IT WAS PREDICTABLE

***SYRACUSE LOSES***
Notre Dame is a tough place to play and their fans strive to be like Duke fans with their chants, but they have no imagination. "Air Ball!" "Air Ball!" We used to do that back in high school in the '60's (No, not the 1860's). The Orange didn't shoot well or rebound well. It looked like they were forcing everything. They really missed Fab Melo, who was left in Syracuse because of "an unresolved academic issue from the fall semester." Jim Brown texted Melo with the comment, "C'mon. Those basket-weaving classes are important."

***YU DARVISH IS IN, PRINCE FIELDER IS...?***
One of the Texas Ranger owners has stated that he didn't think Fielder's price would fit into their budget. Now the Washington Nationals seem to be the front runners. Without the Yankees, Red Sox or Dodgers involved in the bidding, free agents like Fielder have very little leverage. He does have Scott Boras on his side which means if there is One Dumb Owner out there, Scott will find him.

***WHERE'S THEO EPSTEIN WHEN YOU NEED HIM?***
One of the Red Sox problem areas the last couple of years has been shortstop. So what do they do? Trade their best hope for that position, Marco Scutaro, to the Rockies, to free up payroll. Word is they'll try to sign Roy Oswalt. They better hope he's not a ground ball pitcher.

***THEY SAID IT***
" Question: What's the difference between Aussie Open tennis players Li Na and Barbora Zahlavova Strycova? Answer: Most of the alphabet." -- RJ Currie
"The Cleveland Indians pitcher formerly known as Fausto Carmona apologized for lying about his name and his age. After Leo Nunez of the Marlins was caught doing the same thing. If they are ever traded for each other it could be the first trade solely involving two players to be named later." -- Janice Hough
"The Raiders are looking for a head coach. Is there another Harbaugh brother? Actually, no. However, Jim and John have a sister named Joani. And the Raiders have not been afraid to break new ground." - Scott Ostler
"U.S. track athlete Nick Symmonds offering to put someone's Twitter name on his left arm to the highest bidder: "I'm interested. My Twitter handle is '@Nick Symmonds is an idiot.' " -- Greg Cote
"Disney's interested in buying Frank McCourt's team. So the Dodgers may still suck, but at least the bathrooms will be clean." -- Jerry Perisho
"Giants pitcher Tim Lincecum is asking for a record $21.5 million in salary arbitration. Team officials, to their credit, have resisted the temptation to ask, "What's this guy been smokin'?" -- Dwight Perry
"Los Angeles Kings forward Dustin Penner injured himself leaning forward to eat pancakes. I believe this is sign No. 1 an athlete may be injury prone." -- Brad Dickson
"Rob Lowe tweeted this week he had information that Colts quarterback Peyton Manning was retiring. Or at least that's the Lowe-down." -- RJ Currie
"Dennis Rodman is trying to start a women’s topless basketball league. Fans will be commenting on the two pointers, and the game hasn’t even started. Beer will be served in various cup sizes, with DD being the largest." -- TC Chong (TC's having a lot of fun with this one.)
"In the midst of their divorce, Deion Sanders' wife claims he suffers from Narcissism. Do you know what they call people who believe that Deion Sanders is a narcissist? TV set owners." -- Brad Dickson

Okay, I'm not funny today, but obviously other people are.

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