The spring sports season has begun.

My response to the letter to the editor that was published last week by a current USD student is this: It is a column, not a report. It is my opinion on anything sports-related. If you do not like it, don’t read it. But since you requested local, here’s local.

SDSU men’s basketball has been the chief topic of sports all around the area. The incident that allegedly took place recently even made it to espn.com. Too bad the school made it to espn.com for a reason that was not good.

The men’s team is currently 7-17 on the season, with the latest victory over Texas-Pan America at Frost Arena. They are, what we could say, struggling in Division-I play thus far.

Head Coach Scott Nagy, who took over in 1995, had winning seasons in Division-II play every year, clearing the 20-win mark in all but one season. However, since the move to Division I, the team has had difficulty adjusting and has struggled. They have played some pretty big names, such as Kentucky, Illinois, Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Minnesota, just to name a few. All the games ended with SDSU losses. But considering the experience SDSU gained, can those losses really be considered losses?

The men have not won many games this year due to their tough D-I schedule. For example, two different teams have played both SDSU and the University of South Dakota this year in basketball: Southwest Minnesota State University and Upper Iowa University. The USD basketball team is currently a solid 16-8 on the season. Upper Iowa played SDSU in an exhibition game at the beginning of the season. SDSU won, 84-56. USD also defeated Upper Iowa, 93-66. However, SDSU defeated Southwest Minnesota State, 70-66, in their meeting and USD lost, 69-75 to SMSU. Therefore, if SDSU were still in Division-II play, would the current team dominate the North Central Conference? I would be willing to bet so, even though I am sure a lot of people doubt me when I say that.

SDSU men’s basketball is a program that is learning, I hope.

The women’s basketball team has so far adjusted to the D-I move better than the men have. Being a solid team at 16-8 as of Feb. 12, they are in contention to be in the Women’s National Invitational Tournament this season. They are currently ranked somewhere in the top 100 teams, according to Head Coach Aaron Johnston. If the women win their remaining games against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, North Dakota State University, Indiana Purdue-Fort Wayne, UC Riverside and Central State (Ohio), they have a chance at the WNIT, according to Johnston. The only home game is the last one, Central State (Ohio). The game is March 3 at 7 p.m. Make sure you try to make it to that game because it could decide the future of the women’s season.

The men play their final home game at 7 p.m. on Saturday at Frost Arena against NDSU.

Be sure to make it to a basketball game if you haven’t done so yet. And I hope you enjoy cowbells constantly making noise. I don’t.

#1.884540:51327780.jpg:mikegray_tc.jpg:Mike Miller, Ball Talk:Ty Carlson

The NBA has been known to not have the greatest basketball. A lot of times it is more about the show, and it does not have as much defense compared to college basketball. The WNBA has been known as the game with athletes that play with “heart”. It is not always about the big contract signings and endorsement deals. The NBA this year has proven that one person out of five on the court can dominate the game of basketball.

Currently, three players in the NBA are averaging more than 30 points a game this season: Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers, Allen Iverson of the Philadelphia 76ers and LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers. Only six times in the 59 years of the NBA have three players averaged more than 30 points a game.

Bryant scored only 39 points this last Sunday versus the number-one team in the league, the Detroit Pistons. A week before, Bryant dropped 81 points on a helpless Toronto Raptors team, one of the worst teams in the league. Bryant only scored 26 points in the first half, but erupted and dropped 55 points in the second half. He shot the ball 46 times and converted on 28 of those attempts. He went 7 for 13 from behind the arc, and 18 for 20 from the charity stripe.

Scoring 81 points in a game only put Bryant second all-time. The leader, Wilt Chamberlain, scored 100 points in one game back in the 1961-1962 season. During that season, Chamberlain averaged 50.4 points a game. Throughout a span of 80 games, Chamberlain scored a total of 4,029 points, 835 which were free throws.

Bryant’s 81 points proved that a player can overshadow two teams. The Seattle Sonics and the Phoenix Suns played an incredible game the night Bryant scored 81, but nobody talked about their game. The team combined to score 301 points, 152 and 149 respectively. Seattle earned the victory.

