Christi's Corner

Accessory Geeks could have potential

Fri, 18 Sep, 2009 10:20:01 GMT

Looking for gift ideas and I came across the site accessorygeeks.com. If you have a sports person in your life you might want to check it out. They have some great NFL licensed Ipod cases and cell phone cases. Check it out if you're in the market.

Obama Going With Tar Heels To Win It All

Wed, 18 Mar, 2009 10:30:32 GMT

From the Los Angeles Times...

Obama going with Tar Heels to win it all

The president makes his NCAA tournament picks.

From the Associated Press

12:36 PM PDT, March 18, 2009

BRISTOL, Conn. -- Barack Obama picked North Carolina to defeat Louisville for the NCAA championship, a relatively safe selection for a trailblazing president.

Obama spent part of Tuesday making his tournament picks for ESPN, which posted his completed bracket online Wednesday and showed the First Fan filling it out with Andy Katz on the noon edition of "Sportscenter."

The president had top-seeded Pittsburgh join the No. 1-seeded Tar Heels and Cardinals in the Final Four, but chose second-seeded Memphis to beat Connecticut in the West Regional.

"I think Memphis has got a very athletic team," Obama told Katz, an ESPN college basketball analyst. "I think they've got a good shot."

Perhaps showing some indecision, Obama initially had the Panthers playing Louisville for the national title in the file posted online. Pitt was scratched out of the title game in favor of North Carolina, which in turn replaced Louisville in the "champion" box.

"Here's what I like about Carolina: experience and balance," Obama said.

Familiarity, too. Obama played a pickup game with Tyler Hansbrough and the Tar Heels while campaigning in North Carolina last April.

"Now, for all the Tar Heels who are watching, I picked you last year -- you let me down," Obama said. "This year, don't embarrass me in front of the nation, all right? I'm counting on you. I still got those sneakers you guys gave me."

Katz interviewed Obama last October for a story about the president's brother-in-law, Oregon State basketball coach Craig Robinson. After the interview, Obama invited Katz to play in a pickup basketball game on Election Day in Chicago, and he did.

Katz extracted a promise from Obama that if elected, the new president would reveal his NCAA picks to ESPN when the pairings were announced in March.

"They stayed true to their word and didn't hesitate to get it done," Katz said.

Obama was brutally honest in assessing many of the teams, including Blake Griffin and second-seeded Oklahoma, which he has losing to Syracuse for a spot in the final eight.

"The problem with Oklahoma, they have the player of the year, but they play like, seven guys," Obama said. "I think you start getting worn down."

Among the other notable selections, Obama picked 10th-seeded Maryland to beat No. 7 seed California in the West Regional, fifth-seeded Florida State to make the round of 16, and No. 11 seed Virginia Commonwealth to beat UCLA.

Any chance the president slips away for a few minutes to see how his picks are doing when the tournament begins in earnest Thursday?

"I think the chances are pretty high," he said.

A Breakdown of the 2009 NCAA Bracket...

Tue, 17 Mar, 2009 06:41:41 GMT

MIDWEST

Louisville (28-5)
Coach Pitino would be a great movie gangster.

Michigan State (26-6)
They won the regular-season Big Ten title. That was so last week.

Kansas (25-7)
Last year’s title winner lands in what some argue is the toughest bracket. Just desserts, Jayhawks.

Wake Forest (24-6)
The last time they were in the tournament, Bush was president. Oh wait, that applies to everyone.

Utah (24-9)
They get the dreaded No. 5 seed, a.k.a The Upset Seed.

West Virginia (23-11)
A lot of people are picking the Mountaineers to make a long tournament run.

Boston College (22-11)
The Eagles enter the tournament 5-5 in their last 10 games. BC-ya.

Ohio State (22-10)
The Buckeyes made a run to the Big Ten tournament title game. This is their reward.

Siena (26-7)
After they lose to Ohio State, they will be known as burnt Siena.

USC (21-12)
Former Bulls coach Tim Floyd leads the Trojans. Is that a good thing?

Dayton (26-7)
The Flyers face a mountain of a task in the first-round against West Virginia.

Arizona (19-13)
How did they get in at 19-13? Better yet, how did they get in last year at 19-14?

Cleveland State (25-10)
They are a real dark horse. They beat Butler in Indy to claim the Horizon League tourney title.

North Dakota State (26-6)
This is the first time in the tournament for the Bison.

