TIGER IS BACK!!! BIRDIE ON FINAL HOLE WINS BAYHILL INVITATIONAL!!

When you got it. Flaunt it!! Tiger Woods made a triumphant return to the winner's platform late Sunday evening, overcoming a 5-shot deficit to win the 2009 Arnold Palmer Bay Hill Invitational in Orlando, FL.

"It feels good to be back in contention, to feel the rush," Woods said. "It's been a while, but God, it felt good." (AP)

Just like last year when he made a 25-footer on the final hole to win, Woods did not disappoint those remaining spectators in attendance as darkness began to fall on the course. The win was Tiger's sixth at Bay Hill, the third PGA Tour event he has won that many times.

Lost in Woods' dramatic come from behind victory was the hard-luck defeat of Texas native Sean O'Hair. This was the second straight year that the young Texan had a front row seat to watch the game's greatest golfer win on the tournament's final hole. But, this year should have been different. O'Hair began the day with a 5-stroke lead. However, he would have trouble from the start, going long off the tee and missing the first five fairways. He failed to have a putt inside of 30-feet until the ninth.

Finally, he succumbed to the stalking Tiger on the back nine. Woods' had chipped and chipped away at O'Hair's lead all day but was not able to move any closer than one stroke before finally breaking through on the par-4 16th to take a short lived lead. "It's just a little bit disappointing that I couldn't close it," O'Hair said.

Cheer up Sean, when you are facing a hungry tiger no one can blame you if you lay down and get eaten!!

Following reconstructive knee surgery that prematurely ended his season last year, Woods' delivered two "un-Tiger-like" performances at World Golf Championships, and there were the obvious questions regarding whether he would be ready to make a run at the Master's in two weeks. After the drama on the 18th hole yesterday at Bay Hill, I don't there are anymore questions. Tiger is back!!

Turning a blind eye

The American public education abstinence-only sex education policy in a word is failing. I should know. As a man of modest youth, 32, with two now teenage children of my own, I vividly remember sitting in my Health-Ed class in high school and laughing at the instruction regarding the proper ways to conduct sexual exploration. Like many of the popular sect of young people in the mid-'90s I had been having sex routinely from the time that I was 16 and in my opinion I knew more about "doing the nasty" than my instructor. The major focus of the curriculum during my high school experience from 1991 – 1995, rightly consisted of getting the word out that AIDS/HIV was serious and if contracted it would kill you. But, simply telling teens that "sex is bad" or that if you have unprotected sex and get AIDS you will die is not enough to mute the raging hormones of teens for more than a minute or two. Furthermore, abstinence only programs, while morally sound; do little to deter teen sex. Comprehensive curriculums that include abstinence, proper contraceptive use and real-world defense mechanisms that teens can use against the "peer-pressure" that they face from the time they wake up until the fall asleep at night. A combined approach in my opinion and a great deal of others, do the most good in deterring teen sex.

The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation released a national study on sex education in 2000 that revealed gaps between what parents want and what schools are teaching. The news release regarding the study published in September of the same year said, "Parents look to sex education to provide their children with practical skills that students and teachers report are not consistently covered. More than eight in ten parents say how to use condoms (85%) and other forms of birth control (84%), as well as how to talk about them with partners (88%), should be taught. They also want schools to address real-life issues, such as pressure to have sex (94%) and the emotional consequences of becoming sexually active (94%). Three quarters say abortion (79%) and sexual orientation (76%) should be discussed; most (74%) further specify when issues such as these do come up in the classroom they should be presented in a "balanced" way that presents different views in society." (Kaiser Family Foundation)

In 2006, Science Daily published an article on its website that detailed an American Journal of Public Health report published in January, the same year that scientifically concluded that as a result of improved contraceptive use the U. S. teen pregnancy rate had declined. The site further reported that 86% of the recent decline in U.S. teen pregnancy rates is the result of improved contraceptive use, while a small proportion of the decline (14%) can be attributed to teens waiting longer to start having sex. According to a report by John Santelli, MD, MPH, department chair and professor of Clinical Population and Family Health at the Mailman School of Public Health, "The scientific findings indicate that abstinence promotion, in itself, is insufficient to help adolescents prevent unintended pregnancies." (Science Daily)

Last year Science Daily published another interesting article which detailed the data from a 2002 national survey report that appeared in the Journal of Adolescent Health. The study lead author Pamela Kohler, a program manager at the University of Washington in Seattle said, "It is not harmful to teach teens about birth control in addition to abstinence." Kohler and her team of researchers analyzed the data and "found that one in four teens received abstinence-only education. Nine percent — particularly the poor and those in rural areas — received no sex education at all. The other two-thirds received comprehensive instruction with discussion of birth control. Teens who received comprehensive sex education were 60 percent less likely to report becoming pregnant or impregnating someone than those who received no sex education. The likelihood of pregnancy was 30 percent lower among those who had abstinence-only education compared to those who received no sex education, but the researchers deemed that number statistically insignificant because few teens fit into the categories that researchers analyzed." (Science Daily)

