It looks like Ohio State seven-footer Kostos Koufos is going to sign with an agent and stay in the NBA draft. He is projected to go in the middle of the first round. Even if he doesn’t sign with the NBA his Greek passport will enable him to get over a $1 million in Europe. This is bad news for the Buckeyes since the quarter had already started and they will get hit by the APR. Once again, a rule that penalizes a coach and his program when he has no power over a player’s decision. If Myles Brand could sign for a couple of million I think he would leave school as well.

I still remember seeing pictures of President Bill Clinton in the Arkansas cheering section when they won the national championship, but Barack Obama has gone one better. He got to play in a pick up game against some of the North Carolina players. Check out the video - even Bill Clinton couldn’t do that.

It’s too bad that the first basketball playing president could be Obama when it should have been Bill Bradley a couple of years ago.

The geniuses at the BCS have officially rejected a proposal that would have eventually given college football (and its fans) a 4-team playoff format.

The conference commissioners who manage the Bowl Championship Series opted Wednesday to end their brief consideration of a new plus-one format, which would have built a four-team playoff into the current five-game structure. Their action — or lack of it — assures that the current system will remain in place through at least the 2013 season.

“The thing … that came through loud and clear is there’s satisfaction with where we are,” said Atlantic Coast Conference commissioner and BCS coordinator John Swofford.

Who’s satisfied? The people lining their pockets? Please. I think I speak for many college football fans when I say, “You unbelievable mother fuc…”

Thanks for all but guaranteeing another four years of thrilling “postseason” action.

The meltdown continues in Dallas. The team fired Avery Johnson after the Mavs’ second-straight first-round exit.

ESPN’s Tim Legler usually gives pretty thoughtful commentary, and he defends Johnson in this clip.

Check back tomorrow for my thoughts on where the Mavs should go from here.

The Super Bowl champion New York Giants were honored by President George W. Bush at the White House Wednesday. Well, most of the Giants.

(There were a few key players not in attendance. Among them were: TE Jeremy Shockey, DEs Michael Strahan and Osi Umenyiora and LB Antonio Pierce. Former Giants S Gibril Wilson, now with the Raiders, was there.)

Those players probably had better things to do. Lord knows Shockey can be complaining about something somewhere.

After a thrilling double-overtime Game 1 for the ages, the Suns/Spurs series came to a rather unremarkable close last night when the Spurs won at home, clinching the series 4-1. Throughout the five games, San Antonio utilized the Hack-a-Shaq defense, intentionally fouling Shaquille O’Neal and putting him on the line to try to end the Suns’ possessions. For the most part, it worked, as O’Neal shot a woeful 32 of 64 (50%) from the line.

I don’t blame the Spurs for utilizing a perfectly legal tactic in attempt to win a game or series, but it’s a little bush league, isn’t it? From a fan’s point of view, it really slows the game down and hinders the enjoyment of watching two good teams battle each other for the right to advance in the playoffs. Honestly, it was kind of sad to see a proud team like the Spurs utilize Hack-a-Shaq.

That said, it’s the league’s fault for allowing it to continue. There’s a rule prohibiting it in the final two minutes of a game, but for the other 46, it’s fair game. Former coach and current television analyst Jeff Van Gundy says that the league can’t legislate for a player’s weakness. That is, they can’t put in rules to protect Shaq just because his free throw shooting stinks.

To a certain extent, I agree with him. But the league can (and has) put in rules to make the game more enjoyable to watch. And whatever we can do to reduce the number of foul calls (and subsequent free throws) will only enhance the game. I never understood why the league has flagrant fouls, but no “intentional” fouls. When a player comes up and hugs Shaq (and he doesn’t have the ball), that’s an intentional foul. Officials can tell the difference between this and an off-the-ball foul that happens during the normal flow of the game (such as Boris Diaw grabbing Manu Ginobili as he tries to go around a screen). If you intentionally foul a player without the ball, the rule should be that the player gets one free throw and the team keeps possession of the ball. This would eliminate Hack-a-Shaq altogether and certain NBA games (that have Shaq, Ben Wallace, or any other horrible free throw shooter) would be much more enjoyable to watch.

Get it done, Stern. (I’m not holding my breath.)

