IIHF Women's World Championship 2015 Malmo: Starts Saturday

Malmo is back in the spotlight, but not for EUROVISION (see 1992 and 2013). However it is for this every two year tradition: the IIHF Women's World Championship.

This year's field of eight is not a surprise, considering these are the same eight who qualified for the Sochi tournament last year, including the host country Sweden.

All eight teams will open play on Saturday, and will last the next two weeks. On Saturday, the 2013 world champions (USA Hockey) takes on the four time defending Olympic gold medalists (Hockey Canada) to help kick off the tournament.

Sadly, there is no US television for this, but try IIHF.com.

MMA World Series of Fighting 19: Lightweight Title Fight

MMA World Series of Fighting is back with a title fight and a light heavyweight tournament semifinal.

Justin Gaethje will defend his WSOF lightweight title against Luis Palomino. While in the light heavyweight tournament will pit Thiago Silva against Matt Hamill.

Want a break from college sports, this is a good place. NBCSN Saturday night LIVE!

Friday Jukebox 3.27.15

Some classic trance from a DJ who happened to focus more on DJ-ing than producing. Miss Spectra with "Living for Tomorrow," the original version from 2001. Love the Boombastic remix. A rare find!

Pilot of Germanwings Jet Had 'Intent' to Crash

Link.

Terrorism?

NCAA Division I Men's (Ice) Hockey Tournament 2015: Regional Semifinals

After the women championships were crowned over the weekend (Minnesota wins again in D-I), it's now the men's turn.

While half of this year's field for the NCAA Division I men's (ice) hockey tournament are from NCHC or WCHA, the other half has one big intriguing story: RIT.

RIT is back in the tournament for the first time since 2010, where they lost in the national semifinals at Ford Field. The Tigers got an automatic bid for winning the Atlantic Hockey tournament, thus making them the only AHA representative this year. Quite an amazing feat. They face top seed Minnesota State Mankato on Saturday on the campus of the University of Notre Dame.

SOUTH BEND region
Semifinals
(1) Minnesota State Mankato v RIT
Nebraska Omaha v Harvard

PROVIDENCE region
Semifinals
(4) Miami Redhawks v Providence College
Denver Pioneers v Boston College

MANCHESTER (NH) region
Semifinals
(3) Boston University v Yale
Minnesota Duluth v Minnesota

FARGO region
Semifinals
(2) North Dakota v Quinnipiac
Michigan Tech v St. Cloud State

Yes folks, regional semifinals and finals on Friday, Saturday and Sunday are all on the ESPN family of networks.

NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Tournament 2015: Regional Semifinals

Perhaps the most shocking (in my opinion, not so shocking) was when Gonzaga women made it to the regional semifinals as an #11 seed in the Spokane, therefore their Spokane semifinal match with Tennessee on Saturday is just like home cooking.

Also, unlike the men's draw, all four top seeds remain in the tourney, including last year's national champion Connecticut Huskies. Princeton lost to Maryland in the second round of the Spokane region over the weekend, thus leaving Kentucky men as the only unbeaten in Division I basketball.

ALBANY region
semifinals
(1) Connecticut v (5) Texas
(3) Louisville v (7) Dayton

SPOKANE region
semifinals
(1) Maryland v (4) Duke
(2) Tennessee v (11) Gonzaga

GREENSBORO region
semifinals
(1) South Carolina v (4) North Carolina
(2) Florida State v (3) Arizona State

OKLAHOMA CITY region
semifinals
(1) Notre Dame v (4) Stanford
(2) Baylor v (3) Iowa

Regional semifinals are on Friday, and here in the states, they are all on the ESPN family of networks.

BELLATOR MMA 135: Bantamweight World Title Fight

Friday night, unless the NCAA championships interests you, BELLATOR MMA returns on Friday night, headlined by a title fight.

"The Baddest Man on the Planet" Joe Warren will return and defend his bantamweight title against Marcos Galvao.

CARD
Bantamweight championship

(135 lb/60.75 kg)

Joe Warren (c) v Marcos Galvao

LIVE on Spike Friday night. 

150 People Killed as Germanwings Airbus Strikes the Alps

Link.

Make that three Americans dead.

NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament 2015: Regional Semifinals

The surprising North Carolina State Wolfpack are partying like it's 1983, which was the last time they made the regional semifinals (and later won the national title). They knocked off Jay Wright's Villanova Wildcats, the Syracuse top seed, in the third round in Pittsburgh. In an all-Atlantic Coast flare, Louisville awaits in the Carrier Dome, on Friday.

With Villanova out, only three top seeds left: Wisconsin, Kentucky (still the only unbeaten in D-I basketball after Princeton women's loss on Monday), and Duke. Also Notre Dame back in the regional semifinals for the first time since 1987 (I think).

