- and they're about 80-85% done on a deal. Thanks for sucking the life out of the offseason. What remains to be seen is how the lack of OTA's will affect the first year coaches and coordinators as well as first round quarterbacks expected to make contributions. I'm not saying Jamarcus Russell was going to be Joe Montana, but his holdout as a rookie severely stunted his growth as a player. Imagine a whole team like that.

How I am Still on the Hook to Meet the Mother... or MacGuffin.

I don't watch a lot of TV these days. Let me qualify that-- I don't watch a lot of scripted programs nowadays. NFL and NCAA regular and postseason make me rearrange gall-bladder operations... and the NBA and MLB playoffs catch my eye until the teams I love and teams I hate are bounced. But as far as network TV, first-run programming? I'm the Nielsen nightmare.

But let the record show that when I find a program-- I'm with it usually to the bitter end. And in TV, most ends are bitter. Remember how Cheers limped through its last season to an underwhelming final episode? Couldn't leave the party early. Recall how Dallas lost its way after the killing and then dreamily resurrecting Bobby? Locked in. Or how 90210-- never Shakespeare or high drama-- was completely unwatchable for the last season and a half? Hanging out at the Peach Pit. Or how much Happy Days and The Love Boat sucked in their final seasons? On the hook for every last recycled plot-- from Ted McGinley to... Ted McGinley.

Two of my shows went off the air last spring-- one to plenty of fanfare (LOST) and the other to "we've already done everything possible in sixteen different combinations-- plus every body's been killed" (24). That left me with The Office-- which will be on Threat Level Midnight with Steve Carrell (ultimate sit-com glue guy) departing-- and How I Met Your Mother.

HIMYM's premise is Bob Saget's voiceover (no stories about Uncle Jesse playing bongos for the Beach Boys or Dave Coulier hooking up with Alanis Morrissette, unfortunately) leading his kids through the journey about how he met their mother. And it's been a long and winding road. Through meeting the girl of his dreams (I'm still on the hook for Cobie Smulders) to getting engaged (Sarah Chalke never made sense) to the latest season involving a scary captain, an imploding building, and guest spots from Ben Vereen and John Lithgow as baby-daddys turned responsible men.

The season finale leads us to think that we'll meet the mother... but it never happens. Instead we're treated to Barney (played by perfection by Neil Patrick Harris) continuing his maturing from rake to nice, sweet, sensitive guy. Remember when Steve Sanders would go "sensitive" in "very special" 90210 episodes-- from "LETS CHUG!" to "Brandon, why do all the girls like you instead of me?"-- that's the amazing growth we're seeing.

This is a big moment because although the character Ted Mosby (played by Josh Radnor) is technically the lead, Barney has long been the meal ticket for laughs-- both cheap and inspired. Over the series run, HIMYM has been a TV version of a well-drilled basketball team. Ted is the point man... running the offense through each week's premise. Marshall is the big man in the low post who provides a moral center more often than not. Barney is the small forward wildcard who can generate laughs from the inside or outside. And the girls (Robin and Lilly) screen and rebound while the guys run around like fools. I have a feeling next season will be all about Barney and his road of redemption from rake to groom. Which means more laughs, and no mother. Like that damn sled at the end of Citizen Kane, the "mother" is merely a MacGuffin-- look it up. Can't wait for September.

Turgeon a Terp as the College Coaching Carousel Continues...

So much for easing into his tenure at College Park. Maryland Athletic Director Kevin Anderson makes the second of two program defining changes in his first year on the job. Less than six months after ending Ralph Friedgen's ten year tenure and replacing him with fresh-from-the-Fiesta Bowl Randy Edsall... Anderson replaces the retiring Gary Williams with a coach who has four straight NCAA Tournament appearances under his belt.

Mark Turgeon comes to College Park having built a program at Wichita State (Sweet Sixteen in 2006--they lost to George Mason in the regional semis)... and having continued Billy Gillespie's success at Texas A & M (averaging 24 wins in four seasons). His hoops roots are solid-- having played for Larry Brown at Kansas in the mid-80's and then having served as an assistant under Brown and Roy Williams. Turgeon's won wherever he's been... from Jacksonville State to Wichita State (2006 Sweet 16 run that ended with a loss to George Mason) to Texas A & M.