Robert Morris (24-10)
Let’s hope Robert brought along some help or it’s going to be a short tournament for him.

Alabama State (21-11) vs. Morehead State (19-15)
These two play for the honor to be beaten by Louisville.

WEST

Connecticut (27-4)
A juggernaut in the regular season, they’re 4-3 since losing Jerome Dyson to injury.

Memphis (31-3)
Last season’s runner-up gets a chance to redeem itself.

Missouri (28-6)
The Big 12 champion is in the Big Dance for the first time since 2003.

Washington (25-8)
The Huskies are led by Isaiah Thomas. Not the Isiah Thomas.

Purdue (25-9)
The Boilermakers won the Big Ten tournament in Indy. Like that’s hard to do.

Marquette (24-9)
Dwyane Wade is long gone, but the Golden Eagles are still flying high.

California (22-10)
NBA star Jason Kidd played at Cal. That was a long time ago though.

Brigham Young (25-7)
BYU has lost in the first round the last six times in the tournament.

Texas A&M (23-9)
The Aggies have to go all the way to Philly for the first round. Road Warriors.

Maryland (20-13)
Maryland is 5-5 in the last ten games. To be clear, that’s not a hot streak.

Utah State (30-4)
Thirty wins. That is impressive no matter what league the Aggies are in.

Northern Iowa (23-10)
This is the team that ended Illinois State’s dream to make the tournament. Love it.

Mississippi State (23-12)
They won the SEC tournament to likely knock a bubble team out of contention.

Cornell (21-9)
The Big Red has never won an NCAA tournament game. They won’t win this year either.

Cal State Northridge (17-13)
You have to love a team called the Matadors.

Chattanooga (18-16)
What is a Moc? The first-round victim of the UConn Huskies, that’s what.

EAST

Pittsburgh (28-4)
Everyone apparently loves these guys.

Duke (28-6)
Kyle Singler leads the Blue Devils with 16.7 ppg. But he’s not a singular talent. Good luck rival.

Villanova (26-7)
They are one of the last big underdogs to win an NCAA title. They did in 1985.

Xavier (25-7)
The Musketeers make a better candy bar than they do a tournament team.

Florida State (25-9)
After beating UNC, FSU looks like a contender. For a weekend, at least.

UCLA (25-8)
The Bruins are looking to make it four-straight Final Four appearances.

Texas (22-11)
The Longhorns are a long shot. What? Too easy?

Oklahoma State (22-11)
Why weren’t the Cowboys sent out West? That’s where they belong.

Tennessee (21-12)
The Volunteers are volunteering to be a first-round knockout. Thanks guys.

Minnesota (22-10)
The Golden Gophers have only won four of their last ten games.

VCU (24-9)
Eric “The Mayor” Maynor is leading the Rams with 22.4 points a game.

Wisconsin (19-12)
The Badgers are going to be badgered about how they got in with twelve losses.

Portland State (23-9)
Portland State is based in Portland, Oregon. How weird is that?

American (24-7)
Everyone can cheer for American.

Binghamton (23-8)
Coach Kevin Broadus is no relation to Calvin “Snoop Dogg” Broadus, as far as we know.

East Tennessee State (23-10)
ETSU. That sounds like the college Jack Bauer should have attended.

SOUTH

North Carolina (28-4)
Tyler Hansbrough will make lots of people angry. This is my pick for the 2009 NCAA Champion. No team is better right now. I am forgetting about San Antonio, and so is Tyler.

Oklahoma (27-5)
Big man Blake Griffin is going to be a big problem for Morgan State.

Syracuse (26-9)
The Orangemen are in the tournament tagain after two straight trips to the NIT.

Gonzaga (26-5)
One of the most overrated teams gets a No. 4 seed. They’ll be gone by the Sweet 16.

Illinois (24-9)
Mike Davis and company are picked to be one of the teams to fall to the 12-over-5 curse.

Arizona State (24-9)
The Sun Devils play in Wells Fargo Arena. That’s rich.

Clemson (23-8)
The Tigers stumbled at the end of the year but still climbed their way to a No. 7 seed.

LSU (26-7)
LSU sure could use Shaq this year.

Butler (26-5)
If they win it all, we can say “The Butler did it.”

Michigan (20-13)
The Wolverines are big fans of Hugh Jackman.

Temple (22-11)
The Owls’ leading scorer is Dionte Christmas. He has a gift for finding the basket.

