ACC DRAFT PICKS IN ORDER

Overall Selection
2 - Chris Long, Virginia, DE St. Louis
3- Matt Ryan, Boston College, QB Atlanta
15 - Branden Albert, Virginia, T Kansas City
17 - Gosder Cherilus, Boston College, T Detroit
26 - Duane Brown, Virginia Tech, T Houston
29 - Kentwan Balmer, North Carolina, DT 1 29 San Francisco
31 - Kenny Phillips, Miami, DB New York Giants
32 - Phillip Merling, Clemson, DE Miami
35 - Brandon Flowers, Virginia Tech, DB Kansas City
42 - Eddie Royal, Virginia Tech, WR Denver
50 - Calais Campbell, Miami, DE Arizona
71 - Tavares Gooden, Miami, LB Baltimore
72 - Chris Ellis, Virginia Tech, DE Buffalo
82 - DaJuan Morgan, NC State, S Kansas City
87 - Andre Fluellen, Florida State, DT Detroit
93 - Philip Wheeler, Georgia Tech, OLB Indianapolis
102 - Jeremy Thompson, Wake Forest, DE Green Bay
115 - Dre Moore, Maryland, DT Tampa Bay
118 - Xavier Adibi, Virginia Tech, LB Houston
122 - Tashard Choice, Georgia Tech, RB Dallas
136 - Kenneth Moore, Wake Forest, WR Detroit
144 - DeMario Pressley, NC State, DT 5 New Orleans
148 - Carlton Powell, Virginia Tech, DT Denver
152 - Letroy Guion, Florida State, DT Minnesota
168 - Durant Brooks, Georgia Tech, P Washington
170 - Barry Richardson, Clemson, G Kansas City
174 - Josh Morgan, Virginia Tech, WR San Francisco
175 - Geno Hayes, Florida State, LB Tampa Bay
192 - DeJuan Tribble, Boston College, DB San Diego
196 - Tom Santi, Virginia, TE Indianapolis
201 - Steve Justice, Wake Forest, C Indianapolis
215 - Justin Harper, Virginia Tech, WR Baltimore
221 - Hilee Taylor, North Carolina North Carolina

ACC LEADS NFL DRAFT

Look, we are quick to make a joke or two at the expense of ACC football, but things are looking up. The expansion to include Virginia Tech, Miami and Boston College into the league was designed to improve the pigskin situation. It seems to be working, and yesterday's NFL draft is a positive indicator.

With Virginia's Chris Long and Boston College's Matt Ryan being chosen second and third in this year's NFL Draft, the ACC becomes the first conference in the nation to have two of its student-athletes chosen among the top four picks in the NFL Draft for three consecutive years. Who knew?

Long, who was chosen 2nd overall by the St. Louis Rams, and Ryan, who was tabbed third overall by the Atlanta Falcons, joined NC State's Mario Williams (Houston, 1st) and Virginia's D'Brickashaw Ferguson (4th, NY Jets) in 2006 and Georgia Tech's Calvin Johnson (2nd, Detroit) and Clemson's Gaines Adams last year (Tamps Bay Bucs, 4th) as top four selections, something no other collegiate conference has achieved in the 71 years of the Draft.

The ACC also led all Conferences with first round selections having seven players tabbed in the first round including Long, Ryan, Virginia offensive tackle Branden Albert (15th, Kansas City), Boston College offensive tackle Gosder Cherilus (17th, Detroit), Virginia Tech offensive tackle Duane Brown (26th, Houston), North Carolina defensive tackle Kentwan Balmer (29th, San Francisco) and Miami defensive back Kenny Phillips (31st, New York Giants). The SEC and PAC-10 were second, each with six players chosen in the first round.

Phillips' selection continued a streak of 14 consecutive years for the Hurricanes to have had a player drafted in the first round.

The ACC leads all Conferences over the last three years with 25 first round selections compared to 21 for the SEC and 18 for the Big 10. The PAC 10 is next with 11 followed by the Big 12 (8).

In all, in the first two rounds of the draft the ACC had 11 players chosen, tying the PAC 10 for the most players in the first two rounds. The ACC had 9 of the first 35 players tabbed with Clemson's Phillip Merling (32, Miami), Virginia Tech's Brandon Flowers (35th, Kansas City) and Eddie Royal (42, Denver) and Miami's Calais Campbell all being chosen in the second round.

