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Pirates produce prodigious plan for prospects

Arguably the most talented player in Pittsburgh Pirates spring training camp is no longer in Pittsburgh Pirates spring training camp.Gregory Polanco, the 22-year old slugger from the Dominican Republic was optioned to Triple A-Indianapolis, along with right-handed relief pitcher Duke Welker, on Friday.Earlier this week, Pittsburgh's top pitching prospect, Jamison Taillon, was part of the Pirates' first round of cuts for this season.Polanco was hitting a blistering .366 in 23 spring training plate appearances. Taillon allowed one earned run, four hits and didn't strike anyone out in only ...

Buckeyes bounced by Michigan

INDIANAPOLIS - No. 8 Michigan ended 15 years of Big Ten tournament frustration Saturday.There's still some work to do before they can really celebrate.After blowing a 12-point second half lead against their most bitter rival, Michigan went on a game-ending 7-1 run and survived a potential tying 3-pointeer in the closing seconds for its first tourney win over No. 24 Ohio State 72-69."We weren't thinking about winning the Big Ten Conference championship, the tournament," Big Ten player of the year Nik Stauskas said. "We were thinking about just beating Ohio State. This is a rivalry ...

Take a long look at state law

Joe Pepe spent two decades looking over his shoulder.Someone recently tapped on his shoulder.In reality, it wasn't someone, but something and that something is the West Virginia state law.State law says that a West Virginia certified teacher is first in line for any coaching openings.A certified teacher put in for the job of Weir High boys soccer coach and Pepe was out.He told me he has no hard feelings about what happened because he knew it could have happened any time after that first year."I had a great career at Weir," said Pepe, who landed on his feet, being named the boys soccer ...

Requiem for the region’s college sports

To call Tuesday's first-round National Invitation Tournament game between West Virginia and Georgetown a "family reunion" wouldn't be completely accurate.I mean, Mountaineers and ... Hoyas. What are Hoyas, anyway? Well, their mascot is a bulldog. But I don't think a growling canine and a musket-wielding, bearded man are cut from the same cloth.Their schools are, though. Georgetown was a founding member of the Big East Conference in 1979. West Virginia joined in 1991 and began playing football in the league in 1995.It wasn't much of a gathering for old times sake in McDonough Arena ...

Words of widsom from Wooden; tweet gone bad

My son played his first three games of AAU basketball Saturday and enjoyed the competition.He enjoyed the physicality and everything about playing that brand of basketball.He did tell me, though, that, in so many words, parents are nuts.Not that I didn't know that already, but, apparently there is another level of nuts when it comes to travel ball.And, I am guessing, that is true in all travel ball sports.With that in mind, I received an e-mail that is a clip lasting 17:36 of John Wooden speaking in 2001 in Monterey, Calif. He died in 2010 at age 99, so this speech puts him at 90 or 91.I ...

Opposite ends of spectrum — Aldon and Bubba

I wasn't really sure what to write on this week and then, bam, Aldon Smith happened.The San Francisco 49er was detained by Los Angeles police after he indicated he was in possession of a bomb at Los Angeles International Airport on Sunday.In a story written by Adam Shefter on ESPN.com, "According to Los Angeles police public information officer Karla Ortiz, the incident happened as the man later identified as Smith was going through Terminal 1 screening and was randomly selected for secondary screening."Smith then became belligerent and uncooperative with the process and with the TSA ...