Players such as Shaun Rogers are haunting to NFL teams and their fans. On one hand, they are immensely talented. On the other, you can't really trust that talent will manifest in a manner that will lead to winning. That's because they always do something to negate it. There have been times when Rogers has played very well with the Browns, too. Has it led to winning? Did it when he played in Detroit? Anybody surprised he got in trouble at the airport the other day?

- Pavel Datsyuk played terrific hockey for the Red Wings Thursday against Columbus. He could have had a couple more goals in addition to the brilliant one he did score. It's a great sign for the Red Wings that Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg are just starting to hit stride as the playoffs begin.

- Want a pick? OK, here is one: Michigan State 71, Butler 68. Here's another: Duke 78, West Virginia 74.

My column in Friday's Oakland Press on Michigan State and Hickory High, er, Butler. Is Gordon Hayward really Jimmy Chitwood? http://tinyurl.com/yj5y8ne