The CT Sports Editor sounds off: JONATHAN SAYS

NFL

As a Dolphins fan, I’m not completely
offended that Zach Thomas signed with
the Cowboys, but it makes me scratch
my head a little bit. Thomas’ concussions
kept him out for the majority of the
season, and he was released at the end of
the 1-15 debacle. Thomas said afterward
that he always would consider himself a
Miami Dolphin. Now – if you feel that
strongly about the franchise that you
spent your entire career with and if you
are hounded by concussions – why would
you sign with another team to continue
your career? I like Z.T., but he almost
seems greedy.

Thomas isn’t signing with the Cowboys
to rejuvenate his career. He is signing with
them to potentially end his career with a
team that has a shot at winning the Super
Bowl. I can’t say I completely blame him
(a ring is a big deal, after all), but this
one just hurts.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

Tennessee’s win over Memphis was as
good for college basketball as any win this
year. Why? Memphis finally got a dose of
reality. The Tigers are a good team that
can play with any team in the country but
playing in Conference USA hurts more than
it helps. Tennessee had more big-game
experience in the national spotlight, and it
showed. On the other hand, how strange
is it to see Tennessee ranked at No. 1 in
the polls in a sport other than football?
The Volunteers won’t have too much time
to think about it, though, as the team
travels to No. 16 Vanderbilt Tuesday. The
Commodores will be looking for revenge
after a 20-point loss in Knoxville earlier
in the season.

Elsewhere – Disagree if you
want, but it’s time to get rid of ESPN
BracketBusters. Don’t get me wrong, it’s
fun seeing mid-major teams get to face
competition they normally wouldn’t
play against at this point in the season,
but – in all honesty – I think the whole
system is insulting. It’s cool that ESPN
gives mid-major conference teams a
chance to play on a television network
usually reserved for the big boys (ACC,
SEC, etc.), but the majority of each
broadcast seems to constantly be saying
the teams have little-to-no chance of
making the NCAA tournament without
a conference bid. Thanks for the update,
ESPN, but I think most people realize
that during Selection Sunday every year
when teams from the bigger conferences
gain entry to the tournament without
winning records in their respective
conferences. How about a format where
mid-major teams get to play high-major
teams on neutral floors? That would
certainly make things interesting and
give the mid-majors a chance to add
a quality win to their tournament
résumés.