The selection of Virginia's Chris Long as the second overall pick was the second-highest selection for the Cavaliers and the highest since Bill Dudley was the NFL's first selection by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1942. The selection of Long second and offensive lineman Branden Albert 15th is Virginia's highest ever for two players combined. The next highest occurred in 1997 was James Farrior was chosen 8th and Jon Harris 25th.

(Photos by AP Photo/Michael Conroy, File, Jim McIsaac/Getty Images, AP Photo/Jason DeCrow and AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

STAYING AND GOING(?)

Psycho T is coming back, but Ty Lawson, Wayne Ellington and now Danny Green (in a surprise move) continue to test the NBA waters. None of the three has hired agents which allows them the option of staying in school by opting out by the June 17 deadline.

While UNC announced Friday that the power forward is staying in school, two other key members of this year's Final Four run -- point guard Ty Lawson and shooting guard Wayne Ellington -- will enter their names into the NBA Draft but not hire an agent. On Saturday, in a move that surprised UNC, sixth man Danny Green tossed his name in David Stern’s hat.

"I love playing at North Carolina and still have big dreams to realize here, including graduating,'' Hansbrough said in a prepared statement. "Of course I look forward to playing in the NBA some day but not next year."

Ellington and Lawson, meanwhile, are the first players under coach Roy Williams to "test the NBA waters." If they refrain from hiring agents and continue to attend class, they will have until 5 p.m. June 16 to pull out. The draft will be held 10 days later.

With the depth of this year's draft -- more than three dozen other underclassmen have also declared -- the sophomores are not currently projected as lottery (top 14) picks and may even risk falling to the second round, where contracts are not guaranteed.

The three players were not available for comment, but Ellington and Lawson said in a prepared statement that they planned to stay in good academic standing and were studying for final exams next week.

"I'm not dying to leave here, but playing in the NBA is another dream I have,'' Ellington said.

Williams also said in the statement that he supports the decisions by each of the three players and will continue to help Ellington and Lawson through the predraft process.

(Photos AFP/GETTY IMAGES/File, Ronald Martinez/Getty Images and by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

GOING GREEN OR STAYING CAROLINA BLUE?

Danny Green was not part of Roy Williams NBA draft research program as the UNC head coach thought his sixth-man was coming back to play bigger role next year. Somewhere between their last meeting and yesterday, the Greens decided to check out the next level.

"Roy was thinking it was a certainty that Danny was coming back," Green’s father, Danny Green Sr. said. "But we felt it wasn't a bad decision for him to go through the process and not hire an agent. ... [Danny] was one of the top sixth men in the country this year, came up big in the end when the team needed him too ... let him compete [against other pro prospects] and see where he stands."

The trick, though, might be getting that competition. Only 64-66 players are usually invited to the NBA's predraft camp in Orlando, draft analyst Chris Monter said, and with roughly four dozen underclassmen already declared for the June 26 draft, some are going to be left off the list.
Green averaged 11.5 points per game last season for a team that lost to Kansas in the national semifinals. The 6-foot-6 New York native came off the bench to play small forward and power forward -- and became a home-crowd favorite with his pregame "Jump Around" dance.

Still, "he's a second-round pick, at best," said Monter, publisher of College Basketball News. "And with so many other players in this draft, he might not get drafted at all."

Second-round draft picks are not guaranteed contracts, and Monter said that on average, only about half them end up playing in the NBA. Others end up in the NBDL or overseas.

"It might be good for him to get the experience, get some input ... but he'll probably be wise to come back [to school]," Monter said. "Next year's draft doesn't look nearly as deep as this one."

Indeed, some mock drafts for 2009 already have Green penciled in as a low first-round pick, where players are guaranteed two-year contracts worth millions.

Even so, Green's dad said his son's decision to declare has nothing to do with financial reasons, even though he was paroled from prison after serving 22 months on drug trafficking conspiracy charges (he has maintained his innocence), and he has three younger brothers.

