I am so excited about the start of the college basketball season.In the first week, there are a number of marquee matchups, like Michigan State-Arizona, Villanova-Purdue, Kansas-Indiana, Duke-Kansas and Michigan State-Kentucky to name a few.Yes, there will be cupcakes thrown in, too. The bottom line is, we have waited a long time since Villanova cut down the nets at the Final Four.I know that the start of the college hoops campaign comes early, and a lot of fans only worry about what happens in the NCAA tournament. My friends, you get an early indication of your favorite teams talent, especially when it faces good competition.Coaches can learn about the strengths and weaknesses of their squads, and then make adjustments.The team on the court in November is often going to differ from the squad out there come tournament time. A perfect example is Duke, which has three diaper dandies bothered by injuries. Coach K will have a different team when Harry Giles, Jayson Tatum and Marques Bolden are healthy.I know that college sports fans are currently thrilled to talk about the Heisman Trophy and the race for college footballs version of the Final Four. Basketball is back, baby, and I cannot wait for the tipoff.There will be upsets here and there on the court. Look at what happened early last season, with Cinderellas scoring shock city almost every other night.Im looking forward to seeing the freshmen of influence and their transition from high school to the college game. I am thrilled to see the All-Marco Polo guys who transferred and get a greater shot at playing time.My friends, sit back and enjoy the ride. There are so many great coaches out there and players who play for the name on the front of the jersey, competing with pride.The regular season is here, and I couldnt be any happier.Nike Air Max 97 Mens . Manuel was offered a position the day he was fired. He accepted earlier this week and the team made the announcement Friday. Nike Air Force 1 Mid 07 . The 26-year-old Ireland striker, who has four goals this season, has signed a three-and-a-half year contract with his new club. http://www.fundfdr.org/air-max-360-2017.html .35 million, one-year contract that avoided salary arbitration. Plouffe batted .254 with 14 home runs and 52 RBIs in 477 at-bats last season, his second as a regular in the lineup. Nike Air Force One Mid Top . For the Wild it was their first win of the season and they now have a record of 1-1-2 while the Jets fall to 2-2. Jets start a six game home stand Friday with another divisional game, home to the Dallas Stars. Black Low Top Air Force Ones . The Redskins announced Monday that the quarterback who led the team to the Super Bowl championship in the 1987 season will serve as a personnel executive.ATLANTA -- Mardy Fish took a hit in his gradual return to full-time tennis, falling 4-6, 6-2, 7-5 to Michael Russell on Wednesday at the Atlanta Open. It was only Fishs fourth match since the U.S. Open in September when he withdrew before a fourth-round match because of an irregular heartbeat. Ranked No. 13 in the world last July, the sixth-seeded Fish -- the Atlanta Open winner in 2010 and 11 - fell to 1-3 this season. Hes ranked No. 63 after his first match since losing in a lower-level ATP Challenger tournament in April. "He played really well," said the 35-year-old Russell, ranked 85th. "He was coming up with 130 mph serves. I couldnt tell. Usually when somebody takes four months off, theyre a little rusty. But it was really good tennis." Russell took advantage of a rain delay -- the match began on Tuesday -- to make raccket adjustments.dddddddddddd "It definitely helped me a little bit," Russell said about the delay. "I was able to change my string tension. I was pleased with the rain delay." Seventh-seeded Lleyton Hewitt advanced to the quarterfinals with a deceivingly difficult 7-6 (3), 6-4 win over wild-card entry Rhyne Williams. The 32-year-old Hewitt, 64th in the world, trailed 2-6 in the tiebreaker before winning six straight points, and only broke serve in the second set in the deciding game. While Hewitt and Russell stood up for the old guard, 19-year-old Chrisitian Harrison won his first match in an ATP main draw. A wild-card entry, the 373rd-ranked Harrison beat Alejandro Falla 6-1, 6-7 (7), 6-2. Harrison will play top-seeded John Isner in the second round. Isner and second-seeded Kevin Anderson have yet to play. ' ' '