Only one low seed has made it through to the Sweet Sixteen (Arizona....sorry about that whole you shouldn't be in the Tournament thing), but that doesn't mean the games won't be good. The matchups are stellar, and here's a list of who will be calling the games in the four different regions....

THURSDAY, MARCH 26

Connecticut vs. Purdue (Glendale, 7pm)- Dick Enberg, Jay Bilas
Pittsburgh vs. Xavier (Boston, 7:30pm)- Verne Lundquist, Bill Raftery
Memphis vs. Missouri (Glendale, 9:30pm)- Dick Enberg, Jay Bilas
Duke vs. Villanova (Boston, 9:30pm)- Verne Lundquist, Bill Raftery

FRIDAY, MARCH 27

Louisville vs. Arizona (Indianapolis, 7pm)- Gus Johnson, Len Elmore
Oklahoma vs. Syracuse (Memphis, 7:30pm)- Jim Nantz, Clark Kellogg
Kansas vs. Michigan State (Indianapolis, 9:30pm)- Gus Johnson, Len Elmore
North Carolina vs. Gonzaga (Memphis, 10pm)- Jim Nantz, Clark Kellogg

Watching Siena take out Ohio State the other night was a extremely entertaining (in more ways than one), but it probably wasn't for one religious fan. Multiple times during the two overtime contest, a camera angle of the Siena bench showed a fan displaying a "John 3:16" sign. Well not everyone appreciated said fans choice of expression. Watch the security on the left around the :12 mark of this clip....

Wow. Now I certainly was distracted by the sign at times (mainly because you could see the guy occasionally while play was going on), but that sort of comes with the territory in College Sports. Actually all Sports for that matter.

The thing I wonder, even though it's highly unlikely, is whether CBS requested the sign's removal. Someone will probably be getting a call or two come Monday.

Security Guard From Hell (March to Madness)

Sure there were a few close games in the opening round (I was even at the VCU-UCLA game but it certainly wasn't nearly as exciting as it probably looked on television), but tonight the tournament officially started. Within 10 minutes of each other, both Gonzaga and Duke survived with amazing finishes and advanced onto the Sweet Sixteen....

Ahh yes. That's more like it. I certainly would have liked to see the Duke-Texas finish the same way as the Gonzaga one, but I'll take it. Great play by Scheyer too. He may look like a freak, but the guy is damn intelligent.

Hey all, your fearless leader here. Just wanted to let you know that for at least the first few days of the Tournament, you'll be getting open threads once again. It's not because I'm lazy, but rather because I'll be in Philly for the first round games! While the matchups aren't exactly what I would have hoped for, it still should be a blast. Nothing better than spending a day watching Basketball in the middle of the week.

So what does that mean for you? Well every year, I like to do my best to give round by round quotes from the announcers, and this year I need your help! If you're watching the first couple of days of the Tournament, and you hear someone say something hilarious (and you're near a computer), help a brother and post it within the open thread. I should have the first two rounds up early Monday, and then when can figure out what to do the rest of the way later on that week.

Thanks for all of your help, your continued patronage, and enjoy the best day of the year tomorrow!

This isn't making that much news, but it's probably important to talk about given all of the deals ESPN has struck lately. The NCAA has the option of getting out of its 11-year deal with CBS, following the 2010 Tournament, and the "Leader" could be lurking in the shadows. CBS President, Sean McManus, thinks a move is unlikely though. Via the NY Times....

Sean McManus, the president of CBS News and CBS Sports, said that he had had informal talks with the N.C.A.A. about an extension. “We have a pretty good track record of renewing all our deals well before they expire,” he said by phone Monday.

CBS does not want to see the tournament leave. “It fits perfectly into our schedule, and it’s become one of the signature sports,” McManus said. “So I’d rather not anticipate life at CBS Sports without it.”

A CBS Sports without the tournament, he said, would mean less regular-season basketball. Why ladle out the soup if you can’t serve the entrees — and receive about $1 million for a 30-second ad in the championship game?