Reuters.com posted an article this month by Will Dunham in which he reports that the teen birth rate in America rose for the second straight year in 2007 after more than 10 years in decline, due mostly to the fact the abstinence-only sex education programs are not working. One of the many experts that he surveyed for his story was Jennifer Manlove of Child Trends a nonprofit research group. She said, "Two years of increases in the teen birth rate are a wake-up call showing the need to target efforts to help teens delay sexual activity, improve contraceptive use, and delay early and generally unplanned childbearing." (Reuters) I think she is right. Whether politicians, clergy or parents want to admit it or not teen sex is happening more and more. Everyone in America has to do more to help better educate and equip teens regarding sex.

Works Cited:

Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health. "U.S. Teen Pregnancy Rates Decline As Result Of Improved Contraceptive Use." ScienceDaily 4 December 2006. 10 March 2009 <http://www.sciencedaily.com /releases/2006/12/061201180530.htm>.

The Center for the Advancement of Health. "Comprehensive Sex Education Might Reduce Teen Pregnancies, Study Suggests." ScienceDaily 20 March 2008. 10 March 2009 <http://www.sciencedaily.com /releases/2008/03/080319151225.htm>.

The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. "National Study on Sex Education Reveals

Gaps Between What Parents Want and Schools Teach." News Release 26 September 2000. 23 March 2009 <http://www.kff.org/youthhivstds/upload/National-Study-on-Sex-Education-Reveals-Gaps-Between-What-Parents-Want-and-Schools-Teach.pdf>

Dunham, Will. Reuters. "U.S. teen birth rate up again, fewer pre-term babies" 18 March 2009. 23 March 2009<http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews

/idUSTRE52H67H20090318>

NCAA Tourney Round 1 (recap) 32 remain on the dance floor

Whoa! The madness has started to intensify!! As the last spots in the second round began to fill, every game seemed to tick down to the final seconds before a winner was determined. Cinderella also made a few reservations for an extended stay at the dance. So far, each region has seen it's top three seeds advance easily but some of the other lower seeded teams have not fared quite as well. One #4 seed and three #5s, two #8s, three #7s and two #9s seeds have been sent packing. As the tournament progresses brackets across the globe have been crackling, rest assured by the end of this weekend's second round many will be busted! Here is a recap of all of the 1st round games by region: Foxsports.com contributed to this report

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WEST -
#1 UCONN vs. #16 CHATT
As expected the #1 UCONN Huskies were able to handle the early effort from the #16 Chattanooga Mocs before finally thumping the Southern Conference champs 103-47. Playing without their head coach John Calhoun, the Huskies were sluggish at the start but quickly pulled things together to get the lopsided win. A.J. Price and Hasheem Thabeet won this for their ailing coach, scoring 20 points apiece to lead top-seeded Huskies to its first postseason win in three years. Coach Calhoun reportedly missed the game because of dehydration. If history is any indication the Huskies could be setting up for another run at the NCAA title, when they won in 1999 and 2004 Calhoun also missed a game due to medical concerns before the Huskies cut down the nets. (Fox Sports)
Second round opponent: # 9 Texas A&M


#2 MEMPHIS vs. #15 CS NORTHRIDGE
The #2 Memphis Tigers faced an unexpectedly tough match-up against the #15 Cal State Northridge Matadors. After battling heartbreak and tragedy just to reach the NCAA tournament, the Matadors of Cal State Northridge ran into the greatest game of Roburt Sallie's life. Sallie, averaging 4.5 points all year for Memphis, hit 10 3-pointers and scored 35 as the second-seeded Tigers beat the plucky Matadors 81-70 Thursday, dodging what would have been one of the biggest upsets in tournament history. (Fox Sports)
Second Round Opponent: #10 Maryland


#3 MISSOURI vs. #14 CORNELL
The Missouri Tigers had to fight for their tournament lives in the first half of the first round game against Ivy League champions Cornell, but they found the mark in early on in the second half nailing 12 of it's first 22 shots to pull away 78-59 for the win over Cornell.