His tenure in College Station saw four NCAA appearances-- one #5 seed, one 7th seed and two #9's... going 3-4 with three trips to the round of 32 (sorry, NCAA-I can't call it "Third Round" just yet). A&M gained the reputation as a guard oriented team under his tenure... playing man to man with occasional zone defensively. Turgeon's recruited locally in the Lone Star State (8 of 14 players on last years roster) and will likely maintain his contacts in Houston and Dallas. He's not unfamiliar with ACC country-- having landed players from Baltimore, South Carolina and Miami in recent years.

The more things change-- the more they stay the same. In 1989 Maryland hired a 44-year old coach who'd been at three stops previously with an average record of 19-12 over 11 seasons. This year the Terps tap a 46-year old who'd had three previous head coaching jobs-- averaging a 19-12 mark over 13 seasons. This in no way guarantees Turgeon will be a slam-dunk... but all signs point to this being a good move for both the new coach and his new employer.


Foggy Bottom Forecast-- George Washington brings Mike Lonergan home to the district... the onetime Catholic University coach (led the Cardinals to the 2001 Division III National Championship) comes to the Smith Center fresh off six successful seasons at Vermont (including 2010 NCAA and 2011 NIT appearances). Lonergan looks to bring an up-tempo feel to the Colonials and can definitely build on the progress begun by coach Karl Hobbs over the last decade. Different types of coaches have won at GW, from Mike Jarvis to Tom Penders to Hobbs... and there's no reason to think Lonergan won't do the same.


VACANCY-- Navy has an opening... after seven seasons at the helm, Billy Lange leaves Annapolis for Jay Wright's staff at Villanova. The Midshipmen were 93-113 under his guidance-- with a peak of 19-11 two years ago and a second place Patriot League finish in 2008. He'd previously been an assistant with the Wildcats. Navy's last postseason appearance came in 1998 under Don DeVoe... and the troubles of recruiting to a service academy (one with height restrictions to boot) is always a challenge in basketball.

Gary Gone-- in other words... Williams waves goodbye.

Gary Williams retiring should not be a surprise.

He's 66 years old in a sport dominated by much younger men willing to recruit 24-7/365. While his age is merely a number, his attitude is regarded as antiquated: Williams has remained above the fray in an era when even the seemingly righteous run into ethical issues bringing players to campus... and the questionably dirty are downright filthy. And he's accomplished everything a coach could: guiding his Alma mater to a first ever Final Four... and then a National Title a year later... followed by an ACC Tournament title (as a #6 seed with an overtime win over Duke in the finals) two seasons after that. Plus, he outlasted his biggest critic as former Athletic Director Debbie Yow is reduced to firing shots from Raleigh.

Why now, though? Why make this move in May? Finding a successor of his caliber will be nearly impossible. The next Maryland coach will also have to fill the huge hole of Jordan Williams-- now officially departing for the NBA. Regardless... this is opportunity #2 for less than a year at the helm Athletic Director Kevin Anderson to make a statement hire. Or is it in the best interests longterm of this program to hire a stop-gap for a year... and then open the job again in 2012 when the candidate field will be better and more apt to make a move?

Gary Williams rebuilt a proud program from the dark, dismal days of the Bob Wade era (what's worse than 0-14 in the ACC? How about double-secret probation!) and guided the Terps to places they only dreamed about. The gold standard of Maryland basketball remains the era that began during Joe Smith's freshman year (and the takedown of Georgetown)... the first of eleven straight NCAA seasons (wrapping up with the improbable ACC title run). In the seven years since-- just a pair of over-500 in the ACC seasons...one trip to conference semifinals and no sweet sixteens at a program that was beginning to expect such situations as annual birthrights. So despite the fact that nobody will ever coach this team and represent this program as well as Gary, maybe it is time for him to walk off into the sunset.

Williams retirement also completes a near-clean break from the ACC's glory days: eight schools with no play-in games or rounds come conference tournament time... a coaching fraternity that included Dean Smith and Jim Valvano... as well as Bobby Cremins and Terry Holland. The league has morphed from hoops heaven with a football chaser into a football wannabe plus an unwieldy basketball bonanza... and Coach K is now the only link to the 80's... or even the 90's. And the best basketball league has now been turned into a Blue Devil playpen (10 of last 13 tournament titles). Gary's been the second-longest tenured coach for some time-- now that honor (do we dare call it the Prince Charles Award?) goes to Florida State's Leonard Hamilton.

