Friday, February 13, 2009

Friday 02/13 A.M. Quickie:
NBA All-Star, ND, NU, Long Weekend

I do enjoy the NBA All-Star Weekend -- although I will say that it is best-viewed through DVR, not live. Mostly, I think it is the best-executed All-Star event of any league... by far. (My tribute to the NBA ASW execution leads today's SN column.)

Normally, I'd be most excited about the Dunk Contest, but I join the rest of the folks who are eagerly anticipating the HORSE contest (GEICO, HORSE, whatever).

I also just downloaded the All-Star live-video iPhone app; I'm curious to see how it works out if I try to watch the events from my phone and not on the couch.

If you're not planning on checking in this weekend, have a nice weekend -- particularly if it's a long one for you. If you are, I'll be updating all three days this weekend.

If not for the All-Star stuff, then certainly for college hoops -- I think Pitt-UConn is as big of a game as there will be in the Big East this season, maybe in all of college hoops.

And here's why: This is as tough of a game as UConn will have without Dyson; if UConn wins or even plays well, they will be in good shape in March -- if they get beat, watch out.

(I also think that Pitt is a legitimately great team -- probably the best team in the country this season. A win at UConn would affirm that -- no top contender would have a better road win.)

Speaking of the Big East, I thought Notre Dame was reeling and Louisville a tough draw...right up until ND upended UL. Again: No one knows anything.

And for the second time this week, I watched one of my teams get beat in the final seconds. Florida's loss at Kentucky was frustrating, but OK; Northwestern's loss at home to Illinois was just brutal. NU out-played UI for 35 minutes, then collapsed at the end. Worse still, a win would have put NU back on the Bubble -- now, they are off for sure. One more year, no NCAAs.

More:
*I'm not a NASCAR fan, but I'm intrigued by Joey Logano.
*Why wouldn't Ken Griffey return to Seattle?
*Pitchers and catchers, folks (and I just got my copy of Baseball Prospectus 2009, which will be a fun way to spend this long weekend)

Complete column here. More later.

-- D.S.

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