Study: Top schools in tournament aren’t tops in classroom

North Carolina was the only school among the four No. 1 seeds in the NCAA men’s tournament to graduate at least 50 percent of its players.

A report released Monday found 86 percent of Tar Heels men’s players earned diplomas during a six-year period. The other top seeds were far worse: 45 percent at Kansas and 40 percent at UCLA and Memphis.

The study was conducted by Richard Lapchick, head of the University of Central Florida’s Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport. It evaluated four different freshman classes for a period beginning in 1997-98 and ending with 2000-01. Though the players evaluated are no longer on campus, the report intends to provide a snapshot of academic trends.

Lapchick’s primary concern was the disparity between black and white players. Thirty-three schools graduated at least 70 percent of their white men’s basketball players; only 19 graduated that many black players. At least 50 percent of white players earned degrees at 45 schools, but black athletes had that much success at only 36 schools.

But the study found that the achievement gap was shrinking. At 34 percent of tournament-bound teams there was a 30-point or greater difference in graduation success between black and white players, down from 49 percent last year. Black players continued to succeed in higher rates than black nonathletes.

“Higher education’s greatest failure is the persistent gap between African-American and white basketball student-athletes in particular, and students in general,” Lapchick wrote. “The good news there is that the gaps are narrowing slightly.”

According to NCAA data, graduation rates for black men’s basketball players have improved 14 percent overall since 1984.

“We’ve seen some real improvement over time,” NCAA spokesman Erik Christianson said. “There’s always room for more improvement, but we’re pleased with the progress.”

The NCAA tournament field is 65 teams, but not all could be included in the analysis. Cornell, like other Ivy League schools, doesn’t report graduation rates. Gonzaga had no black players and 10 schools had no white athletes.

Two of the No. 2 seeds, Tennessee and Texas, graduated only 33 percent of their players for the period studied. The other second seeds, Georgetown and Duke, had success rates of 82 percent and 67 percent, respectively.

If the Final Four were determined academically, it would be Western Kentucky (100 percent graduation success), Butler (92 percent), Notre Dame (91 percent) and Purdue (91 percent). Xavier, a No. 3 seed, was close behind with a 90 percent success rate.

Source:Yahoo

House staff drafts letter that could be sent to Justice about Clemens

WASHINGTON (AP)—A draft letter asking the Justice Department to investigate whether Roger Clemens made false statements to Congress has been written by House staffers, The New York Times reported on its Web site Monday. The chief of staff for committee chairman Henry Waxman said no decision has been made on whether to ask for a criminal investigation.

The newspaper report cited three unidentified lawyers familiar with the matter.

The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform held the Feb. 13 hearing at which personal trainer Brian McNamee repeated his allegations that he injected Clemens with steroids and human growth hormone—and Clemens repeated his denials. Both men spoke under oath during depositions and at the hearing.

Source:Yahoo

Giants stun Patriots 17-14. Giants are the Super Bowl XLII champions

Unbelievable!

In one of the greatest Super Bowl games ever played, the Giants stunned the Patriots 17-14 and are World Champions.

Eli Manning, who was named the Super Bowl MVP, threw a 13-yard fade to Plaxico Burress with 35 seconds remaining in the game to cap a 12-play, 83-yard drive to give the Giants the improbable win, setting off celebrations across the tri-state area.

Novak Djokovic wins Australian Open title

As seen on hotsportsnews.com

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) -- Novak Djokovic withstood the expected barrage from upstart Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the first set, then rallied to win the Australian Open for his first Grand Slam title.

Djokovic fended off the Muhammad Ali lookalike 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 (2) in the final on Sunday night, ending a sequence of 11 straight majors won by either Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal since Marat Safin's victory in 2005.

Djokovic had not lost a set in six matches leading into the final, including his semifinal win over two-time defending champion Federer. But with unseeded Tsonga coming out swinging like he did in his straight-sets upset over No. 2 Nadal in the semifinals and three other top 14 players, that streak came to a sudden end.

The third-ranked Djokovic rebounded in the second and third sets, and after saving a crucial breakpoint in the fourth, dominated the tiebreaker to clinch his first major at his 13th attempt.

Superbowl XLII : Giants, Patriots, the real match ups

The real match up for the Superbowl appears to be basic.

1. Can Kevin Gilbride (picture), first full season Giants’ offensive coordinator, craft an offensive plan that is good enough to beat the Pats Bill Belichick.

2. Can Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo craft a defensive plan to stop the Pats offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels.

