U.S.S. Carl Vinson
History was made in 1968 when the UCLA Bruins played the Houston Cougars in the Astrodome. Both teams were undefeated going into the game which was dubbed "The Game of the Century." This was the first ever college basketball game held in a domed stadium, many claim the game laid the groundwork for the game of today. Prior to this history making telecast college basketball was only broadcast on a regional basis, this historic game became the first nationwide. I know that sounds surprising in this age but the first national telecast of an NCAA Championship did not occur until the next year 1969. History will be made again this fall although certainly not quite so significant, a basketball game will be played on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Carl Vinson. The North Carolina Tar Heels and Michigan State Spartans will play Veterans Day, November 11, 2011 while the ship is docked in San Diego. In the event of rain the game will be moved to an interior portion of the carrier.

How bout a lengthy NBA agreement
I have no details on the NFL agreement with the exception of the time period. NFL owners and players will sign a 10-year agreement which sounds about right to me. Players Union President Derek Fisher states NBA labor issues are far different from the NFL. I don't doubt his statement however one issue both parties should consider is a similar long term agreement. I have no idea the length of the recently expired agreement however I'm thinking it was either five or six years. Somebody that knows please correct this statement if necessary. In addition both sides should begin serious negotiations a full year prior to the expiration of the agreement.

Where are they?
While writing about the double barrel retirements of Shaq and Yao I thought, where are the NBA's 7-footers? They are still visible, the problem is several play a perimeter game with no back to the basket game. This change in the NBA game can be laid at the feet of three players, Jack Sikma, Patrick Ewing and Michael Jordan. Sikma played from 1977 through 1991 and spent most of his career with the Sonics, Ewing from 1985-2002 principally for the Knicks. See if you can locate game highlights on both and you will see they were jump shooters, few typical post type shots. Guess what, smack dab in the middle Michael Jordan came on the scene, the Bulls Jordan played for from 1984-1998.  Those Jordan led Bulls won six NBA Championships and changed the game. NBA thinking began to change, teams no longer thought they needed a 7-footer to compete. The 7-footers who would later come into the game structured their game in the same manner of Sikma and Ewing. Check out series MVP Dirk Nowitzki and the Lakers Pau Gasol, Dirk's game even extends out to the 3-point line. Next time someone mentions the fact there are no dominant centers explain to them it's all the fault of Sikma, Ewing and Jordan.

“Well, isn't that SPE-CIAL?”
We can share the above with Dana Carvey's "church lady." What's special, the Longhorn Network the Big 12 and NCAA said was okay. Let me see if I understand this the Big 12 has a television contract with Fox Sports but it's okay for Texas to have it's own network. The school will only be broadcasting programming associated with the university correct? Wrong, Texas has gone on record stating they intend to telecast selected high school football games as well. Texas A&M was the first school to yell foul followed by several others including Mizzou. Now the NCAA is to take a "second look" at the Longhorn Network because of the complaints. It's a little late to close the barn door after the cow has already escaped. With a note to my son I'm borrowing the Slim Perkins line in Blazing Saddles "What in the Wide World of Sports is a-going on here?"

"Success is simple. Do what’s right, the right way, at the right time."