Western Kentucky (24-8)
When A.J. Slaughter is your top gun, you’re in good hands.

Akron (23-12)
They’ve already won one title. Coolest nickname. The Zips.

Stephen F. Austin (24-7)
It’s the first tournament for the Lumberjacks. Since when is a profession a nickname too?

Morgan State (23-11)
Coach Todd Bozeman also took Cal to the tournament three times in the ‘90s.

Radford (21-11)
The Highlanders won the Big South on the shoulders of big man Artsiom Parakhouski.

Tiger Woods not Ranked Number 1?

Thu, 12 Mar, 2009 10:26:20 GMT

Sergio Garcia could knock the King of golf off the number one ranking this week.

For the first time in his career, Sergio Garcia has the chance to be Number 1 in the world. Garcia trails Woods by less than two points. To become No. 1, Garcia would have to win this week’s CA Championship, which starts Thursday, and have Woods finish 27^th or worse. Can he do it? Let’s check out the pros and cons…

Pro for Garcia:

Woods hasn’t played in a stroke-play tournament since June.

Woods hasn’t really been tested since eliminated in the second round of the Accenture Match Play in his first tournament back from surgery.

Woods hasn’t yet golfed four rounds on his reconstructed knee.

Woods will have to compete this week against the top 50 in the world rankings.

Con for Garcia:

Woods has won three times at the Blue Monster in Doral, Florida.

Even if Tiger falters, this week’s CA Championship features no cutting.

At the Accenture, Woods played long enough to know how he feels: "From a physical standpoint, it was better than I thought it would be.

Garcia will have to compete this week against the top 50 in the world rankings.

Well, from the pros and cons list above, it doesn’t look good for Garcia. Tiger has never been out of the Top 10 in Doral. Good luck Sergio.

Arizona's Big Dance Streak Ending?

Thu, 12 Mar, 2009 10:18:09 GMT

Lute Olson came to Tucson in 1983 as the head coach of a dreadful basketball program. He had just taken Iowa to the Sweet 16 and was brought to the U of Arizona to turn the Wildcats around. His first season was a rebuilding year. They only won 11 games, missed the NCAA tournament and finished eighth in the Pac-10.

Since that season, Arizona hasn't missed the NCAA tournament, making it 24 straight times.

Now the streak is in jeopardy.

If Arizona can't beat rival Arizona State at the Staples Center today in the first round of the Pac-10 tournament, what would be a third loss to the Sun Devils this season, it could mean no Big Dance for them.

Arizona's tournament streak is the longest active in the nation, but it has been a struggle in recent years to extend it. Last year, name alone probably got the Wildcats into the tournament, where they lost in the first round to West Virginia. Finishing just 19-15, with an 8-10 record in conference, Arizona was lucky to get in. With a weaker bubble this year, and a 19-12 (9-9) record, a win against a ranked Sun Devil squad might just do it, but a loss brings a more certain (and unpleasant) fate.

There is such a clutter of five or six picks that a first-round loss in the Pac-10 tournament means the losers should be headed to the NIT. Therefore Arizona has to beat ASU, and either way, there are many including myself that believe the streak’s end is inevitable.

Big Ten Madness

Wed, 11 Mar, 2009 01:44:44 GMT

For those of you Midwesterners or fans of the Big Ten, here is the lowdown on the teams hoping to make the NCAA tournament and their chances. Let the postseason scramble begin.

Regular season champ Michigan State, along with Illinois and Purdue, will move onto the Big Dance no matter what happens in the conference tournament this week in Indianapolis.

Five other Big Ten teams have arguments for getting an invite into the NCAAs, and a sixth, Northwestern, could have a shot if they can pull off a few upsets. Here is a breakdown of the Big Ten teams’ chances…

Indiana (1-17), Iowa (5-13) These two bottom teams need to win the Big Ten tournament to get into the Big Dance.

Michigan (9-9), Minnesota (9-9) Both finished behind Penn State, but since the selection committee looks at a team’s entire season, the Gophers (41 RPI) and Wolverines (42) can make strong cases for at-large bids. Michigan’s road win at Minnesota on Saturday could prove huge.

Ohio St. (10-8), Wisconsin (10-8) Both are in good shape, but they play each other Friday in the quarterfinals. The loser might miss the Big Dance.

Penn St. (10-8) A step behind Ohio St. or Wisconsin, but the Nittany Lions have a winning league record and wins at Michigan State and Illinois. Another win strengthens their claim.

