As the the 2010 NCAA Tournament begins today, it’s a chance for a new star or team that most people around the nation have never heard of to forever etch their name into the lore what has become known as March Madness and have their chance to create their “one shining moment.” For some, it’s also a chance to reflect on the mark they left on the celebrated sporting event. Looking back, all anyone involved with the 2005 Bucknell Bison and Vermont Catamounts could do is smile.

“It is really difficult to point to one part of the whole experience of that game and say that was my favorite part, said Kevin Bettoncourt, the former guard of Bucknell who is currently an assistant coach to the men’s basketball team at Bentley University in suburban Boston.

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(Lynne Sladky / AP Photo)

Fan Night voting will continue on NBA.com from Tuesday, March 16 (8 a.m. ET) - Thursday, March 18 (Midnight ET) as fans select the match-up for Tuesday, Mar. 23. Games include:Charlotte Bobcats @ Washington Wizards, Indiana Pacers @ Detroit Pistons, Denver Nuggets @ New York Knicks, L.A. Clippers @ Dallas Mavericks

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The Philadelphia 76′ers and the New York Knicks have not had the best of seasons…which seemed only right both teams came into the contest with identical 23-43 records. These are the dog days of the NBA season and when teams have nothing more to play for besides evaluating talent for the upcoming year, fans get the picture. There were only 13,563 in attendance and when the Wachovia Center is that low in capacity, actual conversations can be made out as the teams go up and down the floor. It made for a depressing performance for the home team as the Knicks defeated the Sixers 94-84.

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We gotta be different…

In the Sixers/Cavs recap, Courtney Migliocco’s question to LeBron James was answered. Courtney was a standout senior on my daughter Taylor’s basketball team and a huge LeBron James fan. You all know I’m all about bridging the fan/athlete gap, so I thought this would be a peace way to get fans and readers involved in our game reports. Tonight I’ll be covering the Sixers and Knicks and since both teams are a little down this time of season, this might be a good time to get your questions answered. I’ll ask one question per game. I can’t promise anything obviously, but if you make it good, I’ll do my best to get it done.

It’s hard to imagine LT is that far removed from an incredible 2006 season where he rushed for 1,815 yards…113 yards a game average…and a record 28 touchdowns but in the NFL things change very quickly. He’s rushed for just 3,214 in the three years since and his average per rush has dropped steadily over the period. The Chargers for all their lofty league respect, didn’t get to the Super Bowl during his legacy reign but his name will never be forgotten in the game. As Temple3 pointed out in a comment, the Chargers value has exponentially increased during his time there but it’s never personal right? He has been oft injured but cracked double figures in touchdowns each of his 9 seasons. The New York Jets are banking on LT’s experience, professionalism and nose for the end zone will rub off on talented but unproven Shonn Greene. They didn’t want to pay Thomas Jones salary of 5.8 million for the upcoming season, so they let him walk to Kansas City with his 1,402 yards and 14 TD’s.  By releasing the main cog in their NFL leading rushing attack of 2009 are the Jets sending a message to the team or taking a huge risk on cost cutting? I’m sure they see LT catching passes out of the backfield but more importantly, he could be that third down back that adds another wrinkle to Rex Ryan’s pretty much one dimensional offense. Don’t be surprised either way how this affects a team making some mad power moves to move into the NFL elite and stay there under the guise of their young QB, Mark Sanchez.

(AP)

The Philadelphia 76′ers lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers 100-95 on Friday night and obviously are a team searching for an identity. It was good to see a professional effort and as a result one would assume there will be better times in Philly soon enough. The game itself was pretty entertaining as both teams explosively put down a myriad of high flying dunks that seemed to one up the previous. The Cavs were led by LeBron James with 23 points (more on this later), 10 dimes, 6 rebounds and 3 blocks. Mo Williams scored 21 on 8-13 shooting and Delonte West hit for 17. Philly was paced by Andre Iguodala’s 30 points, 7 rips, 5 assists. In my opinion, Dre had two of the best dunks I’ve seen this year after LeBron went baseline reverse in the dunk pictured. Elton Brand had 24 and 9 Chucks and Thaddeus Young put in 15. Interviews with Sonny Hill, Austin Carr, Jodi Meeks and J. J. Hickson. LeBron comments on transitioning from #23 to #6,  Jrue Holiday on getting up after professional disappointment, Eddie Jordan on game planning LBJ and Mike Brown reflects on how the team would be affected by the injury to Antawn Jamison. LeBron also vehemently stated to another reporter that he would never want to be a head coach in the NBA (he said it was too much pressure….hmm), but GM or ownership is a different story. Again, I hit a lot of players just to give a sense of the NBA mindset. A reader question from Courtney Migliocco is answered from LeBron as well.

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Is it the 1999 Tennessee Titans Motor City Miracle or Villanova’s April Fool’s Miracle in 1985? How about the 2007 New England Patriots attempt to join the 1972 Dolphins as undefeated champions or UNLV’s quest in 1991 for an undefeated National Championship season?

What does it for you, the NFL Playoffs in January & February or the Madness in March?

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