Lyons finished with 23 points and 10 rebounds and Carroll, the coach's nephew, had all but two of his 13 points in the second half to help the third-seeded Tigers (29-6) coast in easily after a slow opening 20 minutes. (Fox Sports)
Second round opponent: #6 Marquette


#4 WASHINGTON vs. #13 MISS ST
The tournament woes got started for the South Eastern Conference (SEC) early with the Washington Huskies defeating the conference tournament champion Mississippi State Bulldogs 71-58. Team captain Jon Brockman had a broken nose and a seat on the bench because of fouls. Isaiah Thomas and Justin Dentmon weren't performing their usual roles as Washington's top two scorers in the biggest game of the season. But inexplicably, everyone forgot about junior forward Quincy Pondexter. Pondexter went on a tear scoring a season-high 23 points and the fourth-seeded Huskies took advantage of Mississippi State's menacing Jarvis Varnado early foul trouble to race past the 13th-seeded Bulldogs on Thursday. (Fox Sports)
Second round opponent: #5 Purdue


#5 PURDUE vs. #12 NORTHERN IOWA
Fifth-seeded Purdue held off a late charge by 12th-seeded Northern Iowa for a 61-56 victory Thursday in a rugged first-round game, and showed it afterward. E'Twaun Moore had his right shoulder encased in ice and wrapped in plastic after his game-high 17 points. Robbie Hummel, who had both knees similarly sheathed, had nine points and a game-high 12 rebounds. "Definitely was a physical game, sort of like a Big Ten game," Moore said, a grin spreading over his face. "The ice is just temporary. We'll be OK." (AP) (Fox Sports)
Second round opponent: #4 Washington


#6 MARQUETTE vs. #11 UTAH St.
Lazar Hayward scored Marquette's first and last points. Somehow the Golden Eagles snuck past Utah State 58-57 to advance to the second round. Hayward had plenty of big plays in between, too, scoring 26 to lead the Golden Eagles to the win over Utah State in the first round of the West Regional. Hayward, who was averaging 16 points, scored Marquette's first 10 points and was almost perfect from the foul line as the Golden Eagles held off the Aggies fierce comeback attempt in the second half to get the one point victory. (Fox Sports)
Second round opponent: #3 Missouri


#7 CAL vs. #10 MARYLAND
Gary Williams and the Terrapins threw a wrench into the Bears' 3-pt machine rolling to an 84-70 victory over Cal in the first round on Thursday. Maryland didn't force a lot of turnovers, didn't block a bunch of shots, didn't even create a lot of mistakes. What the Terps did to California was more subtle and more effective: They disrupted the precision Bears' rhythm. It might not sound like much, but against a streak-shooting team like Cal it can and certainly did make all the difference. Grievis Vasquez provided the offense with 27 points and Maryland used its press to shut down the nation's best 3-point shooting team. (Fox Sports)
Second round opponent: #2 Memphis


# 8 BYU vs. #9 TEXAS A&M
In a rubber match from the 2007-2008 tournament the Texas A&M Aggies again had the Brigham Young (BYU) Cougars number in the first round. Junior forward Bryan Davis drove to the basket, drew a foul and tossed the ball up over his head with his back to the net. Like most of his higher-percentage shots, it went in. With Dallas native Davis leading the way, Texas A&M beat Brigham Young 79-66 on Thursday. Davis scored 21, Donald Sloan had 14 and the ninth-seeded Aggies handed the Cougars their seventh straight opening-round loss, both teams drew the same seeds last March when A&M won 67-62. (Fox Sports)
Second round opponent: # 1 UCONN

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MIDWEST -

#1 LOUISVILLE vs. #16 MOREHEAD ST
Louisville made tournament history Friday by pulling away from Morehead State in the second half en route to a 74-54 win. The Cardinals 20 point victory was the 100th consecutive victory by a #1 seed over a #16 seed. The NCAA tournament's top team pulled off a few dance moves at midcourt during warmups Friday, then stumbled through a few early missteps in the first half. Then after the break, with clock-like precision the Cardinals deployed the thing that makes them so dangerous, the full-court press. The stifling second half defensive effort helped the Cardinals get the easy win that completed 25 years of perfection by No. 1 seeds. (Fox Sports)
Second round opponent: #9 Siena

#2 MICHIGAN STATE vs. #15 ROBERT MORRIS
When Michigan State arrived in Minneapolis for the NCAA tournament, Raymar Morgan said he was ready to "show the world what they have been missing for a while." Those who watched the Spartans' dominating victory over Robert Morris in the first round on Friday night got a pretty good glimpse of what Morgan and the rest of the Spartans can do when they are healthy. Morgan scored 16 points and Goran Suton had 11 points and 17 rebounds as Michigan State bullied 15th-seeded Robert Morris in a 77-62 victory in the first round of the Midwest Regional on Friday night. (Fox Sports)
Second round opponent: #10 USC


#3 KANSAS vs. #14 NORTH DAKOTA STATE
Rock chalked!! Kansas avoids North Dakota State's upset bid with a 84-74 win in Minneapolis. Cole Aldrich's long arms emerged above the lane to snatch the rebound and slam it in, drawing a foul he turned into a three-point play and a nine-point Kansas lead with just less than 2 minutes left. North Dakota State's upset pursuit had the support of the crowd, but the lanky yet powerful Aldrich was too hard to guard in his return home. (Fox Sports)
Second round opponent: #11 Dayton


