The NCAA men’s basketball tournament brackets will be announced on Sunday.  One of the teams with an automatic bid is Wofford College in Spartanburg, South Carolina.  With an enrollment of just under 1500, Wofford is the smallest school ever to make the tournament.  Bill Littlefield speaks with Wofford Head Coach Mike Young.

The NCAA tournament has expanded over the years, from just 8 teams in 1939 to 65 teams in 2001.  The NCAA is considering expanding the tournament again, this time to 96 teams.  Only A Game’s Doug Tribou takes a look at the pros and cons.

The NCAA Women’s tournament brackets will be released on Selection Monday.  UCONN has been undefeated all season, and has topped opponents by an average of 81 to 46.  Bill asks Michelle Smith of AOL Fanhouse and leftcoasthoops.com, whether anyone can de-throne the Huskies.

The Paralympics are underway in Vancouver.  Only A Game’s Sadie Babits profiles Rick Hansen, a Canadian national hero who, 25 years ago, went around the world in a wheelchair to raise awareness about people with disabilities.

Bill reads letters from inside the Only A Game virtual mailbag.

Bill and Only A Game analyst Charlie Pierce discuss:  Charlie’s Final Four picks, the NFL’s spotty record on protecting players, and Robert De Niro’s latest role.

Decades before the Brooklyn Dodges integrated baseball by signing Jackie Robinson in 1947, numbers of negro league players earned money by barnstorming with and against Major Leaguers.  Bill talks with Timothy Gay, author of the new book, Satch, Dizzy, and Rapid Robert:  The Wild Story of Interracial Baseball Before Jackie Robinson.

There were only a couple hundred people in the gym, and some of them weren’t paying attention.

With just over three seconds left in the tied game, as those who were paying attention anticipated overtime, one of the guards on the home team lofted a pass from under his own basket to a teammate still ten feet shy of half court. The guy who caught the pass turned and tossed a shot he will remember through the net at the other end of the floor.

What I did then was, I laughed at the grand surprise, the lovely improbability. The large woman who had been sitting in front of me was also laughing, and she was kind of jumping up and down, which was the best she could do. She was the mother of one of young men on the team that had just won.

“Oh, my God!” she shouted, and we looked at each other, and we laughed some more.

The team that won that night went on to win a string of less dramatic games and eventually found itself in the conference final.

And then they lost. By two points. After they’d been down about a dozen.

A few days later I spoke with the coach, a friend of many years, who is the reason I attend those Division III basketball games when I can, and the reason I check the very small print at the end of the next day’s sports section when I can’t. I’d called with congratulations and condolences.

“Two points,” I said. “That must have hurt.”

Earlier in the season he had told me he’d learned to stop anticipating what this team would do. To hear him talk, you’d think that he, like the fans, was kind of along for the ride, which is not entirely true. I’ve watched him work. He does his coaching in practices. During games he tries to let his players figure it out for themselves. Sometimes somebody tosses one in from half court.

“The guys gave it all they had,” my friend said. “At the end of the day, we were just not good enough. It hurts to say it, but it is what it is.”

By the end of the two NCAA Division I tournaments that will soon begin, 127 coaches will have had occasion to say something like that. UConn Women’s Coach Gino Auriemma and some other guy who coaches men will have to figure out something else to say.

Alabama QB Greg McElroy will lead the Crimson Tide against Texas in the BCS championship game on Jan. 7.

This year the college football bowl schedule boasts 34 games, far too many for one man to handle.  Unless that man is Greg Doyel of CBS Sports.com.  Bill Littlefield checks in with Doyel to find out which of the remaining bowls are worth watching.

In the past decade, the game of ice hockey has gone back to its roots, and outdoor games have become a phenomenon in the professional and college ranks.  Only A Game’s Doug Tribou attends the sport’s latest al fresco offering, the NHL’s 3rd Annual Winter Classic at Boston’s Fenway Park.

The NFL season has entered its 17th week, when the winners sit their starters and the less fortunate scramble for playoff spots.  Bill is joined by Yahoo Sports columnist Dan Wetzel for a league round-up.

From the time she was in grade school, Elena Delle Donne was expected to do great things on the basketball court.  But, after earning a full-ride to one of the nation’s top basketball programs, Delle Donne abruptly took a year off from her chosen sport.  Now she’s back playing basketball for her hometown team, and Joel Rose has the story.

