Quick Hits

• What does it say about American hockey to have John Grahame netminding in the Olympics? I have seen this guy give up six goals the the Lowell Lochmonsters. He's a fringe NHL goaltender who has spent a great deal of time in the minor leagues. It is hard to believe that he is the best we have to offer.
• NASCAR needs to clamp down on the cheating or it is going to ruin the validity of the sport. Jimmie Johnson was on ESPN yesterday saying that everyone cheats, that it is just part of the sport. He just happened to get caught. Is adjusting the height of a trunk on par with injecting steroids? Of course not. But for a sport that is trying to maximize its audience to pretty much encourage cheating is ridiculous. It is time for cars to be parked and drivers, not crew chiefs, to be suspended. Otherwise, the sport is going to become a mockery.
• It should be interesting to see Darko Milicic play basketball. Despite being the second overall pick, we haven't seen him play yet. Now, he is in a position where he is going to play and, if he wants to avoid being the butt of jokes, he is going to have to produce. Ultimately, I'd bet that Detroit got the better end of the deal, with a solid draft pick (could be 6th overall) and some extra cap space at the end of the year.
• Excuses are few at this point in Syracuse's basketball season, but I can't help but notice that they get their opponent's best game every time out. Cincinnati, over the last month, has been sleepwalking through the Big East with only eight scholarship players. They have been blasted by Louisville, Georgetown and struggled with South Florida at home. Last night, they can't miss. Maybe it is the 2-3 zone, maybe it is the lack of an offensive gameplan, maybe SU just isn't good. But it seems like every team turns into a Final Four contender when they come to the dome.
  
• PICKS OF THE DAY:
• Murray State (-4) over Tennessee St.
• Phoenix/Houston Over 203
• Georgetown -2 over Marquette