"I've told him, 'I've still got to go to work and pay the bills, no matter what you do,' " Green Sr. said. "He's worked his behind off to play at Carolina, to play for Roy Williams ... and every player at Carolina has those dreams to play in the NBA. If he has a chance to realize his goals, why not? If it doesn't work out this summer, he can return to Carolina ... and that's not a bad scenario."

Can’t really argue his point. Just keep up the grades and don’t break any NCAA rules…


(Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images and Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

NEW RULES MAKE TESTING WATERS LESS SHARK INFESTED

What? The NCAA is using its collective noggin?

Wow…what next, football playoffs?

According to the News Observer, a new NBA rule makes it more financially feasible for underclassmen to be further evaluated by NBA teams. In the past, players who declared for the draft but wanted to retain the option of going back to school had to pay for their own airfare and hotel rooms for individual NBA workouts.

That has changed. According to a March educational document from the NCAA:

"You may try out with an NBA team during the academic year if you are enrolled full-time as long as you do not miss class. You may receive actual and necessary expenses from the NBA team in conjunction with one 48-hour tryout per team. The 48-hour tryout period begins when you arrive at the tryout location."

If the tryout lasts more than 48 hours, the player must pay the additional expenses, except in the case of the NBA predraft camp.

Amy Herman, UNC's director of compliance, said that she would keep in close contact with the basketball coaches and players to make sure they keep receipts and other documentation in case something came up. She also asked coaches to share with the players an NCAA memorandum that spells out the rules of submitting your name for the draft without hiring an agent.

PICTURE(S) OF THE DAY

OF COURSE, IT RAINED...British policemen walk around an A1 Grand Prix motor racing show in London on April 27, 2008. 22 A1 Grand Prix cars were lined up on Regent street, London as part of an event ahead of the A1 GP race on the Brands Hatch race circuit in Kent on May 02 to 04, 2008.

(Photos by Carl De Souza/AFP/Getty Images)

PICTURE OF THE DAY 2

PRACTICE PAYS OFF...Recently, we ran a picture of Darren Clarke practicing in a bunker while talking on his cell phone. Evidently, it helped.

Here Clarke (c) of Northern Ireland holds his winners trophy next to second place Robert-Jan Derksen (r) of the Netherlands and top amateur finisher Hu Mu (l) of China at the BMW Asian Open golf championship in Shanghai on April 27, 2008. Clarke won the event with a score of 8 under par.

(Photo by Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty Images)

PICTURE OF THE DAY 3

RARE SIGHTING...In this photo, all or part of all 10 players can be seen -- a rare sight, indeed.

Tracy McGrady #1, Dukie Shane Battier #31 and Chuck Hayes #44 of the Houston Rockets battle for a rebound against the Utah Jazz in Game Four of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2008 NBA Playoffs at Energy Solutions Arena on April 26, 2008 in Salt Lake City.

(Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)

PICTURE(S) OF THE DAY 4

BIG WAVES...Jamie O’Brien from the US state of Hawaii rides a wave for the day's highest score in the Air Tahiti Nui – Von Zipper surfing trials at Teahuppp on the French Polynesian island of Tahiti on April 26, 2008. The Trials event, run over four days, awards two wildcards into the Billabong Pro main event and pits 40 respected international big wave surfers against 40 Tahitian locals.

Ryan Hipwood of Australia rides a massive wave before being crushed by the it in the Air Tahiti Nui – Von Zipper surfing trials at Teahuppp on the French Polynesian island of Tahiti on April 26, 2008.

Hipwood made it back into the line- up but failed to find the required scores to advance.

(Photos by Steve Robertson/AFP/Getty Images)

PICTURE OF THE DAY 5

DOPING MASCOTS...? Young anti-doping activists demonstrate at a sports event in France.

Embattled US athletics coach Trevor Graham has warned that his upcoming trial on doping-related charges could lead to revelations that will humiliate retired athletics stars from around the world.

(AFP/File/Joel Saget)

WE'RE WAITING...

...for the NBA declarations and the NFL draft.

Please, stand by to stand by.

THE KING IS DEAD…

Well, not really, but his horns are all messed up.

The reign of Rameses XVII ended with the terrible flourish of Greek tragedy -- an "Oedipus Rex" set in the world of football and sheep.

