10 - Tuesday, April 10, 2007 BASEBALL From page 9 game. We have to come oot strong right from the get-go." Said junior Doug Pickens: "We're playing two seven-inning games and that sometimes moves faster than one nine-inning game, just the way the games play out. We might come out a little slow, but hopefully we can pick up right where we left off with Central (Michigan)." Coupled with its previously scheduled mid-week game against Toledo tomorrow, today's double- header will give Michigan plenty of game action before this weekend's matchup against the Buckeyes, who have the highest overall-record win- ning percentage in the Big Ten. "I would have been very con- cerned if we wouldn't have played until Ohio State," Maloney said. "It was very important to get us back on the field playing. (After the week- long break) it's almost like starting over - not totally over, but a little bit over - and we want to work out the kinks before we play on Friday." The Wolverines will be back on the field four more times against the Eagles this season. In addition to today's matchup, their two origi- nally scheduled mid-week games next Wednesday and in early May will now be doubleheaders. These games, though not replacingthe lost Big Ten weekend with Minnesota, should give Michigan a boost on its path to 40 wins and the NCAA tour- nament. And today's doubleheader could boost Michigan's winning streak to 12, preparing them to try and win four straight in Columbus this weekend. SPORTS The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com POINT/COUNTsE RPOINT Debating the hot sports topics of today 0 Tnhe excitement of March Madness has come and gone, we're still a couple weeks away from the NFL Draft and months away from a meaningful baseball game. This is what most sports nuts would consider a down per iod. Fear not: Daily Sports editors Scott Bell and Daniel Brom- wich vow to .do their best to get you excited about recent and upcoming events the best way they know how - by arguing inces- santly that they're more right than the other about various sports topics. Topic No. 1: West Virginia didn't wait long to replace former coach John Beilein. The Mountaineers named proven-winner-yet- baggage-ridden Bob Huggins as their new head coach last week. Is Huggins's decision to bolt Manhattan, Kan. for Morgantown just one year after taking the reigns at Kan- sas State kosher, or did the Wildcat faithful back in Kansas deserve better? Daniel Bromwich: Bob Huggins is a good basketball coach, and after John Beilein left Morgantown for Michigan, West Virginia needed a good basketball coach. But for Huggins to leave Kansas State after just one season is unacceptable. Whether directly stated or not, he made a promise to Kansas State, to everyone from the administration to the fans. And he made it just one year ago, when Kansas State took a huge risk in hiring him after his embarrass- Scott Bell Daily Sports Editor ing drunk encounter with the police. Even breaking this promise, while not the most admirable thing to do, would be acceptable under most circumstances. But Huggins refused the WestVirginiajob when it was offered in 2002. If this hadn't happened, he could play his departure off as "I just want to go home." Now, he's telling everyone at Kansas State "All you were was a stepping stone." Scott Bell: First off, I should preface this with the fact that I'm not a fan of 'ole Huggy Bear - at all. The widespread belief that his programs are dirty is almost undoubtedly not a coincidence, and he just seems like a sketchy guy altogether. Butthis is abusiness, notamake-the-most friends competition. Huggins has to make a living, and if he sees this job as an upgrade, there's nothing wrong with taking it. If I was offered a job that paid more than $2 an hour, I'm pretty sure I'd forget what the Daily was by lunchtime. I'm still the farthest thing from a Huggins fan, but not because of this. Topic No. 2: Those who huddled around the television Sunday saw a familiar site - Tiger Woods in contention for another major title. But this result was different - 31-year-old journeyman Zach Johnson ended up besting arguably the best athlete of our generation. So what was it, a Tiger choke job or a valiant finish by Johnson? SB: Everyone is talking about Tiger chok- ing down the stretch at the Masters, and I don't really see it. Sure, he's put together ridiculous stretches of golf to close out tour- naments before, but it's unfair to expect perfection every single tournament. He still closed the gap on the back nine after his big eagle, and had an insane par save after going in the water on No. 15. Typically people back down to that pres- sure. Johnson didn't this time. End of story. Jordan missed jumpers, Ruth struck out, Happy Gilmore got hit by cars on the fair- way. It happens. DB: No, Tiger didn't choke. But he cer- tainly didn't play like the Tiger we've all come to know and love. This would all be different if he hadn't led and just couldn't catch Johnson. But Tiger birdied his second hole of the day and at that point, he led the field. He finished the day where he started it - back at 3-over-par. In a field without a single player finishing under par, 3-over-par is good. But it's not great. And that's what we expect from Tiger - greatness. Johnson played better than he has ever played in a tournament before. Too bad Tiger didn't play like Tiger. Topic No. 3: The NFL Draft is fewer than three weeks away. Oakland is on the clock with the first pick, and the Raid- ers have a couple directions they could go with this pick. What should Al Davis do? DB: This is an easy one. You've got to take former Louisiana State quarterback JaMarcus Russell with this pick. This argument doesn't even fall into the "need vs. best overall play- er" category. Both former Georgia Tech wide receiver Calvin Johnson and Russell appear to have nearly unlimited potential, both are incredible raw athletes.Russellmight rate just an