Gilbride has been less than creative this season. Very often the Giant offensive play calls seem predictable. (e.g., always running off tackle on first down, etc). The offensive play calls have also been ultra conservative at times, too much so in certain situations. Gilbride will need more than predictable play calls to beat one of the best defensive coordinators in the league, Bill Belichick. If the Giants offense is in "2nd or 3rd down and 8 yards" the whole game, they don't stand a chance. Eli will also need much better play action and fakes to freeze/outsmart the Patriot Linebacker core. A better running mix with Bradshaw is critical. Maybe Jacobs and Bradshaw in the same set? More screens to Bradshaw?, etc Lastly, the Giants receivers have to catch the ball ( wink wink Toomer)

Spagnuolo has a solid defense. The patch-works giants secondary has come up big in past games and will need to come up even bigger to beat the Patriots. Antonio Pierce ( and the other Giant linebackers too) will have to play harder, and READ better, to stop the Patriots. Giving the Patriots "five yards a carry" will not cut it. Clearly the Giants will have to apply pass pressure to Brady to win...period . Brady will carve up the Giants with passes like a Thanksgiving turkey if they give him time. The Giants have the weapons, carefully disguised blitz packages will be paramount. There is no question, the Patriots have an unbelievable offense. Its also true that the Giants defense has been playing inspired and did preview their effectiveness in the last game of the regular seasons against the Patriots. But, the Patriots have now seen this.. Spagnuolo will need to prepare for that too.

Giant blown coverage, bad special teams, unblocked blitz, off sides, running back fumbles, predictable offensive plays, pass interference,etc.. etc..etc. All play into Belichick's master plan. New England is not undefeated by accident :), to beat the best, each Giant has to play above their personal best, play each down like its their last chance to win and maintain impeccable discipline. Tall order, but doable.

Football Playoffs Winners:Giants,Chargers, Pats, Green Bay

Giant 21, Dallas 17

IRVING, Texas (AP) --Peyton Manning has a championship game to be at next weekend after all. He can go watch baby brother Eli guide the New York Giants.

A few hours after the reigning Super Bowl MVP lost his chance to get back to the big game, the less-heralded, often-criticized member of football's most famous family got the biggest victory of his career. Manning led the Giants past Tony Romo and the Dallas Cowboys 21-17 on Sunday and into the NFC title game.

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Chargers 28, Colts 24

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- After handing New England a huge gift, the San Diego Chargers believe it's time to give the unbeaten Patriots something else: a challenge.

And, oh yeah, a loss.

By stunning Peyton Manning and the defending champion Colts 28-24 on Sunday, undermanned San Diego removed New England's biggest road block to the Super Bowl. Not that the Chargers are intimidated by facing the 17-0 Patriots in the AFC title game next weekend.

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Packers 42, Seahawks 20

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) -- Brett Favre spotted his favorite target all alone and let fly.

He hit Donald Driver, all right -- with a snowball.

Favre frolicked in the flurries the entire afternoon, throwing three touchdown passes as the Packers beat the Seahawks 42-20 Saturday to reach the NFC championship game.

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Patriots 31, Jaguars 20

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) -- Tom Brady set another record and thinks he deserves one more award.

The dimple-chinned quarterback with the winning smile took the snap -- after faking as if the ball had gone directly to running back Kevin Faulk -- and threw the go-ahead touchdown pass in the Patriots' 31-20 win over the Jaguars on Saturday night.

Roger Clemens open to lie-detector test, shocked close friend Andy Pettitte took HGH

NEW YORK (AP) -- Sounding indignant and defiant in his first interview since his former personal trainer accused him of using steroids, Roger Clemens seemed to set up a confrontation with Brian McNamee in front of Congress if the pair testify under oath at a Jan. 16 hearing.

Clemens said during a segment broadcast on CBS's "60 Minutes" Sunday night that he might be willing to take a lie-detector test and was "shocked" close friend Andy Pettitte used human growth hormone. He said -- again -- that he probably will retire.

The seven-time Cy Young Award winner, a fiery look in his eyes and stubble on his face, told CBS's Mike Wallace that he would have spoken with baseball drug investigator George Mitchell had he been aware McNamee accused him of using steroids and HGH.

Clemens, the most prominent player implicated in last month's Mitchell Report, steadfastly maintained his innocence and called McNamee's allegations "totally false."

"If he's doing that to me, I should have a third ear coming out of my forehead. I should be pulling tractors with my teeth," said Clemens, who wore a lavender button-down shirt during the interview, taped Dec. 28 at his home in Katy, Texas.

Read more over at Yahoo Sports --> Clemens