Student Publications
University of Houston
151C Communications Bldg
Houston, TX 77204-4015
713.743.5350

©1991-2007
Student Publications,
All rights reserved.

Last modified:

Contact:
ktruitt@uh.edu

Sports

Time to go from court to diamond 

The Original

Eli Jabbe

It's amazing how, like clockwork, one sport ends and others get under way. 

College basketball fever has died down now that the season is over, and professional baseball is getting started. In addition, college football spring training is taking place and professional basketball is winding down as the postseason approaches. 

Of course, the most memorable event of the past week was the Florida men's basketball team successfully defending its title by defeating Ohio State in the national championship game. This marked the first time a team had won back-to-back titles since Duke pulled off the feat in 1992.

The way Florida stars such as Al Horford turned down the pros in favor of staying another year to defend their title is reminiscent of college basketball's past, when players like Duke's Grant Hill and Christian Laettner chose to play all four years in college and played in four consecutive Final Fours (1990-94). 

While the Gators flourished as a team this season, Texas forward Kevin Durant took home all the individual accolades, receiving all six of the national player of the year awards. Durant had a 1,000-vote gap over fellow freshman Greg Oden of the national championship runner-up Ohio State. It won't be surprising to see Durant's name called in this year's NBA Draft, as the freshman's stock has never been higher than it is now. 

In other sports news, it's clear that reliever Brad Lidge is at the end of the road of his career as the Astros' closer. The team's depressing 2-5 start has featured some of the pitcher's worst performances.

His ERA has ballooned to 16.20, which prompted manager Phil Garner to demote Lidge from the closer's role Monday afternoon. If the Astros keep on at this rate, they can say goodbye to any chance of Roger Clemens rejoining them.

Send comments to dcsports@mail.uh.edu