SI.com had the fans rank all 30 MLB ballparks. Below are the top and bottom five based on overall ratings.

Top:

1. Cleveland Indians, Progressive Field
2. Milwaukee Brewers, Miller Park
3. Pittsburgh Pirates, PNC Park
4. Detroit Tigers, Comerica Park
5. St. Louis Cardinals, Busch Stadium III

Bottom:

26. Minnesota Twins, Metrodome
27. Texas Rangers, Rangers Park in Arlington
28. New York Mets, Shea Stadium
29. Washington Nationals, RFK Stadium
30. Florida Marlins, Dolphin Stadium

Of these, I’ve only been to Comerica and Dolphin Stadium and I must say – the fans have them right on both accounts. Comerica is absolutely beautiful and there isn’t really a bad seat in the house. Dolphin Stadium on the other hand, feels like you’re watching the game from the moon, which makes sense considering it’s a football stadium.

The Seattle Times is reporting that Kevin Durant will win Rookie of the Year.

Kevin Durant, who led all first-year players in scoring, assists and free-throw percentage, will be named the NBA’s rookie of the year and become the first Sonics player to win the award.

Two league sources confirmed Durant outdistanced second-place finisher Al Horford, an Atlanta forward. The sources spoke anonymously because the official announcement is scheduled for Thursday.

In my year-end awards column, I made the case for Al Horford, but predicted that the sportswriters would go with Durant due to his high scoring average.

ROY is a two-horse race between Kevin Durant and Al Horford. There’s no doubt in my mind that Durant is going to be a superstar, but Horford has the edge efficiency wise (16.5 to 15.2) and has done it in three fewer minutes a game. In the end, I think voters will gravitate towards Durant’s 20.1-point average (along with his unequaled potential), but Horford has a big edge in rebounds, FG% and PPS. Let’s not forget that the Hawks are playoff-bound while the Sonics have the second worst record in the league. There’s something to be said about the timing of Horford’s arrival in Atlanta and their sudden development into a playoff team, albeit a bad one.

I think Horford has the edge, but Durant will probably win it. Given the fact that KD has played his best ball in the second half of the season despite having virtually no help, it won’t be a huge travesty if he goes home with the trophy.

Horford deserves the award, but Durant won it. Life goes on.

I’m now four-for-four in my predictions, but the MVP is the big one, and I have the feeling I backed the wrong horse.

Every wonder what it would feel like to be an offensive lineman for Colts’ quarterback Peyton Manning? Well you’re in luck because SPORTSbyBROOKS.com (via PRO FOOTBALL TALK) gives you an inside peek:

I love Peyton’s response to Tarik Glenn telling him to go sit down: “I will sit down – ya’ll stop yelling! No, we’re cool!”

Uh Peyton, you’re the one that’s yelling home boy.

Are you kidding me? Who’s next for the NBA draft? I hear there is a back up guard at New Jersey Tech who is putting his name in the draft. Not really, but that’s how cheap the list of underclassmen entering the draft has become. The NBA needs to do something to fix this before it becomes even more of a joke.

Take for example the fact the Tyler Hansborough, the collegiate player of the year, is coming back for his senior year. However, three of his teammates have put their name into the draft. I can’t blame the players. They don’t listen to their coaches anyway. And most coaches just say go ahead. It gives them a little publicity for their program. Why shouldn’t the players get free trips to work out for teams all across the country. It’s just like being recruited again.

David Stern you need to either step in and close the loop hole or better yet. Allow players to jump to the NBA right out of high school. LeBron James has done pretty well for himself. Even Darius Miles, whose playing career has been a bust, still banked more money than most people can only dream about.

Here’s my suggestion. Let the players put their name in after their junior year. Make it closer to the baseball rule. You can be drafted out of high school, but once you are in college you can’t look at the NBA until after your third year in college. Forget about age. A lot of kids go to prep school and are 19 or 20 by the time they get to college.

Close the loophole and give acedemics more than just lip service.

Speaking of Tyler Hansborough: His little brother Ben has tranferred from Missisippi State to Notre Dame. Ben averaged, 10 points a game for the Tigers last year. Give Rick Stansbury credit he was the only one who thought he was good enought to play at that level coming out of high school. And this is how Ben repays him.