Don't Take the Warm-Ups Off, Darnell

La Salle is not accustomed to playing a key role in Final Four weekend over the last 50 years, but tomorrow night the road back ends. That is, if you don't mind hitchhiking and riding in the sidecar of a URAL to get there. The Blue and Gold is sending sharp shooter Darnell Harris to compete in the 20th Annual 3-point contest. The event will be televised Thursday at 9 pm on ESPN immediately following the NIT championship showdown between Ohio State and UMass.

Has anyone with decision making authority asked themselves this question: Who wants to watch a 3 point contest when the entire college game is a 3 point contest? 20 years this event has been going on? Unless you are Larry Bird in a green warm-up or Billy Hoyle shooting for Sudan, I don't want to see you standing on the elbow hoping you make the moneyball.

NCAA and ESPN, time to mix it up and get a little street with it. Forget about shooting skills and slam dunks. Time to bring back the match game. Seabiscuit and War Admiral. Kobra Kai and Myagi-Do. Lions call it "eat my dinner" in the animal kingdom; on the playground we call it "Rise and Shine."

There are 327 division one teams. 65 enter the dance. 32 go to the NIT. That leaves 230 schools to fall into the third dimension - The Fight Club. Each school sends one player to compete in a "Rise and Shine" tournament. Score three baskets, you advance. You lose, your school is out. I want 12 courts going at once like we are watching the All Valley Karate Championships, and keep track of the winners using a Big Board with removable panels stamped with their conference affiliation.

Hey, Bruiser Flint, don't go stepping in front of no car windows, you hear.