Odds to win the 2012 World Series     

Philadelphia Phillies                   11/2

New York Yankees                    13/2

Los Angeles Angels                   7/1

Detroit Tigers                             8/1

Texas Rangers                          10/1

Boston Red Sox                        10/1

San Francisco Giants                 15/1

Tampa Bay Rays                       18/1

Miami Marlins                            20/1

Cincinnati Reds                         20/1

Atlanta Braves                           22/1

St. Louis Cardinals                     25/1

Arizona Diamondbacks               28/1

Milwaukee Brewers                    28/1

Washington Nationals                30/1

Los Angeles Dodgers                 40/1

Toronto Blue Jays                      40/1

Chicago Cubs                            40/1

Colorado Rockies                       40/1

Cleveland Indians                       60/1

Chicago White Sox                    65/1

Minnesota Twins                        75/1

Kansas City Royals                   80/1

New York Mets                          80/1

Oakland Athletics                      80/1

Pittsburgh Pirates                      100/1

San Diego Padres                      100/1

Seattle Mariners                        100/1

Baltimore Orioles                       150/1

Houston Astros                          200/1

Odds to win the 2012 AL Pennant       

New York Yankees                    13/4

Los Angeles Angels                   7/2

Detroit Tigers                             4/1

Boston Red Sox                        11/2

Texas Rangers                          11/2

Tampa Bay Rays                       9/1

Toronto Blue Jays                      22/1

Cleveland Indians                       28/1

Chicago White Sox                    35/1

Kansas City Royals                   40/1

Oakland Athletics                      40/1

Minnesota Twins                        40/1

Seattle Mariners                        60/1

Baltimore Orioles                       75/1

Odds to win the 2012 NL Pennant       

Philadelphia Phillies                   9/4

San Francisco Giants                 7/1

Atlanta Braves                           9/1

Cincinnati Reds                         9/1

Miami Marlins                            9/1

St. Louis Cardinals                     11/1

Milwaukee Brewers                    14/1

Washington Nationals                15/1

Arizona Diamondbacks               14/1

Colorado Rockies                       18/1

Los Angeles Dodgers                 18/1

Chicago Cubs                            22/1

New York Mets                          40/1

Pittsburgh Pirates                      40/1

San Diego Padres                      50/1

Houston Astros                          100/1

Odds to win the 2012 AL East

New York Yankees                    2/3

Boston Red Sox                        3/1

Tampa Bay Rays                       9/2

Toronto Blue Jays                      12/1

Baltimore Orioles                       100/1

Odds to win the 2012 AL Central         

Detroit Tigers                             1/4

Cleveland Indians                       10/1

Kansas City Royals                   12/1

Chicago White Sox                    12/1

Minnesota Twins                        16/1

Odds to win the 2012 AL West

Los Angeles Angels                   4/5

Texas Rangers                          1/1

Oakland Athletics                      30/1

Seattle Mariners                        45/1

Odds to win the 2012 NL East

Philadelphia Phillies                   1/2

Miami Marlins                            11/2

Atlanta Braves                           6/1

Washington Nationals                8/1

New York Mets                          50/1

Odds to win the 2012 NL Central         

Cincinnati Reds                         7/5

St. Louis Cardinals                     2/1

Milwaukee Brewers                    11/4

Chicago Cubs                            18/1

Pittsburgh Pirates                      30/1

Houston Astros                          100/1

Odds to win the 2012 NL West

San Francisco Giants                 5/4

Arizona Diamondbacks               2/1

Los Angeles Dodgers                 11/2

Colorado Rockies                       7/1

San Diego Padres                      15/1

Over/Under Regular Season Win Totals

Arizona Diamondbacks               86½

Atlanta Braves                           86½

Baltimore Orioles                       69½

Boston Red Sox                        90½

Chicago Cubs                            73½

Chicago White Sox                    75½

Cincinnati Reds                         87½

Cleveland Indians                       78½

Colorado Rockies                       80½

Detroit Tigers                             91½

Miami Marlins                            85½

Houston Astros                          63½

Kansas City Royals                   78½

Los Angeles Angels                   91½

Los Angeles Dodgers                 80½

Milwaukee Brewers                    85½

Minnesota Twins                        72½

New York Mets                          73½

New York Yankees                    93½

Oakland Athletics                      72½

Philadelphia Phillies                   93½

Pittsburgh Pirates                      72½

San Diego Padres                      73½

San Francisco Giants                 87½

Seattle Mariners                        71½

St. Louis Cardinals                     85½

Tampa Bay Rays                       86½

Texas Rangers                          91½

Toronto Blue Jays                      81½

Washington Nationals                83½
courtesy of Bovada, (www.Bovada.lv, Twitter: @BovadaLV).

“As of this morning we have already seen some trends on who the public is liking to take this thing down. Florida State who won the ACC and who we opened at 40-1 have dropped down to 30-1 and are a heavy liability for us already.  Syracuse at 10-1 as a #1 seed has also taken quite a bit unlike Kentucky who are clear cut favorites at 9/4 but not seeing too much action at that short price. Michigan State took quite a lot of money when they were as high as 40-1 at one point during the season but now at 17/2 I guess some bettors feel they missed the boat on that one.”

