Well, it all starts back up again this Thursday.  You know what I'm talking about.  The NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament and the Sweet Sixteen.  Thurdays games:  West Regional at The Honda Center down in Orange County - San Diego State vs.. Connecticut; Duke vs. Arizona.  Southest Regional in New Orleans: Florida vs. Brigham Young and the Butler vs. Wisconsin.  Then on Friday it heats up again with the East Regional in Newark, New Jersey: North Carolina vs. Marquette and then Ohio State vs. Kentucky.  The things continue with the Southwest Regional in San Antonio with Kansas vs. Richmond and then Virginia Commonwealth vs. Florida State.  I think it's going to be an exciting weekend of college basketball.  After all is said and done we'll all be looking forward to seeing who the Elite Eight will be this time around and finally the Final Four.  My bracket is all messed up starting the first weekend.  Right!  I didn't do a very good job this year with my picks.  I mean, Pitt let me down big-time and so did West Virginia and Louisville.  All from the Big East or as Charles Barkley calls them:  The Little East.  Wow, they really disappointed a lot of folks who thought they were going to really take names and do some "winning" damage in the tournament. Well, we'll just have to wait until next season and see how things turn out.  Hey, I'm still a University of Pittsburgh fan no matter what.  They did their best and as the Bible says, "This too shall pass."  Enjoy the rest of the tournament.

Before I get to NBA basketball. Let's look at the top sports story out there, which is about the possible six game suspension of my homtown Pittsburgh Steelers Quarterback "Big" Ben Roethlisberger. The NFL Commissioner Roger Godell says it up to Ben what ultimately happens with this suspension of the first six games of the year. If he stays out of trouble and keeps his personal conduct up to proper standards. The Commissioner will possibly reduce the suspension to only four games. Personally, I think "Big" Ben will "WALK THE CHALK!". It's being reported that the Steelers Management has put it out there that if any team would like Ben and be willing to give up a first round pick and some other things. They MIGHT, opertive word here is MIGHT, consider trading Ben. Yea, right! They are not going to let him go anywhere but right there in "The Burgh." Trust me, Steeler fans would riot if the Rooney's even thought about letting Ben go. Let's be truthful about this. He is the heart of the team and they'll make do until he can play weather it's a six game suspension or a four game sit. The Steelers will be back on track right out of the box when the regular season is ready to kick-off in September 2010.

Now, on to the NBA and all the going ons during the current Playoffs. The L.A. Lakers just managed to get by the Thunder last night. Me and Stephan were cheering for Oklahoma to get 'em and really make a series out of this thing. They're on their way back home to Oklahoma City and we know their building is going to be rockin' as Kobe Bryant said in an interview las night. I think things are about to get interesting for the Lakers.. Boston put it on D. Wade and his bunch and are now up 2 - 0 on the Heat. As I predicted, the Phoenix Suns turned it around big-time against Portland, which we know was going to happen. Phoenix will win this Playoff Series. My man Grant Hill along with Steve Nash will carry this team to the next round at all cost. Watch what I tell you. It's a done deal! Tonight I'm really interested in seeing what happens between Dallas and San Antonio. I just can't seen the Spurs rolling over and dying during this series. Yes, these gentelmen are getting a little older, but that doesn't mean they can't still play the game at a very high level. Remember, "professional pride" also has alot to do with the outcome of these games throughout the league. Come on Spurs. Get it together and show the basketball sporting world you still are a force to be dealt with on the court! For you folks who haven't been paying attention. The Western Conference of the NBA, per the experts, is the toughest in the league. Keep an eye on the Lakers, Dallas and the Denver Nuggets in the West. The has some interesting match-ups also when it comes to Cleveland and the Orlando Magic. I still think Atlanta just might give some folks a little anxiety at this time of year. Think about some of this stuff I just mentioned and tell me what you're thinking and feeling. I'll pick it up later!

God's Blessings,

Walt "Baby" Love

Well, here we go, the NBA Playoffs have certainly started with a bang. All the home teams won except Phoenix who lost to Portland and they shouldn't have. I certainly hope they (the Suns) will turn it around on Tuesday night. Anyway, all the top teams are off to a good start. Teams like the Lakers kinda got it going against the Okalahoma City Thunder. But the Thunder actually pushed them to the point of making the Lakers sweat just a bit. The Boston Celtics should have gotten beat by the Miami Heat because D. Wade and bunch had 'em and let 'em get away. I rally want to see Miami get 'em and get 'em good! Why do I feel like that. Because Rondo really has a big mouth and lacks a lot of class to have been so blessed in career thus far. And how about the Chicago Bulls! They're make the Cavs work for the victory. I know, the Cavs are going to win the series. But I don't think any of us thought the Bulls just might make the Cavaliers have to work a bit to secure this thing. Lebron hasn't slowed down a bit and will carry his gang on to the next series with energy to spair. Oh, what do you think about Denver and the Utah Jazz? The first one was a battle even with the Jazz short handed. I think Denver with ultimately win this series. But I do think the Jazz are going to make them work for it. When it comes to Dallas and San Antonio. I kinda thought the Spurs might get off to a good start. I was wrong. I still think the Spurs are gonna win a couple. Anyway, I hope so because I like a number of their players. I really didn't like the quote attributed to Coach "Pop". I hope he didn't say what I heard some Los Angeles Sportscaster claim he said. By now you're wondering what I heard...right? Well, this guy said "Pop" said he felt like some of his players played like dogs in the first game with Dallas. If he said it, I think that's a bit harsh. Yes I know, they're pros and they get paid alot of money. But that's no way to talk about your people to the press. Once again, if he said it. If he said something of that nature to them behind closed doors in the locker room. I wouldn't be surprised because some coaches say all kinds of demeaning things to their players and get away with it. Me and Stephan also got to check-out the Orlando Magic and the Charlotte Bobcats game. All-in-all the Magic should win this series but I must admit that all of the so-called "underdogs" are make their presents felt early on. Before I sign off lets not forget about the Atlanta Hawks against the Milwaukee Bucks. We've got a lot of basketball to go before this thing is over. So, before I wrap it up, I have to mention this. In todays Los Angeles Times Sports Section a sports writer by the name of Mike Bresnahan said in his headline that, "Bryant Looks Weary" and then went on to explain why he thinks this and gave some pretty impressive facts to back it up. I guess we'll all have to wait and see if Kobe can hold up and help his LA Lakers to back-to-back championships. As you already know, I'm not a bigtime Lakers fan. But I certainly am a bigtime basketbnall fan at every level. Like many others throughout this country and around the world I am very interested in seeing this years final outcome. That's for sure!

God's Blessings,

Walter