Make it rain

The Penguins lost a tough one today. Colby Armstrong earned points by knocking Patrick Eaves into oblivion.

The hit went something like this:

-Eaves collects puck and starts his wraparound
-Eaves puts head down
-Armstrong sails toward Eaves
-Armstrong's shoulder catches Eaves' head
-Eaves head spins like the girl in the Exorist
-Eaves lies on the ice, stretcher carries him off

Not that I condone hits like that, even though this one was legal, but it was a doozy. And certainly worth discussing. But let's be honest, I just led an entry with something about hockey. Must. Scramble. For. New. Topic. Getting. Weak.

-- So the Mavs and Spurs squared off earlier today in a fantastic game. It went down to the wire and featured several runs. The game contained playoff intensity. And, like the color guy said during the broadcast, every coach in the NBA should've had his team watch the game. It was that good. Needless to say the Mavs won, 91-86.

-- Greg Oden's dad said Greg is headed to the draft. His agent, father of Mike Conley, Jr., and yes, that makes him Mike Conley, Sr., said otherwise.

My thoughts? Well, my heart wants Oden to stay -- he was amazing for college hoops and, with Durant, generated the most buzz about a college basketball season that I've ever seen. Sorry, Miles Simon and Mike Bibby.

But my head tells me Oden is going. I mean, why stay? He proved he could compete at the highest level -- 26 points and 12 boards in the title game -- and should be fully healthy in time for training camp. Sure, he lost that title game and the competitor in him might want to stick around and get another shot at it. But when the No. 1 pick is waving in your face, and contracts read seven figures, would you, a 19-year-old manchild, want to stay?

I guess I haven't seen enough Ohio State girls to really decide yet.

-- With Gilbert Arenas out, I don't know if I feel like watching anyone in the Eastern Conference playoffs. Give me Steve Nash and the Suns and Nowitzki and the Mavs, a beer and that'll be good. Thanks.

-- Jeff Green and Roy Hibbert declared for the NBA Draft last week. But no, they didn't sign an agent. So Pitt fans, don't get too excited. If Green and Hibbert bolt for bucks, then Georgetown slides down the rankings in the Big East considerably. But you didn't need me to tell you that, Roc, did you?

-- Barry Bonds hit two home runs Friday night at PNC Park here in the 'Burgh. And, shockingly, the Pirates fall from opening-series grace coincided with Bonds' eruption of power. The Buccos are 0-4 at home.

-- Everything, and I mean everything, was rained out today. But Friday and Saturday, the Red Sox demolished early-season favorites, the LA Angels, in a pair of donnybrooks at Fenway Park. Call me crazy, but if Schilling keeps pitching well (at least like he did against Texas and LA, and not KC) and Wakefield gets some run support, the Sox are going to win the division.

Beckett and Dice-K will be the studs. Julian Tavarez will hold down the fort until stud-to-be Jon Lester comes back. And this rotation, with Timlin appearing healthy enough to return to the bullpen, Brendan Donnelly pitching well and Jon Papelbon closing, will not lose very often.

-- The Yankees' starters are troubled with injuries. My roommate Kyle, an avid Yanks fan (and one of my best friends, go figure), is a little worried. He shouldn't be. The Yankees always find a way. This year will be no different.

-- DeAndre Gordon kept his commitment with Texas A&M, even with Billy Gillispie out as head coach. New head coach Mark Turgeon, who did a fantastic job at Wichita State, kept the 7-footer on board. Rivals rates Gordon eighth. Scout has him 16th. With some studs returning to Turgeon's team, A&M will be tough to beat again in the Big 12.

-- Charlotte Bobby Lutz decided to stay on as coach after South Alabama tried to hire him. Lutz has done a good job at Charlotte and deserves consideration for a lot of jobs. But not at South Alabama.

-- Gregg Marshall is in at Wichita State after helping Winthrop to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Is the MVC considered a step up? Definitely. Will Marshall be successful at WSU? Maybe not a huge success right away. But he will have the talent and the recruiting ability to make the Shockers competitive year in and year out.

-- The NCAA will address text messaging at its next meeting, where it will also comb over the Division I manual. Maybe it should look at the rules on letters of intent. Centralize that, so players like Michael Beasley can go elsewhere if the coaches who recruited them leave for other jobs. Make it fair.

Oh, and one final thought, Pitt football looked awful at its Blue-Gold game on Saturday. I'm gonna call it 3-9. You heard it here first.