Greg Shaheen, the N.C.A.A. senior vice president for basketball and business strategies, praised the N.C.A.A.’s relationship with CBS and said that “our interests are how to best create a continuing long-term relationship that benefits our membership.” He said there was “not much to discuss” on the opt-out.

Sure it's a longshot, but that's what people were saying about the BCS a few years ago. These are crazy economic times, but ESPN is playing with Monopoly money and it wouldn't shock me if they put a little bit of pressure on CBS.

N.C.A.A. Can Opt Out of Deal With CBS After 2010 (NY Times)

Sorry for the delay in posting (another travel day), and I wasn't going to put anything up, but this is too good to not post. The MMOD player has been added to the CBS March Madness site, and naturally the first thing I wanted to check out was how ridiculous the excel spreadsheet is when you click on the "boss button". To my dismay, CBS not only made every item on the sheet basketball related, but they now have advertising on the thing. Here's a screenshot (click for larger)....


Umm, CBS....doesn't that completely defeat the purpose of the button to begin with? Oh well. It's not like last year's "fruit inspired" one was that much better. Other than that, the player looks amazing. You can click through old games and the quality is beyond amazing. Good stuff, CBS.

MMOD Video (CBS)

CBS continues to just blow away the competition when it comes to access to the NCAA Tournament. Not only has the network improved on what was already an amazing "On Demand" product, but they've also developed an I-Phone app so you won't have to even worry about using the "Boss Button". Via CBS....

Developed by CBS Sports Mobile with partner MobiTV, the application uses MobiTV's streaming technology to deliver live video over a Wi-Fi connection. The NCAA March Madness on Demand iPhone and iPod touch application will provide live video of all 63 games from the first round of the tournament through the semifinal and final games of the Men's Final Four, as well as access to tournament brackets updated in real-time with up-to-the minute scores, and the ability to click directly from brackets into live video. It will also provide exclusive CBSSports.com Edge Matchup game previews, including team breakdowns and matchup comparisons to prepare fans for each step on the Road to the Final Four®.

During live game action, NCAA March Madness on Demand application users can access in-game box scores and player stats - even as an overlay on top of the video. Following each game, they can also view a full tournament scoreboard, including game recaps, player and team stats and video highlights of every tournament game. All games from the Final Four will also be available for $1.99 each on Apple's iTunes Store the day after they are completed.

The NCAA March Madness on Demand application is now available for $4.99 from Apple's App Store on iPhone and iPod touch or at http://www.cbspressexpress.com/siteadmin/actions/www.itunes.com/appstore/

That is just flat out amazing. I love the fact that you can click around using the bracket and an overlay of stats over the video is ingenious. CBS knows exactly what they're doing. Bravo.

Man this is depressing. The man who is responsible for the song "One Shining Moment" making it onto CBS' airwaves all the way back in 1987, has passed away today. CBS released the following statement about TV Exec, Doug Towey, who at the time of "OSM's" inclusion in the tournament was a Creative Director at the network....

Longtime network television executive for CBS Sports, Doug Towey, passed away Wednesday morning after a long illness.

Among the many highlights of Towey’s Emmy Award-winning career in television was his direct role in making the song “One Shining Moment” the iconic hallmark anthem of college basketball and CBS Sports’ coverage of the NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Championship each March. Folk singer David Barrett penned the song in 1986 and gave it to his high school friend CBS News Chief Investigative Correspondent, and then Sports Illustrated staff writer, Armen Keteyian. Keteyian passed it along to Towey who planned to use it to accompany the Network’s closing highlights of Super Bowl XXI in January 1987. But due to long-running interviews the song never made it to air. A couple of months later, Towey was looking for a way to bring CBS Sports’ NCAA Tournament coverage to a close and decided to use it. “One Shining Moment” made its Final Four debut on March 30, 1987, following Keith Smart’s baseline jumper in the final seconds that gave Indiana a 74-73 victory over Syracuse.