-Kevin Bradley, Bovada.lv Sportsbook Manager 

Odds to Win the 2012 NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship 

Kentucky (1)                                          9/4

Ohio State (2)                                        11/2

North Carolina (1)                                   13/2

Michigan State (1)                                  17/2

Missouri (2)                                           10/1

Kansas (2)                                            10/1

Syracuse (1)                                          10/1

Duke (2)                                                20/1

Marquette (3)                                         30/1

Florida State (3)                                     30/1

Baylor (3)                                              35/1

Wisconsin (4)                                        35/1

Louisville (4)                                          35/1

Vanderbilt (5)                                         35/1

Wichita State (5)                                    40/1

Georgetown (3)                                      40/1

New Mexico (5)                                      50/1

Indiana (4)                                             60/1

Florida (7)                                              65/1

Memphis (8)                                          65/1

Cincinnati (6)                                         75/1

Kansas State (8)                                    75/1

Connecticut (9)                                      75/1

Michigan (4)                                          80/1

Belmont (14)                                          100/1

Temple (5)                                             100/1

UNLV (6)                                               100/1

Murray State (6)                                     100/1

Notre Dame (7)                                      100/1

St. Mary’s (7)                                         125/1

Gonzaga (7)                                          125/1

West Virginia (10)                                  125/1

San Diego State (6)                                150/1

St. Louis (9)                                          150/1

Alabama (9)                                           150/1

Creighton (8)                                          150/1

Texas (11)                                             100/1

Purdue (10)                                           100/1

NC State (11)                                        100/1

Iowa State (8)                                        200/1

Virginia (10)                                           200/1

VCU (12)                                               250/1

Harvard (12)                                           250/1

California (12)                                        250/1

Southern Miss (9)                                  250/1

Long Beach State (12)                            250/1

Colorado State (11)                                300/1

Colorado (11)                                         300/1

South Florida (12)                                  300/1

Montana (13)                                         300/1

New Mexico state (13)                            300/1

Ohio (13)                                               300/1

Davidson (13)                                         300/1

BYU (14)                                               300/1

Iona (14)                                                300/1

St. Bonaventure (14)                               300/1

South Dakota State (14)                         300/1

Lehigh (15)                                            450/1

Norfolk State (15)                                   450/1

Detroit (15)                                            450/1

Mississippi Valley State (16)                   500/1

Western Kentucky (16)                           500/1

NC-Ashville (16)                                     500/1

Long Island (16)                                     500/1

Lamar (16)                                             500/1

Vermont (16)                                         500/1

Loyola Maryland (15)                              500/1

Odds to Win the South Region           

Kentucky (1)                              5/7

Duke (2)                                    5/1

Baylor (3)                                  11/2

Wichita State (5)                        8/1

Indiana (4)                                 12/1

UNLV (6)                                   25/1

Connecticut (9)                          30/1

Notre Dame (7)                          40/1

Iowa State (8)                            60/1