The Drafting Dozen- and will the sun set in the sunshine state?

Another step from the NFL wilderness was taken by the Burgundy and Gold as the brain trust of Bruce Allen and Mike Shanahan not only kept their original allotment of draft picks... but added picks through trades and had a total of 12 selections-- their most since 1985. And that was with a 12-round draft and five picks after the seventh round. This year's crop features 8 of the first 178 players picked. Can Ryan Kerrigan adjust from being a 4-3 defensive end into a 3-4 outside linebacker? Will Jarvis Jenkins solve the nosetackle issues? How quickly will Leonard Hankerson affect the passing game (let's be honest, the Skins haven't had great luck drafting wide receivers recently)? And will the band start to learn the lyics to "Hail to the Huskers"? With twelve picks, you'd think at least four or five will work their way into the two-deep--with most of the rest getting a "redshirt year" on the practice squad. It's a shame the lockout is preventing this year's rookie class from assimilating itself to the Redskin system.

Capsized-- Two games at home against Tampa Bay-- and two tough losses that saw Dwayne Roloson turn into a brick wall (61 saves on 65 shots)... a power play vanish (0 for 11)... and a bad line change turn into a game losing goal in overtime. Down 0-2 with two games on back to back nights in the Tampa Bay the Bruce Boudreau Era is meeting its moment of truth. Another early exit could doom a regime that has revitalized the Red... as well as hockey in the district.

Drafting ... Lightning and Departing...

The Redskins prepare for another fun-filled weekend of offseason excitement. Sadly the Skins are one of the teams affected the most by the lockout: with no free agency, how can one win the offseason? The tenth pick of the draft is no guarantee-- but looking at this past season's All-Pro team one sees 17 first rounders (including 4 of 5 offensive linemen and 7 of 8 front seven defenders), 1 second rounder and 2 thirds. The problem for the Skins hasn't necessarily been their drafting, but the lack of picks year in and year out. That's the case again this year (thank you Donovan McNabb). One hopes that the team continues to build the offensive line as well as its defensive front seven (just one draftee last year despite the switch to the 3-4).

Capsule-- Tampa Bay's seventh game victory over Pittsburgh means the Lightning come to Verizon Friday for game one of the Eastern Conference Semifinals. The Caps won the regular season series 4-2 with a 19-7 goal advantage... but dominated the first two games by a 12-3 count in November-- a hockey lifetime ago. Michal Neuvirth started the November 11 game-- and had to leave the March 7th game with an injury after one period. Braden Holtby came off the bench to post 29 saves in a 2-1 shootout victory.

Coaching Carousel-- in the past week the area lost a pair of long-term hoops mentors. Jim Larranaga left George Mason after 14 years of turning a CAA afterthought into a poster child for Mid-Major schools (descendant of Gonzaga... predecessor of Butler). While the Miami job is far from being a first-tier ACC position, it's still in the Atlantic Coast Conference and a former UVa assistant who always wondered if he could build a program on the biggest stage couldn't resist the opportunity. Best Case?-- he takes the Hurricanes to that next level they weren't able to find under Frank Haith and the U turns into a contender. Worst Case?-- he retires in five years after middling results, padding his retirement fund and enjoying a lot more sun and golf after 14 years in Fairfax.

George Washington is also looking for a new head coach-- as Karl Hobbs is fired after ten seasons. After guiding the Colonials to a little mid-decade run that included a top ten ranking in 2006 and an improbable Atlantic Ten tournament title in 2007, GW averaged 13 wins over the last four campaigns. And although there was improvement this winter (10-6 in the A-10), a first round flameout at the Smith Center in the Conference Tournament was an unfortunate end to a tenure that had quite a bit of promise. So much promise that Hobbs was on the short list for more than a few higher level jobs in 2006 and 07. He stayed and instead of continued success finds himself on the way out. The precarious shelf life of any coach is one of the reasons why the Larranagas move for greener pastures when they get the chance.

Caps come through-- and other late April thoughts...

