Payton Suspended for 2012 Season

In an unprecedented punishment, the NFL has suspended New Orleans head coach Sean Payton for the entire upcoming 2012 season for the bounty program he and defensive coordinator Gregg Williams held during the last three seasons. The program, which would reward players for injuring opposing players, by paying players for so-called "knock-outs" or "cart-offs" was funded by players.

"We are all accountable and responsible for player health and safety and the integrity of the game. We will not tolerate conduct or a culture that undermines those priorities," said Goodell, whose league faces more than 20 concussion-related lawsuits brought by hundreds of former players. "No one is above the game or the rules that govern it."

To me, although severe, this penalty definitely fits the magnitude of the crime. To overlook or not stop a program that would try to deliberately injure opposing players is just immoral and has no place in the NFL today. Payton has to take responsibility as head coach of the team, and ultimately, he'll pay the price with the season long suspension.

Indiana Sweet 16 Bound

This tourney is heating up. In yesterday's, Indiana overcame a nine-point 2nd half deficit to end #12 VCU's Cinderella journey (above). Other games had Kentucky, Ohio State, Syracuse, Marquette, Wisconsin, Baylor, and Louisville all advancing to the Sweet 16.

Today's Round 3 Schedule:
(All times eastern, games also available on March Madness on Demand)
12:15 PM CBS Midwest Region (11) NC State vs. (3) Georgetown
2:45 PM CBS West Region (9) St. Louis vs. (1) Michigan State
5:15 PM CBS Midwest Region (8) Creighton vs. (1) North Carolina
6:10 PM TNT West Region (15) Northfolk St. vs. (7) Florida
7:10 PM TBS Midwest Region (13) Ohio vs. (12) South Florida
7:45 PM truTV South Region (15) Lehigh vs. (10) Xavier
8:40 PM TNT Midwest Region (10) Purdue vs. (2) Kansas
9:40 PM TBS East Region (6) Cincinnati vs. (3) Florida St.

My bracket record: 27-13

Absolute Madness as Duke, Missouri Fall

Unbelievable day in the NCAA Tournament on Friday. After #2 Missouri falls to #15 Norfolk State in the West Region (above video), #2 Duke suffered the same fate to #15 Lehigh in the South Region. Absolutely stunning upsets, as there are no more perfect brackets on Yahoo or ESPN's tournament challenges. Other upsets included #13 Ohio shocking #4 Michigan and #12 South Florida beating #5 Temple in the Midwest Region.

Today's third round schedule
(All times eastern, games also available on March Madness on Demand)
12:15 PM CBS East Region (8) Kansas State vs (1) Syracuse
2:45 PM CBS East Region (7) Gonzaga vs. (2) Ohio State
5:15 PM CBS West Region (6) Murray State vs (3) Marquette
6:10 PM TNT East Region (5) Vanderbilt vs (4) Wisconsin
7:10 PM TBS South Region (12) Virginia Commonwealth vs (4) Indiana
7:45 PM CBS South Region (8) Iowa State vs (1) Kentucky
8:40 PM TNT South Region (11) Colorado vs (3) Baylor
9:40 PM TBS West Region (5) New Mexico vs (4) Louisville

My bracket record: 22-10

Day Two Schedule

Only two upsets on day one, with Colorado beating UNLV and VCU upsetting Wichita State. Here's to more today!

Day Two Schedule:
(All times U.S. Eastern, games also on March Madness Live)

12:15 p.m.: (11) Texas vs (6) Cincinnati on CBS
12:40 p.m.: (11) North Carolina State vs (6) San Diego State on truTV
1:40 p.m.: (9) Alabama vs (8) Creighton on TBS
2:10 p.m.: (10) Virginia vs (7) Florida on TNT
2:45 p.m.: (14) St. Bonaventure vs (3) Florida State on CBS
3:10 p.m.: (14) Belmont vs (3) Georgetown on truTV
4:10 p.m.: (16) Vermont vs (1) North Carolina on TBS
4:40 p.m.: (15) Norfolk State vs (2) Missouri on TNT

6:50 p.m.: (9) Saint Louis vs (8) Memphis on TBS
7:15 p.m.: (15) Lehigh vs (2) Duke on CBS
7:20 p.m.: (13) Ohio vs (4) Michigan on TNT
7:27 p.m.: (10) Purdue vs (7) Saint Mary's on truTV

9:20 p.m.: (16) LIU Brooklyn vs (1) Michigan State on TBS
9:45 p.m.: (10) Xavier vs (7) Notre Dame on CBS
9:50 p.m.: (12) South Florida vs (5) Temple on TNT
9:57 p.m.: (15) Detroit vs (2) Kansas on truTV

My bracket record after day one: 13-3

Day One Schedule

The 64-team field is set, and today, the real madness begins! Full day one schedule is below. Remember you can still sign up for only $3.99 to watch all games of the tournament live online at March Madness Live.

