What is a mid-major?

With the N.C.A.A. Tournament down to its final four teams, there has been a lot of talk about Butler, which became the second “mid-major” team in the past four years to reach the Final Four. (The other was George Mason, in 2006.)

Now, if you’ve been asking yourself, what exactly is a Mid-major? Well, you’re in the right place.

Northern Iowa, which upset tournament overall No. 1-seeded Kansas, is considered a mid-major. Photo credit: Greg Nelson/ Sports Illustrated

 

The term is used to describe a program that is in the middle of the pack among Division 1-A schools in terms of athletic spending. (More about the NCAA’s Divisions here.)

According to freelance basketball writer Kyle Whelliston, the term was first uttered in 1977, by Jack Kvancz, former head coach at Division II Catholic University.

Whelliston has devoted an entire website, calledmidmajority.com, to covering “mid-majors”, and hasdefined the term as he sees it.

Simply put, mid-major programs are schools who  do not play in one of the following big-budget basketball conferences: 

ACC

Big East

Big Ten

Big Twelve

Mountain West

Pacific Ten

Southeastern

This leaves a total of 24 conferences, and over 250 teams, which are widely considered “mid-majors”. 

Some schools, however, are not happy with this label.

Xavier University, which has reached the N.C.A.A. Tournament’s Round of 16 in each of the past three seasons, is especially sour about hearing the term related to its team. The Musketeers play in the Atlantic 10, a respected basketball conference, and are perennial contenders for the Final Four.

Xavier falls into "mid-major" discussion despite high-level results. Photo credit: Jeff Hanisch/ US Presswire

 

Maureen Dowd

All right, I've thought about this and.... I'm not gonna lie. I like Maureen Dowd. I like her spunk. I like her attitude. I like how she's not afraid to go after people who do stupid things. 

I also think that if she couldn't pull off the fishnet stockings, I probably wouldn't like her as much. 

....What, I thought we were in the nest of truth..right?  (Sorry, line from Old School.)

I think she's a feminist but she gets away with it. I like the way she mocks society a little bit because I think it gives her more personality. 

I think it's a good thing that there are columnists like her. If she was my mom, I'd be pretty upset. But she's not, so she's entitled to her opinion about men and relationships. 

Google Making One Author Stupid

Nicholas Carr is definately getting stupider because of Google. Or else, he wouldn't have written this article. I understand the notion that the ease with which information can be obtained these days may shorten attention spans, but I don't think it's making us stupid. It's making us smarter.

How can you possibly be worse off for being able to look up anything, at any time, with just a couple clicks of a mouse?  A thought pops into your head, and you can look it up and instantly know more about that topic.

The internet isn't meant for long, drawn-out arguments. Computers aren't books. You can't fold them, crease them, underline something on the screen with your fingernail. It's hard to read long blocks of text online with no break.

That's why I just broke. Read a book, and it's a different story. I can still read books. I just use a little thing called concentration. Come on people.

Alternative News Sources in Connecticut

Note: I wanted to try something different with this blog post, so here are the four news websites I visited and how long I stayed there. 

Ameriborn News: "Connecticut's Independent News Network." The first thing I clicked on was the "Dates that Destroyed America" article written by Chuck Baldwin, who looks like a cross between Bill O'Reilly and some other conservative jerk. His column would be okay if it wasn't COMPLETELY SLANTED TO THE RIGHT. I also couldn't finish it because it was longer than the Bible. 

If you like reading a regurgitated written version of your own conservative thoughts in a large block of uninterrupted text online, Ameriborn news is for you.  GRADE: D+

This is a gratuitous picture to keep your attention. CAN YOU HEAR ME CTMIRROR?!!! It will also upset Matthew Galka, which is a plus.

New Haven Independent: "It's Your Town. Read All About It." This one I liked. I think the Events Calendar on the upper right is great for someone who lives in New Haven. I also thought the layout was great and the number of pictures were engaging. The "Extra! Extra!" thing on the side is good because it takes some of the top headlines and splits them up from the main portion of the page, which is loaded with pictures, links, and YouTube videos. Great layout, excellent local angle.   GRADE: A

                                 

CT News Junkie: It's basically the same thing as above. Lots of pictures, lots of stuff to hold your attention.   GRADE: A

Connecticut Mirror: This site might be good, but I don't know because I honestly couldn't focus on it for more than three seconds. It's just different blocks of uninterrupted text. It's like staring at the sun. The words might as well be in Mongolian; I can't read it.      GRADE: See me after class.