Of the sixteen, five are from the Atlantic Coast. In addition to State, you also have Louisville, North Carolina, Notre Dame and Duke.

Not much as far as surprises this year, except Georgia State in the second round.

CLEVELAND region
semifinals
(1) Kentucky v (5) West Virginia
(3) Notre Dame v (7) Wichita State

LOS ANGELES region
semifinals
(1) Wisconsin v (4) North Carolina
(2) Arizona v (6) Xavier Musketeers

HOUSTON region
semifinals
(1) Duke v (5) Utah
(2) Gonzaga v (11) UCLA

SYRACUSE region
semifinals
(3) Oklahoma v (7) Michigan State
(4) Louisville v (8) North Carolina State

The majority of the regional semifinals and finals are on CBS and tbs, with one game (I think) on truTV. If you have DIRECTV, truTV isn't hard to find, it's on channel 246!

By the way, the March Madness(TM) app, which is great for live streaming is great while you're away from a TV.

Indy is next weekend!

Two Weeks Ago: The Argentine Helicopter Crash, Two Olympians Killed

Link.

Among the casualties:

Camille Muffat, 25. Won gold at London 2012 in the 400m free. Two more medals during the London games as well.

Alexis Vastine, 28. Quarterfinalist at London 2012 and bronze at Beijing 2008 in boxing welterweight.

Florence Arthaud, 57. Veteran champion sailer.

A very shocking tragedy which reminded me of Vic Morrow's untimely helicopter crash in early '80s.

My 60th ESC 'Tournament of Champions': 'Elite Eight'

After hearing all 40 entries for this year's ESC (to be held on the third week of May in Vienna, and will start to break them down on the 5th of April), it's time for the continuation of my tournament of champions.

The quarterfinals are all set!

BUCHAREST region final
(3) Satellite v (5) J'aime La Vie

HELSINKI region final
(1) Euphoria v (2) Wild Dances

ROME region final
(1) Hardrock Hallelujah v (15) Vivo Cantando

LONDON region final
(5) Hold Me Now v (10) Apres Toi

Eight different nations represented here. Come on back and see who is in the final four!

Beyond the Madness: History Made in St. Louis on Saturday

While you've been watching the basketball, yet again history was made!

Ohio State's Logan Stieber won the 141 final against Edinboro's Mitchell Port. This is very historical for a reason: Stieber became the fourth wrestler in Division I to win all four times in his career. Pat Smith (Oklahoma State) was the first to do so, from 1990 to 1994. The second to do so was Cael Sanderson. Sanderson, current Penn State wrestling coach, is the only to finish unbeaten in his career. He to me is the greatest collegiate wrestler of all time. Two years ago, Kyle Dake did it, and in four different weight classes! Stieber will join some great company.

This is why wrestling is pure sport!

Perro Aguayo Passes Away After Respiratory Injury During Match

Perro Aguayo passed away over the weekend after a fatal blow during a match in AAA (not CMLL). That match also marked Rey Mysterio Jr.'s return to the ring and also featured 'Suicide,' formerly of IMPACT Wrestling (TNA). Perro was 35.

Actual footage of the aftermath:

Reminded me of Mitsuharu Misawa's death a few years back. We're talking deaths while wrestling, not stunt-related (ala Owen Hart).

ABC7 NY Reporter Dies After Finishing Assignment.

Link.

Friday Jukebox 3.20.15

This was released in 2013, but I felt that this is some good sounding house music. "Chasing Time" by Vicetone. 

My 60th ESC Tournament of Champions: Regional Semifinals

The 'sweet 16' of the 60th anniversary EUROVISION Song Contest Tournament of Champions is here!

Here's the matchups:

BUCHAREST region
semifinals
(3) Satellite v (10) Making Your Mind Up
(5) J'aime Le Vie v (9) What's Another Year

HELSINKI region
semifinals
(1) Euphoria v (4) Everybody
(2) Wild Dances v (6) Save Your Kisses For Me

ROME region
semifinals
(1) Hardrock Hallelujah v (5) Diva
(6) Take Me To Your Heaven v (15) Viva Cantando

LONDON region
semifinals
(5) Hold Me Now v (8) Diggi Lou Diggi Ley
(10) Apres Toi v (14) Waterloo

Come on back for quarterfinal matchups!

The Road to Tampa: NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Tournament 2015

Unbeaten Princeton enters this year's NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament as the lone unbeaten. However, the seeding is very tricky. Remember Wichita State on the men's side last year? They were unbeaten and exited from the third round after losing to Kentucky. Will the Lady Tigers exceed?

Connecticut (last year's champions) got the #1 seed overall.

