What is missing from the NCAA Basketball Tournament?

It hard to tell, but the last 15 years or so have been blessed by great games and some individual shining moments. Looking back at the tournament, we have not come across a great story for the ages.

In the pre-big television and NIT competitition, you had the following:

1946 - Holy Cross - Bob Cousy

1950 - CCNY - won both NIT and NCAA in the same season

1955, 56 - San Francisco - Bill Russell

1957 - UNC beating Kansas in triple OT

1966 - Texas Western - starting 5 African-Americans

1974 - NC State - stopping UCLA's 7 in row

1976 - Indiana - last undefeated

Big TV Era

1979 - Michigan State - Magic vs. Bird

1983 - NC State and Jimmy V.

1985 - Villanova - perfect game

1991 - Duke - knocking UNLV in the semi's

2003 - Syracuse - freshmen GMac and Carmelo giving Boeheim first title

2006 - George Mason's miricle fun - didn't win

Am I missing something?

Tony Snow's cancer has returned.

AP PHOTO/Gerald Herbert

Presidential spokesman Tony Snow's surgery to remove a small growth showed that his cancer has returned and spread to his liver, the White House said Tuesday. Mr. Snow had his entire colon removed in 2005.

Even with the cancer spreading to the liver, this is certainly curable. The introductions of new medicines since 2000 have increased survival dramitically.

Hey Tony, whisper in George's ear to fully fund the NIH, NCI and CDC!!!!! Please pray for Mr. Snow and his family.

To view some interesting stories on colon cancer survival, check out the forum at the Colonclub.

U.S. House approves Iraq funding bill

The U.S. House Friday voted to approve a supplemental spending bill to fund the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and other projects.The vote was 218-212, with two Republicans joining the majority and 14 Democrats voting against the measure. One member voted present. The measure now goes to the Senate.



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"The Rule of Law Goes Out the Window"

Eubanks said Congress should not limit its investigation to the dismissal of the U.S. attorneys.“Political interference is happening at Justice across the department,” she said. “When decisions are made now in the Bush attorney general’s office, politics is the primary consideration. . . . The rule of law goes out the window.”



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Penn State's Rene Portland resigns

STATE COLLEGE -- Penn State women's basketball coach Rene Portland resigned effective immediately this morning, ending a 27-year career with the Lady Lions. "This is obviously a difficult decision," Portland said in a university statement. "I am very appreciative of the opportunity to coach at Penn State, which has become a special place for me."



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Elizabeth Edwards has reccurence of cancer

John Edward's has announced that his wife has cancer. Sources are unsure if the campaign will go on. Please say a prayer for her and her family.


UPDATE

The campaign for the presidency will continue!!!!

CANCER

The fact that the cancer has spread does mean that it is aggressive. As a cancer survivor myself, I met someone who was living with bone cancer for years. However, the lung is another story. Please ignore the survival statistics. They tell of something that happened in the past at a certain point time. The do not tell what will happen and do not factor in future medication and treatment.

Schuylkill League streak comes to an end!!!!

Well, this past weekend saw a streak come to an end. A girls team from Schuylkill League will not have a representative in the PIAA finals for the first time since 1986. From 1987 to 2006 the league has at least sent one team to the finals. Nativity was upended by Bishop Guilfoyle and Marian was beaten by Bishop O'Reilley.

A couple of things took place with the streak ending. With District 12 (Philadelphia) being added District 11 (primary the Schuylkill League) lost a place winner in the state tournament. Also Nativity had to tangle with Guilfoyle. As District 11 is to Eastern A girls basketball, Guilfoyle and Bishop Carrol are usually powers out West in single A. The streak is even more impressive when you go back to 1984 and find out that only 1986 is the only year with a gap. O'Reilley's win over Marian was the one that stands out. Last time a District 2 team reached the final was Bishop Hoban in 2000. Last District 2 team to reach a state final in A was Mid-Valley in 1981.

Ironic?

The streak ends the first year the Bryce Jordan Center is hosting the PIAA championships. The streak is ended by Bishop O'Reilley playing in their final season before a merger next year between themselves, Bishop's Hafey and Hoban.

Teams

Here is a look at the teams that made the finals from the league over that span. The records are not perfect but all have one championships at one time or another:

Mahanoy Area
Lourdes Regional
North Schuylkill
Nativity BVM (Pottsville Nativity)
Marian
Pine Grove

Note: Schuylkill Haven made it and one in 1985. Minersville made some eastern finals but came up short.