Sweet 16 Breakdown: West Region

WEST REGION BREAKDOWN

1 SYRACUSE vs. 4 BUTLER

Butler advanced to the round of 16 by knocking out potential Cinderellas UTEP and Murray State. Now they face a Syracuse team that eviscerated Gonzaga. The Orange have been dominant in the NCAAs, despite the loss of starting center Arinze Onuaku. Head coach Jim Boeheim isn't optimistic that Onuaku will play in the Regional Semifinals. Still, it's going to take a monumental effort for the Bulldogs to stay with Syracuse.                                                                                                                                                                               

  

Wesley Johnson and the 'Cuse have looked like a No. 1 seed so far.

WINNER: 1 SYRACUSE

2 KANSAS ST. vs. 6 XAVIER

For all the talk about Gonzaga and Butler busting up brackets each March, there is very little mention of the best team from outside the Power Six conferences. Xavier has reached the Sweet 16 in each of the past three seasons, including an Elite Eight trip in 2008. The Musketeers are led by 6-4 guard Jordan Crawford. Crawford is an Indiana transfer whose claim to fame before the tournament had been his much-publicized dunk over LeBron James. Now, Crawford is the go-to guy on an improving Xavier team that has become a March staple. The Musketeers are the more experienced team, and may have the best player in Crawford, but K-State has an outstanding backcourt combo in Denis Clemente and Jacob Pullen. The Wildcats will be a tough out in the West. 

WINNER: 6 XAVIER

 

Sweet 16 Breakdown: East Region

EAST REGION BREAKDOWN:

1 KENTUCKY vs. 12 CORNELL

No team in the entire field has played better than Cornell over the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament. The Big Red have been a machine, dominating 5th-seeded Temple and 4th-seeded Wisconsin with deadly sharpshooting, and big-stop defense. Guard Ryan Wittman has proven himself to be one of college basketball's most feared shooters. Now, the challenge for the kids from the Ivy League will be to overcome Kentucky's incredible athleticism. Neither Temple nor Wisconsin had athletes like the Wildcats have, and it will be tough for Cornell to match up on the boards. 

John Wall is the glue that holds Kentucky's offense together. 

WINNER: 1 KENTUCKY

11 WASHINGTON vs. 2 WEST VIRGINIA

Bloodied, but unbowed, Washington and West Virginia have survived. The Huskies managed to claw their way into the tournament after an uninspiring regular season by winning the Pac-10 tournament. They sure haven't taken their NCAA appearance for granted. After beating Marquette on a game-winner by Quincy Pondexter, the Huskies mopped the floor with the 30-4 New Mexico Lobos. West Virginia fell behind 10-0 to 15th-seed Morgan State before rallying to put the Bears away. The Mountaineers also lost starting point guard Darrell "Truck" Bryant for the rest of the tournament, after the sophomore broke his foot in practice yesterday. Without Bryant, Washington may have more depth in the backcourt, but they don't have Da'Sean Butler. He will be the reason why WVU pulls it out in Syracuse.

Butler has made all the big shots for WVU all season long. 

WINNER: 2 WEST VIRGINIA

Sweet 16 Breakdown: Midwest Region

MIDWEST REGION

 9 NORTHERN IOWA vs. 5 MICHIGAN ST.

The college basketball world won't soon forget the Panthers' stunning upset of Tournament overall No. 1 seed Kansas on Saturday. The rest of the world has likely already forgotten the name of the guard that buried the Jayhawks, but only because his name is Ali Faroukmenesh. "The Rouk," as CBS' Set

h Davis dubbed him, led the team with 16 points and one gutsy three that put Missouri Valley champ Northern Iowa into the Sweet 16. 

Now, the Panthers get a Michigan State squad that lost its best player, guard Kalin Lucas, to an achilles' injury in the Spartans' win over Maryland. If UNI can continue to hit open jumpers against Michigan State's ball-pressure defense, the Panthers can continue their magic carpet ride to the Elite 8. 

Northern Iowa sent the 'Hawks home with airtight D and a little help from "The Rouk."

WINNER: 9 NORTHERN IOWA

6 TENNESSEE vs. 2 OHIO STATE

Ohio State has been impressive in eliminating both 15 Cal-Santa Barbara and 10 Georgia Tech. Now, they face a Tennessee squad that can speed them up offensively. If Vols guards Scotty Hopson and J.P. Prince can take National Player of the Year candidate Evan Turner out of his game, Tennessee will advance to the Elite Eight for the first time under head coach Bruce Pearl. 