Xavier (10)                                 60/1

VCU (12)                                   100/1

Colorado (11)                             150/1

New Mexico State (13)               200/1

South Dakota State (14)             200/1

Lehigh (15)                                200/1

Western Kentucky (16)               200/1

Mississippi Valley State (16)       225/1

Odds to Win the West Region 

Michigan State (1)                      11/5

Missouri (2)                               9/4

Marquette (3)                             13/2

Louisville (4)                              13/2

New Mexico (5)                          9/1

Florida (7)                                  14/1

Memphis (8)                              14/1

Murray State (6)                         25/1

St. Louis (9)                              30/1

Virginia (10)                               50/1

Long Beach State (12)                75/1

Davidson (13)                             100/1

BYU (14)                                   100/1

Colorado State (11)                    150/1

Iona (14)                                    150/1

Norfolk State (15)                       200/1

Long Island (16)                         200/1

Odds to Win the East Region  

Ohio State (2)                            8/5

Syracuse (1)                              9/4

Vanderbilt (5)                             9/1

Florida State (3)                         10/1

Wisconsin (4)                            10/1

Kansas State (8)                        15/1

Cincinnati (6)                             18/1

Gonzaga (7)                              30/1

West Virginia (10)                      30/1

Texas (11)                                 30/1

Southern Mississippi (9)             60/1

Harvard (12)                               60/1

Montana (13)                             100/1

St. Bonaventure (14)                   150/1

Loyola Maryland (15)                  200/1

NC-Ashville (16)                         200/1

Odds to Win the Midwest Region        

North Carolina (1)                       8/5

Kansas (2)                                2/1

Georgetown (3)                          10/1

Michigan (4)                              15/1

Temple (5)                                 18/1

Purdue (10)                               18/1

Belmont (14)                              18/1

NC State (11)                            20/1

St. Mary’s (7)                             25/1

San Diego State (6)                    30/1

Creighton (8)                              35/1

Alabama (9)                               40/1

California (12)                            50/1

South Florida (12)                      100/1

Ohio (13)                                   100/1

Detroit (15)                                150/1

Lamar (16)                                 200/1

Vermont (16)                             225/1

Courtesy of Bovada (formerly Bodog), www.Bovada.lv,  Twitter: @BovadaLV. 

Boston College (8-17, 3-8) at Maryland (14-10, 4-6)
Thursday, Feb. 16, 2012 | 9 p.m. | Comcast Center
ACC Network-WNUV 54 in Baltimore | Terrapin Sports Radio Network

BALTIMORE, Feb. 10, 2012 – US Lacrosse has named Kevin Cassese, Dave Pietramala and Jeff Tambroni assistant coaches for the 2014 U.S. men’s national team.

Cassese, Pietramala and Tambroni join the coaching staff led by head coach Richie Meade that will lead the U.S. men’s national team at the 2014 Federation of International Lacrosse (FIL) World Championships, hosted by US Lacrosse and set for July 10-19, 2014, in Denver, Colo. The U.S. men’s national team is seeking its 10th world championship after reclaiming the gold medal at the 2010 FIL World Championships in Manchester, England.

“We’re really pleased about the quality and number of coaches who were interested in the positions and especially about the three guys we selected to help coach the team,” said Meade, who was named head coach in December 2011. “It’s a very solid group. Each of the coaches is experienced, tough-minded and brings something special to the group.”

Kevin Cassese is beginning his fifth season as Lehigh’s head men’s lacrosse coach, where, in 2011, he led the Mountain Hawks to their first Patriot League Tournament appearance since 2006. Prior to Lehigh, Cassese served as assistant coach at his alma mater Duke from 2005-07, helping lead the Blue Devils to the 2007 national championship game. As a player at Duke from 2000-03, Cassese was a three-time All-American, two-time Tewaaraton Award finalist and received the Lt. Donald MacLaughlin, Jr. Award as the nation’s top midfielder in 2002.