#4 WAKE FOREST vs. #13 CLEVELAND STATE
Cleveland rocks!! The Cleveland State Vikings remain unbeaten in first-round NCAA tournament games. They've played two of them, 23 years apart, and notched two upsets. The latest victim: one-time top-ranked Wake Forest. Cleveland State raced to an early 17-point lead and withstood a second-half rally by the Demon Deacons to win 84-69. It was reminiscent of the Vikings' only other tournament appearance in 1986, when they upset Indiana and Bob Knight in the opening round. (Fox Sports) Second round opponent: #12 Arizona


#5 UTAH vs. #12 ARIZONA
After the No. 12-seeded Wildcats knocked off No. 5 seed Utah, 84-71. Arizona's three stars may have been bruised - but not beaten. Nic Wise held an ice pack to his lip. Chase Budinger had one on his left shin. Jordan Hill's was strapped atop his left ankle. And so much for that notion the Wildcats didn't belong in the NCAA tournament. Wise scored 21 of his 29 points in the second half, Budinger added 20 and the 12th-seeded Wildcats - one of the last teams into the field of 65 - knocked off fifth-seeded Utah 84-71 Friday night in the first round of the Midwest Regional. (Fox Sports) Second round opponent:#13 Cleveland State


#6 WEST VIRGINIA vs. #11 DAYTON
Dayton is haunted by Bob Huggins no longer. Chris Wright scored a career-high 27 points and had 10 rebounds to lead the 11th-seeded Flyers to a 68-60 win over sixth-seeded West Virginia on Friday in the Midwest Regional, their first victory in the NCAA tournament in 19 years. Charles Little added 18 points for once-mighty Flyers (27-7), which had been 1-13 against Huggins' teams dating to his days storming up and down the Cincinnati sideline. (Fox Sports) Second round opponent: #3 Kansas


#7 BOSTON COLLEGE vs. #10 USC
In Southern California, good looks mean a lot. Well, Taj Gibson was a perfect 10 for the Trojans, and way out of Boston College's league. Gibson had 24 points on 10-for-10 shooting from the field, sending the 10th-seeded Trojans to a 72-55 victory over Boston College in the first round of the NCAA tournament Friday night. Adding six rebounds, five assists and three blocks, Gibson epitomized USC's fast-breaking, take-it-to-the-hoop, athletic style. (Fox Sports)
Second round opponent: #2 Michigan State

**LOCKDAWG's "GAME OF THE TOURNEY PICK**#8 OHIO STATE vs. #9 SIENA

OMG!! Just when you thought Cinderella had decided to skip the dance, enter the "Saints" from Siena. The total effort from both teams was magical and provided tourney fans with the best game thus far. It seemed that no matter what Ohio State tried it was not enough to stop the diminutive Ronald Moore. He hit a 3-pointer with 3.9 seconds left in the second overtime - from the identical spot he made one at the end of the first OT - as the Saints beat eighth-seeded Ohio State 74-72 on Friday night in the first round of the NCAA tournament. Moore's two clutch jumpers advanced ninth-seeded Siena (27-7) into Sunday's second round. All night they kept the faith against a gritty Buckeyes team and for their miraclous efforts they will meet Louisville, the tournament's top team. (Fox Sports) Second round opponent: #1 Louisville

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EAST -
#1 PITTSBURGH vs. #16 EAST TENN STATE

Pittsburgh intends make history in this year's NCAA tournament. The Panthers almost did in their first game. Pitt prevailed in the end by 10 points over ETSU in the first round but it wasn't easy. Playing as a No. 1 seed for the first time but hardly looking the part, Pitt overcame a sloppy performance and a frightful 40 minutes from No. 16 seed East Tennessee State to advance with a 72-62 win on Friday in the East Regional.(Fox Sports)
Second round opponent: #8 Oklahoma State


#2 DUKE vs. #15 BINGHAMTON
Duke completely dominates Binghamton in the first round. Jon Scheyer and Duke weren't about to let another one of college basketball's little guys scare them again. Scheyer scored 15 points to lead six players in double figures, and the Blue Devils made Binghamton's first appearance in the NCAA tournament a quick one by routing the Bearcats 86-62 Thursday night in the first round of the East Regional.(Fox Sports)
Second round opponent: #7 Texas

#3 VILLANOVA vs. #14 AMERICAN
'Nova escapes against American in Philly for an 80-67 win. The winngest senior class in Villanova history was about 10 minutes away from an early exit. Then they started to play Villanova basketball. It's basic definition, attack the boards, drive to the basket, get to the foul line. With Dwayne Anderson and Dante Cunningham perfecting that strategy, American's upset threat was thwarted.(Fox Sports) Second round opponent: #6 UCLA