Do-everything guard Evan Turner has been outstanding for the Bucks.

WINNER: 6 TENNESSEE

Sweet 16 Breakdown: South Region

SOUTH REGION

GAME-BY-GAME BREAKDOWNS:

10 SAINT MARY'S  vs. 3 BAYLOR

 

 Saint Mary's center Omar Samhan has shown the entire country just how good he is through the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament. Samhan is averaging 30.5 points on 24-for-32 shooting, and has been the most outstanding player of the region. If the Gaels can keep shooting the ball the way they have through the first two rounds, there's no reason they can't beat Baylor.

 

  

Saint Mary's advanced to the Sweet 16 for the first time ever.

WINNER:  10 SAINT MARY'S

1 DUKE VS. 4 PURDUE

The Blue Devils have steamrolled through the first two rounds behind terrific shooting and solid offensive rebounding. This is where their only-for-Duke, fall-out-of the-sky dream draw comes in to play, as they face a Purdue team they already defeated before the Boilers lost F Robbie Hummel. 

Purdue's Chris Kramer has led the Boilermakers to a surprise Sweer 16 run.

WINNER: 1 DUKE

Obamacare is good for America

Imagine, congress actually getting something done. In my opinion, the Obamacare bill is good for Americans because there are some things free enterprise just shouldn’t control. Healthcare is chief among them.

 

If you are an American, you should have to contribute to the pot because healthcare is too serious an issue to leave to the free market and the insurance company fatcats, who skimp on coverage so they can finance their beach houses. America is about freedom, like Republicans preach, but it is also about equality. There are some things in life that everyone, no matter where they come from, no matter how much money they make, should have access to.

 

That’s what government is for. Think about how much it would cost for a gallon of milk or an ear of corn if the government didn’t subsidize farmers. No one in America should be denied food when they are hungry, and no one should be denied a doctor when they are sick.

 

That’s just the way I see it. 

"Stealing" A Harsh Word for File Sharers

If you are reading this right now, you are online. That means you are connected to a galaxy’s worth of information, all available to you at your fingertips.

All you have to do is think of a topic, and you are a Google search away from learning about it.

“It’s really amazing to see how far it’s come in just the past few years,” said Michelle Dayton, who teaches digital media classes at Thomaston High School in Connecticut.

“I remember when it would take a few hours to find good information about something on the internet. Today, it takes minutes,” Dayton said.

Still, this new era of information sharing can leave users caught in a moral conundrum.

If all this information is available at such ease and for free, why would anyone pay for it?

“It’s something where you ask yourself,  why would I waste a dollar to download this song on iTunes, when I can just get it for free?” said Alex Dunn, 20, of Thomaston, Conn. 

Dunn said his computer came with Limewire, which is an application which allows users to download music for free. 

Limewire was sued for copyright infringement by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in 2006, but judges ruled that there were legitimate, legal uses for the application. The ruling placed the onus on users to make sure that they didn’t download illegal content. 

“I don’t understand why they go after the individuals when clearly Limewire would be nothing if it wasn’t for [illegal downloading].”

Connor Pesce, 19,  of Thomaston, also said that he uses Limewire, and that he believes most of his friends do as well. 

“I think everyone I know uses it,” he said. “It’s just the easiest way [to get music].”

Thus, the conundrum we have today. When something is easy, free, and popular, people feel more comfortable doing it even though it may technically be illegal. 

For its part, Limewire does display a message warning users that the content they are downloading may be copyright, and thus, illegal. Still, with over 30 million users, the application isn’t exactly leading the fight against illegal downloading.

People are using Limewire to download music for free.

 

“I think that someone within the recording industry has got to figure out a solution for this,” said Michelle Dayton. 

“They’re not going to be able to stop downloading the way they are going about it now. When things change, you have to be able to adapt to survive,” she said. “Today more than ever.”

Greg Mortenson Enlightens at Quinnipiac

Talk about inspiring. Nationally-renowned humanitarian Greg Mortenson's visit to Quinnipiac University made me feel inadequate as a human being, while at the same time stirring up the feeling that I can make a difference in the world.

Mortenson told the story of how he had set out to climb K2 in Pakistan, the second-tallest mountain in the world, but ended up lost and dehydrated. Locals in Korphe, a tiny Pakistani village, helped him recover. He got to know them as friends, and noticed that children in the village had no formal school to go to.

He has since helped build 78 schools for over 33,000 Pakistani and Afghan children.

