THE BIG DANCE IS OFFICIALLY UNDERWAY TODAY WITH 5 OF THE RECORD 7 TEXAS SCHOOLS PLAYING FIRST ROUND GAMES, INCLUDING NORTH TEXAS AGAINST KANSAS STATE, BAYLOR AGAINST SAM HOUSTON STATE, TEXAS EL PASO AGAINST BUTLER AND TEXAS AGAINST WAKE FOREST. TWO OVERTIME FINISHES ALREADY WITH 2ND SEED VILLANOVA AVOIDING THE UPSET BY 15TH SEED ROBERT MORRIS, 73-70 AND BYU FENDING OFF FLORIDA, 99-92 IN DOUBLE OT.
RANGERS RETURN TO CACTUS LEAGUE PLAY AGAINST THE BREWERS TONIGHT AT 8 ON THE FAN. GENERAL MANAGER JON DANIELS TELLS THE FAN’S NEWY AND RICHIE THE RANGERS WEREN’T BLACKMAILED BY A FORMER EMPLOYEE INTO REVEALING THAT MANAGER RON WASHINGTON USED COCAINE LAST SUMMER AND UNDERWENT BASEBALL-MANDATED COUNSELING. RANGERS HAMMERED THE MARINERS LAST NIGHT, 8-1 AS NELLIE CRUZ HIT TWO HOMERS AND JOSH HAMILTON AND CHRIS DAVIS EACH WENT HIGH.
STARS WELCOME THE FLYERS TO AMERICAN AIRLINES CENTER TONIGHT, HOPING TO BUILD ON THEIR MOST RECENT HOME WIN OVER THE WESTERN CONFERENCE LEADING SHARKS. STARS ARE 12TH IN THE WEST, SEVEN POINTS OUT OF THE 8TH AND FINAL PLAYOFF SPOT CURRENTLY HELD BY THE HATED RED WINGS.
FIRED TEXAS TECH COACH MIKE LEACH SAYS HE EXPECTS TO RETURN TO COLLEGE FOOTBALL. HE SAYS HE HOPES TO SOMEDAY WORK AT A PROGRAM THAT STRESSES HIGH GRADUATION RATES AND EXCELLENCE ON THE FIELD—BOTH OF WHICH HE SAYS HE ENJOYED AT TEXAS TECH. LEACH WAS FIRED DECEMBER 30TH AMID ALLEGATIONS HE MISTREATED A PLAYER WITH A CONCUSSION. LEACH DENIES HE MISTREATED RECEIVER ADAM JAMES, WHO SAYS LEACH TWICE ORDERED HIM TO STAND FOR HOURS WHILE CONFINED IN A DARK PLACE. LEACH HAS SUED TEXAS TECH OVER HIS FIRING.