With that in mind, the first round pairings (to be played Saturday and Sunday):

ALBANY region
(1) Connecticut v (16) SFU Brooklyn
(8) Rutgers v (9) Seton Hall
(5) Texas v (12) Western Kentucky
(4) California v (13) Wichita State
(6) South Florida v (11) LSU
(3) Louisville v (14) BYU
(7) Dayton v (10) Iowa State
(2) Kentucky v (15) Tennessee State

SPOKANE region
(1) Maryland v (16) New Mexico State
(8) Princeton v (9) UWGB
(5) Mississippi State v (12) Tulane
(4) Duke v (13) UAlbany
(6) George Washington v (11) Gonzaga
(3) Oregon State v (14) South Dakota State
(7) Tennessee Chattanooga v (10) Pittsburgh Panthers
(2) Tennessee v (15) Boise State

OKLAHOMA CITY region
(1) Notre Dame v (16) Montana
(8) Minnesota v (9) DePaul
(5) Oklahoma v (12) Quinnipiac
(4) Stanford v (13) CSU Northridge
(6) Washington v (11) Miami Hurricanes
(3) Iowa v (14) American University
(7) Northwestern v (10) Arkansas
(2) Baylor v (15) Northwestern State

GREENSBORO region
(1) South Carolina v (16) Savannah State
(8) Syracuse v (9) Nebraska
(5) Ohio State v (12) James Madison
(4) North Carolina v (13) Liberty
(6) Texas A&M v (11) UALR
(3) Arizona State v (14) Ohio University
(7) Florida Gulf Coast v (10) Oklahoma State
(2) Florida State v (15) Alabama State

Remember, it starts Friday! ESPN family of networks will be along the way exclusively!

NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament 2015: First Round

The best time of year in all of sports, specifically here in the states.

Kentucky is still unbeaten, but will they go further than Wichita State last year? Remember WSU and UK can meat in the Cleveland semis this year. We'll see.

Some huge surprises and disappointments in the selections, as seen below. Some good teams got snubbed as well.

With that in mind...the first round draw.

CLEVELAND region
(1) Kentucky/(16) Manhattan/Hampton*
(8) Cincinnati Bearcats/(9) Purdue
(5) West Virginia/(12) Buffalo Bulls
(4) Maryland/(13) Valparaiso
(6) Butler/(11) Texas
(3) Notre Dame/(14) Northeastern
(7) Wichita State/(10) Indiana
(2) Kansas/(15) New Mexico State

LOS ANGELES region
(1) Wisconsin/(16) Coastal Carolina
(8) Oregon/(9) Oklahoma State
(5) Arkansas/(12) Wofford
(4) North Carolina/(13) Harvard
(6) Xavier/(11) winner of BYU/Ole Miss*
(3) Baylor/(14) Georgia State
(7) VCU/(10) Ohio State
(2) Arizona/(15) Texas Southern

SYRACUSE region
(1) Villanova/(16) Lafayette Leopards
(8) North Carolina State/(9) LSU
(5) Northern Iowa/(12) Wyoming
(4) Louisville/(13) UC Irvine
(6) Providence College/(11) winner of Dayton/Boise State*
(3) Oklahoma/(14) UAlbany
(7) Michigan State/(10) Georgia
(3) Virginia/(15) Belmont

HOUSTON region
(1) Duke/(16) winner of Robert Morris/North Florida*
(8) San Diego State/(9) St. John's
(5) Utah/(12) SFA
(4) Georgetown/(13) Eastern Washington
(6) SMU/(11) UCLA
(3) Iowa State/(14) UAB
(7) Iowa/(10) Davidson NC
(2) Gonzaga/North Dakota State

*-These are play in games, Tuesday and Wednesday from Dayton, all on truTV. truTV, CBS, and the two other Turner family networks (tbs and TNT) once again for the fourth year in a row brings you the men's D-I basketball tournament all the way to Indianapolis in three weeks.

Not to mention, women's tournament and men's wrestling this weekend as well!

60th EUROVISION Tournament (personal): Second Round

Second round time in my personal 60th anniversary EUROVISION Song Contest tournament. Some pretty good 'upsets,' as chosen by myself. No popular fan votes (eliminates the need for crappier songs to advance).

