2012 Final Four Refs Selected

The officials working the NCAA semi-final games along with the Championship game have been selected.  It is not known who will work each game, orwho will be the alternate officials, but we do know the refs come from all over the country and the selections mainly come from the major conferences.

Here's the list:

Pat Adams: SEC and SWAC

Roger Ayers: Big East, ACC, SEC

Joe Derosa: Big XII

Tommy Eades: SEC

Verne Harris: MVC, WAC

Les Jones: ACC, Big East

Jamie Luckie: ACC, Big East

Doug Shows: SEC, Big East

Mike Stuart: Big East, Big XII

Mark Whitehead: Big XII and MVC

Some Notes:

Joe Derosa is a former NBA official, Pat Adams has worked 3 Kentucky games throughout the season, and Mike Stuart has worked 3 Louisville games.  Luckie worked the Iowa St/Kentucky game in the round of 32 and Jones called the Sunday game between Kentucky and Baylor.

Joe Derosa

6 Tips for Avoiding Pollen

While checking out The Weather Channel's website earlier today they had an interesting piece on 6 ways to limit your pollen exposure.

If you've been in Atlanta or other locales in the South over the past two weeks the pollen has been at record highs.

While The Weather Channel tells you to wash your hair, face and pets, that is all good and well, but the only two things I can think you can do to avoid the pollen right now is 1) Don't go outside, or 2) Move!

Aspirin Can Reduce Risk of Cancers

We all know that taking an aspirin a day to prevent heart disease has been recommended for yeatrs.
Now many more are weighing the pros and cons of daily aspirin use in light of new studies finding that it also may reduce the risk of many cancers and stop the spread of tumors.

Studies by researchers at Oxford, published last week in the Lancet, found that after just three years of daily aspirin use, the risk of developing cancer was reduced by almost 25 percent when compared with a control group not taking aspirin.

Over 6 1/2 years on average, daily aspirin reduced the risk of metastatic cancer by 36 percent and the risk of adenocarcinomas - common solid cancers including colon and prostate cancer - by 46 percent.

On the negative side, widespread use of aspirin could increase the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding, ulcers and hemorrhagic strokes that can be fatal. Aspirin may be a household staple, but it is also a potentially toxic drug, said Dr. Khosrow Kashfi, an associate medical professor at the City College of New York, who is working to develop a safer but more potent form of aspirin.

Experts urged patients to seek individualized guidance from a physician to assess personal risks and benefits.

DWTS: Martina's Foot Faults and Driver's Quicksteps

We had to wait until the last 30 minutes of the show to see how Martina and Donald would fare this week.

After a tough week of practice, where Martina aggravated an old tennis injury, she took to the floor with Tony Dovolani for a jive.

After a slow start, the former world No. 1 loosened up a bit.  She hit some of her moves and they even played up the judges a little.

The judges were as nice as they could've been to the tennis legend, but she did misd some steps and was mechanical with her turns.  

Martina gets a 17 and it's not looking good for the 20-time Wimbledon champ.

Following Martina it's Donald Driver and Peta.  They get a quickstep, and this dance should be perfect for a fleet-footed wide receiver.  Or is it?

Peta worked Driver like it was training camp.  It paid off as Driver was able to show off his nimble feet.  A tough routine and he nailed it.  

Len thought it was great and said he underscored "DD" last week.  The fans loved it and Packers fans around the world I'm sure are voting.

Driver gets a 24.  Touchdown!

How Much Referees Make During the NCAA Tournament

Right around 98 officials are selected from conferences all over the country to work the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament.

Year after year, a lot of the same refs advance to work in the opening rounds of the tournament and then on to later rounds.

They make take in a nice amout of pocket change for working these games.

$1000 is paid for first-/second-/third-round games, $1,400 fee per regional game, $2,000 per national semifinal or championship game.

All travel expenses and per diem are covered as well for as long as the officials are working games.

A nice amount of bonus money for these guys that work 70-95 games per season.