With Bryant, Iverson and James having stand-out seasons, do they make the game look like it’s heading in the wrong direction? Is the NBA becoming a league where you have ball hogs or a go-to-guy?

I personally think it is cool that the three players have been doing so well because it gets people in the seats. When any of those three come to any arena, they are the ones the crowds want to see. The NBA is becoming more of a show than a game where winning is what actually matters. It seems like players are out on the floor to make a name for themselves more than to win a title. Players are always trying to outdo each other. Who can jump higher? Which one can look better on the court? Who can make the bigger play? The game at the NBA level is not near as competitive as college basketball. If college athletes were to start getting paid, as proposed previously, I believe collegiate basketball would head in the same direction as the professional level.

So, over time, will the NBA ever get back to the game it used to be, or will it keep heading in the direction where endorsement deals and big contracts attract athletes? Adidas dropped Bryant as a client earlier this year due to his off-court actions a couple of years ago. Nike picked up Bryant and gave him a shoe deal. Look at him now. After his outstanding performance the other night, he might have actually brought his reputation back as an athlete. However, does this show that the Lakers are so dependent on one player that without him they cannot win as a team? The Lakers are nothing without Bryant. The Heat are nothing without Dwyane Wade or Shaquille O’Neal. The Bulls of the 1990s could have easily won as a team without Michael Jordan. So the game has changed a lot and maybe not necessarily for the better in some perspectives. However, a lot more “ooos” and “ahhhs” can be found now then before.

#1.884540:51327780.jpg:mikegray_tc.jpg:Mike Miller, Ball Talk:Ty Carlson

As the semester comes to an end and finals week approaches, we find ourselves with more “free time” to participate in activities like video games.

Everyone knows that Halo has taken over the gaming world; however, I am not an avid Xbox gamer. Play Station 2 is my console of choice. Madden, NBA Live, NHL ? you name it. I enjoy playing any sport title.

I’m sure I have lost many female readers by now, because I don’t know of many women who enjoy playing video games. Video games are like a hobby to guys. It could almost be said that video games are to guys what makeup is to girls.

Madden football is not really known for the annoying commentary, but known for how competitive it can get when you play against friends.

I like to play around and create a player myself. You could make it really unfair and just put yourself at the top rating for all of the skills, or you could make it somewhat realistic.

I have had some pretty crazy experiences playing sports video games, and Madden has taken its fair share. I always seem to get upset in some way, shape or form because something doesn’t go right. I seem to throw a lot of interceptions, and the artificial intelligence of my own team is just ridiculous.

Madden is not so much my game; however, NBA Live is more my game. If anyone wants to try and take me on, they are more than welcome. When I play, I am usually the New Jersey Nets, Houston Rockets or the Cleveland Cavaliers. To be the Phoenix Suns is like being the All-Star team, and the San Antonio Spurs are the best team in the league. I recently played LeBron James versus Kobe Bryant. Well, in reality, it was Cavaliers versus Los Angeles Lakers, but Kobe dropped 104 points in one game and made 17 three pointers. Who are we kidding? That will obviously never happen in real life, but there is definitely a fine line between the virtual gaming world and the real world.

Another note about the Lakers: they drafted a 17-year old high school player in last year’s draft. Where were you when you were 17? Andrew Bynum of St. Joseph’s High School in New Jersey was experiencing the NBA at 17. He recently turned 18, but let’s be real here, the kid is on a video game and played professional basketball before he could vote!

Video game hockey is an entirely different story. There seems to be a couple ways always to score. I have found that going around the net and shooting a wrist-shot is the easiest. One-timers are another promising way to score.

The hockey games I have played in are always really close. I had one game that was so intense it seemed like it would never end. When it finally did, neither of us knew what happened.

So during the next two weeks, if you’re not studying, doing homework or partying, chances are you are probably playing video games of some sort. You might be watching a movie or something, but for the most part, video games seem to occupy a lot of the time between finals.

