The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Sunday Gravy: Enjoy the calm before the storm
⏩ I’ve never been a big fan of spring training. It’s several weeks of debating of how your favorite team will do this season. There’s so much time that you may be able to convince me the Miami Marlins can win the National League East and Derek Jeter will be the NL Executive of the Year.
OK, so that won’t happen — but will down the road. For now, I can wait for the ad nauseum analysis of how Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge will batter the New York Yankees’ opposition into submission.
⏩ I look at February as the calm before the storm that is March Madness. And, for the first time, the Big East Conference has some company at the world’s most famous arena. The Big 10 tournament begins on Feb. 28 at Madison Square Garden for the first time. It concludes on March 4 — one full week before the NCAA Selection Show.
The Big East Tournament runs as normal (March 7-10). Usually, the Big 10 is the last automatic bid mere minutes before the 68 teams are unveiled. So the Big 10 champion — and the at-large recipients — will have at least 10 days off before they plan another game. Not a big deal, but a little bit of an adjustment. Tickets are available for both events.
⏩ Speaking of the calm before the storm, Yahoo Sports Pete Thamel’s story on the scandal that could rock the sport is worth a read. One particular quote from an anonymous source is alarming.
“When this all comes out, Hall of Fame coaches should be scared, lottery picks won’t be eligible to play and almost half of the 16 teams the NCAA showed on its initial NCAA tournament show this weekend should worry about their appearance being vacated.”
It’s been awhile since the original FBI investigation became public knowledge. Rick Pitino, a Hall of Fame coach, lost his job at Louisville nearly five months ago because of it. This investigation may not affect this NCAA tournament, but it will affect the sport at some point soon. And it leads me to wonder how many players may decide to turn professional this spring.
⏩ I’ve always been a big fan of the NBA All-Star Game, but many don’t tune in to what as become a glorified scrimmage. That led to the drafting of teams with LeBron James and Stephen Curry as the captains doing the picking. Hopefully, it will bring more eyeballs to the game.
⏩ Disappointed that former Wilbur Cross boys basketball coach Bob Saulsbury wasn’t named a finalist for the Basketball Hall of Fame Saturday. But the list of finalists is a who’s-who, led by former UConn and NBA standout Ray Allen, Chris Webber and Jason Kidd.
⏩ I can’t get enough of the State Farm commercial with the Houston Rockets Chris Paul, James Harden and Trevor Ariza. I may be able to sing better than Ariza. Then again…
⏩ If the Phoenix Suns ever actually decide to be an NBA franchise again, then the players can complain about Steve Kerr letting members of the Golden State Warriors draw up some plays in a game last week.
⏩ The Division I boys basketball tournament should have some intrigue. The new five-division format placed 21 teams into what we can call a super division, the best high school basketball has to offer. Second-round games could be like state finals.
The quarterfinals will be held March 12 at neutral sites to accommodate what are expected to be bigger crowds (the other four divisions are home sites in that round). The two semifinals will be held March 15 and the final likely will be held March 18 at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville at 6:30 p.m. There will be four games played that Sunday beginning at 10:30 a.m. and in all likelihood, will be $10 for all four — a worthy investment for both boys and girls basketball state championship games being played that day.
⏩ For those who can’t get enough of the NFL, the Combine begins Feb. 27. Set your DVR on the NFL Network.
⏩ I’m at least a little intrigued , for the Roseanne reboot on ABC in late March, more than two decades after the first one ended. Aren’t you? I’d like to know how John Goodman’s character comes back to life.
⏩ There have been so many comparisons between Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus, but one smaller one goes relatively unnoticed: Neither has won the PGA event at Riviera Country Club. Woods, teeing it up there for the first time since 2006, missed the cut in his second event back on the PGA Tour.
⏩ Best wishes to Bill Schweizer, who will retire at the end of the school year after 21 seasons as the voice of Quinnipiac University sports. He certainly won’t be easy to replace.