Fourth national title for Connecticut sure looks inviting

Connecticut has now won four national championships in men’s basketball. By defeating Kentucky tonight in a battle that really was in question until the last minute — who out there didn’t think that the Wildcats had it in them to hit two three-pointers to tie it and send it into overtime? — the Huskies won…

A title game left for the ‘Cats and Dogs

Everybody who had Kentucky vs. Connecticut in the title game on your NCAA Tournament bracket raise your hand. Yeah, right. When the Wildcats and Huskies meet tonight in Texas with the national championship on the line, it will mark the highest combination of seeds ever in tournament final history. In other words, the college basketball…

Running in the mud is not my ticket

There are special events set up for people to run in the mud. This I know because my wonderful daughter Elisabeth and her fantastic boyfriend George participate in these races. Last year it was the Warrior Run. Elisabeth jumped a pit of hot coals. Or maybe it was a pit of quicksand. Anyway, my daughter,…

The lid is off our baseball season

Opening day was a success in Syracuse Thursday afternoon. Even though the Syracuse Chiefs lost the game to 4-1 to the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders. As the season unfolds, victories for the Triple A-affiliate of the Washington Nationals will indeed become important. But on this opening day, of more significance was the fact that 6,661 fans showed…

Does a major league player deserve paternity leave?

Daniel Murphy missed the first two games of the New York Mets baseball season. He took paternity leave because his wife delivered their first child early on opening day. He gets three days off to share in the joyful family milestone. It’s written into the agreement between management and the players union. And yet there’s…

So close

Almost. We’re one day from April, and the snow here in our Syracuse city neighborhood of Eastwood is waving its last bye-bye, what with a high of 57 forecast for tomorrow. At least I hope its one final wave. You never know around here. A common comment: Remember the year we woke up to inches…

My plan to save college sports

The subject of college sports and payment of athletes again rages around America because a labor board ruled in favor of certain players being able to start a union. It’s a heavy topic, with complicated layers and possible ramifications. I come with a simple plan. I think it’s fair to all college athletes. Take the…

Virtually time for the Masters

Kingpin and I stepped up to the first tee at Augusta National last night. The fairway on the screen was green as can be in the golfing booth in OptiGolf. For our second virtual golf session between real rounds here in Syracuse, N.Y., my best friend and I decided to choose the computer rendering of…