"When I saw those children sitting in the dirt, I made a promise to myself that I was going to help them [build a school]," Mortenson said.

Hearing Greg Mortenson speak at Quinnipiac, I am going to make a promise too. I promise that I am going to help leave this world a better place. I'm going to do something that will make a difference. No question about it. Thanks, Mr. Mortenson, for inspiring me to give more.

Greg Mortenson's visit to QU was

inspirational, to say the least. Photo

credit: http://www.brazosbookstore.com/event/mortenson-luncheon

NCAA Tournament: Midwest Region

BITE-SIZE BREAKDOWN:

MIDWEST REGION

The best player in the Midwest Region just might be Ohio State guard Evan Turner. Turner might even be the best player in the entire bracket. The junior guard is nearly averaging a double-double, with 20.3 points and 9.2 rebounds per game. He also did this to Michigan in the Big Ten tournament:

Yeah, he's pretty good. And that's why he is the biggest threat to top-seeded Kansas in the Midwest bracket.

MIDWEST SLEEPER: 11 SAN DIEGO ST. What else do you want in a sleeper? The Aztecs have a good coach (Steve Fisher), excellent balance (four players average in double figures in scoring), and, if it comes down to it, a go-to guy in the clutch. Kawhi Leonard hit eight consecutive free throws with under two minutes to play to help the Aztecs clinch the Mountain West conference championship against UNLV.

MIDWEST CHAMPION: 1 KANSAS The Jayhawks have the nation's deepest (and perhaps most talented) team. Point guard Sherron Collins is one of the grittiest players in the country, and the unquestioned heart and soul of this group of Jayhawks. If any one player can will his team to a national championship, it just might be Collins, who returned for his senior season for the sole purpose of cutting down the nets for the second time in his illustrious Kansas career. If the 'Hawks do it, you can bet Collins' jersey will be hung from the rafters at Allen Fieldhouse, alongside KU greats for years.

Sherron Collins has the heart to lead the best team in the Heartland to the title.

NCAA Tournament: West Region

BITE SIZE BREAKDOWN:

WEST REGION

If there's one team that has a right to complain about their seeding in this year's NCAA Tournament, it's Syracuse. The Orange had a fantastic season, finishing 28-4 overall and winning the Big East regular season championship by two games. Still, they were chosen as the fourth No. 1 seed by the selection committee, largely because center Arinze Onuaku was banged up in Syracuse's quarterfinal loss to Georgetown in the Big East tournament. Onuaku is expected to miss the Cuse's first-round game against Vermont, but coach Jim Boeheim is hopeful that he could return in time for the Sweet 16, should Syracuse be there. Onuaku or not, the Orange have been one of the best teams in the country all season long. They deserved a higher spot in the pecking order than Duke, which tied for the league title in a mediocre ACC.

WEST REGION SLEEPER: 12 UTEP The Miners may be the most dangerous sleeper in the entire field. UTEP is led by ultra-athletic guard Randy Culpepper, who averaged 18.0 points a game. They can also boast big-time talent down low, with former Louisville standout Derrick Caracter. This team has the talent to reach the Elite Eight, although they'd likely have to go through Syracuse to get there.

Don't believe in the Miners? Watch UTEP's Randy Culpepper in action:

WEST REGION CHAMPION: 1 SYRACUSE. The Orange have too much talent to be tripped up by anyone else in the bracket. No. 2 seed Kansas State will pose a challenge if their talented backcourt of Jacob Pullen and Denis Clemente can knock down shots, but Syracuse has too much length on the wings. The 'Cuse advance to the Final Four.

NCAA Tournament: East Region

BITE-SIZE BREAKDOWN

EAST REGION

Sure, Kentucky is young. They're inexperienced. So was Doogie Howser. And let's face it, that analogy was 100% valid. The Wildcats have what it takes to not only navigate the East Region, arguably the toughest in the entire bracket, but to capture the golden trophy at the end of the event. Freshman guards John Wall and Eric Bledsoe are two of the most talented in the nation, and forwards DeMarcus Cousins and Patrick Patterson add bulk inside. UK is as talented as any team in the country, and, much like Doogie, are capable of winning the hearts of a nation.

EAST REGION SLEEPER: 12 CORNELL The Big Red aren't sneaking up on anybody. The non-scholarship Ivy league school from Ithaca, N.Y. blew any chance they had at anonymity then when they waltzed into Allen Fieldhouse and nearly clipped No. 1 Kansas in January. Still, guard Ryan Wittman and center Jeff Foote are two of the best players in the East Region. It would be surprising if Cornell didn't make a lot of noise in Jacksonville on the first weekend.