#4 XAVIER vs. #13 PORTLAND STATE
Xavier countered Portland State's usual barrage of 3-pointers with a much more efficient attack. The Musketeers shot 54 percent from the field and were 8-for-19 from 3-point range while rolling past Portland State 77-59 Friday in the opening round of the East Regional. C.J. Anderson led the Musketeers' well-balanced scoring with 14 points, followed by 13 apiece by Derrick Brown, B.J. Raymond and Dante Jackson. Xavier also had just seven turnovers and flustered the Big Sky Conference champion Vikings into a cold stretch in the second half that turned the game into a rout. (Fox Sports) Second round opponent: #12 Wisconsin


#5 FLORIDA STATE vs. #12 WISCONSIN
Trevon Hughes had no problem getting his nose dirty, especially with a payoff like this. After spending all night doing the grunt work on defense, the Wisconsin guard got to play a more glamorous role at the end. He got to take the crazy, spinning, highlight-reel bank shot with 2 seconds left in overtime and the season on the line. The shot went in over a bunch of Florida State's outstretched arms and the Badgers won, 61-59 in the first round of the NCAA tournament. (Fox Sports) Second round opponent: #4 Xavier


#6 UCLA vs. #11 VCU
UCLA survives avoiding VCU's upset bid and pulling off a 65-64 win in Philly. Darren Collison had no doubt Eric Maynor would take the last shot. All he had to do was make sure it didn't go in. Collison refused to yield in the final seconds, pressuring Maynor into missing a 17-footer at the buzzer to give UCLA a 65-64 victory over VCU on Thursday night in the opening round of the East Regional. (Fox Sports) Second round opponent: #3 Villanova


#7 TEXAS vs. #10 MINN
Texas cruises advancing to the second round with a win over Minnesota. A.J. Abrams' 3-point shooting was a key reason Texas got within a game of the Final Four last season. Now the Longhorns are moving on again thanks to the senior's latest long-range shooting flurry in the NCAA tournament. Abrams hit eight 3-pointers and scored 26 points to help Texas beat Minnesota 76-62 in the first round of the East Regional on Thursday, helping the Longhorns win their NCAA opener for the fourth straight season. (Fox Sports) Second round opponent: #2 Duke

#8 TENN vs. #9 OKLA STATE
Cowboys escape knocking out Tennessee in the first round of the East Regional. Looking at the thicket of bodies clogging the middle of the floor, Oklahoma State's Byron Eaton wasn't sure how he'd create his final shot. So, he kept dribbling. Stunningly, after 40 minutes of give-no-ground basketball, everything opened up right in front of him. The Cowboys' barrel-chested point guard found a clear path to the basket for a three-point play with 7.2 seconds left on the clock and the win. (Fox Sports) Second round opponent: #1 Pittsburgh

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SOUTH -
#1 UNC vs. #16 RADFORD
UNC rolls routing Radford and improving to 26-1 all-time in NCAA games played in its home state. Tyler Hansbrough heard the roar of the crowd and knew he had just become the leading scorer in Atlantic Coast Conference history. His response? Just run down court and get back on defense. "I thought about waving," he said, "but I just wanted to stay focused on the game." Whether he liked it or not, Hansbrough's latest record overshadowed North Carolina's 101-58 win over Radford to open the NCAA tournament on Thursday. Second round opponent: LSU


#2 OKLAHOMA vs. #15 MORGAN STATE
An inadvertent blow to the jaw last month left Blake Griffin with a concussion and sent Oklahoma stumbling into the NCAA tournament. In the first round of the South Regional, Griffin got flipped over the back of a Morgan State player and landed hard on the court in an ugly incident that earned the other guy an ejection. But Griffin bounced right back, finished off 28-point, 13-rebound performance, then assured everyone he was fine after the Sooners' 82-54 victory Thursday night. (Fox Sports) Second round opponent: #10 Michigan


#3 SYRACUSE vs. #14 SFA
The Orange crush the Lumberjacks recording an easy 59-44 victory. Jonny Flynn and Paul Harris stood in the Syracuse locker room before tip-off, imploring teammates to dash Stephen F. Austin's upset hopes before they could even begin. As usual, the Orange listened to their leaders - then went out and won their first NCAA tournament game in exactly five years. Flynn scored 16 points, Rick Jackson and Arinze Onuaku each added 12 and third-seeded Syracuse cruised past NCAA first-timer Stephen F.(Fox Sports) Second round opponent: #6 Arizona State


#4 GONZAGA vs. #13 AKRON
The Bulldogs, loaded with what they feel is their most talented team in years, seemed set up for a third-straight first-round flop. But Josh Heytvelt and Gonzaga already knew they could win artistically. Now the Zags know they can win an alley fight, too. Rugged Akron was shoving its way to a huge upset over stylish Gonzaga, up by six in the second half before the 'Zags found a way to rally back 77-64 to win over Akron in the South Regional. (Fox Sports) Second round opponent: #12 Western Kentucky