After five seasons as the UNC Chapel Hill mascot, the curly-horned monarch was knocked from the throne by a head-butt from his own son Pablo, who hit the elder ram so fiercely that his horn snapped off.

His crown broken, Rameses gets the boot from Mascotville.

Instead, he will spend his final years in exile, grazing with a single horn. He will watch, indignant, as his usurping son rides to Kenan Stadium in his place, newly dubbed Rameses XVIII.

The Rameses line dates to 1924, when UNC's head cheerleader decided the Tar Heels needed a rival to N.C. State's wolf and Georgia's bulldog.

The Hogan family has raised them all save one that was donated in 1996, a replacement for a Rameses that was butchered alive by a 26-year-old man who later claimed to have been hungry and very drunk.

Sibling rivalry is common among royalty, but not so with sheep. Rams and their sons will usually share a pasture in peace, butting heads only in jest or out of lust for a passing ewe.

"I guess they were just tusslin'," Rob Hogan said.

Each ram weighs about 200 pounds, but Pablo is 3 and Rameses is 8. Sheep life tends to flare out at age 10, and the crown must have seemed dazzling and attainable to the ambitious son.

Now Pablo must train to be led on a halter, to ride in a pickup, to endure the pep rallies and sideline noise without breaking a regal pose.

(Edited from News & Observer)

CRIME BABY, CRIME!

Criminal State at Tallahassee officials said they will have an announcement on the future of standout receiver Preston Parker after the athlete's arrest in South Florida on drug and weapons charges.

According to the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office, Parker was arrested early Tuesday on charges of carrying a concealed .45-caliber handgun and possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana.

Parker was named the Seminole's most valuable player last season after leading the team with 1,513 all-purpose yards and 62 receptions.

The 21-year-old's arrest is the first major discipline problem at the school since the arrival of new athletic director Randy Spetman earlier this year.

Florida State's Preston Parker runs for a big gain as defender Jamie Robinson moves in for the tackle the team's spring football game April 12, 2008, in Tallahassee, Fla. Parker will be disciplined according to the school's code of conduct following his arrest on drug and weapons charges, the university said Tuesday, April 22. (AP Photo/Steve Cannon)

A RIVER RUNS BACK THROUGH CLEMSON

Clemson's K.C. Rivers decided on Tuesday to return to the Tigers for his senior season.

Rivers was Clemson's leading scorer last season, averaging 14.7 points a game. The Tigers went 24-10 and reached the NCAA tournament for the first time in a decade, and the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament finals for just the second time in their history.

Clemson coach Oliver Purnell last month said there was a chance Rivers might give up his final year for the NBA draft. But Rivers says he wanted to return to achieve academic and basketball goals.

Clemson will have some big basketball shoes to fill in Purnell's sixth season. Forwards James Mays and Sam Perry, along with guard Cliff Hammonds, were all seniors this past winter.

Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press

PICTURE OF THE DAY

FATHER-SON DAY AT THE OFFICE...? Liverpool footballers (L to R, Up) English midfielder Steven Gerrard, Spanish forward Fernando Torres, English defender Jamie Carragher and Slovakian defender Martin Skrtel line up with children before their UEFA Champions League semi-final football match against Chelsea at Anfield in Liverpool, in north-west England, on April 22, 2008.

Oops, not there chidlren.

The game ended in a 1-1 draw.

(Photo by Paul Ellis/AFP/Getty Images)

PICTURE OF THE DAY 2

DOWN GO THE CAPS...Make some extra tee times, the Wiz will be with you boys shortly.

J. Umberger #20 of the Philadelphia Flyers celebrates Scottie Upshall's 1st period goal agaisnt the Washington Capitals during game seven of the 2008 NHL Eastern Conference Quarterfinals on April 22, 2008 at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC.

(Photo by Len Redkoles/Getty Images)

PICTURE OF THE DAY 3

WHO YOU CALLIN’ SISSI…? Czech drivers Ales Loprais, Ladislav Lala and Milan Holan in Tatra steer their truck on a muddy track during the fourth stage of the Central European Rally (CER) near Tatarszentgyorgy (some 50 kms south from Budapest) on April 23, 2008.

