The worst NCAA Division I-A mascots (Drivl)

You knew it would pop up around this time of year — the worst mascots in Division I-A sports. With “March Madness” in full swing (it’s only a matter of time before the NCAA wises up and trademarks that phrase like the NFL does their championship game), now is the time to run this list out.

Bears’ Johnson sentenced to 120 days in jail (AP/ESPN)

Chicago Bears defensive lineman Tank Johnson is going to jail for 120 days.

The Bears lineman was sentenced after it was ruled that he violated his probation that stemmed from a 2005 gun case.

Dowd disputes Rose claim of betting only on Reds (Cincinnati Enquirer)

From our Cincinnati spies…

Former investigator John Dowd, who led MLB’s task force on gambling accusations against former baseball star Pete Rose, disputes the ex-Cincinnati star’s claims that he only bet on the Reds to win ballgames.

“When (Mario) Soto and (Bill) Gullickson pitched, he didn’t bet on the Reds,” Dowd said on Thursday, when reached at his Washington, D.C. office. “We only put in the report what we could find and corroborate three different ways.”

Dowd said he thinks Rose is hoping the admission will help him gain reinstatement into Baseball. Rose has been banned since 1989.

“Sounds to me like he’s pandering to the commissioner. It’s as though he’s saying ‘If I just say it this way, they’ll let me me back in the game.’”

Former commissioner Bowie Kuhn dead at age 80 (AP/ESPN)

The man who overlooked a critical era in baseball history has died.

Former commissioner Bowie Kuhn passed away on Thursday after a short illness in Florida. He was 80.

CBS in ad-backed deal with YouTube for NCAAs (Reuters)

CBS has reached a deal with YouTube to show highlights, press conferences and other content from the NCAA basketball tournament on the video-sharing site, the broadcaster said on Thursday.

This will undoubtedly make Mark Cuban happy.

Moss headed to Green Bay? (Boston Herald)

As first reported earlier in the week by PFT, the Boston Herald is now reporting that the deal to send Oakland wide receiver Randy Moss to Green Bay for quarterback Aaron Rodgers is near completion.

Green Bay is said to be including a seventh round pick in 2008, while the Raiders would include tight-end Courtney Anderson.

***UPDATED at 12:55 PM CDT***

Bob Harlan, the Green Bay Packers’ CEO, claims reports of a deal being imminent are premature. (GB Press-Gazette/USA Today)

News and notes on the beginning of our four-day hoops coma…

Cleveland extends GM Shapiro (AP/ESPN) Special assistant Buck Showalter will soon see time towards the end of that deal if manager Eric Wedge falters.

Jenn Sterger’s startling revelation: no booze in 2007 (Big Lead/The Big Picture) No drunken hook-ups for this gal!

Tigers’ Sheffield takes leave of absence from squad (USA Today/Detroit Free Press) Emergency surgery to have his muzzle re-attached?

Sosa likely to make Rangers roster (MLB.com) Will it be as a fielder or as a DH.

Two sisters arraigned in steroids probe (AP/Yahoo! Sports) Hawt.

Mass. Lotto, Boston Red Sox partner in new $10 game (BizofBaseball) Now that’s synergy.

News and notes while rolling out of bed on the ‘Ides of March’…

Bucks fire Stotts; hire assistant Krystowiak (AP/Yahoo! Sports) They certainly didn’t waste much time.

Flyers extend general manager Holmgren two years (AP/Sportsnet.ca) The man that lead the transition from the Bobby Clarke-era gets rewarded.

Golf great Palmer mulling over being cermonial starter at Masters (Reuters) Palmer would fall into a line of long, great ceremonial starters.

Russell makes ‘em swoon at LSU workout (ESPN News Services) Lost nine pounds since the Combine, Russell lights up workout at LSU with 4.84 40-yard dash.

Knight favors expansion of tourney field, feels 32-team composition best (USA Today) Texas Tech coach would want conference champions to get automatic bids.

Chargers unveil new duds with twist of powder blue (USA Today) They need those retro unis instead of these.

Cleveland Browns sign Robaire Smith (Nashville City Paper)  The deal is for four years.