Throughout his over 34-year network television career Towey played a role in the broadcast of virtually every major sporting event in the world including several Olympic Games, Super Bowls, World Series, NBA Finals, NCAA Championships and Final Fours, the Masters®, PGA Championships, U.S. Open Tennis Championships, as well as many other events.

What better send off could we give Towey, than playing that very first "One Shining Moment" from 1987? Wait until 1:45....I get goosebumps every time....

Obviously the biggest change for this year's NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament on CBS, is the fact that Billy Packer will not be involved in the Madness. Because of that move, Clark Kellogg is taking over his seat next to Jim Nantz, and Greg Anthony will be filling Kellogg's role in-studio. Other than that, nothing has changed since last season. Here are your pairings, and while their locations haven't quite been sorted out, you can plan on the top four teams being your Sweet Sixteeners....

Jim Nantz/Clark Kellogg
Dick Enberg/Carter Blackburn/Jay Bilas
Verne Lundquist/Bill Raftery
Gus Johnson/Len Elmore
Kevin Harlan/Dan Bonner
Ian Eagle/Jim Spanarkel
Craig Bolerjack/Bob Wenzel
Tim Brando/Mike Gminski

(Reporters: Lesley Visser, Tracy Wolfson and Sam Ryan)

Again, I've never really had a problem with the pairings that CBS comes up with, and after last season the only team I would have dropped would have been Brando and Gminski. Should be another fun month of March, my friends!

I love old clips of Sports broadcasts, and I've been known to spend an hour or so watching random ones on Youtube. Well this clip created by Didn't Draw Iron is even more fun than that. DDI not only used the voice of Dick Stockton on an old 1986 All-Star reel, but he even added in video of current players. Enjoy!

Amazing. This is the most ingenuitive thing I've seen in quite some time. I'm pretty sure that Jameer Nelson didn't get the most votes though. I kid....great work.

Vintage 1980’s Style 2009 NBA All Star Preview Found! (Didn't Draw Iron)

Ever since Deadspin unleashed holy hell on a Simmons article about a year ago, the Sports Guy's pieces have been without comment. Since then, only Rick Reilly has been added to the commentless ranks, while all other works on ESPN.com can be picked apart and debated. CBS Sports reporter, Cameron Martin, decided to ask ESPN why this is so, and ESPN Spokesman Paul Melvin had this to say....

Me: "Paul, I had a question about ESPN columnists that I was going to address in my CBS column on Monday: Why can't readers comment on Rick Reilly and Bill Simmons columns? And why is it only them? Is it to protect the idea that these two columnists are universally loved? Jemele Hill and DJ Gallo and Scoop Jackson and Gene W get hammered by some readers. Why isn't that same courtesy extended to Bill and Rick? Seems disingenuous. Thanks, Cameron Martin."

ESPN: "Cameron, Bill and Rick's accessibility to fans has always been part of their style, and they both have developed long-standing practices of engaging their fans. Bill has a history of using his interaction with his readers as part of his voice and has, through the years, developed a regular, robust 'mailbag' style column that is a favorite of readers. Rick's connection to the personal stories of people in all walks of life has helped give him his signature voice. With respect to those traditions, we've chosen to continue to present their interaction with readers through those avenues."

(As non-answers go, that's pretty good. Unfortunately I wasn't looking for a non-answer.)

Me: "Paul, thanks for the reply. Quick follow-up: In this new era of change, transparency and accountability, isn't it a bit antiquated and un-American to try to control feedback from the public? What if President Obama wanted to comment directly on one of Rick Reilly's stories? Shouldn't he be able to announce to the world, ‘Rick, you're an inspiration to millions everywhere'?"

ESPN: "Hi Cameron. Appreciate the follow up, but I think our earlier comment is all we're going to have to offer here. Paul Melvin."