#1.884540:51327780.jpg:mikegray_tc.jpg:Mike Miller, Ball Talk:Ty Carlson

I must retract my previous statement about the Minnesota Vikings. I said before that the Vikings would go through the season with only four wins, but they managed to pull off a four-game winning streak mid-season.

The miracle man of Minnesota, Brad Johnson, returns after a six-season absence from his original team. Johnson has helped carry the Vikes to a four-game winning streak. As a starter in 2005, Johnson has yet to lose a game.

Johnson, a 6 -foot-5-inch, 225-pound quarterback out of Florida State, was drafted by the Vikings in 1992 in the ninth round. He was the 14th quarterback overall to go in the draft. He is one of the few current Vikings players to have a Super Bowl ring, even though he did not get it playing for the Vikes.

The remainder of the season, the Vikings have to defeat the Detroit Lions, Saint Louis Rams, Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Ravens and Chicago Bears. Can they win the rest of their games? I guess after the show that Johnson has been putting on, it is quite possible. With a 6-5 record, the Vikes are just two games behind the division-leading Bears. Winning out is looking pretty promising, with only two of the remaining teams on the schedule having winning records.

The Vikes have found new life after the absence of starting quarterback Daunte Culpepper. Safety Darren Sharper, acquired from the Packers, has been like a vacuum in the secondary. He has seven interceptions on the year. Paul Edinger has made some very big kicks this year, including game-winning kicks against the New York Giants and two against the Green Bay Packers.

Johnson, after 13 years in the league, is attempting to take the Vikes to the Super Bowl. Yes, you read that right, the Vikes to the Super Bowl. Granted, defensive tackle Kevin Williams is out right now, after injuring his right knee, and the Vikes have been to the Super Bowl and never won. With Terrell Owens and Donovan McNabb done for the season for the Philadelphia Eagles, the Atlanta Falcons are not as intimidating as they’ve been. The Bears can definitely be beaten and, in general, the NFC is not that tough this season. The Seattle Seahawks, at 9-2, would probably be the toughest game, but I am now saying that it is a definite possibility for the Vikes to make it to the Super Bowl, if not deep into the playoffs.

This new found life in Minnesota can only raise the question: will Brad Johnson or Daunte Culpepper be the starting quarterback next year? Johnson is getting old, but can obviously still get the job done. Culpepper is just worthless, and will probably be like a lot of other Viking quarterbacks, worthless in Minnesota, but go on to play elsewhere and succeed. Jay Fiedler led the Miami Dolphins to winning seasons in all but one of his years as their quarterback. Johnson did decently in Minnesota, but then went to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and led them to a Super Bowl victory. Warren Moon did the opposite. He was remarkable as a Houstan Oiler, and then came to Minnesota and threw 19 interceptions his first year. So we will probably get rid of Culpepper, and he will succeed in some way, shape or form for another team.

In general, last year it was Culpepper and Randy Moss. This year, it is Johnson and Marcus Robinson. Wide receiver Troy Williamson, the Vikings’ first round pick of 2005, has not played a big role in the success of the Vikings this year. However, he does spread out the field.

So my revised prediction is that the Vikes will make it to the Super Bowl, but probably not win, although it is possible. I will admit that I had my doubts with the Vikings starting out 1-4, but I didn’t know that Culpepper would get hurt and 13-year veteran Brad Johnson would takeover the helm.

The questions left are: who will be quarterback next year? Who will be the head coach? How many more game winning field goals will Edinger make?

#1.884540:51327780.jpg:mikegray_tc.jpg:Mike Miller, Ball Talk:Ty Carlson

It’s getting later into November and there still isn’t any snow on the ground. Usually snow is on the ground by Hobo Day, or it is at least freezing outside. It’s been really nice outside the last few weeks, which is really odd.

By this time of year, kids are usually outside playing hockey. But as of now, they have to stick to the indoor arena.

I recently attended the SDSU hockey game against St. Olaf and was a little disappointed. Just two years ago, our club hockey team went to nationals. This year they opened at home with two losses, 7-3 and 7-4 respectively. After that kind of showing, I was hoping they could turn things around. Against St. Olaf, Sam Shaw was the goalie. After giving up a goal not even 30 ticks into the game, I was a little worried. St. Olaf did not even have a coach, let alone many players, but they still handily beat us. At one point during the game, when St. Olaf was already ahead, they pulled their goalie.