A three-time U.S. men’s national team midfielder (2002, 2006, 2010), Cassese was part of two gold medal winning U.S. teams at the FIL World Championships (2002, 2010). Cassese has also helped coach the U.S. men’s training team at US Lacrosse’s Stars & Stripes and Champion Challenge events from 2010-12.

“Coach Cassese has been involved in the international game for more than 12 years,” Meade added. “He’s an expert at international lacrosse and the face-off game, and his familiarity with the current player mindset will help him relate really well.”

Dave Pietramala is entering his 12th season as the head coach at Johns Hopkins. He guided the Blue Jays to the 2005 and 2007 NCAA championships and sports a record of 126-41 at Johns Hopkins and an overall collegiate coaching record of 149-58. Johns Hopkins has advanced to the NCAA tournament in each of his 11 seasons with two national championships, two national runner-up finishes (2003, 2008) and six total trips to the final four. The only person in the history of men’s college lacrosse to win an NCAA Division I lacrosse championship as a player and a head coach, Pietramala was a three-time first team All-American at Johns Hopkins during his playing career from 1986-89. He helped the Blue Jays to the 1987 NCAA championship and later starred for the U.S. men’s national team in 1990 and 1994. Pietramala was inducted to the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 2003.

“We were looking for one guy on each side of the ball and one guy who would be good in the specialty area,” Meade noted. “Coach Pietramala is a great coach across the board, but especially at the defensive end of the field. He has a level of comfort with the international game and will get the most out of the players at the defensive end.”

Jeff Tambroni is entering his second year as head coach at Penn State University. Prior to his arrival in State College, he spent 10 seasons as head coach at Cornell University (2001-2010), where his teams won eight Ivy League championships (2003-2010) and made three final four appearances (2007, 2009, 2010). In 2009, Tambroni was named the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) Coach of the Year after leading Cornell to the national championship game. His overall collegiate coaching record is 116-47, having amassed 109 wins while at Cornell. A 1992 graduate of Hobart University, Tambroni helped lead the Statesmen to back-to-back NCAA Division III championships (1990-91) before beginning his coaching career as an assistant at his alma mater in 1993.

“Coach Tambroni is one of the most outstanding coaches in the game,” Meade said. “He’s great with offensive players and will be very good at developing schemes to highlight the great talent we have here in the U.S.”

“I want to thank Coach Meade and the committee for their time and effort in screening a deep and talented pool of applicants,” said Bill Tierney, chair of US Lacrosse’s Coaches Selection Committee and former U.S. men’s team head coach. “My experience as a head coach of the 1998 team afforded me the opportunity to work with a great group of coaches and this was our goal for Coach Meade. Clearly, this is one of the most impressive U.S. staffs ever to be assembled. We are all looking forward to great things from them and the team in Denver in 2014.”

Warrior is the official equipment and apparel sponsor of the U.S. men’s national teams. Marriott and Nationwide are official sponsors of the National Teams Program.

About US Lacrosse US Lacrosse, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, is the national governing body for men’s and women’s lacrosse. US Lacrosse is the parent organization of the U.S. men’s and women’s national teams program. US Lacrosse has 400,000 members in 64 regional chapters around the country. Through responsive and effective leadership, US Lacrosse strives to provide programs and services to inspire participation while protecting the integrity of the game. To learn more about US Lacrosse, please visit www.uslacrosse.org

Sleeping at altitude: Michael Phelps using ‘fish tank’-like hyperbaric chamber to aid recovery

RACHEL COHEN
AP Sports Writer

NEW YORK — Michael Phelps is the latest athlete to use a hyperbaric chamber to aid his recovery from training.

