As a Syracuse University alumnus, it pains me to post this piece of news. If you’re a sports junkie, like myself, you’ve probably already seen this highlight dozens of times today. However, if you missed it, check out the college basketball highlight of the year to date:

First off, I apologize for the quality of the video (try to watch in the high quality option), it was the best I could find. Give credit to Cleveland State, but Syracuse didn’t do much to guard the inbound pass and challenge/alter the shot. It may just be me, but whenever something like this happens to a team I root for, I equate it to being kicked directly in the junk.  Syracuse Alumni in general haven’t had a lot of good news lately:

• Syracuse has fired and hired another football coach recently to try and re-build a once proud program
• Eric Devendorf, one the basketball team’s better players, was just suspended for the season

It was inglorious enough that the mighty Orangemen of Syracuse endured a stunning defeat at the hands of Cleveland State. The Vikings enjoyed a moment of NCAA relevance for the first time since 1986, before then-head coach Kevin Mackey got arrested for celebrating a contract extension in a crack house.

Yes, Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim could be forgiven for being somewhat non-plussed after his team endured a shocking defeat at the buzzer to the Vikes. But the misery did not end there for one of the winningest coaches in NCAA history. A faulty microphone was clearly too much for Boeheim to take. I don’t think that Boeheim was ever this rattled in the days when he matched wits with John Thompson and Rollie Massimino. Then again, who can forgot the “we wouldn’t have won 10 F’n games without Gerry McNamara” press conference. God, do I love Boeheim.

Unfortunately, losing an early home game to a small school has been the Syracuse basketball trademark over the past two seasons. Two seasons in which Syracuse missed the dance by the slimmest of margins, in large part to these sorts of home losses at the Dome. This season, it looked different, three major conference wins against Kansas, Florida, and Virginia before December.  It is not surprising that the let down against Cleveland State was the first game following the Devendorf suspension.

At any rate, a fantastic sports highlight, you just hate to see it against your team.

The New York Yankees have already committed $243.5 million to C.C. Sabathia and A.J. Burnett this offseason. That is roughly the gross domestic product (the market value of all final goods and services from a nation in a given year) of Tonga, a small nation in the South Pacific. This raises a couple of questions:

• Will entire Yankees rotation switch to initials in 2009? (C.C., A.J., etc)
• Could NY’s off season spend reach a half a billion dollars when it’s all said and done? (the recent bid for Mark Teixeira’s services was $160 million.)
• Are the Bombers immune to the recession?
• Haven’t we seen this before from the pinstripes?
• What happened to the Yankees farm system?
• Who is the favorite to win it all in 2009?
• If the Yanks miss the playoffs for a second consecutive season 2009, what will the fall out be then?

While the Evil Empire reaches into their deep pockets to fill out their roster, the Red Sox quietly move about their business this off season. The focus has been on the “retro roadies“, ticket sales, Christmas at Fenway, and solidifying their international marketing initiative. The Red Sox seem like they are more concerned with figuring out ways to continue to make money in this challenging economy, rather than spend it.

Of course that all could change if/when a Red Sox press conference is scheduled to announce the signing of one Mark Teixeira to one of the most lucrative contracts in baseball history.

Go figure.

The new Red Sox uniforms are being called “retro roadies” by the folks over on Yawkey Way. Does that not sound like a fantastic cover band or what? Or perhaps a wedding band? Regardless, the uniforms are causing quite a stir among hardcore members of Red Sox Nation. Here are some of the early returns on the “retro roadies”:

• Ladies and gentlemen, prepare to have a heart attack.
• The uniforms look like they came out of school uniform catalog
• Extra Bases post on the new uniforms
• Tito and the gang give fashion show
• New Red Sox Logo to Feature More Hanging Sox; Old-School Blue-Grey Road Unis Too
• First Look At The New 2009 Red Sox Road Uniforms And Alternate Logo

So what is your take on the new uniforms? Vote on the poll below, leave a comment, or do both because it’s Friday and you are no doubt reading this entry to kill time before 5pm.

 Loading ...

It’s Friday and you are looking for something to do. How about a house party with David Beckham, Russell Simmons, Young Jeezy, Katy Perry, Estelle, Taye Diggs, Missy Elliot, Run DMC, The Game, Kevin Garnett and many more.

It looks like a pretty solid time. Where do these parties happen? Oh well. I would just be happy with the celeb power of Rob Bradford showing up at my house party. With that said, Nike and Adidas seem to be in a battle for the most expensive and entertaining commercial as of late. In the interest of equal time, it’s gotta be the shoes:

America’s Funniest Home Videos On Demand. You have to wonder what hurt more? The ball to the face for the goalie or the shooter laughing uncontrollably for who knows how long. Nonetheless, a cheap laugh for a Thursday afternoon.

Senior Scott Morton tossed a three-foot shot over his head from the left baseline with his back to the basket at the buzzer to give host SUNY Geneseo a dramatic 85-84 win over SUNY Oswego. THIS IS A SHOT YOU HAVE TO SEE TO BELIEVE: CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE RAW VIDEO!

Don’t know who Sean Avery is? Well, apparently he REALLY wants you to know who he is. Before we get to what he said, lets introduce you to Mr. Avery. His wikipedia bio and, for your viewing pleasure, a quick video below courtesy of SportsCentre in Canada (TSN).

Now that you know Avery. This is what he had to say this past Tuesday:

A few thoughts come to mind after watching and listening to these comments:

• Premeditated?
• This is great for the NHL because everyone is talking about these comments today in the US and Canada. The most pub since Wayne Gretzky’s wife got in trouble for gambling.

So what did our resident hockey experts on WEEI have to say about Sean Avery? Well, Dale Arnold described Avery as a “lunkhead” and as someone you didn’t want on your team. Dale also believes that Avery will only get a one or two game suspension from the NHL after he meets with the Commissioner.  Dale was fired up this morning, so take a listen the Dale & Holley Show as they give their thoughts and opinions on Sean Avery’s comments. Dale compared Avery to former NHL player Ken Linsemen. Finally, Dale & Michael talked about  pro teams and leagues getting “tough” on athletes who are not behaving and acting properly.

How will this situation play out? This from Jaime Aron, AP Sports Writer, “Avery was suspended indefinitely by commissioner Gary Bettman for making “inappropriate public comments, not pertaining to the game.” The punishment came down only hours after Avery used a crude term about his former girlfriends now dating other hockey players. Avery missed the Dallas Stars’ game against the Calgary Flames on Tuesday night. Because terms won’t be settled until Avery meets with Bettman, likely in New York, he almost certainly will be out again Wednesday night when the Stars play in Edmonton.“  CLICK HERE for the complete AP Story on Avery and his comments.

Visit the WEEI.com homepage to vote on our Sean Avery poll: Do you think women should be offended by Sean Avery’s recent comments?