UD’s name has come up as a possible expansion target by the American Athletic Conference. The AAC is a better basketball league than the A-10 and would offer UD a natural rival in Cincinnati. The AAC includes SMU (on the rise), UConn (recent national champ), and Temple. Houston, Memphis and UCF also would create more excitement at UD Arena than Duquesne, Fordham and George Mason.
Adding UD would make sense for the AAC, which has 12 teams for football but only 11 for basketball (Navy is football only). Then again, if Wichita State is serious about making a move, that 12th spot in the American probably would be filled, and the Shockers would beat the Flyers twice in one month.
No way I'd bet against Kentucky from here on out. De'Aaron Fox looked like he was playing in a video game in Friday's relatively easy win over UCLA. Fox scored 39 points in an incredible performance that included, gasp, a bunch of mid-range jump shots. Great to see a kid who can do more than dunk and shoot 3-pointers.
Roger Goodell wants to cut down on commercial breaks during NFL games, an idea that is way overdue. It's bad enough sitting through commercials when you're on the couch, but TV breaks for fans in the stadium are brutal. The NFL also is talking about cutting overtime to 10 minutes. I'd suggest using the college football OT format. Both teams should get the ball.
While it's reviewing its rules, perhaps the NFL should consider credentialing only credible media types for the Super Bowl. Martin Mauricio Ortega, who formerly worked for a Mexican tabloid, was busted for stealing Tom Brady's Super Bowl jersey. The FBI was involved in this case that obviously involved a national security threat. You kidding me?
Trending up: Marcus Stroman, Justin Ahrens, SEC. Stroman, who stands 5-foot-8, proved you don't have to be 6-4, 220 to be a great pitcher. The Blue Jays right-hander threw six no-hit innings to lead the U.S. to an easy 8-0 victory over Puerto Rico in the championship game of the World Baseball Classic. Stroman could've played for Puerto Rico (mother's side) but stayed home, lucky for the boys in red, white and blue.
Trending down: LaVar Ball, John Thompson III, Duke. The father of UCLA star Lonzo Ball (who looked fairly average against Kentucky) is on LeBron James' list. LaVar, who runs his mouth at 6,000 RPM, brought The King's kids into a podcast conversation, babbling about the pressures they'll face trying to live up to their dad's game. LeBron was not happy. Can't wait for the trash-talking next season when the Cavs play Ball's team.
Knucklehead of the Week
Bernie Kosar is not the brightest guy on the block, but the former Browns quarterback should be smart enough to know that there are some things you don’t joke about. Kosar last week joked on a radio show that former Browns GM Dwight Clark – best known for taking down the mighty Cowboys with The Catch in the 1981 NFC Championship Game – might have been suffering from ALS when he was calling the shots in Cleveland from 1999-2002. Clark recently announced that he has been diagnosed with ALS, a cruel, debilitating disease also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. Even George Carlin would’ve stayed away from ALS jokes. Well, maybe.
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