Sports Guesspert

I WISH I was here today to talk to you about the Carolina Hurricanes. But they’re dead and gone from the NHL playoffs. So much for a road trip to Raleigh to see some Stanley Cup games against the Detroit Red Wings. Then again, one never does need a reason not to go to Raleigh, does one?

LET ME EXPLAIN to you why some movies are classic. Because whether you love the film or hate the film, it’s stood the test of time and it tells us what society has a whole feels about an issue.

I always feel bad whenever I read a baseball story and run across a name I’m unfamiliar with. On the one hand, it’s impossible to know the name of every single major-leaguer who comes up. Still, you wonder how some got by you when it happens.

THERE’S DANGER EVERYWHERE.

After the way Carl Edwards’ car almost flew into the stands at Talladega, I’m terrified that something similar could happen at today’s Kentucky Derby.

I IMAGINE THAT the thrill of being called up as the No. 1 selection in the NFL draft has to surpass the thrill of winning a championship football game.

HERE’S WHY I hesitate to call John Madden “a great showman.” I was a big fan of the memoirs Madden cranked out in the ‘80s. Who could resist titles such as “One Knee Equals Two Feet” ... “Hey, Wait a Minute! (I Wrote a Book!)” ... “One Size Doesn’t Fit All” ... and “The Devil Wears Prada “ (OK, not the last title. Besides, if Madden wanted to badmouth his old boss Al Davis...

IF THIS WERE early December, I’d say, “All I want for Christmas is LeBron James.” But this is early April, so I can say, “All I want for Easter is LeBron James.”

WE GOT ANY Kentucky Wildcats in the readership? If so, you’ve got until the mail goes out on Monday to buy from me a highly rare piece of Wildcat memorabilia.

It’s about the drugs, but it’s not about the drugs. That’s the first thing you need to know about the new biography, "The Rocket That Fell to Earth: Roger Clemens and the Rage for Baseball Immortality" by SI.com columnist Jeff Pearlman.

I've only dipped my pinkie toe in the NCAA pool so far because no team — a favorite or underdog — has grabbed my imagination.

Anyone can wirte a March Madness viewing guide. I’m here to offer a March Madness road trip guide. It’s specifically tailored to get you started out of Columbia for each of the cities holding games in the opening weekend of the NCAA tournament.

SINCE I MOVED to Columbia in 2005, I knew that eventually South Carolina and Clemson would both have basketball teams poised to roar through the March Madness brackets in the same year.

First of all ... shame on you if you want to punch a koala: Wow, what a night ... sloppy play here and there, that's for sure. Referees seemed too intent on being quick to the whistle for certain fouls,...

As I type this, Edgerrin James just dropped a pass in the flat on 3rd and 22. But other than a few slips here and there, I have to agree with John Madden. This is a heckuva game.I was going...