Random Ramblings.......

Nice start by the Bucs last night to upset Houston 4-2.
Anytime you win a game against the best pitcher in the National League (Roy Oswalt), it is always a surprise.
The Bucs (as expected) struggled vs the Wizard. but 3 home runs in three innings by
Nate McLouth(as a pinch-hitter), Xavier Nady and the 2 run game winner by Jason Bay, cost Oswalt the win and tagged the Astro bullpen with the L.
Was very impressed with Zach Duke's 7 innings of work last night.
For 1 day.at least-there is optimism in Pirate Nation.


Tough evening for THE Ohio State University last night, as the Buckeyes lost the NCAA final to the Florida Gators 84-75.
This one wasn't as painful though as the better team won and deservedly so.
The football loss hurt much more, as IMO, OSU was the better team, just picked the wrong night to have a horribly off night.
Greg Oden was dominant though in defeat and showed anyone that would even ponder choosing Kevin Durant over Oden (assuming that Oden is healthy and can be counted on to play consistently) in the NBA draft is undeserving of holding an NBA job.
If you grade them as equal players, you take the big man every time, but if anything about Oden's health scares you and with big men that often happens, you take Durant.
If you are picking first and you are concerned, I'm not chancing another Sam Bowie, but otherwise, Oden would be the choice as watching this game, none of the vaunted Gator frontcourt stars even had a chance to stop him.
As much as I would love to see 1 more year from Oden at OSU, my wager is that last night was his college swan song.

Busy day for my teams as my beloved New Jersey Devils made a coaching change as Claude Julien
got the axe from GM Lou Lamoriello and the Lou will assume coaching duties for the playoffs.
This came as a shock, but I think this is a great move for the Devils and a need to shake things up.
I wasn't a proponent of Julien from the start and despite the Devils excellent record, it has seemed all year like something has been missing.
Hopefully, this move is the adjustment the Devils need going into post-season play.

And in sadder news, it appears that Michigan will hire John Beilein of West Virginia to be their new basketball coach.
Beilein is an excellent coach and teacher of the game and IMO is a tremendous hire for the state "up north".
Beilein should have Michigan improved quickly and should be out-coaching OSU's Thad Matta in no time.
This news greatly distresses me as I was hoping for another Tommy Amaker like hire.