il Page 1596 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights

Arizona Wildcats
1. Depth That Rivals A Wading Pool. If we were comparing depth, a team like Tennessee might be an aging porn actress while the Wildcats are a young virgin, still contemplating how long "true love" actually lasts. The Wildcats have three (3!) players that are averaging over 8.8 points a game and only...

Western Kentucky Hilltoppers
1. There's Only One Big Red! While a number of other schools claim to be the Big Red, there is only one mascot that fits the bill ... our Big Red. He's without a doubt the most famous alumnus of our school. He's been featured in ESPN's "This is SportsCenter" commercials, and some of those silly Capi...

Arizona State Sun Devils
1. The Herbivores. The Tempe fans have nicknamed themselves the "Herbivores," in loving deference to second-year head coach Herb Sendek, late of NC State. And let's face it: Herb Sendek is a just a terrible name. At least someone is having fun with it. Though I'd like to think the fans got the name ...

Kansas State Wildcats
1. Beas-who? One wonders how Kansas State University, a school that has lacked a dominance on the hardwood in recent years, manage to resurrect Jesus Christ himself in the form of a 6-foot-10, 235-forward from the Washington D.C. area. Well, Michael Beasley was coached by in an AAU summer league and...

Vanderbilt Commodores
1. It's Shan "Rhymes With Pain" Foster. Perhaps more peculiar than the spelling of his name is the form of his jump shot: Foster shoots the ball with his hands virtually behind his head. This causes trouble for almost every defender, as he is able to get off any shot with a defender in his face. He ...

The Illini's Ridiculous, Plodding "Run"
Realize that we have seen our Illini do this before. In 1999, an 11th-seeded Illini team rode the hot hand of Cory Bradford to an amazing tourney championship game run, before collapsing, exhausted, to Michigan State (who eventually made the Final Four). That run was thrilling, breathtaking; it was...

Louisville Cardinals
1. Remember, Remember, The Ninth Of February. Barring a run that ends with the third national title in program history, Louisville's 2007-2008 season is likely to be best remembered for the events of Feb. 9. Acting in accordance with a "white out" theme, Rick Pitino walked onto the floor for the Car...

Kentucky Wildcats
1. Billy G Is Not My Lover. Many fans wanted Tubby Smith out for a long, long time in the Commonwealth, so with that exodus they got Billy Gillespie. The Wildcats had a 6-7 record following a loss to now-hated Rick Pitino, and everyone thought that ol' Billy Boy might not be the guy after all. Panic...

Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils
1. Nine in a Row. The Delta Devils haven't lost a March game this season. In fact, they were sporting a dreadful 8-15 record on February 16, and they have won every game since to get to 17-15. Their overall record didn't get above .500 until their SWAC semifinal win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff....

It's The Utah Jazz On The Town, Skeet Skeet
Looking for that perfect Saturday night activity? Live in the Salt Lake City area? Have 29 bucks to blow on a the possibility of seeing Andrei Kirilenko party like it's New Years Eve? You're in luck....

In Defense Of Billy Crystal
If you were a rich, beloved celebrity, and had the opportunity to take one at-bat against a Major League pitcher — well, Paul Maholm, anyway — goddammit, wouldn't you have to do it? Why else would someone want to be rich and famous? Crystal looked like the happiest guy on earth yesterday, like he kn...

Get Ready For The Pomp And Pageantry Of Eliot Spitzer Night
Our first 2008 chapter of Minor Enterprise is still a few weeks away, but there's no reason we can't get a jump on the Minor League Baseball promotional season with this bit of news: The Macon Music of the South Coast League will hold Eliot Spitzer Night on June 13th. I already have my tickets....

Live Blogs You'll Gleefully Skip: Illinois-Penn State
We know, we know: Nobody cares about a stupid liveblog of a pointless Big Ten tournament first round game. We're fully aware. As we mentioned yesterday, it's just, like, practice or something....

Baseball Season Preview: Philadelphia Phillies
For the third consecutive season, we are proud to introduce the Deadspin Baseball Season Previews. Yes, baseball is awfully close now; it's spring training, after all....

Saying Goodbye To These Awful (And Unlucky) Illini
As part of our preparations for the lunacy that lands on our sports radars this Sunday, we've been digging around the irreplaceable Basketball Prospectus, trying to find those odd little tidbits on Oral Roberts and Siena. And we discovered something kind of amazing and oddly satisfying....

Lasorda Back With Dodgers; Still Fat
To help us to get into shape for baseball's opening day, here's a mini Closer. I promise I will not take out the catcher ......

Mitch Williams Supports Youth Athletics, Is Not At All Insane
Former Phillies reliever Mitch Williams has never been one to see an injustice go unchallenged, even if that does mean being unceremoniously tossed from his 10-year-old daughter's youth league basketball game for screaming the F-word several times at a female referee....

Media Approval Ratings: Bill Raftery
We think it's kind of amazing that ESPN has Bill Raftery working with Jay Bilas this week at the Big East tournament. That's not because we don't like either of them; far from it. It's just that Bilas, as a game broadcaster, seems to be doing a Bill Raftery impersonation. Which is fine, of course....

Billy Crystal Signs With Yankees; Red Sox Counter With Wilford Brimley
If I were a Yankees' fan, I'd be really worried right now. Their season is beginning to shape up like a failing TV sitcom; the kind in which they try to bolster sagging ratings by bringing in celebrities for guest appearances. With that in mind, please welcome Billy Crystal, who will play in a sprin...

To Watch Tonight
What to watch after fooling soccer players into thinking you starred in Ghost Rider ... • Arena Football League: Los Angeles at Arizona (11 p.m., ET). The only pro football team in Los Angeles would appreciate your support. [ESPN2] • College men's basketball: Colonial Athletic Association championsh...