The Central European Rally of Dakar series is being held in Hungary and Romania between April 20 and 26 after the Lisbon-Dakar race was cancelled over security concerns.

(Photo by Ferenc Isza/AFP/Getty Images)

HEY LOOK, CRIME!

Just when we were about to run a drastically reduced publishing schedule right here in this very spot telling you, our loyal readers, that we were gonna cut way back until football rolled around again when all of a sudden up pops a T.A.H. staple – crime.

From the AP: Boston College suspended defensive end Brady Smith (c) after he was charged with on-campus sexual assault and breaking and entering.

School spokesman Jack Dunn said the 20-year-old Finksburg, Md., resident is alleged to have committed the offenses either Saturday evening or early Sunday.

The Boston Herald reported Sunday that coach Jeff Jagodzinski had announced Smith was indefinitely suspended from the team for violating team rules. He did not elaborate.
Dunn did not immediately return calls seeking comment Sunday.

Smith started in 12 games last season and finished with 29 tackles and 2.5 sacks during the team's 11-3 season.

(Baltimore Sun photo by Christopher Assaf / December 15, 2003)

FSU FINALLY WINS A CHAMPIONSHIP

Florida State claimed its first ACC Men's Golf Championship on Sunday with a three-stroke win over Duke at the 2008 ACC Men's Golf Championship played at the Old North State Club at Uwharrrie Point. Three Seminoles finished in the top 10, led by Jonas Blixt and Matthew Savage who tied for third at eight-under (208).

FSU head coach Trey Jones was pleased with his team's effort and consistency. "We kept with it. We kept staying with it and staying with it. We didn't take nine holes off, we never lost focus; we stayed in it. I'm proud of our guys."

Tournament play concluded just before dusk after a two hour and 18 minute rain delay that began just before 1 p.m.

Wake Forest's Webb Simpson set the championship record with a 202 in his three rounds, after shooting this year's best round to finish play on Sunday, a six-under 66. North Carolina's Chase MacFarland was second at 207, as one of two players shooting a 67 in the final round. The other was Georgia Tech's David Dragoo who helped ignite the Yellow Jackets' 13-under par performance in the final round.

FSU long-time football head coach(?) Bobby “No, I’m Not Older Than Joe Paterno” Bowden said, “It’s about doggone time we won a dadblame championship in sumpin."

"Who’s this Jimbo-Jumbo guy who’s always hangin’ around my office?”

PICTURE OF THE DAY

WIZARDS…Two words: they suck.

So some dude for the Wiz named Stevenson called out LeBron saying he’s overrated. James torches them for 30 in a 116-86 drubbing. Wiz down 0-2 when many predicted a win in this series.

Note to self: Don’t do that.

(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)

PICTURE OF THE DAY 2

NO, DEAR…I’m not in a pub, I’m practicing my short game.

Golfer Darren Clarke of Northern Ireland takes a phone call as he chips onto the practice green before the BMW Asian Open golf championship in Shanghai on April 22, 2008. The four-day event begins on April 24 at the Tomson Shanghai Pudong golf club.

(Photo by Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty Images)

PICTURE OF THE DAY 3

AT THIS POINT…the Orioles are much better than the Nationals.

Two words: That sucks.

(Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)

FREE THROW AFFICIANADO MAKES ACE

Jeff “Nos” Kabel is best known for demanding style on the hoop court. Not so many years ago, after a long evening of socializing at a local Raleigh establishment, a small group of weary travelers made their way to Nos’s crib in suburban Raleigh. The group was headed to Pinehurst the next day for a golf trip, so all were looking forward to a good nights sleep.

Unfortunately, Nos had another idea. Well, he may have had more than one, but, at 12:45, this one he could actually articulate. It wasn’t an idea, so much as a rule.

The Late Night With Nos Rule, as it is now known, was quite simple. Upon arrival, his guests were told they could not go to bed – in fact, they couldn’t even go in the house – until each of them made two consecutive free throws. Again, it was approaching 1 a.m.

Shaq, meet Memphis with a side dish of Clemson thrown in on top. Manute Bol had a better shot of draining a pair than this bunch.

Needless to say, it took a while and the neighbors weren’t amused.

