I am writing this in a T-shirt with the window open. If my "Forecastfox" add-on is right, you'll be reading this with mittens on, possibly while riding a snowmobile.
So in the spirit of spring, and because I have the attention span of a gerbil in this weather, today is about bouncing around the sports world.
1. Thank the Lithuanian stars that Lars Mikalauskas is back. The man who literally broke his face on Tyler Hansbrough two years ago returned with a vengeance, scoring more points than ever (his 13 points were second only to Singletary's 16 against Boston College this weekend) and generally adding a bit of the post presence that the Cavaliers have been so obviously lacking.
That is why I'm calling for the resurrection of the Legion of Lars, a fan group I argued for in a column last year with limited success. An excerpt from the Legion's constitution (in the off-chance that some of you have forgotten): "Game attire is extremely important for any prospective Legionnaire. Fans, both male and female, are encouraged to sport their hero's trademark bowl cut. It also goes without saying that Legionnaires will be expected to get as close as possible to Mr. Mikalauskas' playing weight of 255 pounds."
2. I had the dubious pleasure of watching Sunday's Daytona 500 with a Texan. I am not a heavy-duty NASCAR fan at all, and so hearing someone say with all seriousness that he had thought about buying $400 scalped tickets on Valentine's Day and driving 760 miles to watch people drive in circles for 500 miles was a wake-up call.
Still, by the time Ryan Newman crossed the finish line, I had learned about Hendrick Motorsports, drafting, the properties of NASCAR bumpers, Tony Stewart's Daytona history, fuel mileage, restrictor plates, caution flags, tire grip and why Juan Pablo Montoya is a jerk.
And since the race ended, I have forgotten it all.
3. I logged on to the Sports Illustrated Web site Sunday and was confronted with the eye-blackened face of Chris Long. This guy's draft status has been skyrocketing recently, and several mock drafts now have him going first overall. That's right, first. Like nobody in front of him. Granted this is partially because of a Dolphins team that finished 23rd in total defense last season, but still.
My favorite quote came from a Peter King column about his interview with Long.
"It is hard to come away from a meeting with Chris Long and think he could have done any more to make a strong impression," the venerable SI football columnist wrote. "In the same week we heard [Roger Clemens] say a friend 'misremembered' what he told him, I heard Long speak in complete, intelligible, thoughtful sentences. In this interview, he used the words malleable, tangible, pigeon-holed and debilitating."
I guess that's what a U.Va. degree will do for you. Oh, and if you see Chris out on the Corner between now and the April draft, drinks are on him. JaMarcus Russell, last year's top pick, inked a six-year contract worth $61 million with about $30 million in bonuses and guarantees.
4. How sick was the Timberwolves' Gerald Green in the NBA All-Star game slam dunk contest Saturday night? After placing a cupcake with a lit candle on the back of the rim, the defending champ floated above the net, blew out the candle and threw down a nasty left-handed dunk.
With legendary skywalkers like Magic Johnson, Dominique Wilkins and Darryl Dawkins acting as judges, Green lost by a hair (or maybe a breath) to the Magic's Dwight Howard, who donned a Superman cape for his feature slam.
After seeing guys like Green and Howard act like they actually want to be in the contest, maybe LeBron James and Co. will consider upping the star power next year. Either way, the event that put Michael Jordan on the bedroom walls of kids everywhere is back.
5. The baseball team's home opener is 4 p.m. this Friday against Lehigh. The beginning of the season is always on the chilly side, but come April there is absolutely no better way to spend an afternoon than to sit on the sunny side of Davenport Field with a bag of peanuts. Heckling the opposing batters is a bonus.
Well that's it for me this week. Until next time, keep your heads up and remember to take your B-12 vitamins.
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