Northwestern (8-10) The Wildcats lost their finale at Ohio State on Sunday which would have improved their chances of getting into the NCAA tournament for the first time in school history. An RPI of 71 and a losing conference usually means no at-large bid, so the Wildcats need to make a run.

It has to be said but sorry Northwestern, Illinois is likely the only state team from Obama-land going to the NCAA tournament. Good luck all the same anyway.

UNC 79 Duke 71

Mon, 9 Mar, 2009 10:12:51 GMT

Tyler Hansbrough walked off the court after his final home game at Chapel Hill celebrating another ACC championship and another win against the Tar Heels' fiercest rival. Once again, Ty Lawson had a lot to do with that.

Hansbrough scored 17 points and Lawson nearly had with a triple-double to help the No. 2 Tar Heels beat No. 7 Duke 79-71 Sunday, winning the league's regular-season title for the 2nd straight season and earning the top seed in next week's ACC tournament.

When the brackets come out next weekend, Duke could be a #2 seed and UNC will be a #1. This game was about what you would expect between a #1 and #2 seed in a regional final. This gives me confidence that UNC can handle such situations in the NCAA Tournament. The Heels stepped up and played the game they needed to play. It was not perfect, but in the end the Heels made it work. Danny Green hit a three. On missed shots, the Heels got the rebound. It came down to Ty Lawson, splitting the defense, taking Jon Scheyer to the basket and getting the “and 1? to make it a seven point lead in the final minute.

This was a balanced game for the Heels offensively. Five players scored in double figures for UNC and each player picked a different moment in the game to score a key basket or two. Deon Thompson and Wayne Ellington were consistent. I am sure Ellington enjoyed outplaying his former high school teammate Gerald Henderson. Frasor also stepped in and took a charge on Kyle Singler earlier in the game. Singler had to leave the game with his fourth foul late in the game taking a threat off the floor. Frasor will never make a huge impact on the game in terms of points or made shots but he is capable of making the smart plays and the opportunistic plays that turn the tide. It was good to see Frasor go out like that.

Once it was over, Hansbrough got emotional as he addressed the crowd during the Senior Day postgame festivities and thanked his teammates for "the best four years of my life." It was the send-off he had hoped for when he put off the NBA to come back to school for one more run at a national championship.

"It's a hard game to play," Hansbrough said. "You're thinking about everything. You're thinking about your after-game speech. You're thinking, 'Oh man, this is my last game in the Dean Dome,' and you start to think your college career is coming to an end. Then you're still trying to focus on the game and get the win."

The game also had its share of Tar Heel celebrities among the rowdy capacity crowd. Michael Jordan - the managing partner of the NBA's Charlotte Bobcats - arrived with head coach Larry Brown and current players Raymond Felton and Sean May.

In the end this was a balanced offensive attack and the Heels’ defense was good enough. I think it sets the right tone heading into the postseason and hopefully the first step towards a 2009 National NCAA Title.

Great Dane! Youngest Winner of World Series of Poker

Sat, 31 Jan, 2009 07:08:38 GMT

A 22-year-old college dropout from Denmark won the World Series of Poker and its $9.15 million prize, then spent the night partying with friends at a suite reserved for Las Vegas' biggest gamblers.

Peter Eastgate became the tournament's youngest champ early Tuesday, making a wheel straight and eliminating his final opponent, 27-year-old semiprofessional card player Ivan Demidov. Demidov held two pair, twos and fours, when Eastgate called his all-in bet.

Eastgate erased the youngest-winner record set by Phil Hellmuth at 24 in 1989. Eastgate started playing no-limit Texas Hold'em with high school friends in Denmark, and after trying college for a week, he dropped out upon realizing he was good enough to make a living as a pro. He started at the lowest stakes and worked up to build a sizable bankroll.

Eastgate said he would have been happy with a top-five finish, but he thought he had a chance to win it all after eliminating a few players from the final table. "My motivation was $9 million and a bracelet," Eastgate said. Demidov did not exactly leave a pauper. He took home more than $5.8 million for second place.

March to Madness, Top Five Teams, Top Five Players and a New Line

Sat, 31 Jan, 2009 10:09:54 GMT

So, another college basketball season has arrived, and once again, die-hard fans should have plenty to follow. Big-time expectations are awaiting the game's traditional powers. And talented players such as Tyler Hansbrough and Blake Griffin are again expected to deliver on the biggest stages. Last season ended in dramatic fashion as Kansas beat Memphis 75-68 in overtime for the national championship, and it should have been North Carolina instead. Here are some thoughts on the 2008-2009 season (with help on the stats from LA and Chicago Sun Times), which began Monday, and I don't have to tell you who I think will be the next national champion...seriously this time Tyler.

