So yeah, I'm sitting at home sifting through OSU notes today when I get notice that the Indians 2008 schedule has been set.

I open the email like a fat guy attacking a cupcake only to see that the Indians' first home game of the season will arrive on March 31. March 31? MARCH 31?!!!!! Are you freakin' kidding me or did the brain trust at Major League Baseball not get a look at Opening Day 2007.

Ya know, take me out to the ball game…buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack and, gee, by the way, my freakin' limbs are freezin' so gimme some hot chocolate.

I don't know who is responsible for this debacle, but this date does Tribe fans a disservice. Better they start praying for good weather beginning March 1 and hopefully the baseball gods will be listening. Of course, we know what happened with them last week now, don't we?

No you didn't misread that headline. If you follow basketball in any form or fashion you have to wonder whether the Buckeyes basketball coach sold his soul at basketball's crossroads.

Why ask this question now?

Because Matta, scouting guru that he is has gone into the Cleveland area and nabbed a shooting guard to be part of his Class of 2010. You read that right. Not, 2008 or 2009, but 2010. This kid is currently a star at Cleveland's Benedictine High School.

Here's the lowdown: Mr. Cameron Wright, Benedictine High School student, a 3.83 GPA sophomore, and basketball athlete who stands at 6 feet, 4 inches weighing 200 lbs. Mr. Wright averages 15 points and 5.7 assists per game. Mr. Wright came to Benedictine High School from Shaker Middle School.

And now Matta has him in the Buckeyes' fold - at least verbally. You have to like that about the guy - the ability to relate to kids on that level to make them want to make such a life-altering choice so soon.

For the record, it's Matta's third commit to the Class of 2010. The others are:
Trae Golden, a point guard out of Powder Springs, Georgia who is rated a five-star prospect

Jared Sullinger, a power forward out of Columbus who is also rated a five-star prospect.

I have the utmost respect in the world for Bill Belichik's ability to coach a football team and the New England Patriots. However, I am to a point where I say no mas! I'm tired of hearing about the Patriots and how they're going to go undefeated.

The latest prediction comes from Jason Cole of Yahoo Sports in this article. In it Cole suggests it would be to the benefit of the league if the Pats go undefeated until the final week of the season when they have a game on the NFL Network. Then, untold milllyuns and millyuns of Americans would go screaming "I want my NFLN." No, that statement isn't as catchy as "I want my MTV!" but the effect is the same.

Yeah, that would be something, but as the national media continues to power the New England Patriots hype machine, there sits the Indianapolis Colts, defending Super Bowl Champions and de facto also-ran, getting more and more frustrated. Perhaps the Colts like flying under the radar, but I cannot help but believe that the longer this goes on, the more that team, which has developed a dominating defense, stews and comes out against the Patriots on Nov. 4 in Indy with a boulder-sized chip on its shoulder and with something to prove.

If anyone can point out anytime when Mark May of ESPN's college football coverage has ever given the Ohio State Buckeyes their due, will you please post a link in the comments section?

I sit here at almost 8 a.m. this morning watching reruns of yesterday's college football coverage and May, a Pitt (thanks Larry D., maybe I thought it was USC because his nose is always up their … oh… nevermind) alum, give his Top Five. He placed the University of South Florida at No. 1 in front of the Buckeyes. Of course, that's his choice.

I try not to be a homer. In the interest of full disclosure, I went to OSU for a couple of years. But once a Buckeye, always a Buckeye. However, I have been able to see their athletic teams in a realistic light since I was a teen.

May gave USF the benefit of a doubt based on their upset of West Virginia and a victory over Auburn. The Buckeyes only victory against a ranked opponent came last week against Purdue. But I recall May having his doubts during the regular season last year and I also remember him piling on during the Bucks' miraculous championship run in 2002.

Watching May I often get the impression that if he could spew venom in OSU's direction without regard to ESPN directors, he would.

So tell me? Am I imagining this?

Kent State University Coach Doug Martin could have allowed sportswriters to have some hopes and dreams that we'd have a competitive game today. Then he had to open his mouth.

For the record Martin told reporters earlier this week that he wouldn't be playing his front line players because he wants to save them for the final games in the MAC. Oh that's just ducky. So instead of a Waterloo, we get to witness a Little Big Horn. How do I contain my enthusiasm?

Nevermind that this "game" comes in the middle of the conference schedule, but it's against the Kent State Golden Flashes. That in itself assures that I will need mega doses of stimulants to stay awake.