The 16-time Olympic medalist said Wednesday he had been sleeping “at 8,000 feet every night” for almost a year. The 26-year-old swimmer noticed he bounced back from workouts better when he trained at altitude, so he’s trying a device that simulates that.

“We’ve been able to realize after going to Colorado Springs so many times that it is something that helps me recover,” Phelps said. “That’s something that is so important to me now being older. I don’t recover as fast as I used to.”

He said the chamber looked like a fish tank: “Imagine, like, a bed with a box around it.”

“It’s kind of strange, but it’s good,” Phelps said during an appearance for sponsor Head & Shoulders. “I don’t mind it. There’s a giant door at the end of my bed. The worst thing is trying to watch TV in it. I’ve got to watch it through Plexiglas — it’s blurry.”

Phelps is preparing for what he says will be his final Olympics this summer in London. He won a record eight gold medals in Beijing in 2008.

Hypoxic or hyperbaric tents and chambers are used by many athletes to replicate high-altitude conditions and boost levels of oxygen-rich red blood cells. They have become popular with NFL players trying to speed their recovery from injuries.

In 2006, the World Anti-Doping Agency’s ethics committee ruled that such chambers enhance performance and violate “the spirit of sport,” but the executive committee refrained from adding them to their list of prohibited substances and methods, instead asking for studies to look further into health implications.

With spring training approaching and an arbitration case pending, the Orioles have traded starting pitcher Jeremy Guthrie to the Colorado Rockies.

After leading the Baltimore rotation for the last five seasons, Guthrie has been dealt for starting pitcher Jason Hammel and reliever Matt Lindstrom, according to multiple outlets. Guthrie will reportedly sign a one-year contract with the Rockies before becoming a free agent following the 2012 season.

Guthrie is 47-65 with a 4.12 earned run average in eight seasons and threw 200 or more innings in each of the last three seasons for the Orioles’ starting rotation. The 32-year-old made three Opening Day starts for the Orioles despite leading the league in losses in two of the last three seasons. The veteran starter was reportedly seeking $10.25 million while the Orioles were offering $7.25 million in an arbitration hearing scheduled for Monday.

Hammel is 29 years old and has posted a 34-45 record with a 4.99 ERA in six major league seasons. He made 87 starts in the last three seasons for the Rockies and pitched 170 or more innings in each of those seasons. He spent the first three years of his big-league career in Tampa Bay after being selected by the Rays in the 10th round of the 2002 amateur draft.

The 31-year-old Lindstrom has spent five seasons as a reliever with three different teams and has a career 3.81 ERA in 279 career innings. He has converted 45 saves in 59 opportunities, including 23 saves for the Houston Astros in 2010. He will likely find a late-inning role in the Orioles bullpen that includes Jim Johnson and Kevin Gregg as other end-of-game options.

Hammel will be under the organization’s control for two seasons before becoming eligible for free agency while the Orioles have a 2013 team option for Lindstrom.

To clear room on the 40-man roster for Hammel and Lindstrom, the Orioles will designate left-handed reliever Clay Rapada for assignment. Rapada had a 6.06 ERA in 32 appearances for the club in 2011.

Tipping Off: Maryland snapped a three-game losing streak and improved to 13-7 overall and 3-3 in the ACC, while Virginia Tech fell to 12-9 and 1-5 in the conference … the Terps also snapped a two-game losing streak to the Hokies and now lead the all-time series 28-10, including 18-4 at home.

Stoglin Hits 20, Moves Up List: Terrell Stoglin reached the 20-point mark for the 14th time this season. Stoglin led all scorers with 28 points on 9-of-21 shooting. Maryland is 10-4 when Stoglin scores 20 or more. The sophomore also connected on four 3-pointers to move up to a tie for 17th on Maryland’s career 3-pointers made list (tied with John Gilchrist at 85).

3-Point Prowess: Virginia Tech entered the game leading the nation in 3-point field goal percentage defense (.251), but Maryland was able to connect on 41.2 percent (7 of 17). Terrell Stoglin was 4 of 10, Sean Mosley was 2 of 4 and Pe’Shon Howard was 1 of 3.