I learned at that game when a player gets into a fight and takes his own gloves off or throws punches, he gets ejected. Roy Sando was ejected for taking his own gloves off against St. Olaf, and Cody Lewis was ejected for throwing punches. Personally, I thought it was pretty cool, because fighting is what hockey is about. It’s like racing. People come to see the crashes. In hockey, people come to see the fights and big hits.

Dan Ingemansen was the goalie this last weekend down at Dordt. The SDSU Hockey Team lit it up with wins, 10-4 and 11-2. Dordt is a team that SDSU just does not get along with, and to beat them that bad both nights is something in which to take pride. According to Jacob Gustafson, Dordt currently holds the Walnut Cup, the trophy for the league title. Dordt beat the Jacks four times last year.

If you have the chance to make it to the SDSU vs. Dordt games Feb. 10 and 11, GO! Go to any of the home games if you have the chance. If you are a really avid fan, you can get some fancy fan gear, including t-shirts. The next Jacks home game is against Creighton University this weekend. Friday night’s game is at 8 p.m., and Saturday night’s game is at 6 p.m.

Dordt is a team that both players and fans really don’t like. They are so cool that they have a “B” on their jerseys. The “B” stands for Blades, but that’s like SDSU putting a “J” on our jerseys for Jacks. Idiots!

If you made it to the home opener, you were probably disappointed in the outcome. However, I know there is no possible way you could have missed that loud and obnoxious fan while the Jacks were still in contention to win. Personally, I find this guy hilarious. Part of the reason why I go to the games is to hear what this kid has to say. To scream major obscenities at the opposing team, and pretty much make a fool of himself, is something to see. Cops and opposing teams really don’t like him, on and off the ice. This kid will be ejected this year, and I will laugh hysterically when it happens.

The outlook for this year’s season looks pretty good. Shaw still has time to turn his game around, because just one showing doesn’t mean a whole lot. But I’ve got faith in the whole team. Gustafson leads the team in penalty minutes with 36, even though he is not really one of the “bad-@$$” people.

When asked how the season has been going offensively, Gustafson said, “We’ve been getting a variety of different goal scorers. It hasn’t been one person or one line contributing. All three lines have been lighting the lamp.”

With my 21st birthday on Sunday, I am sitting here on a Saturday trying to think of what to write about this week. The NBA begins Nov. 2 with a bit of a twist. There are a lot of things to look forward to this year in the NBA. A new dress code, new set of roster rules, new coaches, different cities, key player additions and new uniforms are just a few of the new things.

The new dress code this year requires players to wear business casual attire “whenever they are engaged in team or league business.” Players such as Allen Iverson have worn t-shirts and baggy jeans in his 10 years with the league. This new dress code also addresses lavish jewelry. No longer will you see these athletes with “bling” showing.

Ten teams have changed their head coach position this year. Phil Jackson returns to the Lakers, hoping to turn things around after a disappointing season last year. The Lakers failed to make the playoffs, after making them for the previous 11 years.

Larry Brown has decided to coach the Knicks. After a lot of success with the Pistons for the two years he was there, he decides to go to the Knicks? Brown has set an NBA record by coaching seven different teams to the playoffs. Plain and simple, the guy gets around, but has a lot of success. During his 22 years of coaching, he has had only three seasons with losing records. Not bad!

Among other moves was former Timberwolves Head Coach Flip Saunders replacing Brown in Detroit. Dwane Casey takes over in Minnesota.

The New Orleans Hornets have been renamed the Oklahoma City Hornets this season, due to Hurricane Katrina, and will play 35 regular season games at the Ford Center in Oklahoma City, Okla.

A lot of players have moved this year; too many to list and I would probably bore you with all of them. As for the home team, the Timberwolves, we finally got rid of Sam Cassell and Latrell Sprewell and picked up Rashad McCants and Marko Jaric. The T-Wolves starting five isn’t looking too solid. The team will probably become just another professional sports team from Minnesota that will not do well.