The Team To Beat:

North Carolina-The Tar Heels are coming off a Final Four Appearance and school-record 36-win season. The Heels are returning their top six scorers, including national player of the year Tyler Hansbrough.

The Challengers:

Connecticut-The Big East preseason favorite is led by senior guard A.J. Price (14.5 points per game, 5.8 assists per game) and center Hasheem Thabeet (10.5 ppg, 7.9 rebounds per game, 4.5 blocks per game).

Louisville-Junior guard Edgar Sosa (7.6 ppg, 1.6 rpg) is expected to lead the Cardinals to a deep tournament run.

UCLA-Even with the loss of Kevin Love and Russell Westbrook to the NBA, the Bruins are poised for a fourth straight Final Four.

Pittsburgh-Forward Sam Young (18.1 ppg, 6.3 rpg) is one of three players returning who scored in double digits last season.

The Top Five Players:

1. Tyler Hansbrough (senior, North Carolina)
Hansbrough, out two weeks with a stress reaction in his right shin, averaged 22.6 ppg and 10.6 rpg last season.

2. Stephen Curry (junior, Davidson)
The 6ft-2 Curry became a star in the NCAA tourney, averaging 25.9 ppg and leading his team to the regional finals.

3. Darren Collison (senior, UCLA)
Collison averaged 14.5 points, 3.8 assists per season and is part of a talented backcourt with Josh Shipp.

4. Tyler Smith (junior, Tennessee)
The preseason SEC Player of the Year led the Volunteers in assists (3.4), rebounds (6.7) and field-goal percentage (.536) and was third in scoring (13.6ppg) last season.

5. Blake Griffin (sophomore, Oklahoma)
Griffin made more major news when he spurned the NBA to return to Norman, where he averaged 14.7 points and 9.1 rebounds per game.

Five and Counting:
It has been five seasons since Duke reached the Final Four, but the Blue Devils could snap that string. Coming off a 28-6 season, Duke is 8th in the AP poll, and returns four starters, including senior guard Greg Paulus (11.4 ppg, 2.1 rpg) and forward Kyle Singler (13.3 ppg, 5.8 rpg).

Thanks for Stopping...Bye:
Last year saw a mass exodus of one-and-done players: Kevin Love, Russell Westbrook, Michael Beasley, O.J. Mayo and Derrick Rose. Here are the freshman you may want to catch before they take their games to a higher tax bracket: Samardo Samuels (center, Louisville), Jrue Holiday (guard, UCLA), B.J. Mullens (center, Ohio State), DeMar DeRozan (forward, USC).

Harder, Better, Easier, Longer?
There is a new red 3-point-line on the floor, one that arcs in a half-circle, 20 feet 9 inches from the basket-a foot farther than in the past. On the floor, the difference does not seem like much-less than the length of a typical basketball shoe. But such a subtle shift is enough to alter offensive and defensive strategies, even recruiting. Practically speaking, the new line could create confusion because the old line at 19-9 remains in place for women. The two lines must be different colors, but there is no standard from court to court. Moving the line back could stretch defenses, which is what the NCAA hoped when it changed the distance. Or it could congest the middle, as defenses sag and dare marginal 3-point shooters. It could reduce the number of 3-pointers attempted. Last season, teams shot an average of 19.1 3-pointers a game, the highest rate ever. Or it could increase the number of attempts, if shooters find themselves less guarded by defenders. The extra distance could lower the success rate, which reached 35.23 percent last year, highest since 1993. Or it could increase it, as borderline shooters from 19-9 shoot less from 20-9. The line change may affect the way teams play defense more than offense. I think you'll see more zone defenses early. However, I think the good shooters will still shoot, and the mediocre ones won't. Let's see who can make it.

Well, that is it for me and the start of the season of the best sport on the planet in my humble opinion. It is no secret that I am a Tar Heel fan, who was in San Antonio last April to see the fall of my team and their expected glory, which was and is still painful. Myself and I am sure my Heels are looking for redemption this coming April in the form of Tyler and our other top five scorers. I have a Vegas sportsbook receipt with UNC to win it all with 2-1 odds to prove it.

