Play-IN???

Hawks are playing-in the Tournament

So Monmouth, my proud alma mater, is playing Hampton in the play-in game on Tuesday night. They say that Monmouth is in the NCAA Tournament, but then why is this a play-IN game? That would suggest that you need to win to get IN the tournament. Good to see progress has brought us back where we were in the late 80s, when the NEC champion played the Patriot League champion for a berth in the NCAA Tournament.

On the other hand, the annual NEC/Patriot League battle was never televised on national television. Maybe being on ESPN will give Monmouth a recruiting boost. If they win, that is.


Penn State selected to NIT, will host opener

You might think it's hard to get excited about the NIT when I have a team in the Big Dance, but this is Penn State's first postseason appearance since a Sweet 16 run in 2000. Penn State was pretty tough in the NIT years ago. Probably not this year (although a Penn State-Maryland matchup would be fun), but it shows progression in the program.

America bombs Japan!

Good to see a Yankee come through clutch, especially A-Rod. Japan is pissed about the umpiring on a tag-up call at home, but it was the home plate guy's call (spoken like a true umpire!). I wonder what went down in the umpire conference, though. The response should not have been "It was my call to make, not his." It should have been "This was the right call." Although I'm happy about the USA win (and contrary to most opinions, I like the WBC), I hope the umps didn't screw up a game because of seniority.