But we digress.

On this year’s very same trip to Pinehurst, Nos had an ace.

Here’s his version of what went down at Foxfire’s 12th hole:

We've played 9 holes without a beer. Sure, it's only 10:00am, but a guy needs to smooth out his swing after drinking heavily the day before, and we've all just heard about Tommy's colonoscopy for the 5th time. (For the record, Blaze tells T.A.H. is was three times, maybe four max.)

So Tommy and I are just about to leave Sport and Billy and head back to the clubhouse when the Beermaiden appears. Lo and behold, she is carrying a tank full of cold, delicious, colorless, oderless, tasteless Coors Light. We down a couple and play 10 an 11 in an improving mood.

Hole #12 is an imposing, devilish challenge. Sun and wind are directly in the golfer's face. Hardly a place for the squeamish. Tommy hits one to the left of the green. Billy puts one on...again. Sport puts one short to the right. I address the ball with conviction, using a modified Snead grip that compliments my natural inside out swing.

The Backswing was low with weight shifting to the outside of the right cankle. The swing peaked with the club parallel to the ground and pointing directly at the pin, which was flapping loudly in the gale force tsunami. After holding the triangulation for a brief pause to synchronize the hip and shoulder rotation, I flexed my left ribcarriage to initiate the downward pull, arms fully extended to generate maximum clubhead speed.

While maintaining perfect head stillness and watching the clubface strike the ball between the T and i (It was a Titleist 1), I then concentrated on a full finish with hands high over the left temple and weight shifted to the left cankle. The ball began its historic trajectory with an immediate burst from the powerful impact arching high to the left side with a perfectly executed left to right fade.

Unfortunately, a combination of old age and glare prevented us from seeing the ball drop in the hole.

So next time you go to his house, you might have to make two consecutive free throws and an ace…

ACC SCORES IN NATIONAL EATING CHAMPIONSHIP

Wait ‘til the muckety-mucks at the NCAA get a load of this…

From various media releases:

There were a lot of people who attended the Saturday finals of the Collegiate Nationals Eating Championship, but no one stood out like Furious Pete Czerwinski’s cheering section. That raucous crowd helped the amateur eater from Canada win his first ever eating championship.

There were seven contestants in Saturday’s finals; four were chosen from colleges around the country, while the other three earned their spot at the Friday’s qualifiers.#1 Christian “Muscox” McCarthy (Kentucky), #2 “Iron” Pete Czerwinski (McMaster), #3 Carey “Powerhouse Poehlman (Montgomery Country CC), #4 Brian “Eatin” Keaton (Maryland), #5 Darrin “D Money” Wolff (San Diego City), #6 Ryan “Big Mac” McMillan (Mesa) and #7 Chris “Scary Spice” Hanson (Grossmont/SDSU) all competed in the competition.

Their opponent was a Wave House platter, which consisted of two cheeseburgers, two hot dogs, and a handful of French fries. The contestants had to knock off as many plates as possible in seven minutes “Muscox” even added an interesting twist to the competition by choosing kool aid as his drinking tool, over the more popular choice of water.

“I like the flavor and I don’t drink much water, so the flavor of the kool aid helps,” McCarty said.

The competition began with eating commissioner, Arnie “Chowbound” Chapman’s reading of the competitive eater vow, and after it was complete the feeding frenzy began.

From the beginning it looked like it was going to be a two-man race between McCarthy and Czerwinski, as both men began to devour their cheeseburgers at a fast pace. Just as the competition began to heat up, local favorite Wolff walked off the stage, conceding to the overwhelming amount of food before him.

The competition continued and after Czerwinski held up his third completed plate, and no other competitor had more then one, it was easy street for Pete.

Once the official results were tallied and the two minute period of “no returns” accounted for, the third place prize of $250 went to McMillan, who was the only qualifier to place in the competition. After competing only once previously, McMillan wowed the commissioner with his performance.

“Big Mac surprised me, he has great form and is an excellent eater,” said Chapman.

The second place finisher and winner of $500 was McCarthy. Muscox was a favorite to win this competition, especially with the experience he had over the other competitors. He did not disappoint the crowd, but he was a bit disappointed in his own performance.