GO HEELS!

The Return of Rex; Grossman Helps Lead Bears to Comeback

Sat, 31 Jan, 2009 09:56:07 GMT

Rex Grossman dived into the end zone, then ran to the side and spiked the ball. He had something to celebrate, and the Bears had reason to exhale.

While trying to run for a first down, Orton was tackled by Cory Redding then appeared to get his ankle banged by end Dewayne White, who cleaned up on the play. Orton attempted to stand up but fell back to the ground. He was carried off the field with 26 seconds left before halftime.

Grossman came off the bench and scored the go-ahead touchdown with 5:36 left, getting the Bears from a 10-point deficit to a 27-23 victory over the winless Detroit Lions Sunday.

The Bears feel a sigh of relief now, by moving ahead of Green Bay to take sole possession of the NFC North Lead.

Grossman was 9-of-19 passing for 58 yards in a shaky performance that drew boos from the crowd. Rex Grossman has been nothing more than mediocre, with flashes of brillance combined with blinding failures. He's too short for an NFL quarterback (Notice those batted-down passes?). Doesn't it make good decisions. And he's prone to fumblitis.

The Bears might have won, but it was against the Lions, people. Even Bad Rex should have crushed these guys.

All of Chicago is thankful for the win, but in the back of their minds saying, Kyle, get well soon buddy. We'll need you.

Cubbie Jam

Sat, 31 Jan, 2009 07:05:08 GMT

Pearl Jam singer Eddie Vedder wants the Cubs to go "All the Way."

Vedder, at the request of Cubs legend Ernie Banks, wrote the song about the Cubs' quest for a World Series title earlier this summer. Now it's being played on some Chicago radio stations and at bars around Wrigleyville, according to Billboard magazine.

The song, recorded during a Vedder solo show at the Auditorium Theatre in August, features lines like "Our heroes wear pinstripes/pinstripes in blue/give us chance to feel like heroes too."

A post on Pearl Jam's Web site on Thursday said the song will be available for download in the "next few days." CDs and souvenir 45 singles of the song also might be produced, the site said.

Holy Cow!

Go Cubbies!

Cubs Came Back to Post a 6-4 Win and Move 2 Games Ahead of Milwaukee

Sat, 31 Jan, 2009 07:03:05 GMT

Monday night's opener of the four-game showdown happened before a wild crowd of 45, 311, the third-largest in the brief history of Miller Park.

Derrek Lee's run scoring double off Brewers closer Salomon Torres snapped a 4-4 tie in the Cubs two-run ninth inning, and Carlos Marmol nailed down the save by striking out two in a scoreless ninth inning. Chad Gaudin earned his second win as a Cub in as many games.

Heading into the series, Cubs manager Lou Piniella downplayed its importance, while acknowledging it was big for both teams.

The game was tense from the beginning, with both teams climbing back from deficits and then blowing leads shortly thereafter. The Cubs started off their biggest series of the season on a easygoing note when Alfonso Soriano hit a shot toward left and began going into his home-run trot. But the ball deflected off the top of the left-field fence, and Soriano had to hustle his way into second with a double.

Cubs are now two games ahead of Milwaukee in the National League Central.

Ninety miles and 56 games to go: They say you can't win a pennant in April, but you can lose one. Neither ever has been said about this month, so why are we so excited about this series? Derrek Lee, you have any idea? "I gotta go look at the calendar and make sure it's still July," Lee told TV after doubling home the go-ahead run in the ninth inning.

Go Cubbies! Good luck tonight, especially against Sheets, an all-star. Faith in Zambrano.

Bears Sign Running Back Kevin Jones

Sat, 31 Jan, 2009 07:01:06 GMT

The Bears signed running back Kevin Jones to a one-year deal worth $605,000 yesterday. During the four years with the Detroit Lions, Jones rushed for 3,067 yards and 24 touchdowns on 761 carries. He had his best year as a rookie in 2004 after being drafted by Detroit from Virginia Tech, rushing for 1,133 yards and five touchdowns.
Last season, Jones rushed for 581 yards and had a career-high eight touchdowns on 153 carries. The Detroit Lions released Jones in the off-season.

"I'm ectastic," Jones told the Chicago Tribune. "I know the situation. I know the Bears' rich history of winning. Looking at the Bears, I know they're a tough, running team. I can't wait to be a part of it."