As for the rest of the league, the Miami Heat, with the additions of Jason Williams, Antoine Walker and Gary Payton, will probably be the most feared team in the NBA. The Heat will have one of the strongest benches, as well as starting five. I don’t think anyone will be able to beat the Heat this year, unless injuries become a factor during the season.

The Indiana Pacers are starting fresh this year by getting a key player back and getting new jerseys. Ron Artest comes back after his suspension last year, wearing number 15. Why? I do not know, but the guy is crazy. I expect him to make some sort of statement this year and for the Pacers to do well in the East. The Pistons and Heat are the biggest roadblocks for the Pacers. Losing Reggie Miller, the most feared three-point shooter ever, will not affect the Pacers that much. I think they are capable of winning without him – they have to be.

I could sit here and blab on forever about each team, but when it comes down to it, this is how it goes. The Heat will dominate. The Pistons will go deep into the playoffs. The Lakers need more help for Kobe both on and off the court. The Pacers, with new faces and a new look, will turn things around without the great Reggie Miller. The Oklahoma City Hornets will raise controversy about calling Oklahoma home. Last, but not least, the Minnesota Timberwolves will fail to make the playoffs for the second consecutive year. I wish Kevin Garnett would go somewhere else, because the chances of him winning in Minnesota are like the chances of me winning the lottery. I respect KG for wanting to stay with the team he’s been with since day one. If he says he needs to do what’s best for him, he needs to try the market and do what Karl Malone couldn’t do – win a championship. My Cinderella team this year will be the Nets. I expect Richard Jefferson and Vince Carter to make an impact this year, as long as injuries do not become a problem. The Heat will take it in the end, even though I really dislike Shaq, but D-Wade is definitely worthy of an MVP and a championship.

College football, to me, is more exciting to watch sometimes than the NFL.

College football is filled with skilled, unknown teams and upsets.

It’s all about the polls and rankings. If a lower seed beats a higher seed, it’s a pretty big deal. Since there are no playoffs in college football, teams need to be good and ranked high to contend for a national title, or just to get recognized for an invitation to one of the many bowl games.

This past weekend was filled with exciting games. I’ll begin by talking about the home team, the Minnesota Golden Gophers. Going into the weekend at 5-1 with big wins over Michigan and Purdue, they were ranked number 22. Wisconsin, on the other hand, after losing to Northwestern last week, managed to get the number 23 ranking. Minnesota and Wisconsin have set a Division-I record for most games played against each other, meeting 115 times. They’ve played each other every year since 1907. The teams play for the Paul Bunyan Axe. The winner of the game keeps the axe at its school for the year. This year, the Badgers brought the axe to Madison, Wis. by recovering a blocked punt in the end zone for a touchdown with about 30 seconds left to play.

I am pretty disappointed in the Gophers. To let someone block a punt when you’re punting from your own 5-yard line is just ridiculous. Not to mention the punter just bobbled the ball; it wasn’t a bad snap. I’ve come to the conclusion that all Minnesota sports teams can be awesome, but are never good enough, and end up doing horrible in the end.

One of the most amazing games played last weekend was the University of Southern California versus Notre Dame game. Why was it so amazing? The game was down to about 12 seconds left when USC quarterback Matt Leinart tried running the ball in the end zone and fumbled it out of bounds. However, the referee on the sideline signaled for the clock to continue running. USC pleaded their case, and the referee put seven seconds back on the clock. Leinart then ran the ball in from the 1-yard line for the winning touchdown.

One of the big upsets this weekend was the Michigan and Penn State game. It all came down to the last second, literally. Penn State came into the game undefeated and off to its best start since 1999, but Michigan is one of the most storied programs in college football history. Most of the scoring was done in the fourth quarter. The most vital scoring was Michigan’s last drive to lift them over Penn State’s dominating defense. Quarterback Chad Henne threw the ball to Mario Manningham to seal the win. It was an exciting game, and quite the comeback for the Wolverines.

