For those of you who care, here are the “Sweet Sixteen” matchups (all games are on CBS, and to my knowledge, Katie Couric is NOT commentating)…

Thursday, March 27, 2008
7:10 PM ET No. 7 West Virginia at No. 3 Xavier
7:27 PM ET No. 4 Washington State at No. 1 North Carolina
9:40 PM ET No. 12 Western Kentucky at No. 1 UCLA
9:57 PM ET No. 3 Louisville at No. 2 Tennessee

Friday, March 28, 2008
7:10 PM ET No. 10 Davidson at No. 3 Wisconsin
7:27 PM ET No. 3 Stanford at No. 2 Texas
9:40 PM ET No. 12 Villanova at No. 1 Kansas
9:57 PM ET No. 5 Michigan State at No. 1 Memphis

I’ll say that overall the matchups seem pretty lame. (Chalk one up for the selection committee.) While there’s a really decent chance that 3 or 4 #1 seeds move on to the Final Four, I’ve still got to root for the Big Ten (even though my Boilers are out). However, I’m sticking by my initial predicting for the final game: North Carolina vs. Memphis with Memphis winning. But what do I know, I only watch college hoops a few weeks a year.

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“The Indiana Pacers announced today they will not increase season-ticket prices for the 2008-09 regular season.”

Is this really newsworthy?

You have the worst attendance in the league, you’re mediocre at best and you employ people who consistently make poor off court choices.  Personally I think that I’d drop ticket prices AND “clean house” for next season, but maybe that’s just me.

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A word of advice to Kelvin Sampson. “DON’T MESS WITH THE STANGER! Or you’re bound to get stung.” (Cheesy I know, but hey, if Emmis can get away with that sort of thoughtless promotion, so can we.)

Apparently Sampson is not a fan of Jeff Stanger, baseball, Bloomington or books. I’m a Purdue grad, but come on, are you serious? Sure, Rick Greenspan might lay down the law and Michael McRobbie will get his first test due to the recruiting violations , but what is their stance on the remarks towards Trolley Dodgers, Jeff Stanger, baseball, the city of Bloomington and the future release of Kansaska? That my friend is the real story.

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Going into the All-Star Break, it looks like the Indiana Pacers will be sitting at 21-32 or 20-33, depending if they can beat Portland. (Boston and Detroit are probably safe bets for the loss column given their play of late.)

Some people will look at that and think that’s just horrible and that they need to win the rest of the season to make the playoffs. But I say do everything in your power, short of “throwing” games, to lose the rest of the way out and have a decent shot at high lottery pick. If you make the playoffs you’re only ensuring yourself of an early exit and no decent draft picks.

Miami is clearly doing this, so why not give them and Minnesota a bit of competition? The attendance this year is the worst in the league (rightfully so, and the fans are making a statement by staying away). If they can manage to get a lottery pick in the top three they can probably grab Eric Gordon which would do wonders for the attendance at the very least (they blew it last year in getting one of the three local players in the draft).

But then again, historically the Pacers aren’t too bright when it comes to draft picks and they’d probably pick someone from overseas that has no intention of playing in the NBA anytime soon. So go ahead. Make the run for the last playoff spot.

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You lose the Indianapolis mayoral election in November, the Indianapolis Colts lose in their home playoff game, then you (temporarily) move to Boston and jump on the New England Patriots bandwagon. OK, maybe that’s a little “out there” on the later part, but I do find it odd that even a former Mayor of Indy can’t find a decent job in the area. I don’t even need to comment further on that as it truly speaks for itself. And frankly, I can’t blame him for jumping on the opportunity…or on the Boston Celtics bandwagon (the Indiana Pacers off-court actions of recent years are enough of a reason for anyone to disassociate with the city).

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Could someone please make the bad men stop…

Indiana Pacers center David Harrison has been suspended five games without pay by the NBA for violating the terms of the NBA/NBPA Anti-Drug program, the league announced today. (via the IndyStar)

Seriously guys, please stop listening to the people who told you that any publicity is good publicity.  This sort of thing is getting really old.

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I said it almost a year ago and I’ll say it again, the Indiana Pacers must get rid of Jamaal Tinsley (legal troubles and just poor judgement) and they might as well send Jermaine O’Neal (slows the team down when he’s on the court), Marquis Daniels (legal troubles with his buddy Tinsley) and Shawne Williams (legal troubles) with him in some sort of package deal that does not include Mike Dunleavy (as I can see them doing that).  Poor off court decisions, regardless of who is at fault, continue to kill the support for the team and maybe eventually even the players themselves.  Seriously guys, something has got to give.

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I decided to check out NFL.com/Live again tonight since I don’t have the NFL Network.  The stream seemed a little better than last week, but that’s probably because the game wasn’t such a “must see”.  Also, I did spot a “full screen” option, that like most online full screen videos is a bit blocky (I’ll save you the tech reasons as to why), but OK from across the room.

I do find the video feed a bit annoying with them going to people talking instead of showing the whole game.  And the whole mess of other things going on is a bit much.  I think I’d rather listen to the game on the radio instead and then catch the video highlights afterward.

I am still a bit irritated with the whole Comcast/NFL Network dispute that’s going on.  Please grow up and act like adults and come to some sort of reasonable agreement.  Right now you both just look childish with your finger pointing.

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Via the Indy Star…

Two people said Texas Tech basketball coach Bob Knight or his hunting companion hit them with birdshot on two occasions last month.

Maybe it’s just me, but I think that it would be good advice to not go hunting with Coach Knight or Dick Cheney.  Boy wouldn’t those two be a pair?

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Two weeks ago I was excited to see what Simeon Rice could bring to the Indianapolis Colts’ defense after Dwight Freeney was lost for the season, but that went nowhere fast and Rice was cut from the team today.  Not a huge deal I suppose, as our defense is doing pretty well for being so “bad” as the “experts” say.

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