EAST REGION CHAMPION: 2 WEST VIRGINIA Sorry, Doogie. Kentucky may be the most talented team in the country, but West Virginia is the toughest. Da'Sean Butler turned the Big East tournament into his own personal Gerry McNamara audition tape. Point guard Joe Mazzula played half the season with a shoulder so busted up that he couldn't even shoot free throws with his right hand. And Devin Ebanks may be the closest thing to an individual Tournament sleeper in the entire bracket. The Mountaineers will grit their way to Indianapolis.

West Virginia will find a way to reach the Final Four.

NCAA Tournament: South Region

BITE -SIZE BREAKDOWNS

SOUTH REGION

If you're scouring the South region for the team that could cut down the nets, avert your eyes from Duke. Sure, the Blue Devils were the class of the ACC this year, but that's a lot like being the most well-behaved kid in detention. Duke simply doesn't have the inside presence to compete with teams like Syracuse, Kansas, West Virginia, and Kentucky. They are a perimeter-oriented team that relies far too heavily on three-point shooting to win games. As the old basketball proverb goes, "Live by the three, die by the three." The Grim Reaper could be hovering over Duke as early as Round 2, when a rugged Louisville club could come calling.

SOUTH REGION SLEEPER: RICHMOND The Spiders have an excellent backcourt with Kevin Anderson and David Gonzalvez. If Richmond can find a way to get past talented F Omar Samhan and Saint Mary's in Round 1, the Spiders have a chance to stick to the wall in the South.

SOUTH REGION CHAMPION: VILLANOVA The Wildcats aren't as good as they were last season when they reached the Final Four. But they're way better than Duke. 'Nova eviscerated the Blue Devils with athleticism and toughness in last year's Sweet 16, and that's what they'll do if they meet again in the Elite Eight this year. If there's one team that should be rejoicing about where they landed on Selection Sunday, it's the Wildcats.

Villanova should be jumping for joy over their NCAA draw.

Photo credit: (Ron Cortes / Staff Photographer ) (Philadelphia Inquirer and Daily News )

Blink fans thrilled with reunion, still waiting for songs

Surviving a plane crash will give you new perspective. Blink 182 drummer Travis Barker certainly has that. After Barker survived a September 2008 wreck that killed four, band members Tom DeLonge and Mark Hoppus set aside personal differences and started talking again. In early 2009, the three announced during the Grammy Awards that the iconic band was making a comeback. Blink fans were delirious with joy.

“I couldn’t believe it, I was so happy,” said Jonathan Abbott, a 17-year old from Torrington, Conn, “But yeah, I am still waiting for the music to come.”

Blink 182 has reunited, but fans are still waiting to hear the results. Image courtesy: www.aversion.com/bands/blink182/images/blink182.jpeg

The music isn’t here yet. The band completed a reunion tour in October of 2009, and vocalist Mark Hoppus hinted that a new album may be ready for 2010. But it’s more likely that the album won’t be ready for release until 2011, according to Tom DeLonge, who told Billboard that the band was indiscussions with Interscope Records about the new effort. Still, fans are chomping at the bit to hear something, anything from the band.

Kristen Foster, who represents DeLonge, said she is constantly hounded by fans who want to know when the reunion will result in new music. Foster declined to comment about release dates, but said fans will love the effort, in large part due to DeLonge’s ability to come up with new ideas.

“Most people don’t realize how smart Tom is,” she said. “He’s an exceptionally smart guy who will succeed at just about anything he does because of his intelligence.”

Delays in Hayes trial unfair to Petits

These are the kinds of things I don't get about the world. Lawyers for Steven Hayes, a man accused of killing Jennifer Hawke-Petit and her two daughters, Hayley, 17, and Micaela,11, in 2007, are trying to delay Hayes' trial even more by claiming that he is being treated "inhumanely."

I guess Hayes deserves some level of fair treatment, on the 0.0000004 % chance that he is innocent, but the case has already taken 3 years to get to court. 

It's not fair to Dr. Petit, the only survivor in the attack. He has to deal with this every single day anyway, but now the stress of the trial just adds to the time and effort he has to put into this. There has got to be a better judicial system than this. Just because an accused murderer is being treated unfairly in prison doesn't mean we have to treat the victim unfairly. 

 Get the trial going and then we won't have to talk about it anymore.