Another upset occurred in the Florida State and Virginia game. Florida State was upset in an odd way last weekend by Virginia. FSU led all offense categories; however, Virginia just didn’t let them into the end zone. FSU freshman quarterback Drew Weatherford threw for 377 yards, but was also picked off three times. I guess, in a nutshell, Virginia beat them defensively. They didn’t score in the fourth quarter, but managed to hold FSU to just a touchdown shy of winning.

The impact that these crazy games will have on the bowl match ups remains to be seen.

The NFL is full of surprises this year. Four teams are undefeated so far this season: the Cincinatti Bengals, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Indianapolis Colts and Washington Redskins.

The surprising thing about these teams is the way they are winning.

The Bengals went 8-8 last year and didn’t even make the playoffs. The Bengals team this year is made up of mostly the same players as last year, and that’s why it is a surprise. They have the same quarterback, running back, wide receivers and tight ends from last year. Players in those four positions are doing amazing things this year. Quarterback Carson Palmer, running back Rudi Johnson and wide receivers Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh were not standouts at all last season. However, this season they are making a statement as they humiliated the Vikings in Week Two, 37-8.

The Bucs went 5-11 last year and didn’t make the playoffs either. However, they picked up one of the best running backs in the draft, Carnell Williams, who is setting rookie rushing records. The Bucs made the Vikings look horrible as well. Led by quarterback Brian Griese and a veteran wide receiver, Joey Galloway, the Bucs are strong contenders already for NFC bragging rights.

The Redskins went 6-10 last year. This year, they are led again by Mark Brunell at quarterback and Clinton Portis at running back. Santana Moss and James Thrash are the key wide receivers on the team. So essentially, the same cast of players are doing much better this year.

The Colts went 12-4 last year and had one of the most potent offenses in the league. It’s just too bad their defense was one of the worst in the NFL. The difference this year is it’s not as much about Peyton Manning and the offense, but more about the Colts’ defense. The defense is winning the games.

The big surprise facing many of us, and the question that we all ask ourselves is, “How can Minnesota be so bad?”

Is it because of the quarterback? Is it because of the coaching? Or is it because of the absence of one of the most explosive players in the league: Randy Moss?

It is the loss of Moss. He wowed crowds wherever he went.

To start a season 0-2 and have more turnovers in two games than some teams in a whole season will not get a team anywhere.

Former Viking Randy Moss already has 19 receptions for 466 yards and two touchdowns. A lot of people went to Vikings games just to see Moss play. Everybody knows that he will put on a show, when he wants to play, of course.

Some people try to compare Moss to Jerry Rice and Chris Carter. You can’t really compare him to either one because his “prime” was not the same time as Carter’s and Rice’s. It’s like comparing LeBron James to Michael Jordan. The two never really played at the same time and the game has changed quite a bit from then to now. Comparing Moss to Terrell Owens is reasonable.

T.O., as most know him, is by far one of the greediest players in the league. To draw as much attention and cause as much drama for a ball club as he does is ridiculous. His asking for more money, having disputes with teammates and not showing up right away all caused a lot of media attention for the Philadelphia Eagles.

It seems like the Vikings, on the other hand, do the complete opposite. They offer Daunte Culpepper a raise, acquire numerous other key players from free agency and trades, but unlike the Eagles, the Vikes can’t win.

My prediction for the Vikings in 2005 is that they will go 4-12, fire Coach Mike Tice, get a top-five draft pick and still lose in following years. The Vikes will never win the Super Bowl and Culpepper will never be the same without Moss.

Just because I am from Minnesota, I have to support the home team. People from surrounding states are also Vikings fans. South Dakota residents like the Vikes too. There isn’t anything in South Dakota for football, other than college teams and the Sioux Falls Storm. Nebraska has the Cornhuskers and Iowa . . . I won’t even touch that subject.

Even though the Vikes are sometimes the most thrilling team to watch, sometimes they are the worst thing. We still love them, even though they will never go 15-1 like they did in 1998. They will always have some good players, but will always have bad coaching. They already messed up this year, and I’m willing to bet that some fans are already looking to next year. The Vikings should have traded Culpepper, not Moss. Idiots.