Only A Game listeners are an observant bunch.  Bill responds to a few comments from the Only A Game mailbox.

Bill Littlefield and Only A Game analyst Charlie Pierce discuss:  bowl games they wish they’d seen, equipment best left out of the locker room, and the telling of tall tales.

Each year, series editor Glenn Stout scours the sports pages for entries worthy of inclusion in the Best American Sports Writing anthology.  This year, Glenn was joined by guest editor and author Leigh Montville.  Bill chats with Glenn and Leigh about this year’s edition.

Alabama looks to tackle rival Auburn in this weeken's Iron Bowl

Tailgating season is in high gear as fans across the country get ready for one of the biggest weekends in college football.  Bill talks with CBSSports.com’s Gregg Doyel about rivalry weekend, the much maligned BCS, and a certain straight-armed gold statue.

In today’s tough economic climate everyone is cutting back on spending, including athletic directors at Division I schools.  This week, Boston’s Northeastern University joined a number of colleges that have opted to cut their underperforming football programs in an effort to save funds.

Often in sports the team becomes family.  But what happens when family becomes the team?  Kellie Harper, the head women’s basketball coach at N.C. State, and her husband Jon, one of her assistants, work together on the hardwood every day.  Only A Game’s Dave DeWitt reports on the family-style rebuilding project at N.C. State.

One of the most famous athletes of the early 20th century, Sugar Ray Robinson is also one of the most complex.  Bill talks with author Wil Haygood about his new book on the champ, Sweet Thunder: The Life and Times of Sugar Ray Robinson.

Want to get the news?  Go to WBUR.org.  Want to talk sports? Get caught up on all of the week’s important sports stories with Bill and Only A Game analyst Charlie Pierce, right here on Only A Game.

Sent some mail? Bill opens up the Only A Game mailbox to check in with listeners from across the country.

A new craze is sweeping football fans from Miami to Seattle.  No, it’s not the spread-option offense or the Wildcat formation.  Only A Game’s Charlie Schroeder reports on the Lingerie Football League—a sport that gives a new meaning to fantasy football.

The Boston Bruins’ Gerry Cheevers in 1978

With an ownership change during the NBA offseason, the New Jersey Nets made headlines in Sports sections across the country.  Since then, though, the team’s outlook has been decidedly less rosy.  Bill talks with Dave D’Alessandro of the Newark Star Ledger about the NBA’s worst team. 

Ever stare down a piece of rubber that’s rocketing at your head at over 100 miles per hour?  Would you do it without a helmet?  Before modern-day netminders could dazzle crowds with acrobatic stops, hockey goalies had to be a lot more careful with their crania.  As the invention of hockey’s goalie facemask turns 50, Only A Game’s Doug Tribou celebrates the innovation.   

As the NCAA basketball season turns on the heat, Bill talks with AOL Fanhouse’s Michelle Smith for all the latest on women’s college basketball.  Bill catches up on the heavyweights (like Connecticut, Stanford, and Tennessee) and newly-famous Delaware. 

Some families pass their love of women’s basketball through generations.  But at Rock the Ages, a three-on-three women’s basketball tournament, women from all generations actually play on the same court.  Only A Game’s Karen Given reports on a fundraiser you can take your grandmother to…or watch your grandmother in. 

It’s mail time! Bill opens up the Only A Game mailbox and checks-in with listeners.

Bill and Only A Game analyst Charlie Pierce talk about all the week’s sports news including a handball that took the smile from all Irish eyes, Ron Artest making nice, and better football in Cleveland than the Browns.

Times were tough in the U.S.S.R. under Stalin, but for many ordinary Russians supporting the Spartak Moscow soccer club allowed them to escape temporarily from their uncertain lives.  Bill talks with author Robert Edelman about his new book, Spartak Moscow, chronicling Russia’s most storied team. ]]> http://www.onlyagame.org/2009/11/saturday-november-21-2009/feed/ 0 http://www.onlyagame.org/2009/04/saturday-april-11-2009/ http://www.onlyagame.org/2009/04/saturday-april-11-2009/#comments Sat, 11 Apr 2009 12:00:17 +0000 kgiven http://www.onlyagame.org/?p=2378

Miami Heat's Jamario Moon (8) dunks during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Chicago Bulls in Miami, Monday, March 9, 2009. The Heat defeated the Chicago Bulls in double overtime 130-127. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter)

It’s the last weekend of the NHL’s regular season, and that means it’s time for a few post-season predictions. Our own Lady Luck of the Line Charge (and Los Angeles Times beat writer) Helene Elliott joins Bill for some puck chatter.

