Sports News

The 2009 NIT Schedule:

First Round

Tuesday, March 17
Davidson (26-7) at South Carolina (21-9), 7 p.m. (ESPN2)
Rhode Island (22-10) at Niagara (26-8), 7 p.m.
George Mason (22-10) at Penn State (22-11), 8 p.m. (ESPNU)
UAB (22-11) at Notre Dame (18-14), 9 p.m. (ESPN2)
UNLV (21-10) at Kentucky (20-12), 9:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Weber State (21-9) at San Diego State (23-9), 10 p.m.
Nebraska (18-12) at New Mexico (21-11), 10 p.m. (ESPNU)
Washington State (17-15) at St. Mary's, Calif. (25-6), 11 p.m. (ESPN2)

Wednesday, March 18
Duquesne (21-12) at Virginia Tech (18-14), 7 p.m. (ESPNU)
Miami (18-12) at Providence (19-13), 7 p.m. (ESPN2)
Illinois State (24-9) at Kansas State (21-11), 8 p.m.
Bowling Green (19-13) at Creighton (26-7), 8 p.m.
Tennessee-Martin (22-9) at Auburn (22-11), 8 p.m.
Jacksonville (18-13) at Florida (23-10), 8 p.m.
Northwestern (17-13) at Tulsa (24-10), 9 p.m. (ESPNU)
Georgetown (16-14) at Baylor (20-14), 9 p.m. (ESPN2)

Second Round

March 19-23
Weber State-San Diego State winner vs. Illinois State-Kansas State winner, TBA
Davidson-South Carolina winner vs. Washington State-St. Mary's, Calif. winner, TBA
Tennessee-Martin-Auburn winner vs. Northwestern-Tulsa winner, TBA
Georgetown-Baylor winner vs. Duquesne-Virginia Tech winner, TBA
Bowling Green-Creighton winner vs. UNLV-Kentucky winner, TBA
Nebraska-New Mexico winner vs. UAB-Notre Dame winner, TBA
Jacksonville-Florida winner vs. Miami-Providence winner, TBA
Rhode Island-Niagara winner vs. George Mason-Penn State winner, TBA

Quarterfinals

March 24-25
At host sites

Semifinals

March 30 (at Madison Square Garden)
Semifinal, 7 p.m. Semifinal, 9:30 p.m.

Championship

April 2 (at Madison Square Garden)
Semifinal winners, 7 p.m.

Tony Dungy Asked To Be Liaison For Players...

Newly elected NFLPA Executive Director DeMaurice Smith has asked former Colts head coach Tony Dungy to serve as a liaison between the Association's players and the NFL office for player issues both on and off the field, a source told ESPN senior NFL analyst Chris Mortensen.

The 45-year-old Smith was elected Sunday on the first ballot by the 32 representatives -- one for each NFL team -- and was introduced to a standing ovation.

Dungy retired from coaching after the 2008 season.

Dungy talked constantly to his players about being targets, once describing to a visitor the specifics of how he counsels them to avoid the wrong people, the wrong places and the perils of driving in the early morning after a few beers. He also has firsthand knowledge of troubled young people -- three years ago, his son, James, committed suicide at age 18. That winter, he began to think about retirement, which finally came at 53, an age when many get their first job as a head coach.

"I think I've got a responsibility to be home a little bit more, be available to my family a little bit more and do some things to help make our country better," Dungy said when he announced this offseason that he was stepping down.

"I don't know what that is right now, but we'll see."

This would be a great look for the league, especially with all of the dumbass things some of these guys do. Everybody respects him, so his impact could be huge.

Pudge To The Astros...

Catcher Ivan Rodriguez has agreed to a one-year, $1.5 million contract with the Houston Astros, a source told ESPN's Steve Phillips on Monday.

Rodriguez can make an additional $1.5 million in performance bonuses.

At the World Baseball Classic, Rodriguez, a 14-time major league All-Star, is hitting .600 (9-for-15) in four games for Puerto Rico.

Rodriguez hit .276 with seven homers and 35 RBIs in 115 games with the Detroit Tigers and New York Yankees last year. He is the only player in baseball history with at least 13 Gold Gloves and a career .300 average or better.

He has three more Gold Gloves, earning one as recently as 2007, than Hall of Famer Johnny Bench and almost double the total of Bob Boone, who is third on the list. Among position players, only Hall of Fame third baseman Brooks Robinson has more Gold Glove awards.

Rodriguez has caught 2,173 games, trailing only Carlton Fisk (2,226) and Boone (2,225) in terms of longevity behind the plate.

This is a nice move for both sides. Even though Pudge is getting old, and his offensive numbers were down last year, his defense is still impeccable.

Via: ESPN