In reply to Martin resting his players, OSU Coach Tressel adopted the philosophy that if "you rest, you rust." That means his front line players will be in the game until KSU is suitably beat into submission.

For anyone sitting and watching this, it could be a long afternoon. Of course, the broadcast will have one saving grace - it's on the Big Ten Network. Not many folks will see it.

Far be it for me to second guess a coach that's already won one national championship and played for two, but I'm a sportswriter. That's why they pay me the chump change.

But I don't get some moves Jim Tressel made while up in the second quarter. There's some serious inconsistencies. For example, after recovering a fumble on a kickoff return at the Purdue 33 and going a mere eight yards on the drive, Tressel elected to go for it on fourth and two instead of kicking a field goal. Beanie Wells promptly lost three yards and they turned the ball over on downs.

Yet when the Buckeyes got the ball back with 1:47 left on their 36 with plenty of time to mount some kind of drive and essentially put the game way, they come out running and that drive eventually stalled. Gambler or conservate cleric? A little consistency please. They may have missed an opportunity to go up by at least 20.

Yeah, it would seem that the Buckeyes aren't looking to repeat history in this Purdue game. The Boilermakers typically play them close.

After one quarter it's 14-0 and the Buckeyes are dominating every aspect of the game.

Boeckman looks to be in confident and in control. He got Ray Small, the speedster out of Cleveland involved in the offense with two pass receptions and a score. That was needed to take some heat off Brian Robiskie who was certainly going to see his share of double coverage.

The Wells Brothers - Beanie and Mo - ran with authority and the special teams kept everything else in check.

How complete was the domination? The Bucks ran 19 plays and gained 148 yards to Purdue's 18 plays for 61 yards.

After watching Illinois effectively smack the Badgers on the nose earlier this afternoon, I'm beginning to believe the Big Ten Conference is up for grabs.

Certainly the Ohio State Buckeyes can take a big step toward claiming the title by dispensing with Purdue tonight, but it's seriously beginning to look like a cage match or some serious cannibalization as the conference's also rans - Indiana, Illinois, Michigan State - are beginning to show some bite this year.

What is certain is there's nothing a given this year. If I'm going to give anyone an advantage, however, it's going to be the Buckeyes, primarily because they have a coach in JIm Tressel who keeps his team on an even keel. Talk to them and they come off like a bunch of Stepford Kids, and that's primairly due to Tresselization. And I'm sure most Buckeyes fans don't care as long as they win.

I believe that Wisconsin was unmasked today, but they certainly aren't out of it. But the team the Bucks need to watch for is the Illinois Fighting Illini, who for some inexplicable reason play the Buckeyes tough every time they meet. And no one should ever believe that the Wolverines are out of things, despite the fact they've still looked iffy in the past couple of weeks.

Last night was a wee bit surreal.

I'm in West Lafayette for the OSU-Purdue game, but managed to catch the last 4 innings of that marathon between the Tribe and Yankees. And all I could do is sit in the bar where I was having a cold beverage and laugh because the big bad Yankees freaked out over some midges.

Joba Chamberlain looked as if he wanted to squirm right out of his uniform and may as well have done just that given the two wild pitches he threw. You contrast that with the resolute attitude displayed by Fausto Carmona and you have the exact reason I believe the Indians will be going on to the ALCS against the Red Sox. It also doesn't hurt that Alex Rodriguez is currently in the midst of his annual post-season disappearing act.

To be such a young team they possess a seriousness, an earnestness that comes through on every player's face whenever a camera fixates on an individual player. It's refreshing to see a team that has fun but knows when to be serious.

Here it is, folks:

ALDS DATE TICKETS LOCATIONS TV TIME

Game 1 October 4 HOME GAME 1 JACOBS FIELD TBS 6:30PM

LHP C.C. Sabathia vs. RHP Chien-Ming Wang

Game 2 October 5 HOME GAME 2 JACOBS FIELD TBS 5:00PM

RHP Fausto Carmona vs. LHP Andy Pettitte

Game 3 October 7 YANKEE STADIUM TBS 6:30PM

RHP Jake Westbrook vs. TBD

*Game 4 October 8 YANKEE STADIUM TBS 6:00PM

RHP Paul Byrd vs. TBD

*Game 5 October 10 HOME GAME 3 JACOBS FIELD TBS 5:00PM

LHP C.C. Sabathia vs. TBD *if necessary