Okay, well that was a pretty obscure response, wasn't it? To be fair, Simmons and Reilly get about ten times the criticism that other writers get, and I don't fault ESPN for not wanting to sift through, and delete, over 1,000 comments or so. It's still interesting that with the thick skin that both Reilly and Simmons probably have at this point, that they wouldn't just go ahead and unleash the hounds on their articles.

Oh and if you're a dog owner, and want to have a good cry, read Simmons latest article on the passing of his Golden Retriever.

Monday S.P.O.R.T.S. Cam: Bad breaks, worst football state wrapup (CBS Sports)

Great find by reader JF this afternoon. Tim Brando was on the "Paul Finebaum Show" this past Tuesday, and after an Auburn fan questioned his credentials, he want on a pretty intense tirade directed against the caller. Here is the audio....

Hilarious. It's rare that a broadcaster completely loses their cool like that, but always funny to hear. Good times down there at Auburn....Goooood Times.

Tim Brando Interview (Paul Finebaum Show)

There's almost little to no way that NBC will lose the rights to the Olympics, but with Time Warner by their side, CBS will attempt to make that a reality when the Games' right are up on the block. NBC's contract will be over following the 2012 Summer Games, and a slew of networks will be vying for the 2014 Winter Olympics, and 2016 Summer Games (possibly held in Chicago). Via USA Today....

CBS Corp. and Time Warner Inc. executives have discussed joining forces to bid on rights to televise the Olympics in 2014 and 2016, turning that competition into an even greater clash of media titans.

TV empires headed by incumbent NBC, Fox and ABC-ESPN have all said they expect to bid for the the U.S. rights. Because of the economy, the International Olympic Committee has said it was prepared to postpone the negotiations until after the 2016 host city was named next October.

If CBS works with Time Warner, competition could be televised on CBS plus popular cable networks TBS and TNT. Time Warner also owns CNN, CNN Headline News, Turner Movie Classics and the Cartoon Network.

The CBS-Turner talks, confirmed by both sides this week to The Associated Press, were only preliminary. No decision has been made about going forward with a bid, said Shirley Powell, a Turner Networks spokeswoman.

Sean McManus, CBS Sports president, said that while the Olympics were undeniably attractive, there's a danger in thinking the success of Beijing — keyed by Michael Phelps' eight gold medals and the attractive setting — would necessarily carry over.

I personally believe that last sentence is the key to this whole thing. Phelps probably has one, maybe two games left in him, and to pay for the rights would almost be like rolling the dice. If the 2016 Summer Olympics are held in Chicago, and Michael Phelps is still competing, then the numbers would almost surely pass those of Beijing. If the Games are in Tokyo or Madrid, and Phelps isn't in the pool, whoever purchased the Olympiad package will be stuck with a Summer much like the Athens Games in 2004.

CBS, Time Warner execs discuss Olympics TV bid (USA Today)

So I hit you with the ESPN/ABC NBA preview earlier today, and if you were paying close attention you probably noticed that Greg Anthony is no longer with ESPN. The Basketball analyst has jumped ship over to CBS, and will be replacing Clark Kellogg on the studio team. Kellogg, who recently moved to Billy Packer's empty analyst position after his departure from the network, will of course be paired with Jim Nantz for the 2008-2009 College Basketball Season. That will then make your studio team consist of Greg Gumbel, Seth Davis and Anthony.

The network will tip-off coverage with Memphis at Georgetown on December 13th, and will also carry action from five Conference Championships (MVC, Big Ten, SEC, Pac-10 and Conference USA). Other important dates to mark on your calendar are as follows:

March 15, 2009- NCAA Tournament Selection Show
Thursday, March 19, 2009- First-round Tournament action begins
Saturday, April 4- The Final Four
Monday, April 6, 2009- ThChampionship Game

Here's your entire game schedule for '08-'09 on CBS....