#5 ILLINOS vs. #12 WEST KENTUCKY
Whether they were relieved, tired or expecting it all along, the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers didn't wildly celebrate their latest NCAA tournament upset. A.J. Slaughter was the most demonstrative, pumping his fist a few times after 12th-seeded Western Kentucky held off a late charge to beat fifth-seeded Illinois 76-72 on Thursday night in the South Regional. "I just kind of had a sigh of relief when it ended, because we made it closer than it should have been," Slaughter said. (Fox Sports) Second round opponent: #4 Gonzaga


#6 ASU vs. #11 TEMPLE
ASU grounds Owls beating Temple, 66-57, and advancing to the second round. On the eve of Arizona State's first NCAA tournament game since 2003, James Harden had teammates laughing when he teased point guard Derek Glasser about being reluctant to shoot. So when Harden had trouble getting going Friday against Temple, guess who came to the rescue? Glasser scored a career-high 22 points, and the Sun Devils overcame a second consecutive subpar performance by Harden to win 66-57.(Fox Sports) Second round opponent: #3 Syracuse


#7 CLEMSON vs. #10 MICHIGAN
GO BIG BLUE!! Michigan survives knocking off Clemson in the first round of the NCAA tournament. Michigan was supposed to be the team with the jitters. The Wolverines hadn't been to the NCAA tournament in over a decade, had to sweat out Selection Sunday just to find out if they'd get in. Turns out they weren't so nervous after all. Michigan stymied Clemson with its zone defense and survived a late scare in its first NCAA tournament game in 11 years, beating the Tigers 62-59 in the first round of South Regional on Thursday night. (Fox Sports) Second round opponent: #2 Oklahoma


#8 LSU vs. #9 BUTLER
Marcus Thornton wasn't around for LSU's last NCAA tournament appearance, stuck instead at a junior college while those other homegrown Tigers reached the Final Four. He finally got his chance on the sport's grandest stage, and played like he plans on hanging around for a while - especially when upset-minded Butler threatened to end things. Thornton scored 30 points while coming through with one critical basket after another for hot-shooting LSU, which held off a late rally to beat the Bulldogs 75-71 on Thursday in the first round of the NCAA tournament. (Fox Sports) Second round opponent: #1 UNC

HAPPY NCAA TOURNEY EVE

Ahh yes, finally we have made it to the eve of March madness. The 64 teams have been locked into their positions after last night's play in game saw Morehead St. dispatch Alabama St. 58-43. At this moment, frenzied fans and every member of this year's tournament cast from the players and coaches to the equipment manager and concessionaires are all hoping for another grandiose rendition of the senseless folly that is the NCAA Division I national championship tournament.


By now die-hard fans across the country have begun to elucidate the bracket selections that will eventually predict this year's Goliath slaying Cinderallas' and the eventual champion that can as the young kids say ..."walk that walk" all the way to the 2009 NCAA title to cut down the nets in the Motor City, Detroit on April 6th. But let's not get too far ahead of ourselves yet. For today all 64 still have a chance to be champion!! Throw caution to the wind and let the enthusiasm begin!!

Get your interactive bracket here.

MLK DREAM: STILL A DREAM TODAY

Dreams are seldom realized in reality and for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. his dream of a place where his four little children could live and not be judged by the color of their skin but judged by the content of their character; unfortunately still exists only in his dreams in 2009. With the aid of historical stereotypes that have been passed on by generations of the white majority, many sit in judgment of members in the African American population for no other reason than the color of their skin.

The American society today has not changed much in the Negro eye since Dr. King’s untimely demise in 1968. The civil liberties of blacks have not been stripped as in the days of slavery or the segregated Jim Crow South of the 1960s however, the white lid is still firmly sealed a top the mason jar of America with only a few black holes punched in it, where a selected few have “escaped” to economic freedom and prosperity. Yet even in the age of Obama- the nations’ first African American president- blacks in this country still experience continued unequal treatment. From the racially biased laws of the American judicial system to the daily harassment by police departments of blacks to the recent activities that occurred in the town of Jena, La., one can clearly see sections of the heartland and the upscale social elite scene that have not changed. If Dr. King were alive today he would be outraged and saddened that the checks written by our fore-bears are still being tendered in-sufficient funds.

In his famous “I have a dream” speech, Dr. King courageously encouraged us all to, “not fulfill our thirsts for freedom by sipping from the cup of hatred”. Although, most of the hatred of blacks today has “changed clothes” and moved to the World Wide Web or the corporate board room. The discriminatory and second class disregard that many still hold and attach to their view of the black population is indicative of the basic fundamental failure of his dreams’ primary objective, that one day black people would be judged by the content of their character and not the color of their skin. The Bureau of Justice Statistics reported on their official website that blacks were three times more likely than Hispanics and five times more likely than whites to be in jail in the years 1990 -1996. This is an alarming awe-inspiring, statistic since African Americans make up just 12.8 percent of the United States population. There is something foul here and it reeks of Jim Crow and the racial segregation of the South in the 1960s.

