So Bruce Pearl screwed me over again.  Big surprise.  At least everyone thought he would choke so I’m not the only one who took a hit.  At least I didn’t actually bet the ‘Cats on my sportsbook.  The new addition to our online betting team at NQTC, His Jesusness Shuttlesworth, didn’t exactly kill it either, starting out with a robust 1-1.  Go Blackhawks!

Sun 3/7 at 11:30 am Red Wings @ Blackhawks (NBC)

• StevieY19 (14-8) Red Wings over Blackhawks- Red Wings are finally healthy. Time for things to return to normal.
• South Side Sheik (12-10) Blackhawks over Red Wings – Despite the shoddy performance in their first game back from the Olympic “break”, the Hawks and their Olympians will triumph at home to thunderous applause. Who knows, if Toews scores maybe the Hawks fans will burst into a rendition of “O Canada” after hearing it so often over the last two weeks.
• Stormin Norman (11-11) Blackhawks over Red Wings: The Blackhawks have looked shaky at best lately, but they will still triumph over the old, crappy Red Wings.  Although a lot of Hawks may be tired from the olympics, they are still the team to beat in the West.  By the way, what’s the deal with our goaltenders these days?
• His Jesusness Shuttlesworth (1-1) Blackhawks over Red Wings- A must-win for the Red Wings (they’re currently sitting outside the playoffs). Babcock knows how to shut down Kane i.e. the Olympic gold medal game, but the Blackhawks are no longer intimidated.

Sun 3/7 at 1:30 pm Lakers @ Magic (ABC)

• StevieY19 (14-8) Lakers over Magic- My general rule is to pick the Lakers every time, unless they’re playing Cleveland. I think this translates to: in the NBA always pick the team with the biggest star.
• South Side Sheik (12-10) Lakers over Magic – Kobe is getting healthy again from his sprained ankle, and Lamar Odom and Pau Gasol are starting to play with nasty streaks. I’m still not convinced that the Magic are legit.
• Stormin Norman (11-11) Lakers over Magic: Amirite?  Amirite?  (Am I right? for those who don’t know).  I mean come on, the Lakers are a far superior team and even a banged up Kobe can dominate them.  There are no good teams in the East, bottom line (except maybe The LeBrons).
• His Jesusness Shuttlesworth (1-1) Lakers over Magic- The Lakers are a vastly superior team. Kobe or no
  Kobe.

Lane Kiffin has taken the SEC by storm since taking over as head coach of Tennessee.  Not on the field exactly, losing to Florida and starting 1-2, but off the field Kiffin is firing shots at all takers.  He accused Urban Meyer of violating NCAA rules in front of a bunch of people, violating rules himself; he told a recruit to fax his papers on signing day from somewhere other than his high school, implying that the high school was so inept they would screw it up (he’s not allowed back); and he told a recruit considering South Carolina that he would end up pumping gas if he chose the Gamecocks. 

The hits keep coming nearly every time the guy gets in front of a microphone, he’s like an organized Kanye West, with a worse head coaching record.  Well, your worst fears have come true Chicago fans, Kiffin is coming for you and you don’t have a chance at bedding his hot wife. 

Kiffin on Bears quarterback Jay Cutler: “Cutler?  Yeah, I tried to get him to sign with the Vols when he left Denver, but apparently the SEC frowns upon that kind of thing. What a mistake that would have been, guy’s a real piece of work.  Did you know that prick got some kind of disease because he went to Vanderbilt?”  When asked about Cutler’s success so early in his career Kiffin responded “I had twice as good of an NFL career.”  Kiffin never played in the NFL.

On the Chicago White Sox: “Their manager–you know, that black guy–is awful.  Their GM sucks too.  I didn’t want to go public with this, but there were some major recruiting violations when they got that Peavy guy.” 

Blackhawks:  “Come on, hockey?  So gay.  I know I’ll have to apologize for that later, but seriously.”

Chicago Cubs: “Embarrassing team.  I thought Al Davis and the Raiders had it bad.  I’d love to bring my Vols to Wrigley and sing Rocky Top all night long after we beat them.  Yeah, in baseball.  Ryan Theriot told me once I looked a lot like Seth Rogen, but not so much after he lost weight, and I’m going to kick his ass for that.  Kiffin, out!”