Pankey Just Misses Double-Double: Ashton Pankey was in the starting lineup for the second consecutive game and had another solid performance. After contributing eight points and eight rebounds against Duke, the redshirt freshman had eight points and a career-high tying 11 rebounds today. It’s the third time this season the redshirt freshman has reached double figures in rebounds. The 11 boards tied for the most by a Terrapin this season (Alex Len at NC State, Pankey vs. Iona).

3,000: After logging 32 minutes today, Sean Mosley became just the 21st player in Maryland basketball history to play 3,000 minutes in his career. Mosley has played 120 games in his career, 96 of them starts. He scored 15 points for his ninth double-figure scoring game of the season and 43rd of his career.

First-Half Notes: Maryland held Virginia Tech to just 19 points on 24 percent shooting (6-25) in the first half. It’s the second time in conference play the Terps held their opponent under 20 points in the first half (also Georgia Tech with 19) … Terrell Stoglin was Maryland’s leading scorer with seven points, and seven of nine Terps that saw action scored at least three … Maryland held a 10-6 advantage in points in the paint.

Second-Half Notes: Terrell Stoglin scored 21 points in the half, the second time in his career he has scored 20 or more points in one half (also vs. Colorado, 2nd half) … Sean Mosley had nine of his 15 points including five clutch free throws in the last 1:09 … Maryland was outscored 28-10 in the paint and 14-2 in bench points … both teams shot 50 percent … Maryland made 15 of 21 free throws (.714).

Trends: Maryland improved to 13-2 when making more free throws than its opponent (22-15) … the Terps are 11-1 when outrebounding the opponent … Maryland is now 4-0 when holding its opponent to under 40 percent shooting.

Tidbits: Maryland used a starting lineup of Pe’Shon Howard, Terrell Stoglin, Sean Mosley, James Padgett and Ashton Pankey for the second straight game … Maryland opened the game on an 8-2 run and never trailed … the Terps’ largest lead was 15 (in the 2nd half).

Navy Announces 2012 Football Schedule

ANNAPOLIS, Md.—Five home games at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, a trip to Dublin, Ireland to face Notre Dame, road games at Penn State and Air Force and the annual Army-Navy game presented by USAA in Philadelphia highlight the 2012 Navy football schedule released today.

CBS Sports Network will televise all five games in Annapolis, while CBS Sports will televise the Notre Dame and Army games.

Navy will kick-off the 2012 season on Sept. 1 in Dublin, Ireland against Notre Dame.  The game will be played at Aviva Stadium, located in the heart of Dublin, and marks the first time the stadium has hosted an American football game.

It will also be the first time in program history that Navy has opened up against Notre Dame and the second time the two teams have met in Dublin.  Navy played the Irish at Croke Park in 1996.

After a week off, the Mids will travel to Happy Valley on Sept. 15 to take on Bill O’Brien’s Penn State Nittany Lions.  It will be the first meeting between the two schools since 1974 when Navy shocked Penn State in State College, 7-6.

VMI comes to town on Sept. 22 for the home opener at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. It will be the ninth meeting between the two schools and the first since 2003 when Navy defeated the Keydets, 37-10, in the season opener.

The Mids will have revenge on their minds when San Jose State comes calling on Sept. 29. Last fall, the Spartans eliminated the Midshipmen from bowl contention with a 27-24 victory in San Jose.

Navy will travel to Colorado Springs, Colo. for the first leg of the Commander-In-Chief’s Trophy on Oct. 6.  The Falcons won the Commander-In-Chief’s Trophy last year thanks to a 35-34 overtime victory over Navy in Annapolis.

The Mids will travel to Mount Pleasant, Mich. the following week, as Navy will play at Central Michigan on Oct. 13.  It will be the first time Navy has played at Central Michigan and the first time Navy has played in the state of Michigan since 2006 when the Mids beat Eastern Michigan at Ford Field in Detroit.