The debate against Black History Month is another glaring sign of the racial divide that Americans must begin to do more to close if we are to ever begin to see a true realization of Dr. King’s emblazing dream. An article printed in the February/March edition of the “North Dallas Gazette” further illustrated the need for racial recognition in a country that is so diverse and which has been blind by fanatical hatred against minorities since it was founded. Carter G. Woodson, the founder of Negro History Week, once said, “What we need is not a history of selected races or nations, but the history of the world void of national bias, race, hate and religious prejudice” he was right. These celebrations serve a dual purpose: first to build self-esteem among historically oppressed people; and second to remind all Americans that in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds, our diversity is our greatest strength.

Of course, not all of the negative opinions that many have of blacks exist solely because of race. Many feel this way in part because a portion the African American populous has done little to change from their apathetic and stereotypical ways regarding education, reading, and an honest hard days’ work. In 2005, the African American drop out rate was 10.4 percent compared to that of whites which was 6 percent. Instead of taking advantage of the freedom to read and explore the new frontiers in America, far too many African Americans youths are spending countless days and nights on the street corners hustling, or selling drugs, or making babies. Even more disturbing is the fact that of the 89.6 percent of African American high school students that actually graduated, had significantly lower standardized tests scores and their entrance into institutions of higher learning after graduation has only grown slightly over the past decade.

If Dr. King were alive today he would surely want to go back to sleep and dream again. Had he known that we would have only progressed this far in the 30 years plus since his passing, he would want us to do more to hold those forces in government accountable. He would hold weekly podcasts encouraging real improvements in education, and reading. He would spearhead research developments into new ways to invest in technology while simultaneously creating hope for the future. He would advocate a new movement against the racial injustice that is being levied against African Americans today and his promise of a revolution would be in full throat against that mighty machine of racism to ensure our collective voices were heard.

Works Cited:
1. “I have a dream speech” Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., 1963
2. “Jail Statistics” Bureau of Justice Statistics http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/jails.htm
3. “USA Quick Facts” US Census Bureau http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/00000.html
4. “Black History Month – Needed now more than ever” North Dallas Gazette, Vol XVIII, Num VII
5. “Table 104. Percentage of high school dropouts (status dropouts) among persons 16 through 24 years old, by sex and race/ethnicity: Selected years, 1960 through 2005” http://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d06/tables/dt06_104.asp?referrer=report

T-DUCKS WIN 2009 NJCAA NATIONAL MEN'S BASKETBALL TITLE

DELHI, New York - The Richland College Thunderducks (T-Ducks) men's basketball team are on top of the world today after their stunning win over Minneapolis Community and Technical College, 58-57, in the 2009 National Junior Collegiate Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division III National Championship game last night. The win completes the T-Ducks magical 11-1 run through the Metro Athletic Conference regular season. They peaked at just the right time to go undefeated through the MAC and NJCAA tournaments straight to the 2d national title in school history! Congratulations Coach Felmet, staff and team!! You guys did it, One Family, One Goal!!!

March Mayhem in Manhattan, Syracuse outlasts UCONN 127-117 in 6OTs

MANHATTAN, New York- Basketball is a game that takes heart, stamina, courage and a never say die desire to win. The Syracuse Orangemen called upon every ounce of their heart, stamina and courage to win an epic six overtime Big East quarterfinal marathon game against the University of Connecticut (UCONN) Huskies 127-117 on the floor where basketball legends are made Madison Square Garden. This game was seriously one for the ages. From the brilliant last second shot Syracuse's Eric Devendorf to win that was overturned after further review at the end of regulation to the heroic come from behind efforts over and over in the overtime sessions by the Orangemen to stay in contention and extend the contest without ever leading in the first five overtimes.

"I have never been prouder of a team than I am tonight," Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim said. "They just kept fighting, ... hanging in there and toughing it out and fighting." (AP)

Tonight's contest was longest game in Big East history and the second longest in NCAA history. Only the 1981 seven overtime clash of Bradley and Cincinnati was longer but those teams were only able to muster a 75-73 finish. The game started at 9:36pm ET and didn't end until 1:22 am ET lasting a whopping 70 minutes and at times appeared it would be never ending.

As the teams racked up the extra sessions the head coaches saw both of their benches empty as the starters were eliminated because of fouls. One player who exemplified the heart of a champion was Syracuse sophomore guard Jonny Flynn. Flynn played 67 minutes, scored 34 points and served up 10 assists. More importantly, when his team needed him most in the final seconds of the sixth overtime he was on the floor and made clutch free throws to secure the win. The ever confident Flynn said he kept telling his teammates, "This is destined for us. I told them, `We played this long, all we can do is win this game.'" (AP) Remarkably they were able to triumph but, at what cost?

