Thoughts on a few subjects

1. NCAA bubblewatch

The first thing about bracketology that everyone needs to understand is that the big national media knows very little about the western leagues. Ninety percent of the news media that follows the bubblewatch pays very little attention to the WAC, Horizon League, Conference-USA, Missouri Valley Conferences and the other mid-major conferences, unless the teams from those conferences do something extraordinary, just as the Aggies have been doing for the last few years. What has been most surprising to me in the bubblewatch this year is the disappearance of the Pac-10 from College Basketball relevance. When the regular season conference champion, Cal, has no wins against top-50 RPI opponents in four tries and has accumulated nine losses, well, that's how it goes. No one is lending respect to the Pac-10, and given the arrogance of "The Conference of Champions," I'm more than happy to see them humbled. In a final note, if USU wins every game to the WAC conference tournament championship, loses and still doesn't get in the NCAA tournament, I will be astounded. The selection committee loves late-season winning streaks, and that's exactly what the Aggies have built.

2. The Utah Jazz

The Jazz are back to their schizophrenic ways. In the last week, Utah has lost to the Kings and Clippers – both on the road. Yet, when the Jazz play a quality Phoenix Suns club that's only a game and a half behind them, they get the comeback win. I really am leery about committing 100 percent behind the Jazz this year because they continue to have the same problems. They win against quality clubs and lose against crap teams on the road. Now, I like it when they win against quality clubs, and they should. The Jazz should never, ever lose to the Clippers or the Kings, even if Tyreke Evans is having a Rookie-of-the-Year season. Who knows? Maybe last night's victory against the Suns is the start of another seven-game road winning streak. Maybe if Deron Williams shaves his beard and starts anew, the magic will be renewed, and the Jazz will be able to make up the two games they need to overtake Denver and Dallas. The Jazz have such potential and watching them trip at the finish line again this year will suck, so they had better not.

3. Utah State and their back-to-back outright titles

Words cannot describe the value of the Aggie student section in the Spectrum. I truly believe that teams come to Logan expecting to lose. A source close to the Fresno team told me earlier this week that the team had given up in the shoot-around before the game even started. Who can blame these teams, though? Utah State has only lost 13 times in the last 12 years in this building, and each year the quality of the student section gets better and better. Now that we're all aware of how awesome Aggie students are, make sure you get to the arena quick this weekend. Now, because NMSU lost last night to Nevada in Reno, we've got the regular season championship in the books. Still, a reliable source has told me that Aggie fans will be camping out Friday in anticipation of Saturday's cutting of the nets. This game will certainly be epic. If this game will be your first experience at a USU basketball game, get there early and be ready to rush the court after NMSU bites the dust. We're cutting down the nets this weekend, baby. Aggies on top once again! Man, I love being an Aggie.

4. MLB Baseball - Who to watch for

I was very pleased at the onset of this year's spring training season to see Johnny Damon out of one of those awful, awful Yankee uniforms. I really like his addition to the Tigers. His joining the Tigers gives Detroit a great bat in their lineup to complement Ordonez. I would keep an eye out for that team moving through free agency and into opening day. Of course, the Yankees are as dangerous as ever, but I think the real team to look out for in this season will be the Twins. Joe Mauer, the face of the franchise and AL MVP, is coming off a terrific season, and I really think that his efforts, leadership and teamwork will take the team far this year, but only if the Twins resign him. If not, then I would of course keep an eye out for all the teams from the AL East, the Tigers, the Angels and the Cubs. As far as who I would like to see do well this year, I would really love to see the Orioles, Cubs and my Red Sox do well. I'm dying for the Cubs to win the World Series just so their century-long drought will end, and I will always stand by my Sox. Why the Orioles? My parents' neighbor is Jeremy Guthrie, the starting pitcher for the Orioles. He's such a cool guy, and I want his club to do well.

5. Play of the Week

With just under 10 seconds to go on Thursday, the Heat were up two against the Los Angeles Lakers. We all remember what happened the last time Miami had a two-point lead against the Lakers – Kobe banked in the contested 3-pointer and got LA the home win. So, what happened last night? Similar story, different ending. "The Black Mamba," as he has come to be known around the media, drove and floated the tying bucket and sent the game into overtime, but Miami was resilient at home to pull it out in OT. This week's play of the game was Dwyane Wade's defensive play that got Kobe Bryant a charging foul in the final minute of overtime with the Heat trailing by two. That foul basically sealed a win and sweet revenge for a struggling Miami club. It was awesome to see the Lakers bite it in South Beach. Word to the Heat!