inkling lower than Johnson on the "wow" scale. Butwhenyou are decidingbetween two, players this good, and you simply don't have a player on your roster that plays quarterback, you've got to take Russell. It's not like we're decidingbetween Jerry Rice and Trent Dilfer. It's like Jerry Rice vs. Peyton Manning, but you've already got Art Monk. And your cur- rent quarterback might as well be some ran- dom guy named Andrew Walter. Oh wait.... SB: At this point, I couldn't care less what is in Oakland's best interest. If they know what's best for them, the Raiders should probably take Russell. But if Al Davis has any heart whatsoever, he'll draft Calvin Johnson - for Lions fans' sake. Does anyone really think Matt "I make Isiah Thomas look like a genius" Millen could really pass up on a marquee wide receiver if he's available? Anyone? Russell is a manchild, and he has all the tools to be a great NFL quarterback. But Johnson is good too, and the Raiders drafting the Georgia Tech product would save Lions fans a lot of heartache and Millen any shred of respectability he had left (though it's a little late for that). Topic No. 4: For most of the season, many considered Phoenix point guard Steve Nash a lock to bring home his third straight NBA Most Valuable Player Award. But Kobe Bry- ant's recent tear has put doubt in the some. Should the trophy's engraver be given the green light to etch "Nash" into the award once again, or will we see a new recipient this year? SB: Steve Nash is an amazing player. He makes everyone around him better and has helped rejuvenate the Suns into a contender year in and year out. But he couldn't dream of doing what Kobe Bryant has done in the second half of the season. Say what you want about Bryant - he's a ballhog; his team isn't even that good; he spends millions of dollars to get back on his wife's good side. All probably true. But when you have teams focusing their entire defense on you and your supporting cast couldn't post a record above .504in the NBDL and you're still on pace to make the Daniel Bromwich Daily Sports Editor playoffs and putting up 37 points a game since the All Star Break, you're the"league's best player. Nash may have a better shot at the ring, but he doesn't deserve the individual bling. DB: Iam possiblythe biggest Kobe Bryant fan in the world. I think he's unquestionably the best player in the NBA and should have been the MVP last season. But not this year. His defense has slipped to a Nash-like level this year, perhaps because he knows the Lakers need all his energy on the offensive end. Does Nash deserve tobe one of just four players in basketball history to win three consecutive MVPs? Absolutely not. Sha- quille O'Neal should have beaten him two years ago, and the award was Bryant's to lose last year. But this year, Nash deserves it. It would be a shame for the voters to punish him for their mistakes the past two years. They're the ones who will have to explain why somebody who never won a champion- ship has an honor that Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson never attained. Topic No. 5: With the NHL Playoffs drop- ping the puck tomorrow, there's concern the low ratings the league experienced last sea- son may continue again this year. So after a 2006 playoff campaign where college softball got better ratings than hockey, will there be a double-digit fan base for this year's playoffs? DB: No way. I know one person who cares about this god-forsaken sport. Personally, I know the Sabres are good, the Red Wings are probably doing well and the Capitals are terri- ble. The league didn't help its cause by broad- casting the playoffs on a widely unavailable network. I'd watch bowling or pool before I'd watch the NHL playoffs. I'd watch my room- mate watch the "O.C." on the SOAP network before I'd watch the NHL playoffs. I'd even watch Reggie Evans and Chris Kaman "play" again before I'd watch the NHL playoffs. SB: Show some faith, my friend. Sure, more people bought tickets to Kevin Federline's ."Playing With Fire" U.S. Tour than to the NHL playoffs, but that was last year. This season, things are different. Last year there was no star power. Players like Eric Staal and IlyaKovalchuk found plac- es atop the NHL's top-10 scoring leaders. But now the big guns are back in full force, ready to put the NHL back on the map for good. I dare anyone to look me in the eye and tell me you could change the channel of a game with Thomas Vanek and Nicklas Backstrom play- ing. If that's not a good time, then I guess I don't know what fun is. OK, I give up, I can't say this and keep a straight face. What time is "Dancing With the Stars" on? 0 W~enays 17th Annual University of Michigan Golden Apple Award TOMORROW Wednesday, April 11 7:30 PM at Rackham Auditorium w 2Andrel Markovits Presents his ideal last lecture Sports as Culture on Two Continents: Metaphors for My Life Presented by SHOUT Students Honoring Outstanding University Teachers Opening Remarks: Lester Monts, Senior Vice Provost for Academic Af- fairs Co-sponsored by: Athletic Department, Center for Research on Learning and Teaching, College of Engineering, College of LS&A, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Department of English Language & Literature, Department of Germanic Languages and Literature, Department of History, Department of Political Science, Division of Kinesiology, Division of Student Affairs, Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy, Interfraternity Council, Jean & Samuel Frankel Center for Judaic Studies, LS&A Student Government, Michigan Student Assembly, Office of the President, Office of the Provost, Panhellenic Association, Provost's Council on Student Honors, Residential College, School of Education, School of Natural Resources and Environment, School of Social Work, Stephen M. Ross School of Business, University of Michigan Alumni Association, University Library, University of Michigan Law School h~elit. 0 0 0 0 i