— It’ll be interesting to see how the Pacific 10 Conference grades its football-officiating crew in Seattle. The only worse grade could be the broadcasting crew.
— Dear Florida State coach Bobby Bowden, Not exactly the best of times?
Hang in there buddy; trust me, I feel your pain. Sincerely, Lute Olson.
— With every new softball season comes a new Hillenbrand Stadium music playlist. Headlining the new lineup of pump-up jams is Miley Cyrus’ “”Party in the U.S.A.”” Those are our girls.
— Ex-UA hoops interim coach and your Public Enemy No. 1 Kevin O’Neill decided to bring back all of Tim Floyd’s assistants as head coach at USC. Guess Jim Rosborough and Miles Simon weren’t available.
— Cal gets the daunting task at earning the Pac-10 some basketball reputation in the loaded Coaches vs. Cancer preseason tournament. They travel to New York to face cupcakes like North Carolina, Ohio State and Syracuse. Will the Bears establish any top-10 swagger or fall on their faces?
— Speaking of respect: CBSSports.com has just one Pac-10 basketball player — Isaiah Thomas — listed on all of its All-American teams. That includes a free-for-all “”Thirty other players under consideration”” section. Uno.
— A few months after Chase Budinger canceled his NBA Draft Day teleconference because he slipped so far in the draft, he is tearing up the No. 44 pick expectations.
— Congratulations to the Phoenix Mercury for saving the Valley of the Sun from its winning drought. Wait, but who’s watching?
— Questions on my mind for hoops media day: Can Brendon Lavender finally get some playing time? Nic Wise, how did your brother get a spot as a walk-on (Dondre Wise transferred after playing at Pima Community College)?
— Quote you’ll be sick of hearing said every UA men’s basketball player: “”I just want to contribute any way I can and win the Pac-10.””
— Bryan Roy can be reached
at media@wildcat.arizona.edu