With that in mind...the personal 60th anniversary ESC tournament second round:

BUCHAREST region
At Tallinn
(1) Fairytale v (9) What's Another Year
(5) J'aime Le Vie v (13) Tom Pilibi
At Sofia
(3) Satellite v (6) Every Way That I Can
(2) Only Teardrops v (10) Making Your Mind Up

HELSINKI region
At Stockholm
(1) Euphoria v (8) Nocturne
(4) Everybody v (5) I Wanna...
At Copenhagen
(6) Save Your Kisses For Me v (14) Dors, Mon Amour
(2) Wild Dances v (7) A Ba Ni Bi

ROME region
At Athens
(1) Hardrock Hallelujah v (9) Rock Me Baby
(4) Fly on the Wings of Love v (5) Diva
At Niksic
(3) Shine a Light/Love v (6) Take Me To Your Heaven
(10) Tu Te Reconnaitras v (15) Viva Cantado

LONDON region
At Barcelona
(1) Rise Like a Phoenix v (8) Diggi Lou Diggi Ley
(4) In Your Eyes v (5) Hold Me Now
At Paris
(6) The Voice v (14) Waterloo
(2) Molitva v (10) Apres Toi

Some good second round pairings. Just my personal tournament. Stay tuned Thursday to see who will make it to the 'sweet 16.'

Friday Jukebox 3.13.15

Not in a good mood on Friday the 13th. However to lift your spirits, from the funny, great album from 2000; Bloodhound Gang Hooray for Boobies. Track 1, "I Hope You Die." Am along I best.

Windell Middlebrooks, 36, Miller Delivery Guy

Link.

ONE Age of Champions: Flyweight World Championship Fight

ONE returns with an explosive card Friday night as Adriano Moraes will defend his ONE flyweight championship against Asuka Mikami who was the replacement for Riku Shibuya who is injured.

For more, visit ONEfc.com, and don't forget Ben 'Funky' Askren returns to ONE next month! 

EUROVISION 60th Anniversary Tournament of Champions: March Madness Style, First Round

To commemorate the 60th anniversary (this year) of Europe's 'favorite' TV show, I felt like since this is March, why not a tournament?

This is about the winning songs of the EUR(O)VISION (stylized after the EBU's broadcasting service) Song Contest. 62 songs in the tournament, including the co winners from 1965 and 1969 are also in this tournament. Seedings were based on points racked up in grand final. So without any hesitation, the bracket seedings, similar to the NCAA basketball tournaments:

BUCHAREST region
At Tallinn
(1) Fairytale v (16) Un Jour L'enfant
(8) Insieme: 1992 v (9) What's Another Year?
(5) J'Aime Le Vie v (12) Puppet on a String
(4) Running Scared v (13) Tom Pilibi
At Sofia
(3) Satellite v (14) La La La
(6) Everyway That I Can v (11) Un Bare un Arbe
(7) Ein Bischen Frieden v (10) Making Your Mind Up
(2) Only Teardrops v (15) Een Beetje

HELSINKI region
At Stockholm
(1) Euphoria v (16) Refrain
(8) Nocturne v (9) Si La Vie Es Cadeau
(5) I Wanna v (12) Dansevise
(4) Everybody v (13) Merci, Cherie
At Copenhagen
(3) My Number One v (14) Ders Non Amour
(6) Save Your Kisses For Me v (11) Hallelujah
(7) A Ba Ni Bi v (10) L'Oiseau et Lenfort
(2) Wild Dances v (15) Da Troubador

ROME region
At Athens
(1) Hardrock Hallelujah first round bye
(8) Fangad av en Stormvind v (9) Rock Me Baby
(5) Diva v (12) Poupee Cire, Poupee Son
(4) Fly on the Wings of Love v (13) Net Als Toen
At Niksic
(3) Shine a Light v (14) Un Premier Amour
(6) Take Me To Your Heaven v (11) La Det Swinge
(7) Why Me v (10) Tu Te Reconnaitras
(2) Believe v (15) Viva Cantado

LONDON region
At Barcelona
(1) Rise Like a Phoenix first round bye
(8) Diggi Lou Diggi Ley v (9) Ne Partez Et Moi
(5) Hold Me Now v (12) All Kinds of Everything
(4) In Your Eyes v (13) Nous Les Amoreux
At Paris
(3) Rock N Roll Kids v (14) Waterloo
(6) The Voice v (11) Non Ho L'Eta
(7) Ding a Dong v (10) Apres Toi
(2) Molitva v (15) Boom Bang a Bang

I promise, I'll start this Thursday, early Friday. March Madness baby, with Vienna 2015 in two months!

Harrison Ford Survives Plane Crash

Link.

Teacher Found Hanging to Death in Classroom

Link.

Friday Jukebox 3.6.15

If you haven't heard the news, Brownstone's Charmayne Maxwell fell to her death earlier this week at the age of 46. Brownstone was a girl RnB group of the 1990s. Their most successful song to date was "Grapevyne" from 1994's From the Bottom Up.

US Ambassador to Republic of Korea Stabbed!

Link.

This radical was probably a pro-DPRK supporter, right?

DOJ Clears Darren Wilson!

Link.

Anthony Mason, 48, Former NBA Player

Link.

Not CBS News' Anthony Mason.

Earl Lloyd, 86, Former NBA Player

Link.

Broke the color barrier