PSoTD

He is the NBA's most undermentioned superstar, but the NBA playoffs series with the Lakers may have finally exposed Tim Duncan's age. Whereas in the past he could carry the Spurs for segments of the game, in the series against the Lakers, he was never really that guy. It doesn't help that much of Duncan's inside help are guys even older than him.

Still, as a big guy, Duncan's longevity is admirable. Even greater: how many 6'11 players have had the consistently great seasons, compiled into an 11 year career? Take a look at his career. That is a model of consistency in the NBA that most big guys don't have.

Not sure this is the right economic time for it, but it would a cool business for Central Pennsylvania.

I think I'm going to go 2 for 2 on the baseball front with our kids. I, having been raised in a household of sports fanship, of playing organized baseball until late teens, had been a bit concerned. Was baseball going to be too boring to our kids?

Our daughter proved it not to be for herself, at least at this point. She loves the big league ballpark experience. She loves playing softball. She'll play catch if you ask. She seems to be... invested, at least as much as a 5th grader can be.

But after one year of tee-ball, the youngest wasn't so sold. After last season, he told me he didn't want to play baseball, that he had "already learned it". I explained that he was going to play SOME spring sport, and it was probably a choice between baseball and soccer.

Okay, soccer.

So I explained a bit further - you run a lot in soccer. A LOT.

Okay, baseball.

So, he's now in his second season, and this year, he's into it. The coach gives baseball cards out to the kids who make outs in the field. He's not a bad fielder for his age, so he's been loving that, and I'm enjoying his reading of the cards on the way home. Are 89 BBs good? This guy had 89 in the BBs column. Is that good?

Is he a pitcher or a hitter?

He plays outfield.

That's pretty good, I explain.

He now likes playing catch, just about anytime. Game days he wants to put his uniform on. He keeps asking to do it, usually ends up with it on at least a half hour before we need to go. Then he asks if he should put his cleats on. Over and over and over. He's ready to go.

It's all cool. He wants to play the game, and that feels good to me.

I hope so. Not that he's not useful for the Reds, but they need to clear some salary to build for the future.

After watching this guy in the NCAA tournament in person, I think parts of this assessment is WAY OFF.

C Brook Lopez, Stanford
Stats: 19.3 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 2.1 bpg
This may seem like a no-brainer since Lopez is a lock for the lottery, but he probably would have been taken among the first 14 picks last year. Seven-footers with his size and coordination always are in high demand. The difference this time around is that the 7-foot, 260-pounder is good enough to help an NBA team immediately. He developed a couple of go-to moves in the post this past season, allowing him to score consistently when given the ball with his back to the basket. He also became a better rebounder and post defender. Look for him to contribute from Day One with the NBA team that picks him.

His height will put him in demand, but his skills just do not seem that good, and he seems very soft around the basket. In a league which had 81 players on rosters last year of 6'11", he's going to have to play guys his height now.

On the other hand, how many of those 81 in the NBA are stars? Hint: many sit on the bench. Brook will have buddies with him watching the game.

Oh, and btw, how many players in the Pac-10 were 6'11' or taller last year?

12 plus the 2 that were on Stanford. 2 on USC, and Lopez played mediocre against them. He seems to know how to take advantage of his height when that advantage is there for him, but that's about all.

I used to think Steve Kerr was a smart basketball guy, but now I'm REALLY wondering.

We're not going to be represented by an active player in MLB:

Julio Franco is finally calling it a career.

The 49-year-old has retired from baseball, according to a report on The Seattle Times’ web site Saturday.

Franco, who played 23 major league seasons, reportedly made the announcement Wednesday to his Mexican League team - the Quintana Roo Tigers.

“It was the hardest decision in my life,” Franco said in an interview published Saturday by Mexican sports daily Record. “I always said I would be the first one to know the exact moment.

“I think the numbers speak for themselves, the production speaks and this is the right moment. I understand that my time has passed and the great men and athletes know when to say enough.”

Franco last played in the majors in 2007, when he participated in a combined 55 games between the New York Mets and the Atlanta Braves.

He batted .222 with 16 RBI, creating headlines with his lone home run - a blast that made him the oldest player to hit a homer in the majors.

The Dominican, who played with eight teams during his career in the majors, retires with a .298 average, 2,586 hits and 173 home runs.

Cedric Benson is probably down to a lifeline with playing for the Bears.

Benson was held at Travis County Jail from about 11:30 p.m. Saturday to 3:30 a.m. Sunday. He was released on $14,500 bond.

His future with the team has been uncertain since he fractured his left leg in November, requiring a plate and screws to be inserted to stabilize the leg and ankle. The Bears addressed the position by drafting Tulane's Matt Forte in the second round last month.

"Very disappointed,'' coach Lovie Smith said about Benson on Sunday at Halas Hall. "You try to wait and get as much information before you make a lot of comments about it, and that's what I am going to do. We're always disappointed when we have someone that we're talking about being in trouble with the law.''

I watch horse races constantly and I think this is the first breakdown I've seen since Barbaro. I don't know if that's chance or the better horses are more at risk. Big Brown is a great horse but that was a very sad ending.

Just got back from placing my bets at the York OTB. Mechanicsburg is halfway between there and the track up in Grantville. I figured York would be less of a zoo. But if a meteorite hits that joint today, it will take out most of the gambling degenerates in York County.

Tough to handicap a twenty horse field since the Kentucky Derby is about the only twenty horse field you'll ever see. Big Brown is the class of the race but sharpie wisdom says that he can't overcome his horrible 20th post. The most logical play is to look for inside speed to get ahead of the stampede and go wire-to-wire. Tale of Ekati (#2) and Eight Belles (#5) are the horses that fit that profile best. But a mile and a quarter is long way to go wire to wire in a field of this quality.

Here's what I'm holding in case you need something to root for...

5 6 10 exacta box
10 12 20 exacta box
2 5 17 exacta box
13 20 exacta box

All positive vibes appreciated! If I win, I'll buy you a drink next time I see you.

Hadn't heard of it before, but apparently wallyball is infecting everything now...

There's a new sport known as Arena Softball that is catching on quickly, and as a recent feature story in the Sacramento Business Journal shows, it is becoming a national phenomenon. Founded by Greg Joseph with the help of local business developer Chris Vrame in 2003, the indoor sport has grown immensely in only five years.

The game is played on a regulation softball diamond, and players use all of the softball skills they're used to. The twist is a tight spring loaded net that encloses the entire softball field, so every hit is in play. Although Joseph found it was difficult at first to turn a profit with a new game, Arena Softball is now profitable and has gained interest internationally. The softball-inspired game is in its second season in the Minneapolis suburb of Eagan, Minnesota, and there are advanced plans to take Arena Softball to Hartford, Connecticut and Spokane, Washington. The game even has someone from Dubai in the United Arab Emirates interested.

Arena Softball is still the biggest hit back in Roseville, CA, a city near Sacramento, where it began. According to the Sacramento Business Journal article, there are approximately 800 people coming to the indoor softball complex every day, with 106 different teams playing. Joseph aims to open a second complex in the Pacific Northwest, and a third in Elk Grove or Natomas, California.

We thought our daughter might need a new bat for softball - she's had the same one for a year, she's been growing, and we thought a little more weight on the bat might help her. Glad I read this, it changed my mind.