Pretty Girl 01.07.11 - Jane Krakowski

And the original life-size Barbie.  See if you can spot her in Vacation.

Viking Quest

Your Cleveland State Vikings are 16-1, 4-0 in the Horizon Conference.  Tonight they travel to historic Hinkle Field House to take on reigning national runner-up Butler (10-5, 2-1) at 7p.  CSU is gaining nationwide recognition ranking 27th in the most recent RPI and within the top 40 in both polls.  A few of names for you -

Norris Cole leads the pack for conference player of the year averaging 21 points, 5 boards and 5 dimes while shooting 85% from the line.  Kid is a semi-finalist for the Bob Cousy award as the nation's best point guard.

Former Kent State head man Gary Waters led CSU to 21 wins in his 2nd season, the second round of the NCAA tourney in his 3rd and now, in his 5th year, is steering perhaps the grandest Viking ship ever.

Cleveland State could get even better towards the end of the month when 6'4" senior D'Aundray Brown returns form a hand injury.  It is still unclear whether Brown will take a medical redshirt, but he is on track to graduate at the end of the semester and his combination of production (8.6pts, 5.6rbs, 52%fg) and athleticism could push the Vikings over the top.

Waters gives much respect to his team's defense and the numbers back it up - opponents ppg 59.9 (29th of 366 teams), opponent fg% 39.0 (34th) and steals per game 8.9 (42nd).  Butler is suffering from inconsistency in the wake of losing Gordon Heyward to the NBA and CSU is primed for the deathblow.

To see if the Vikings can climb to the top of Horizon mountain, tune in to ESPNU or click here.

Harbaugh's Day's Night

Jim Harbaugh agrees to coach the 49ers on a 5-yr, $25mil deal.  This comes via ESPN's Adam Schefter.  Although dates have yet to be released, Harbaugh Bowl I will take place in Baltimore at some point next season as San Francisco visits John Harbaugh and the Ravens.  Andrew Luck's decision to return to Stanford for another year now seems even more bizzare.

They're Real? And We Haven't Been Scheduling Them?

The Columbus metro area had been inundated with this digital billboard, courtesy of some richer TCU alums.  Remember when Gordon Gee said that Boise St and TCU didn't deserve to play for a national championship because their resumes were built on whipping "the little sisters of the poor."  Personally, I feel that Gee is foolish for having made the statement and that the response is measured and appropriate.  I'm outspoken in my preference for a 16-team playoff, so let's hope that the Rose Bowl results helps to Gordon and other BCS proponents toward the realm of sanity.  I haven't found the boards yet, but I am a-lookin'.

Also...

The Cubs acquire Matt Garza from the Rays along with OF Fernando Perez and an unnamed minor league pitcher for (pause to take a breath) OF Sam Fuld, former Tribe prospect RHP Chris Archer (part of the Mark DeRosa trade), OF Brandon Guyer, SS Hak-Ju Lee, and IF Robinson Chirinos.  In the recently released 2011 Baseball America prospect ranking, Archer rated #1 (wish he was still in the Indians org), Lee #4, and Guyer #10.  That is a haul for Tampa Bay.  Garza will never be a #1 starter, but he does project as a strong #2 in the NL.  The thinking is that the Cubs made the move now because (a) comparable pitchers simply are not available this winter and (b) they would have had to pay more at the July deadline.  Yah, ok, Garza had better show up.

The Reds sign World Series MVP (and my personal least favorite person in the world; see 1997) Edgar Renteria to a 1-yr, $2.1mil contract.

The Orioles continue to add talent, inking righty closer Kevin Gregg to a 2-yr, $10mil deal.  I find it hard to believe that O's can climb above both Boston and New York, but they are certainly giving it their best shot.

Terrelle Pryor will have surgery today to stabilize a ligament in his right foot.  Assuming TP is true to his word about returning in the fall, he should have plenty of time to recover during his 5-game suspension.

Notable underclassmen declaring for the NFL draft: Arkansas QB Ryan Mallett and 3 Crimson Tide - RB Mark Ingram (former Heisman winner) along with WR Julio Jones and DE Marcell Dareus (both high on the Browns list).

Cheers.