Bears fans, rejoice. There's a Jones at running back again. Sorry, not Thomas Jones, but Kevin Jones. Big difference, you say? Maybe, maybe not. They are really quite similiar...

Kevin went to college at Virginia Tech; Thomas at Virginia. Kevin was drafted 30th, first round; Thomas 7th, first round. Kevin tore the ACL in his right knee in December against the Chiefs; Thomas' injuries limited him to 9 games for Arizona in 2002, his last season for the Cardinals. Kevin has 4 career yards-per-carry average; Thomas has 3.9. Hmmm....interesting similiarities, right?

Either way, the Bears fans are happy to have a "Jones" on their roster now. No one expected the Bears to sign a veteran, let alone the division rival Detroit cut loose, especially given coach Lovie Smith stated last month that the team had no plans to sign an established back. It seems that the Bears just couldn't pass up potentially the biggest bargain of the off-season. Let's just hope that Kevin does not uphold the proud tradition of Bears running backs sidelined midseason with knee problems. At least this Bears' season ticket holder hopes this isn't the case. Next, we can watch the competition unfold for the starting running back spot between Jones and rookie Matt Forte.

Now if the Bears could just get Brett Favre...

Will the UNC Tar Heels Get Another Shot?

Sat, 31 Jan, 2009 07:02:01 GMT

Today was the last day for players to pull out of the NBA draft and.......Ty Lawson, Wayne Ellington and Danny Green will all be returning! Since Tyler Hansbrough had already said he would stay, things are looking good for the 2008-2009 Tar Heels!

Now, as a NCAA fan who can argue why pro basketball and the NBA finals have nothing over college basketball and the Final Four, I am happy to hear the news that these boys are giving college basketball and the team work, athletics and competition it displays, another year. However, as a die hard Tar Heel fanatic, I am over the moon with this news. It was only two months ago that I had Final Four tickets 15 rows from the floor in the San Antonio Alamodome and watched my hopes, along with my boys and Roy's hopes slip away that first game against Kansas. It was miserable, and it still hurts. Tyler decided to stay shortly after our devastation, which at that point brought a glimmer of hope for the next year.

Well folks, now there is much more than a glimmer of hope with the news of the trio joining Tyler for another year. The trio had entered their names into the NBA draft pool in April but they did not hire agents, leaving open the possibility of returning to school. The deadline to withdraw from the draft was 5pm EST on Monday.

"After a long and exhaustive process of gathering information and sharing it with these youngsters, I stepped back and asked them to make their own decisions," Williams said on Monday afternoon. "I'm very pleased with their decisions because I get to coach them for another year.

Will this trio eventually be NBA players? Yes, but it just wasn't the right time. Not for them nor us Tar Heel fans.

Ellington, who will come back as a junior, has scored 1,092 points, was a second-team All-ACC selection in 2007-08, has earned ACC All-Tournament Team honors in both seasons and has the ninth-best free throw percentage in Carolina history.

Lawson, also an incoming junior, has averaged 11.3 points and 5.4 assists in his first two seasons. He directed an offense that was second nationally in scoring and led the ACC in scoring, field goal percentage, assists and assist-turnover ratio. He shot 51.5 percent from the floor and 83.5 percent from the free throw line this year.

Green will be a senior and has compiled 871 points and 412 rebounds in three seasons, averaging 8.1 points and 3.9 rebounds per game. He led the team as a junior in free throw percentage at .873 and was second in three-point field goals made with 56. He is 10th all-time in blocked shots at UNC with 104.

And then of course, there is our all-star Tyler.

Hansbrough will come back as a senior and was named 2007-08 Collegiate Player of the Year by The Associated Press, ESPN and many others, and has scored 2,168 points and grabbed 943 rebounds. He is the second-leading scorer in Carolina history and is first among ACC players and eighth in NCAA history in free throws made with 733. In 2008, he became the fourth player in ACC history (with UNC's Lennie Rosenbluth in 1957, Duke's Christian Laettner in 1992 and UNC's Antawn Jamison in 1998) to win National Player of the Year, NCAA Regional MVP, ACC Tournament MVP and ACC Player of the Year honors in the same season.

Carolina went 36-3 in 2007-08, winning the Atlantic Coast Conference regular season and Tournament titles and reaching its 17th NCAA Final Four.

So, do we have another shot at the NCAA Championship Title in 2009? As a UNC Tar Heel blue fan through and through I may be a bit biased, but I say....with these four and Roy's coaching? You can bet on it.