What we’re reading while we cash in on those sweet bereavement discounts. Submit links via Twitter.
Last week, Adidas unveiled special-edition postseason uniforms for its marquee schools. The big surprise? These uniforms were not nearly as bad as Adidas' last two March unveilings. Fluorescent colors were kept to a minimum and there was nary a Zubaz-style stripe to be found. “Not making unsightly disasters” was a bold new apparel direction for a company that has spent the last two NCAA tournaments drumming up attention through troll-based marketing. Really, the only out-there design belonged to Baylor, whose uniforms received a “Sic 'Em Bears” inscription on the front in place of the standard “Baylor.” Bears fans loved the new threads. Unfortunately, the Big 12 tournament will be the only time the Bears wear them. As Baylor announced Wednesday, NCAA uniform rules require the school's name be on the front of its uniform. Obviously, “Sic 'Em Bears” does not qualify. How Adidas and Baylor managed to get to the production phase without double-checking the NCAA bylaws is a question for another day. For now, tune in to Baylor's first-round Big 12 tourney game against TCU (Wednesday night, ESPN3) to catch a glimpse of Sic 'Em style before it fades into memory forever.
The Mid-Majority disagrees with the notion that there is but One Shining Moment, and rightfully so: For many mid-majors, getting to the NCAA tournament is every bit the accomplishment. TMM's Matt Konrad serves up 34 historic shining moments -- including the 1998 Prairie-View A&M Panthers' proud and unlikely SWAC tournament run.
Speaking of which: On Monday night, Wofford earned an NCAA tournament auto-bid in a thrilling Southern Conference title game win over Western Carolina. Then, a few minutes later, senior forward Aerris Smith, a reserve whose knee issues have kept him off the court for much of the season, announced that he would have season-ending surgery Wednesday and wouldn't be able to play in the NCAA tournament. And he delivered that news in one of the most heartwarming postgame interviews you'll ever hear.
Nebraska coach Tim Miles has some strong (and tongue-in-cheek) words for Ken Pomeroy's “nifty” “hater” of a computer. The takeaway, as always, is that Tim Miles is hilarious.
Is Syracuse's beloved orange mascot, Otto the Orange, in danger of climate-change-related extinction? Ha, of course not, he's a human wearing a big felt/polyester-blend costume. But the National Wildlife Federation's point is well taken.