Fox News Edits Out Thier Lies (with video proof)

We're going to have to start doing our own transcription of Fox News programs because you can't trust theirs.



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Rick Santorum's got another new gig

Former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum pads his resume and paycheck some more with a new job at Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott, LLC. When he didn't do one job right, now he has three.



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The Madness in March

The NCAA now owns the post season NIT. The NIT is still made up of the usual 32 teams. Just for simple agrument's sake, why not just expand the NCAA field to 96 teams? The NCAA functioned for a long time with 32 teams and eventually expanded to the present day 64 teams in 1985.

Like with the BCS in football, there are the majors and there are minors (mid-majors). It seems like the major conferences are rewarded no matter what is on the record. The allure of this tournament and it's golden goose television revenue was built on the underdog winning. Is anyone for the underdog? Remember Billy Packer's argument last year about George Mason getting an invite.

When you are ready to puke after watching all the NCAA advertisements about itself this weekend, read Byron Williams blog. Once again the student athlete is the oxymoron in the story.

Here is a shout out to a great bunch, the 1985 Villanova Willcats. The 1985 NCAA champions feature a mix and match of future NBA players and some great role players. The stat coach Rollie Massimino is most proud of is that every member of the team that team who made it to senior year graduated.

NOTE: Freshman Veltra Dawson transferred to Evansville after the 1985 season.

The Pig that saved the Pittsburgh Penguins

In the 1979, The Fish that Saved Pittsburgh, star player Moses Guthrie was born under the sign of Pisces. The fictional Pythons decide to hire the rest of the players born under the sign of the fish. They even eventually change their name to the Pisces.

Over a quarter century later, another animal is coming to save a struggling Pittsburgh franchise. Governor Ed Rendell is dishing up a serving of pork in order to save the NHL's Pittsburgh Penguins. The money is supposedly coming from gambling revenues to pay for the bond issue. So much for property tax reform.

Maybe they could name the new arena The Sty. For additional revenue, maybe they could broker a split with Warner Brothers to put Porkey Pig on the uniform.

Shortage of cancer doctors in coming years

The study predicted a shortfall of 2,550 to 4,080 oncologists by 2020. The overall U.S. population and, most significantly, the proportion of older people are growing, along with the number of people who have survived a bout with cancer, the researchers noted.



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PIAA scores AAA score summary in Pennsylvania

Both the Crestwood-Buchanan and Milton-Susquehanna Twp. were great games. Crestwood cost itself at the foul line.Milton went toe-to-toe, but some turnovers cost them in the end. Buchanan takes on the winner of Springfield Delco and Southern Lehigh. Susquehanna Twp. takes on the winner of Grove City and Ambridge.



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Bucknell's men's basketball team comes up short in NIT bid

On Friday, my son and I ventured up to Hart Center on the campus of the College of the Holy Cross to see the Bison battle the Crusaders. While Bucknell came up on the short end on Friday. I was surprised they didn't receive a bid to the NIT.

Bucknell had a body of work that included a 27-1 league mark over the past two years. Two NCAA wins against Kansas and Arkansas. Three straight Patriot League championship games including two wins. A senior class that set a school record for wins with 87, ironically topping the class of 1987. They also never lost a Patriot league home game with a streak that now stands at 35-0. Seniors Abe Badmus, Donald Brown and Chris McNaughton will be missed and unfortunately didn't get a chance to showcase their talents just one more time.

I did watch the end of the game handshake. Holy Cross coach Ralph Willard hugged and spoke to the Bucknell seniors. They were the nucleus they kept the Crusaders out of two consecutive NCAA's. Willard is a class act.

What part of the season did the Bison suffer? Probably if you look at losses to Central Arkansas on a neutral court, Penn State, and Northern Iowa at home. Where you really think it mattered, Bucknell played well down the stretch and in their league.

Biggest Disappointments: Syracuse and Drexel

Biggest Gifts: Arkansas (Bucknell showed them the exit last season), Stanford

Interesting First Round Games: Villanova-Kentucy, ND-Winthrop

Early Exit: Michigan State (Great article by Tom Housenick)

Listening to the selection committee chairmen, Gary Walters is like listening to a Tony "Snowjob" Snow press conference. It seems that the so called power conference schools get selected by one set of rules while mid majors play by another set. Drexel did what it was asked to do. Syracuse went 10-6 in the Big East and are out. Look for them to struggle at home Wednesday night.