Now that the NBA has instituted an age rule, some of the game’s hottest stars have to wait around for a year before they can enter the NBA draft. The Miami Heat’s Jamario Moon had to wait considerably longer to crack a starting lineup. Only A Game’s Doug Tribou reports on Moon’s unusual path to the NBA.

Just hours after pitching six scoreless innings for the Los Angeles Angels in his season debut, Nick Adenhart died in a car accident in southern California. Bill Littlefield has details.

Gary Player scored a 78 in the first round of the Masters Golf Tournament on Thursday. His score might not take him through to play on Saturday and Sunday, but Bill Littlefield says, it’s just fine for a guy playing in a record 52nd Masters.

College football is known for its lack of black coaches. Women’s college basketball has a similar problem with a lack of female coaches. One group has formed to changed that, by attempting to increase the pool of qualified candidates with a coach clinic for female coaches. From St. Louis, Only A Game’s Greg Echlin reports.

In the summer of 1978, the city of Boston was recovering from violence surrounding a highly unpopular school busing program, and the Boston Red Sox were enjoying a 14 game winning streak. What do these two events have in common? That’s the subject of ’78: The Boston Red Sox, A Historic Game, and a Divided City. Bill speaks with author Bill Reynolds about his new book.

Bill and Only A Game analyst Charlie Pierce discuss: the King of Home Court Advantage, John Daly’s sets up at Augusta, and the Winter Classic returns.

These days, those working in financial services might require a back-up plan. Enter Greg Downing, a Merrill-Lynch employee and professional lacrosse player who’s been following his dual career dreams since long before the economy took a tumble. Bill Littlefield has his story.

UConn men's basketball coach, Jim Calhuon, fields questions from reporters in 2008. His team has been in the spotlight this week, not because of their current run toward the Final Four, but because of alleged recruiting violations that surfaced on Wednesday. (AP Photo)

This weekend, the NCAA men’s basketball tournament will cut it’s participants from 65 teams to four. Bill gives updates on some notable scores and comments on the 2009 tournament. Also, Dan Wetzel of Yahoo Sports, who broke the story about the possible recruiting violations by the UConn men’s basketball team, will join Bill to talk about the alleged infractions.

Not to be forgotten, the San Francisco Chronicle’s Michelle Smith will join the show and discuss the women’s NCAA basketball tournament thus far and her expectations for the remaining games.

In 2003, the Women’s United Soccer Association suspended operations. Now, six years later, the Women’s Pro Soccer League hopes it doesn’t suffer the fate of its predecessor. Only A Game’s Bill Littlefield examines WPS strategy as their inaugural season begins on Sunday.

Author Bruce Weber takes a hands-on examination of baseball umpires in his book, As They See ‘Em: A Fan’s Travels in the Land of Umpires. In addition to talking with umpires of every level he also goes through umpire school and spring training to study the profession. Weber joins Only A Game to talk about his progression through umpire school.

Bill and Only A Game analyst Charlie Pierce discuss the Tennessee Lady Vols’ team punishment, the Clippers’ potential General Manager prospect, and the Olympic Committee’s decision on the worldwide torch relay.

Bill has commentary on the student-athlete, athlete-student conundrum.

An unusual sport is taking the country, or more specifically, Wisconsin, by storm: logrolling. The object of a logrolling match is to stay atop a log over water longer than the opponent without making physical contact.  Only A Game’s Mitch Teich reports on an amateur competition in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin.

Matt Howard (left) of ninth-seeded Butler University and Chris Johnson (right) of eighth-seeded LSU battle for the basketball in the first game of the 2009 NCAA tournament in the South region. (AP Photo)

March is dominated by one sport: college basketball. Fortunately the NCAA tournament has arrived and is in full swing. Bill gives updates on some notable scores and comments on the 2009 tournament so far.

The University of Connecticut’s women’s basketball team has been perfect this season and is the clear favorite as they enter the NCAA tournament. Mel Thomas, a former player at UConn under head coach Gino Auriemma, probably wishes she was still there. Thomas, who is now playing professionally in Ireland, joins Bill to talk about her book, Heart of a Husky, and she offers her pick in the women’s tournament.