(All times ET)
12:15 p.m. -- (11) Colorado State vs (6) Murray State on CBS
12:40 p.m. -- (9) Southern Miss vs (8) Kansas State on truTV
1:40 p.m. --(13) Davidson vs (4) Louisville on TBS
2:10 p.m. -- (13) Montana vs (4) Wisconsin on TNT
2:45 p.m. -- (14) Brigham Young vs (3) Marquette on CBS
3:10 p.m. -- (16) UNC-Asheville vs (1) Syracuse on truTV
4:10 p.m. -- (12) Long Beach State vs (5) New Mexico on TBS
4:40 p.m. -- (12) Harvard vs (5) Vanderbilt on TNT
6:50 p.m. -- (16) Western Kentucky vs (1) Kentucky on TBS
7:15 p.m. -- (12) Virginia Commonwealth vs (5) Wichita State on CBS
7:20 p.m. -- (10) West Virginia vs (7) Gonzaga on TNT
7:27 p.m. -- (14) South Dakota State vs (3) Baylor on truTV
9:20 p.m. -- (9) Connecticut vs (8) Iowa State on TBS
9:45 p.m. -- (13) New Mexico State vs (4) Indiana on CBS
9:50 p.m. -- (15) Loyola (MD) vs (2) Ohio State on TNT
9:57 p.m. -- (11) Colorado vs (6) UNLV on truTV

Enjoy the games today and good luck in your brackets! My bracket

Western Kentucky, BYU Comeback and Advance

In the opening game of the 2012 NCAA Tournament, Western Kentucky overcame a 16-point deficit with five minutes remaining to shock Mississippi Valley State 59-58 in Dayton, Ohio. The Hilltoppers closed the game on a 22-5 run, an incredible win considering they are the only losing team (win puts their record at 16-18) in the tournament field, and they shot 30% from the field and committed 28 turnovers. But they found a way to advance to play #1 Kentucky Thursday in Louisville.

In the nightcap, an even more amazing comeback occured, as BYU rallied from a 25-point deficit (25?!?) to beat Iona 78-72. The largest comeback in tournament history, BYU outscored Iona 38-17 in the second half to pull off the shocking result. Noah Hartsock scored 23 to lead the Cougars in scoring, as they advance to play #3 Marquette in Louisville on Thursday.

Tonight, it's a pair of Midwest Region matchups with #16 Vermont playing Lamar at 5:30 PM CT while #12 Cal plays #12 South Florida at 8 PM CT on truTV.

NBA Trade Deadline Central

Lakers Get Sessions

LA gets the point guard it was looking for, in acquiring Ramon Sessions and SG Christian Eyanga from the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for SF Luke Walton, SG Jason Kapono, and a first round pick. Cleveland, meanwhile, gets a bunch of expiring contracts as well as a draft pick as they continue to build around Kyrie Irving.

Pacers Get Barbosa

Indiana adds veteran PG/SG Leandro Barbosa for the playoff run in exchange for a second-round pick. Great pick for Indy, as Barbosa is a great off-the-bench scorer, while Toronto restocks more draft picks for the future.

Nets Acquire Wallace

Portland's firesale continues, as they trade SF Gerald Wallace to the New Jersey Nets in exchange for C Mehmet Okur, SF Shawne Williams, and a first round pick.

Spurs Reaquire Captain Jack

San Antonio acquires Stephen Jackson, member of the Spurs 2003 NBA Championship team, in exchange for SF Richard Jefferson, and a first round pick. Trade definitely helps give SA another perimeter player (in addition to Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili) who can create his own shot and put up a bunch of points, as the Spurs make one last push for another title run.

Rockets Acquire Camby, Fisher

My hometown Rockets got older and more experienced, acquiring PG Derek Fisher and a first-round pick from the Lakers in exchange for PF Jordan Hill, and C Marcus Camby from the Portland Trailblazers for C Hasheem Thabeet, PG Jonny Flynn, and a future second-round pick. Trades definitely give Houston much more experience, as they try to make a run this year, but no long-term impact of this trade.

Wizards Acquire Nene

Washington gets the Brazilian center from the Denver Nuggets as well as PF Brian Cook and a second round pick from the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange C Javale McGee and PF Ronny Turiaf, who go to Denver, while SG Nick Young goes to LA.

For the Wizards, they simply had enough with McGee and Young's immaturity, and we rebuild around Nene and John Wall. Shocking trade for Denver, as they dump Nene, who they signed to a long-term deal in the offseason, for an expiring contract in McGee. GREAT trade for Clippers, they give up virtually nothing for a pretty good scoring SG in Young.

Bucks Acquire Ellis

Milwaukee acquires SG Monta Ellis, PF Ekpe Udoh, and the expiring contract of Kwame Brown from the Golden State Warriors in exchange for C Andrew Bogut and SF Stephen Jackson. I don't understand this trade for Golden State, as they get an injury prone Bogut and the volatile Jackson for the very young Udoh and a scoring machine in Ellis. Also, it will be interesting to see how Ellis and PG Brandon Jennings mesh in Milwaukee with Scott Skiles, since both players need the ball to be effective.