The first place finisher and winner of $1000 was Canada’s Czerwinski. Czerwinski realized he should embark on an eating career after his friend Mike Helleyer sat down to breakfast with him.

“I realized how much more he ate then me, so I told Pete he should try to do competitions.” Helleyer said. After that fateful meal, Czerwinski began consuming large amounts of food in hopes of competing in contests. Before this competition his claim to fame was completing a 72-ounce steak at a local restaurant near his school. Now Czerwinski can add another trophy to his growing mantle.

“I think I did a fine job considering the food was a bit cold and did not go down easy,” said Czerwinski.

Pete’s accomplishment was shared amongst his friends, who traveled all the way from Canada to cheer on their hero.

Maryland’s Brian “Eatin” Keaton (l) finished fifth.The difference between second and fifth place was merely a few bites, Keaton said, with only the winner outpacing them all.Keaton went into the competition with a strategy of eating the food in a certain order. First, he attacked the burgers, then the hot dog and finally the pile of fries. The plan was working as he finished his first plate, but after he started choking on the second plate's burger, his lead went downhill.

Another strategy Keaton used was eating only Jolly Rancher hard candies for 24 hours before the championship. Ultimately, he felt the move was a mistake, leaving him too hungry by the time the competition started.

"I was really disappointed with the results," Keaton said. "After the contest, I felt like I let down my school and a lot of my friends and people expecting me to do well. When I look back, it's really cool that I got sent out there to be in an eating contest on national television all the way across the country."

"It was definitely an awesome experience," he said. "It showed me I have to work harder. I am probably going to come back next year and do it. I just have to work as hard as I can. I'll be back."

A special on the entire Collegiate Nationals, featuring the eating competition, will air May 25 on CBS.

(Photos by Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun and http://www.medigitalmedia.com/)

PICTURE(S) OF THE DAY

BIG TROPHY...In many ways.

Second place driver Helio Castroneves (l) of the #3 Team Penske Racing jokes about the size of his trophy compared to the size of race winner Danica Patrick's trophy, of #7 Motorola Andretti Green Racing Honda Dallara, as 3rd place driver Scott Dixon of Target Chip Ganassi Racing laughs on the podium after the IndyCar Series Bridgestone Indy Japan 300 Mile on April 20, 2008 at Twin Ring Motegi in Motegi, Japan.

(Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)

PICTURE OF THE DAY 2

ROOMS WITH A VIEW…Belgian tennis player Justine Henin prepares to hit the ball on April 21, 2008 on a tennis court temporarily installed on Brussels "Grand Place/Grote Markt" (Big Square) for a marketing event.

(Photo by Eric Vidal/AFP/Getty Images)

PICTURE OF THE DAY 3

CAREFUL WITH THOSE ROTATOR CUFFS, EUGENE…Hungarian Szabo Laszlo (L) on Bombardier Quad competes during the second stage of the Central European Rally (CER) near Baia Mare, 620km north from Bucharest on April 21, 2008. The Central European Rally of Dakar series is being held in Hungary and Romania between April 20 and 26 after the Lisbon-Dakar race was cancelled over security concerns.

(Photo by Daniel Mihailescu/AFP/Getty Images)

PICTURE OF THE DAY 4

EARTHQUAKE...? Bruno Junqueira of Brazil drives the #18 Dale Coyne Racing DP01 Ford Cosworth during the Champ Car World Series Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach April 20, 2008 in Long Beach, California.

(Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images)

PICTURE OF THE DAY 5

THE BEST TWO COLLEGE FOOTBALL TEAMS...? Quarterback Mitch Mustain #16 of the USC Trojans white team prepares to snap the ball against the Trojans cardinal team during the spring practice game at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on April 19, 2008 in Los Angeles, California.

And...this is really funny...UVA is playing them.

Yike!

(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

HAVE A NICE WEEKEND

We'll be back on Monday.

Willie Harris of the Washington Nationals waits for his turn in the batting cages before taking on the Florida Marlins at Dolphin Stadium on April 18, 2008 in Miami, Florida.

(Photo bt Doug Benc/AFP/Getty Images)

OL’ ROY OUT OF KANSAS' CRAPPER

by DOUG TUCKER - Associated Press

Roy Williams is out of the outhouse.