• Remembering Air McNair from his college days.  [Paneech]
• Did anyone read that Phil Rogers piece the other day about how Zambrano should be waived?  Yeah he’s an idiot, and here are the stats to prove big Z is one of the best pitchers in baseball over the past few years. [Wrigleyville23]
• Apparently the Bulls are looking into signing Jannero Pargo.  They are going to need another 2-guard, but personally I would prefer someone a bit younger with something to prove. [By The Horns]
• The Bulls may also be inquiring about Nate Robinson.  That wouldn’t be so bad, and the kid is always an obvious fan favorite. [Da Bullz]
• Random Retro Cub: Hector Villanueva.  Love these things. [The Friendly Blogfines]
• 5 NL pitchers that should have made the All-Star game. [Zoner]
• Theodore Roosevelt Lilly (yeah that’s his real name) made the All-Star team.  So did like 100 other people, but no other Cubbies. [Bleacher Nation]
• Another lefty from Chicago, Mark Buerhle, was also named to the All-Star team.  That guy is consistent and solid.  I have always liked him (except how he’s from St. Louis and is a Cardinals fan, gross). [Sun-Times]
• McNair downgraded to doubtful.  Yeah that’s the title of the post, and it includes a list of celebrities they would rather have seen die.  Wow.  Edgy, but accurate and hilarious.  [Luols Dong]
• So did the Blackhawks misfile their qualifying offers to some restricted free agents?  If so, a bunch of Hawks are about to prematurely become free agents, and a bunch of people in the Hawks front office are about to be fired. [Tribune]
• Alderman Tunney of the 44th ward (that includes Wrigleyville) is pushing to ban the street vendors from around Wrigley Field. [Chicagoist]
• Are they already turning against Sexy Rexy in Houston?  Big surprise. [Blog Down]
• And of course, Shaq holding Gary Coleman like a baby.  [NESW Sports]

• Shaq flirts with a box of donuts.  Don’t break the diet! [BDL]
• The Hawks choked last night, but since they got the split in Vancouver they can hold serve by winning Game 4, so no worries. [Sun-Times]
• Would you like to name the Cubs Class A Chiefs ballpark for a day?  It won’t cost you much. [Pantagraph]
• Remember when Antoine Walker got robbed in Chicago?  Well the guy that did it just got 21 years in prison. [NBC]
• What the hell kind of lineup did the Cubs trot out there last night?  It resulted in a loss, that’s for sure. [Bleacher Nation]
• Favre has got to be kidding.  Now he’s meeting with the Vikings?  Just retire for good.  You’re sullying your legacy, if you haven’t already. [Deadspin]
• Orton with a cleanshaven face in a Broncos jersey?  Weird. [Blogdown]
• White Sox blew a lead to the Royals last night and lost in extras.  It feels like everyone in that division has the same record.  [Sun-Times]

The answer is yes.  Take a look at this pregame report for a Blackhawks game from a few weeks ago.  Wow.

h/t: Luol’s Dong

HHR's Awesome T-Shirt Design

The first tickets for the NCAA Tournament will be punched this weekend, as at least a couple of conference tournaments will wrap up.  And Cornell is already in!  There is also plenty of bubble action and some games vital to seeding in the Big Ten Tournament.  Hey, Duke and North Carolina play this weekend, how come we haven’t heard it over and over from ESPN?  Oh right, it’s on CBS.

Saturday:

10:00 AM [WBC] Netherlands at Dominican Rep.- ESPN2

11:00 AM [NCAAB] Michigan at Minnesota- ESPN^

11:00 AM [NCAAB] (1) UConn at (4) Pitt- CBS*

12:00 PM [NHL] Chicago at Boston- CSN

1:00 PM [WBC] Canada at United States- ESPN

1:00 PM [NCAAB] Kentucky at Florida- CBS^

1:00 PM [NCAAB] Penn State at Iowa- BTN^

2:00 PM [MLB] Cubs vs. Brewers- WGN

2:30 PM [NCAAB] Oklahoma State at (5) Oklahoma- ABC^

3:00 PM [NCAAB] Texas at (9) Kansas- CBS

8:00 PM [NCAAB] West Virginia at (6) Louisville- ESPN

Sunday:

11:00 AM [NCAAB] (20) Purdue at (8) Michigan St.- CBS

1:00 PM [NHL] Colorado at Chicago- WGN*

3:00 PM [NCAAB] (7) Duke at (2) North Carolina- CBS*

4:00 PM [NCAAB] Northwestern at Ohio State- BTN^

6:00 PM [NCAAB] Indiana at Wisconsin- BTN^

*Can’t Miss  ^Bubble Watch