The Indiana Hoosiers come to Annapolis the following week (Oct. 20) for Homecoming.  It will be just the third time in school history that the two teams have met and it will be Indiana’s first trip to Annapolis.  The Hoosiers will be the first Big 10 team to play at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium since Northwestern beat Navy in 2002.

East Carolina will play host to Navy on Oct. 27 in Greenville.  The Pirates knocked off Navy last year in a thriller, 38-35.

Navy and Florida Atlantic will meet on the gridiron for the first time the following week as new head coach Carl Pelini brings his Owls North to Annapolis on Nov. 3.

Navy will make its first trip to Troy, Ala. on Nov. 10 when the Mids take on the Troy Trojans. Navy defeated Troy last year, 42-14.

The home finale takes place on Nov. 17, when Dennis Franchione and the Texas State Bobcats come to Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium on Senior Day.

The 2012 Army-Navy Game Presented by USAA will take place at Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field on Dec. 8.  Navy leads the all-time series, 56-49-7, and has won a series-record 10-consecutive games against the Black Knights.

Season tickets, both renewals and new purchases, will go on sale Feb. 1 and are $180.  Those who purchase season tickets will also have an option at that time to buy single-game tickets, as well as tickets for the Navy-Notre Dame game in Dublin.

2012 Navy Football Schedule
Sept. 1              vs. Notre Dame (Dublin, Ireland)
Sept. 15            at Penn State
Sept. 22            VMI
Sept. 29            San Jose State
Oct. 6               at Air Force
Oct. 13             at Central Michigan
Oct. 20             Indiana (Homecoming)
Oct. 27             at East Carolina
Nov. 3              Florida Atlantic
Nov. 10            at Troy
Nov. 17            Texas State
Dec. 8              vs. Army (Philadelphia)

FIU (3-6) at Maryland (5-3)
Wednesday, Dec. 14 | 7:30 p.m. | Comcast Center
ESPN | Terrapin Sports Radio Network

Honorable Mention: High School Basketball-Bel Air @ Perry Hall (Wednesday 6:30pm), St. Frances @ John Carroll (Wednesday 7pm); Mixed Martial Arts: Strikeforce-Gilbert Melendez vs. Jorge Masvidal (Saturday 10pm from San Diego live on Showtime)

10. Lyle Lovett and His Acoustic Group (Thursday 7pm Rams Head Live); Bret Michaels (Wednesday 7pm & 10pm Rams Head on Stage); Pietasters (Friday 8pm 9:30 Club), Virginia Coalition (Saturday 8pm 9:30 Club); Devo (Thursday 8pm State Theatre), Phil Vassar (Sunday 8pm State Theatre); Chris Isaak (Monday 7:30pm Birchmere); Anthony Hamilton “Back to Love” available in stores/on iTunes (Tuesday)

I am not a Lyle Lovett fan, but I am a human being. Because I am a human being, I am ABSOLUTELY a fan of this tune. One of the happiest days in my life may have been the day I walked off a hangover into the DC Farmers’ Market and saw a folk band playing the song. If it hadn’t been in DC it would have been the HAPPIEST…

Is there any chance I could go see Bret Michaels and skip everything besides this?

I saw the Pietasters most recently at Artscape this summer. They were fantastic. They always are.

Virginia Coalition is ABSOLUTELY the best band you’re not listening to. Unless you’re not listening to U2. There aren’t people that don’t listen to U2, are there?

9. Glenn Clark’s Christmas Party (Saturday 8pm undisclosed location in Monkton); “Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows” & “Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol“ out in theaters (Friday); Christian Finnegan (Thursday-Sunday DC Improv)

This is how last year’s Christmas party ended…

That’s my girlfriend cleaning up vomit. The vomit happened to be on the ceiling. It is what it is.

Oh…and last year’s party also involved the following….

Ours were of course much manlier than this, but you get the point. This is not to be missed…like…say…ever.