WILL UCONN HANG ONTO ITS TITLE?

Okay, UCONN, you won your title.  In what was one of the ugliest NCAA Basketball Title games in recent memories you prevailed 53-41 over a Butler team that couldn't hit the broad side of a barn.  Now, let's see how long you get to keep it.

UCONN head man, Jim Calhoun has been the subject of the NCAA in recent months.  He has been flogged publicly for failing to promote an atmosphere of compliance in his program.   Next season, he will have to miss UConn's first three Big East league games as part of his punishment handed down by the NCAA.  But the scrutiny will not end here.

Will Calhoun Stick Around?

Nate Miles, the player at the center of the NCAA probe, told the New York Times last weekend that Calhoun was well aware of the improper benefits he received from a former manager turned agent.
The NCAA has said it will listen to Miles, who initially declined to speak with the organization, but that does not necessarily mean it will reopen its investigation.

I'm not so sure, I think they'll have too.  Calhoun has not endured himself to critics.  His team's win Monday night put him in an exclusive club of head coaches who have won three titles.  When your name goes alongside John Wooden, Mike Krzyzewski, Adloph Rupp and Bobby Knight more is expected of you.  The NCAA Champion should not be the NCAA Suspended Coach.  More than anything, will it be Calhoun's defiance that is his undoing?  On the eve of the National Championship game, star guard Kemba Walker had this to say about his coach's mindset.  "I think he's handled this whole NCAA thing really well," Walker said. "And I think if we win a national championship, nobody is going to be able to tell him anything."  This could get real interesting unless Calhoun decides to retire.

RODMAN TO HALL OF FAME
The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame yesterday announced that 10 individuals have been named as the Class of 2011.  The inductees include former NBA star and 1992 Dream Team member Chris Mullin; five-time NBA champion Dennis Rodman; ABA/NBA legend Artis Gilmore and four-time NCAA women's coach of the year Tara Van Derveer; in addition to four-time Olympic gold medalist Teresa Edwards, Europen star Arvydas Sabonis' all-time NCAA wins leader Herb Magee; eight-time NBA champion Tom "Satch" Sanders; coaching legend Tex Winter; and former Harlem Globetrotter Reece "Goose" Tatum, who will be honored posthumously.  I really have to question Rodman's selection to this class.  Last year, he didn't even make the cut as a finalist.  Despite being a great rebounder and defender during his carer, it's hard for me to think of him as "Hall" worthy.  What about Reggie Miller?  Probably much more deserving....     

NEW BIRDS TO CONTEND?
It's real early in the baseball season, but the American League East could be in for some real battles this season.  It appears the Baltimore Orioles and Toronto Blue Jays are much improved.  Oriole skipper Buck Showalter has injected new life into his ballclub.  It Baltimore gets any pitching.....  The Blue Jays are another club I like the looks of.  They've added some nice parts to their team in recent years.  Kyle Drabek looks like a bonafide starter in the league and Rajai Davis at the top of the order adds speed to a power hitting lineup. If Tampa Bay gets untracked, the East will be as tough as divison as there is in baseball.  But keep in mind, there are 162 games to be played.  A long way to go......

Thanks for reading,

John