Some News and Notes of Interest...

So, since the Ole Miss-Louisville game has become comical, on top of the fact that the blog has sat idle for a few days, I decided to pick things up a big with some news floating around the sports world that has sparked some interest.

• For starters, if you have not heard yet, the city of Birmingham won out the rights to host the Davis Cup first round match between the US and Switzerland. The Magic City beat out Las Vegas, San Antonio and Greenville, South Carolina for the rights to the three day event from March 6-8. The matches will be played at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex Arena. The rosters for the event will not be set until ten days prior, but odds are that American Andy Roddick and Swiss phenom Roger Federer will end up facing off on either Friday or Sunday.
• March will also be the month for the second World Baseball Classic, and the rosters for the respective countries are starting to take shape. Davey Johnson, manager of the 1986 World Series Champion Mets, will once again lead Team USA, who stumbled in the inaugural WBC in the second round and only went 3-3. Japan was the first country to win the event. Among those who have already committed to play for Team USA are Yankees' SS Derek Jeter, Red Sox 2B and AL MVP Dustin Pedroia, Angels' ace John Lackey, and Braves' 3B Chipper Jones and C Brian McCann. Prominent players who will suit up for other teams included Yankees' 3B Alex Rodriguez (Dominican Republic), Twins' 1B Justin Morneau (Canada) and Yankees' catcher Ivan Rodriguez (Puerto Rico). The WBC begins on March 3rd and runs through the championship game in Los Angeles on March 23rd.
• As has been expected for a few months now, Chick-fil-a will announce on Friday that Alabama will face 2008 ACC Champ Virginia Tech in the second annual Chick-fil-a College Kickoff in the Georgia Dome. The game is set for September 5th, 2009 and will be broadcast by ESPN or ABC. Both teams will begin their season with the game. Alabama was a part of the inaugural College Kickoff game as the Crimson Tide rolled over the Clemson Tigers 34-10 to begin their 2008 season.

Also, be sure to get out and vote for the Crimson Tide in two polls available right now. For starters, Nick Saban is up for the Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award. Below is a video profile of him and you can go to http://www.coachoftheyear.com/ to cast your vote by clicking on the banner below the video. Hurry up, though, as there are only four days left until voting ends.

Second, Rashad Johnson's interception against LSU has advanced in the Pontiac Game-Changing Performance of the Year competition. Each week, the list will be cut by four until a winner is determined, so be sure to vote for Rashad's play and get Alabama $100,000 towards scholarships.

That is all that has sparked my interest for now, plus the Rebels have made a game of things.

Don't forget to sign up for the ITNOT College Bowl Mania group on ESPN.com. You have until kickoff of the Eaglebank Bowl on Saturday morning to submit your picks.

Tomorrow, be on the look out for a full bowl preview and prediction post in preparation for an exciting Saturday in which four bowls will help ring in the bowl season.