Now that was 60 minutes of playoff hockey. For the first time, Bruce Boudreau and Alex Ovechkin guide the caps to a series victory before the seventh game-- thanks to one incredible effort against the New York Rangers in game five. Can Mike Green recover from a puck to the head? Last fall he took one to the shin and Boudreau remarked "it frickin' hurts"-- and with Green's concussion issues one hopes he'll be rested and ready for the next Game One. But against whom? If Buffalo beats Philadelphia in game seven of their series, it's the Sabres and red-hot goaltender Ryan Miller. If Montreal gets the better of Boston (series tied 2-2 now) the Canadiens and Carey Price (remember him) get the Caps next. Otherwise it's the winner of Pittsburgh-Tampa Bay (Penguins lead 3-2...minus Sidney Crosby). Hmm...


Pay no attention to the lockout-- everything's fine, thanks... situation normal. The NFL released its schedule last week of games we don't even know will be played... and is drafting players this week for what will be the sole purpose of not bringing them to a training camp that as of now doesn't exist. I feel the tremor of two Harrison Ford films... Presumed Innocent when they can't find the glass with his fingerprints that places his character at the victim's house the night of the murder, and Star Wars when there's mass devastation at the prison block and he has to talk down the Imperial on the other end of the intercom asking what the hell just happened. "We're all fine, thanks. How are you?" I was hoping that someone would break down the NFL schedule but with the labor lockout impasse-- and I think I just got my next blog topic-- never mind.


No love for the glove-- Eighteen errors so far this season. Six miscues for Ian Desmond. Four for Jerry Hairston. Three big ones against Pittsburgh Saturday to help the Pirates plate five in the first off Livan Hernandez. The Nats' bats give this team enough cause for concern (and while the pitching is improved, it's not that much better)-- the last thing they can do is make life easier for the opposition.


Office Transition-- Three years ago I watched 24, How I Met Your Mother, The Office and Prison Break. PB was replaced by LOST after another breakout from an impossible to break out from prison and after one of the most self-congratulatory and lamest final seasons LOST left the air. Jack Bauer finally retired his shouting, shooting and ridiculous plotholes. Now The Office could be rendered unwatchable as well with Steve Carrell's departure. Simply put, the man says things you shouldn't even think and makes it funny. Will Ferrell as his "replacement" (for a few episodes) is a stopgap-- if anybody other than Ferrell was saying those lines they wouldn't be funny at all. Can Dunder-Mifflin survive?

Lazy Days of April...

Where did the last three weeks go? Oh, yeah... sleeping in, taxes and leaving the country for a few days. Hopefully the batteries are recharged and I'm back to unleashing ridiculous rants on a regular basis again. Here's what I've been thinking but not yet writing--:

Huskies and Bulldogs play a dog of a championship game. Two very decent semifinal games and one dog of a championship contest in Houston. Butler hit a serious wall in the title game to the point where I was feeling really uncomfortable watching them miss (reminiscent of Jon Favreau's famous phone call sequence in "Swingers"and takes its place next to Houston 83-84 and Michigan 92-93 as back to back runners up. A great run by a team that almost lost its first round game to Old Dominion. A greater run by a team that finished .500 in its own conference and somehow put together 5 straight nights of winning hoops followed by 6 more victories at three different locales. Eleven triumphs in 28 days? Congratulations Huskies.

Talkin' Baseball-- the Nats and O's have enjoyed intriguing Aprils thus far filled with rainouts and doubleheaders (let's also add that a March 31st Opening Day anywhere but Florida, California, Texas or Arizona is NOT AWESOME). So far the pitching has been a pleasant surprise for the Nationals while the offense is enjoying an early season nap (I never thought I'd be saying thank goodness for Danny Espinoza!).

The Orioles looked great early on but have found their own water level recently (a week long losing streak will do that). But this is the first time in a while one can get genuinely excited about this team without getting carried away.

Regardless of where they finish-- I like MASN's ad campaign with Showalter and Riggleman going through situations... much better than the annoying fans of years past. Now if only Teddy Roosevelt can win the damn race.