Allonzo Trier plays or practices basketball for seven hours a day. He’s been doing so for the last four years. He’s nationally recognized by scouts and college coaches know his name and his talents. The catch is he’s only 12-years old. The New York Times Michael Sokolve joins Bill to discuss Trier and the future of college recruiting.

The women’s NCAA ice hockey Frozen Four semi-final took place on Friday night, with the final on Sunday afternoon. Only A Game’s Karen Given reports on first-timer Mercyhurst – a school whose student population is smaller than opponent Minnesota’s faculty population.

Only A Game listeners have written letters and now Bill responds.

Bill and Only A Game analyst Charlie Pierce discuss the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, Martin Broduer’s celebration after becoming the winningest goalie in the NHL, and Manny on the cricket pitch.

Manny Ramirez in full cricket gear, taking cuts at googlies, earlier this week has been well-publicized. What haven’t been as well-publicized are the efforts of two Indians who are going the other way – former cricket players fighting for a spot in the Pittsburgh Pirates bullpen. Only A Game’s Ron Schachter reports from the Pirates’ minor league facility in Bradenton, Florida.

Still, there are lots of intriguing and less predictable moments in Heart of a Husky. Many readers may know that UConn head coach Gino Auriemma is as sarcastic as he is dapper, but they may be surprised that after his players have performed poorly by his standards, Auriemma has been known to ask them why they don’t just go home and kill themselves.

The UConn women’s program has been spectacularly successful. If they play up to their potential in the tournament that begins this weekend, they will hand Auriemma his sixth national championship. But when readers learn from Thomas’s book about the commitment demanded by the coach, they may find themselves wondering about the cost of his success. To his credit, Auriemma requires his players to succeed in the classroom as well as on the court. If they don’t meet his academic standards, they don’t play. But even Thomas, who certainly does not appear to regret anything about her basketball experience, acknowledges that playing at UConn is “a fulltime job.” Toward the end of her senior year, she tries to look beyond her final season and writes that because of the routine imposed by her position on the team, “for four years, everything in my life has made sense,” which may not be the ideal situation for a college student. She admits that she “lives for UConn basketball” and “can’t imagine doing anything else.”

These days, Thomas is playing professional basketball in Ireland. It’s hard to say what she’ll do when her playing days are over, since, although she apparently earned excellent grades, she reveals very little about what she studied at UConn, discusses no mentors except Coach Auriemma, and says she hated school.

Western Conference All-Stars Shaquille O'Neal (left) of the Phoenix Suns and Kobe Bryant (right) of the Los Angeles Lakers shared the MVP award after the NBA All-Star game. Shaq and Kobe have had a drama-filled relationship since O'Neal left the Lakers in 2004. (AP Photo)

The All-Star game has past and so has the trade deadline in the NBA. Bill is joined by Fox Sports’ Kevin Hench to talk about what remains of the season and what to expect down the stretch.

Back in the early nineties, the National Hockey League began charting a course into places where there is no ice or snow. Some of those expansion teams, like the San Jose Sharks, are doing very well. But, others, like the Phoenix Coyotes, are losing money and playing in half empty arenas. Only A Game’s Dave Naylor reports on how some Canadians are calling for an end to the NHL’s sunshine experiment.

There is currently only one undefeated team in any level of basketball this year. That’s the University of Connecticut Lady Huskies. They won their first exhibition game by 51 points and their second by 66. They have yet to lose or even be challenged this season. The San Francisco Chronicle’s Michelle Smith joins the program to talk about UConn and everything else happening in women’s college basketball.

Tom Coyne’s love of golf is apparent in his book, A Course Called Ireland. Coyne tells the story of his journey as he walked through Ireland drinking, eating, integrating himself into the culture, but most of all playing golf. Bill discusses A Course Called Ireland with Tom Coyne. 

Bill and Only A Game analyst Charlie Pierce discuss the anticlimactic NBA trade deadline, offseason baseball acquisitions, and a boxer who’s enhanced something other than her performance.

Getting to the top of the Empire State Building is easy. Wait in line, buy a ticket, climb into the elevator, and less than 60 seconds later you’re on the 86th floor observation deck. But every year there are hundreds of athletes who choose to take in the views the hard way. Only A Game’s Karen Given was on the scene earlier this month for the 32nd Annual Empire State Building Run-Up.