Enjoy it while your there: UCONN and Syracuse both won championships this decade and both are out(Although screwed is a better term for the Orange.) UCONN is not in the NIT.

About a month ago, Jim Boeheim commented that there are a few really good teams and about 40 to 45 that could beat each other.

Seen it's time: 64 team bracket. Last expansion was in 1985. Time to expand again. Get rid of the conference tournament. Go to top four team playoffs league playoffs.

Villanova bound to Chicago to take on Kentucy

Villanova meets Kentucy in NCAA's for the first time since 1988.

The '88 squad advanced to the Elite 8 that season falling to runner-up Oklahoma who were led by Wayman Tisdale. The 1988 game between Kentucy and Villanova was the last for Kentucy standout Rex Chapman.

Villanova was led by senior multi-position player Mark Plansky who was the last member left from the 1985 championship team.

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Bush’s New US Attorney a Criminal?

Timothy Griffin, Karl Rove’s assistant, the President’s pick as US Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas. Griffin, according to BBC Television, was the hidden hand behind a scheme to wipe out the voting rights of 70,000 citizens prior to the 2004 election.

Does this surprise anyone. Only the tip of the iceberg?



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(Video) Joe Wilson: My Wife Wept After Hearing The Libby Verdict

A very powerful interview by former Ambassador Wilson. He also revealed the CIA is blocking publication of his wife's book.



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Scooter Libby Guilty!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Libby guilty on four of five counts.

I. "Scotter" Libby has been found guilty on four of 5 counts. The possible maximum sentence is 25 years in jail and a 1 million dollar fine.

Will Cheney be next in line?

Merry Fitzmas to all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



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7 basketball games in 6 days around the Central Susquehanna Valley

Starting on February 27th, the weather cooperated and I seen seven basketball games in six day around the Central Susquehanna Valley. Both Shamokin boys and girls teams upended number one seeds on their way to the state playoffs. The girls capped their week with the AAA championship against Athens while the boys lost a 12-point lead going into fourth quarter to lose by two to Milton.

Although for one of the few times in school history, Lourdes Regional did not qualify for district in the boys or girls brackets. However, the AAA girl final had a little of Lourdes in it. Shamokin head coach Bill Callahan graduated from Lourdes in the 80's. Athens was represented by assistant coach Joe Jacoski who graduated from Lourdes in the 70's and his daughter #25 Christina Jacoski. Joe Jacoski's uncles are none other than Lourdes first captain in team history, Paul Yucha, and Paul's brother Dr. Tom Yucha.

The Shamokin girls defense was the key limiting Athens to 11 second half points. The boys on the other hand wilted under some heavy pressure. However in a very physical game, Milton shot 25 fould shots to 6 for the Indians.

Bucknell men swept the service academies in the Patriot League tournament beating Navy on Wednesday and Army on Sunday. The Bison will travel to Worcester, MA on Friday to punch a third strait ticket to the NCAA's. The game will be on ESPN2 at 4:30 pm.

Soldier alleges rape at Gap

A female soldier, 22, from Wilkes-Barre guard unit, allegedly radped over the weeked at Fort Indiantown Gap. The reservist, with the 233rd Quarter Master Company in Wilkes-Barre, reported she was raped by one or more male soldiers between 11 p.m. Saturday and 1 a.m. yesterday, police said. The woman said the incident took place in bldg 13-144.



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Snyder County Official Responds to Patriot News Report.

Fears of possible deadly cancer cluster in Selinsgrove and near Susquehanna University sparks investigation.



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Rep. Slaughter Calls For Kiley’s Immediate Removal

Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-NY) became the first member of Congress to call on the Pentagon to immediately remove Kiley from his post at Walter Reed:



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Lieberman On Appointment Of Kiley: ‘It’s A Good First Step’

Read over the transcript. Lieberman is giving Imus the "double talk".



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Rick Santorum Joins Fox News

Rick Santorum is set to join Fox News Channel as contributor. I am guessing his first contribution will be about Islamic Fascism. In case we forgot, here are his talking points. At least Fox News did something great this year. At least Fox saved America from Ricky again. Rumor had Ricky getting nominated to the Supreme Court after Pennsylvania was smart enough to show him the door.

Maybe Fox could have Hannity, Coulter, Malkin, and Santorum on a show called The Four Horsemen of the Apocalype.

Nice suit Ricky.

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