HERE AND THERE

** Four NCAA games tonight. Duke-Arizona should be a good match-up and the whole country wants to watch Jimmer. (Just a quick reminder: Don't forget to mute the sound)

** Barry Bonds' trial continues. With all the evidence that seems to be mounting up against him, you have to wonder why Bonds keeps fighting. What's even more puzzling, if he loses, you know Roger Clemens won't give up either. Boy, those are two massive egos.

** A tongue-in-cheek report last week had the Phillies practicing throwing their hats in the air and congregating at the mound while jumping up and down. It was called the "World Series Victory Celebration" workout. They seem to have forgotten the great equalizer: injuries. There is still no word on when, if ever, Chase Utley will play, which puts a big hole in their lineup. Yesterday, Roy Oswalt got hit behind the ear with a line drive while pitching. He's okay, but it's a warning that one play can change your whole season.

** Buck Showalter, manager of the Orioles, has been yelling at Jeter for ducking away from inside pitches, in an effort to influence the umpire. According to Showalter, it works far too often and, "...it (ticks) me off." Yelling at America's Child is dangerous, Buck.

** Buck Showalter,manager of the Orioles, is grousing about Theo Epstein, GM of the Red Sox, for "buying" players. "You got Carl Crawford 'cause you paid more than anyone else, and that's what makes you smarter? I'd like to see how smart Theo Epstein is with the Tampa Bay [Rays] payroll." Seems to me your front office has money, Buck. Are you upset because Theo spends his money on good players? Oh, you're going to be popular when you come north. Let's see if I'm still writing "Buck Showalter, manager of the Orioles," at the end of the season.

IS THERE A MESSAGE HERE? A giant clock in London counting down to the 2012 Olympics stopped shortly after it started.

***FROM DWIGHT PERRY'S SIDELINE CHATTER***
Let's just say that Bill Raftery stays out on the town a bit longer than Verne Lundquist. Which
led to this on-air exchange between the CBS broadcast partners during a college basketball game:
Raftery: "You know, it's amazing how much you can learn when you stay out late at night."
Lundquist: "If that's the case, I must be working with Socrates."

"MMA fighter Jon Jones and his two trainers chased down a car prowler and used their martial arts techniques to restrain him until police arrived.
Making him the first perp in crime history to surrender by tapping out."

***CRIME AND PUNISHMENT***
Bruce Pearl is fired from his job as basketball coach at Tennessee, for recruiting violations. Jim Tassel is suspended for two games by Ohio State for violating NCAA rules and then "voluntarily" ups his own suspension to five games. And the NCAA isn't even involved. ...Yet.
None of this matters, because Tassel WILL be coaching the balance of the season at Ohio State, and Bruce Pearl WILL be hired at another Div. I school before the next season. The schools don't care, they just want to win.

***FROM SCOTT OSTLER***
"Former boxing champ Christy Martin suffered knife and bullet wounds in a fight started by her husband, who was upset because Christy told him she was leaving him for a woman. Now there's a country song that will pretty much write itself."

CP-