Sat., Dec. 13

Memphis at Georgetown (2pm)
Indiana at Kentucky (4pm)

Sat., Dec. 20

Duke - Xavier (2pm, From New Jersey)*
Michigan State-Texas (2pm, From Houston)*
Connecticut at Gonzaga (4pm)*
Purdue - Davidson (4pm, From Indy)*

Sat., Dec. 27

West Virginia at Ohio State (4pm)

Sat., Jan. 3

North Carolina at Florida (4pm)

Sun., Jan. 4

Kentucky at Louisville (4:30pm)

Sat., Jan. 10

Kansas at Michigan State (1pm)

Sun., Jan. 11

Wisconsin at Purdue (1:30pm)

Sat., Jan. 17

Georgetown at Duke (1:30pm)
Arizona State at UCLA (3:45pm)

Sat., Jan. 24

Memphis at Tennessee (3:30pm)

Sun., Jan. 25

Florida at Vandy (1:30pm)
Michigan State at Ohio State (3:45)

Sat., Jan. 31

Michigan at Purdue (1pm)*
Washington State at Arizona (1pm)*

Sat., Feb. 7

Notre Dame at UCLA (1pm)*
Ole Miss at Vandy (1pm)*

Sun., Feb. 8

Purdue at Illinois (1pm)

Sat., Feb. 14

UCLA at Arizona (1pm)*
Kentucky at Arkansas (1pm)*

Sun., Feb. 15

Illinois at Indiana (1pm)

Sat., Feb. 21

Tennessee at Kentucky (1pm)*
Army at Navy (1pm)*

Sun., Feb. 22

Indiana at Purdue (1pm)*
Wisconsin at Michigan State (1pm)*
Illinois at Ohio State (1pm)*
Villanova at Syracuse (1pm)*

Sat., Feb. 28

Georgia Tech at North Carolina (Noon)
Notre Dame at Connecticut (2pm)
LSU at Kentucky (4pm)

*- Regional Coverage

That's an attention grabbing headline isn't it? And I wish it was a joke but alas, it's very very real. From Philly.com via AZ Sports Hub comes the terrifying news that Charles Barkley is preparing for a colonoscopy this Friday that will actually air as part of the multi-network show "Stand Up to Cancer" on September 5th.

GET READY to look deep inside Charles Barkley. The former Sixers superstar has been asked to undergo a televised colonoscopy as part of the "Stand Up to Cancer" special being aired Sept. 5 by NBC, CBS and ABC.

Barkley said yesterday he's flying to Alabama today to prepare for the procedure on Friday.

Sir Charles, 45, says he was surprised that the show approached him, but was happy to participate in promoting awareness for colonoscopies, which screen for prostate and other cancers.

Barkley said that when he told his friend Fred Lavner, of NB2 Apparel, about being asked to undergo the procedure on television, Lavner replied they were "probably just looking for the celebrity with the biggest ass."

The show is actually a historic and combined effort by NBC, CBS and ABC aimed at raising funds for Cancer research and Sir Charles will be one of many stars making an appearance. It's a great cause, and while I'm less than excited to view Barkley's colon, it's an admirable gesture by him and many others to help out. Here's a brief list of folks scheduled to appear on the September 5th program....

Casey Affleck, Dana Delany, America Ferrera, Danica Patrick, Charlize Theron, Jennifer Aniston, Fran Drescher, Sally Field, Christina Ricci, Goran Visnjic, Christina Applegate, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Charles Gibson, Robin Roberts, Forest Whitaker, Lance Armstrong, Kirsten Dunst, Neil Patrick Harris, Homer Simpson, Brian Williams, Josh Brolin, Elizabeth Edwards, Salma Hayek, Marge Simpson, David Cook, Elle Fanning, Scarlett Johansson, Meryl Streep, Katie Couric, Jon Favreau, Masi Oka, Hilary Swank

Stand Up 2 Cancer Website (S↑2C)
Inside scoop on Charles Barkley (Philly.com)
Charles Barkley sure to be butt of many jokes (AZ Sports Hub)