Capitalizing or Capitulating?-- Once again the hearts are in everyone's throats in an about the beltway... as the Capitals have a crucial longterm stretch ahead. Lose another first round series as a top seed-- and Bruce Boudreau could be bounced. Hockey coaches have been heaved for far less. Can they thug it up with the Rangers? Will Ovie take this team on his shoulders? And will they wear the classic jerseys just once during the playoffs?


NFL-- business as usual?-- Thank goodness I now know the NFL schedule as the 1000 pound gorilla takes our attention away from the NBA and NHL Playoffs. Amidst the lockout at least the league can hold the drafting of players they'll be locking out.

Final Fourcast-- a Contrast to comprehend...

Hello Houston! This year's final four has a Texas twist... in another football stadium for the sports most important games (could you imagine baseball moving inside a dome for the world series? Or hockey players having to climb ladders?). Now I know that domes have housed NCAA Final Fours for years-- but the recent shifting of the court and raising it takes what was a minor adjustment and makes it a major minor adjustment (not major yet-- that would be when the NCAA adds a lazy river around the court).

How did we get here? My bracket imploded not once but twice. First, my Bold, Fold and Gold picks turned into mold... although Florida and North Carolina were in position to make me proud. In my sheet I also had Kansas (whom I was never sold on after last year's collapse to Northern Iowa) and Duke... so an optimistic Saturday afternoon turned into a "wha happened?" Sunday night.

Credit VCU with putting a major chip on their shoulder and playing its way through a scheduling (5 games in 12 days) and seeding gauntlet... Shaka Smart the clear-cut emerging star of this tournament. One can wonder how long he'll stay in the CAA as the former Florida assistant will be a hot commodity in the coaching carousel... especially with his big-time experience on the recruiting trail (something Brad Stevens doesn't have).

The Rams represent one half of the underdog undercard... as Butler is back thanks to two last-second wins, an overtime victory and a Wisconsin wilt (thanks offensively challenged Big Ten for participating). While Stevens led the Bulldogs to their first ever final four last year, the school is familiar with March-- as former coaches Barry Collier, Thad Matta and Todd Lickliter each piloted the program successfully. Does this make Butler the "established upstarts"? One thing is certain-- the Butler job is better than more than a few BCS conference gigs when one looks big picture. Just ask Barry Collier (a blast at Butler and a bust at Nebraska), Dan Monson (success at Gonzaga and a much less at Minnesota) or Keno Davis (up and coming at Drake and down and out at Providence). Which is why bigger isn't necessary better on the college coaching carousel. And if Stevens or Smart eventually jump-- make sure it's a somewhat safe landing.

While the two mid-major little engines that could are on a collision course in the early game, a Blue Blood Battle Royale is expected to yield the favorite in Monday's championship game. Both Kentucky and Connecticut have enjoyed plenty of success-- the Wildcats boast 7 national titles while the Huskies have won two championships since 1998 (Kentucky's last banner). While there's been success on the court with both schools, both have run into more than a little trouble with the NCAA. Jim Calhoun and John Calipari are phenomenal program builders, but neither is as pure as the driven snow-- or even the snow you get on the side of the road in New Jersey. Each have vacated tournament runs... although with Calhoun it's just a top seed, while Calipari has two vacated Final Fours to his credit. And surprise!--even this year there are shenanigans surrounding both programs.

This is the aftertaste we get as we prepare to watch two markedly different mindsets and matchups-- one between schoools that in theory represent all is good about college hoops and another that is Exhibit A for the excesses. The game has long been a murky marriage between competition and commerce... as coaches who leave programs placed on probations under a cloud to the tune of "who was that masked man" (Tim Floyd) only to get hired immediately elsewhere-- while others who don't push the envelope on the recruiting rules are accused of mailing it in (Gary Williams).

Thank goodness the college game is a stage that supersedes the seedyness. A world comprised of 94 feet-- no matter how configured inside a football stadium. Five players coming together to form a unit-- no matter how many illegal text messages they received before their junior year. Coaches with a gameplan to get it done-- even if a longterm plan means packing for a more productive paycheck. Forty minutes to get it done-- even if there's twice as many minutes of commercials. And hopefully a magical moment or two-- because even if a banner gets vacated... the moment still means something.

UConn over Kentucky... VCU over Butler... and the Huskies ending the Rams run Monday night. For one shining moment, at least.