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Today is a very underrated day in sports. It probably doesn’t seem so because Twitter and every sports site is going crazy with coverage of the NFL Draft. Experts are speculating picks, and some writers are even making up rumors just to get their name out there. In some ways, journalistic integrity is dead.

While I am extremely excited about the 3-day NFL draft that kicks off tonight, there’s also some other great sports stories out there. What has been overshadowed by the draft is the news that the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament will only expand to 68 teams, and not 96 teams. For people who love the tournament more than sponsorships and money, this is great news. What I’ve heard is that teams 61-65 will play teams 65-68 for a chance to get into the tournament. Personally, I’d like to see this a bit different. I’d prefer if the tournament would take 8 bubble teams and make them play for a spot at a 12 seed in the tournament. Let the Arkansas Pine Bluff’s have their opportunity to play on Thursday or Friday if they win their conference tournament. Make teams like Illinois, Wake Forest, etc fight it out for the 12 seed. Anyway…it’s still great that the tournament did not go to 96 teams.

To add to this news, a release was also issued that CBS and Turner Sports have won the TV rights to the tournament. By Turner getting into the mix, we have been guaranteed that every game will be shown live for the first time in tournament history. Instead of live look-ins, March Madness On Demand, and Mobile TV, we can now catch the games on CBS, TNT, TBS, and truTV. Great news!

On top of this, there are 3 NBA playoff games tonight, featuring LeBron, Kobe, Kevin Durant, and Steve Nash. The NHL also has 4 playoff games tonight involving Sidney Crosby…and a lot of foreign guys.

Sidenote: Cardinals are in first place in the NL Central. Carlos Zambrano just got moved to the bullpen for the Cubs. HA HA!

Oh, and for all my fellow Cardinals fans out there…Ray Lankford is now on Twitter (@raylankford1). I’m nothing special, but you can also find me @iPopEditor

The NBA Finals begin on Thursday night as the Los Angeles Lakers take on the Orlando Magic. While I was watching the Cavs vs Magic series, a sad idea began to run through my mind. As the highlights and commercials showed LeBron, Howard, and Kobe, I began to think about the dysfunctional/broken families that have come as a result of poor decisions on the part of NBA players. Here’s what ran through my mind…

LeBron James- Father of 2 children out of wedlock with his current girlfriend

Dwight Howard- Father of 1 child out of wedlock

Kobe Bryant- Highly publicized extramarital affair

Michael Jordan- Had a mistress during his 16 year marriage

Larry Bird- At least 1 illegitimate child

There are even websites on the net that seem to be making a mockery of the situation, by having competitions to see which NBA players can have the most illegitimate children. Sadly, the leader has 9, with many players not too far off. 

Speaking anonymously, one NBA player estimated that 50-60% of NBA players have had children out of wedlock.

I don’t have much of a point to this post, other than noting how sad this is. Yes, these players are great athletes and great entertainers, but when it comes down to true values like being leaders of the family and having integrity, true cases of character are hard to find in the NBA. 

Hopefully we’ll look elsewhere for our role models.

If you’ve watched any of the NBA playoffs, you’ve probably seen the Nike commercials featuring the puppet-likes of Kobe Bryant and LeBron James (see above). If you ask me, the commercials feature the worst impressions I’ve ever heard. Nonetheless, Kobe and LeBron are the 2 shining stars in the NBA. Since this question may be irrelevant tomorrow, I’ll ask it today…

If you were starting an NBA franchise, which player would you prefer to have on your team? Kobe Bryant or LeBron James?…or maybe even Dwight Howard?

Once again it’s time for some absolute randomness taken straight from my sick and twisted mind. Read, laugh, cry, enjoy, comment, don’t collect $200 when passing “Go”:

- If Reese’s wants to promote the new Batman movie, that’s great! I love Batman. I love Reese’s. The new “Reese’s Presents Batman: The Dark Knight” peanut butter cups seem like a great idea…except that all they did was cut part of the peanut butter cup out to make it look like a bat. Not only are you paying the same price, but you’re getting less chocolate and peanut butter! As a guy who loves his peanut butter and chocolate, I will NOT be fooled by this!

- A Yahoo! news headline read something like this:
“Vote of Men May Be Essential to the Election”
Okay, I’m not a rocket scientist by any standard, but doesn’t that statement seem like it should win the “Captain Obvious Award of the Year.” I know what the article is trying to say, but that seems like a rather dumb headline.

- Does Lynne Spears find it weird that her children already have more children than she does?

- It is now cheaper to fill your car with gallons of milk.

- If the NBA Draft was held today…I wouldn’t be drafted. Read more…