After a contest like this it is hard to say that there is a real winner or loser both teams played like it was their last. Syracuse will continue to play in the Big East tournament but what will they really have left. Thankfully they play another 9pm ET start later tonight but they face a well rested and hungry West Virgina squad that upset #2 Pittsburgh 74-60 earlier Thursday night.

The Huskies' though losers of the historic game, will get a chance to fully recharge before the NCAA tournament begins but they have some serious questions to be answered.

T-Ducks sweep MAC Tournament headed for NY - Sports

T-Ducks sweep MAC Tournament headed for NY - Sports

D. WADE IS THE TRUTH...HEAT EDGE BULLS IN 2OT, 130-127

MIAMI - The Miami Heat needed every second to defeat a valiant Chicago Bulls team tonight but when you have a guy like Dwyane Wade AKA Flash time is not a factor. With crucial playoff positions hanging on every game D. Wade would not let his team fall behind in the standings. He seemingly willed himself and his teams at every key moment of the game that played better than any playoff from last season.

Somebody once said, "Superstars aren't made they are born." Dwyane Wade reaffirmed his birthright tonight. He thrilled and awed the capacity home crowd with 48 points, 12 assists and electrifying play after to play to keep his team alive with fantastic shots from beyond the arc before finally winning the contest emphatically. He made a 3-pointer at the end of the first half, then again at the end of regulation to send the game to overtime. But it was his steal with the seconds winding down in the second overtime that was the stuff of legends. Surely, his "Airness" Michael Jordan would have leaped out of his seat as I did watching #3 own the Bulls on the final play to win the game.

With only 11.2 seconds remaining the Bulls lined up on the floor under their basket. John Salmons took the inbound pass and dribbled in place aimlessly searching for a passing lane when Wade pounced leaving Salmons looking like someone had stolen his wallet. Flash attacked him from the behind on the left then manhandled the ball away with only four seconds remaining. Without hesitating Wade confidently dribbled the ball up and effortlessly heaved a soaring 3-pointer that splashed home as the buzzer sounded.

The referees selfishly watched the replay for over two minutes holding the building in suspense after the remarkable play. The capacity American Airlines Arena crowd knew that Wade had clearly shot the ball well before the buzzer and made the 3-point shot to win the game but no one moved and the stadium stood still many in shock at the events that had just transpired. After the call from the officials certified the shot and the Heat win, Wade triumphantly leaped atop the scorers table and proclaimed to the screaming rabid Heat fans, "THIS IS MY HOUSE!! THIS IS MY HOUSE!!"

Heat forward Jamario Moon told the NBA Live team after the game, "Coach, said we have to play every game like it's our last." Look out Eastern Conference if the Heat continue to play with the kind of emotional toughness that they played with tonight they will not only go far in the playoffs but look to seriously compete for the Larry O'Brien Trophy with the heart of a champion. With their leader Dwyane Wade back and at full health coming off a horrible shoulder injury that pre-maturely ended his season last year, the Heat appear and D. Wade are ready to show the rest of the league that the Heat is back in Miami and they are back among the elite of the NBA.

Check out the highlights from Dwyane Wade's awesome night!!

Say it aint so...no mo T.O. in Big D

DALLAS - The news just broke on ESPN Sportscenter. The Dallas Cowboys have officially parted ways with the incendiary but aging wide receiver Terrell Owens (35). The Dallas Cowboys hope by ridding themselves of their biggest media draw that they will be able to create a more harmonious locker room and return to playoff prominence.

Let's look at this objectively. Sure the guy is sometimes a cantankerous prima donna and a huge distraction to teammates, coaches and ownership. But when he says that if he is involved in the offense the team wins, he isn't just tooting his own horn. The Cowboys, 49ers and Eagles all had winning records when he was a member of their teams and without him let's just say that his first two former teams have won a lot less since his departure. Look at the 49ers and Eagles. Since T.O. departed only Philly has made it to the playoffs and I won't speak on how putrid the 49ers have been in their post-T. O. era. Finally, the Niners appear to be on the road to recovery under new head coach Mike Singletary.

So, what makes the Dallas Cowboys think that Roy Williams, Isiah Stanback, Miles Austin and Patrick Crayton are a better fit and will be able to produce on the level that Terrell has? Your guess is as good as mine.

Well, if nothing else now that the powers that be have influenced Jerry Jones to get rid of Mr. "Get ya popcorn Ready" Owens the Dallas Cowboys can look ahead to the 2009-2010 season without their locker room scapegoat. Hopefully, for Cowboys fans they will be able to fair better than the 49ers and Eagles have so far sans T. O.