The large sketch of the former Kansas coach was removed from the men's room of the Downtown Barbershop on Monday where it had hung as a symbol of fan anger ever since he departed for North Carolina in 2003.

Now "Ol' Roy" is back where he used to be, prominently displayed among the hundreds of sketches, photographs and memorabilia that make the landmark little shop near the Kansas campus a shrine to Jayhawks athletics.

Instead of facing the urinal in the back of the building, the man who coached Kansas to nine conference championships is nestled between photographs of former Jayhawks greats Clyde Lovellette and Wilt Chamberlain.

"The hatchet is buried," shop owner Jon Amyx said. "I think most people would tell you that now."

After Kansas beat Williams' North Carolina team 84-66 in the semifinals of the NCAA tournament, many fans said they were no longer hurt and upset that Williams had left town for the Tar Heels without saying goodbye.

Then a week ago they saw Williams wearing a Jayhawk on his heart and cheering Bill Self's Kansas team to an overtime victory against Memphis in the NCAA championship game.

Amyx conducted a survey of his customers before deciding to end Williams' five-year exile to what they had come to call "Roy's Room."

Almost everyone said it was time to bring Roy out and return him to a place of honor.
Of course, the men's room still contains unflattering references to the hated archrival Missouri Tigers.

(AP Photos/Charlie Riedel)

THEY TRIED THIS LAST YEAR

Remember last year when Duke suspended their leading tackler in a move to emulate their heroes FSU, Miami, Virginia Tech and other football powerhouses?

It didn’t work then, and it’s not gonna work now.

Duke offensive tackle Cameron Goldberg has been suspended from the football team for violating team policy.

First-year coach David Cutcliffe announced the suspension in a release issued Tuesday. School spokesman Art Chase said no further details would be made available.

Cutcliffe said Goldberg is suspended from all football related activities, but will have an opportunity to fulfill requirements that would allow him to be reinstated.

The 6-foot-6, 280-pound senior from Lutherville, Md., started all 12 games last season at left tackle. He has played in 32 games at Duke and started in 23.

WARNING: STOP, READ THIS

T.A.H. Video of the Month nominee below…

Do not click play on the video below without reading this warning: LANGUAGE ALERT.

This is very funny. Its comedian Joe Lajoie doing a song called “Everyday Normal Guy.” He says one particular obscenity…and he says it A LOT. It’s not the reason it’s funny, but it’s part of the reason it’s funny. You know, how Eddie Murphy or Chris Rock would be funny without F-bombs, but they’re funnier with F-bombs?

DO NOT watch it with your children. DO NOT watch it with your co-workers or your boss if they are the sensitive types.

OK, you’ve been warned. Enjoy (muthaf***ers)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PsnxDQvQpw

SPRING FOOTBALL UPDATE: UVA

There's more than one important player named "Chris" that Virginia desperately needs to replace. In addition to standout defensive end Chris Long, the Cavaliers also have to worry about losing kicker Chris Gould.

During a season in which Virginia won an NCAA-record five games by two points or less, three points every now and then came in pretty handy.
Out with one Chris, in with another.

So far, redshirt freshman Chris Hinkebein (2nd r) is struggling with his accuracy and consistency, although his kicks have been long enough.

"We're trying to work on some things with him to smooth that out, with style and so forth, but it is a situation of concern," coach Al Groh said. "The field goal kicking was such a significant factor in our success last year. Obviously Chris Long is going to be tremendously missed, but we're acutely aware of the tremendous impact Chris Gould had on the team, and if there's a dramatic drop-off in that production how it could significantly affect -- not necessarily how the offense and defense perform -- but what the scoreboard looks like at the end of the game."

PICTURES OF THE DAY

HOKIE SPIRIT...This photo provided by Virginia Tech shows mourners gathering in front of the memorial for the shooting victims of the April 16 shootings for a candle light vigil marking the one year anniversary on the campus of Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va., Wednesday, April 16, 2008.

(AP Photo/Michael Kiernan)

Corps of Cadets guards keep watch next to a ceremonial candle during a candlelight vigil on Virginia Tech's Day of Remembrance.

(Photo by Getty Images)