Kudos to Tom Izzo who has decided that he prefers life on campus at Michigan State to the NBA life in Cleveland. Izzo turned down a monster contract to coach the Cavs saying he would prefer his legacy to be like that of people like Schembechler, Coach K, Paterno, Wooden and other top coaches who stayed and built successful college programs even when the siren song of big pro bucks cam calling. There is something to be said to being satisfied where you are. If you're happy with your life and are well compensated why chase a few more dollars (or even alot of dollars)somewhere else. Izzo has led the Spartans to a national title in 2000 and six Final Four apperances in his 15 seasons at the helm.

A very good season for the Merrill Bluejay baseball team came to an end yesterday as the Bayport Pirates beat them 2-1 at the state tournament. Marathon and Rosholt begin State Tournament play today.

The Northwoods League has this goofy rule that says if a pitcher throws more than 30 pitches inany one inning he has to be taken out of the game. I'm all for protecting young players arms and they have other pitch count rules in place for total amount of pitches that can be thrown...but the 30 pitch rule needs to go. It changes the game in too much of a fundamental way as teams are  taking pitches on purpose to get a pitcher automatically taken out of a game. Who's to say that a pitcher could struggle in the first inning but have a six pitch inning later in the contest. There is no good reason to keep this rule in place and the League should listen to a majority of coaches who are against it.

Songs of The Day   (from my I-pod)

Free Ride-Edgar Winter Group (1973) a fun little tune written by Dan Hartman and used in many movies like Cars, Dazed & Confused and Days of Thunder. It comes from the Lp "They Only Come Out At Night"

Friend Of The Devil-Grateful Dead (1970) from the classic "American Beauty" lp comes this Jerry garcia/Robert Hunter tune. It's been done by many people including Dylan & Petty.