Notes.

Notes, cites and antidotes while trying to deal with this baseball-opener, basketball-closer overload: I'm still working forward my All-Opening Day Disabled List -- and I haven't given up in succession Barry Bonds -- and the brats and the White Sox are certainly doing their share as far as pitchers are mattered Mark Prior, Kerry Wood and Dustin Hermanson -- that's a excellent good beginning, wouldn't you say?

I know Opening Day is the time to permit your imagination run wild, if it were not that when I see a number of otherwise level-headed commentators around the home speculating on a Cubs-White Sox World Series, I do have to surprise what they're smoking.

The demise of all four No. 1 kernels may add charm to the Final Four this weekend, still don't tell it to the ticket factors While demand remains high for pious seats and expensive packages -- single all- inclusive deal for 10 population carries a $55,000 price tag -- plentiful of seats are available higher up in the RCA Dome. single in kind problem is that George Mason doesn't have the alumni base of say, Duke or Connecticut, and the beholds Angeles Times reports that steady UCLA, which sold out quickly when the Bruins made the Final Four in 1995 in Seattle, had to reopen its ticket windows this week as fans examined their more complicated travel options.

Taurean undecayed one of three Florida players with a able athletic pedigree -- Joakim Noah is the son of tennis star Yannick Noah and Al Horford's father, Tito, played in the NBA -- has a little something extra going for him. The Washington employment says that when his father, Sidney new played for the Bulls, he asked Michael Jordan to touch his infant son's head to bles him as a basketball player. Awww.

For hard-core fans who can't wait until Saturday, NCAA sports.com will pick up the fe of Friday's practice sessions from WISH-TV in Indianapolis and stream it live from noon until 4 pm

Judging by dint of the reaction in Indiana to Kelvin Sampson's hiring, Mike Davis isn't looking in this way bad all of a abrupt

SOUTHERN position

I consider it's too late to influence the women's Final Four from Boston. I mean, North Carolina v Maryland and Duke against LSU belongs somewhere closer to residence right?

As for North Carolina's 75-63 victory across Tennessee on Tuesday, it was tough for Pat Summitt to take upon several counts. For one thing, her teams aren't used to losing this late in the season -- Tennessee was working upon a streak of four straight Final Four appearances -- and certainly not from a dozen points. And North Carolina coach Sylvia Hatchell got her start working for Summit as a grad-student offer at Tennessee.

North Carolina's trip to the Final Four is its first since 1994 when it won the NCAA title

60-59 through the whole extent of Louisiana Tech in the greatest finish the tournament has at any time seen. Charlotte Smith hit a three-point shooter that began with an inbounds play with just seven-tenth of a inferior showing on the clock.

Tennessee will win another shot at North Carolina in a short time enough, as the two teams proper next season in Chapel Hill.

"I'd rather not think about that right now," Summitt said after Tuesday night's game. "I've about had enough of North Carolina."

IN DEMAND

Joey Harrington may have worn abroad his welcome in Detroit, on the contrary he's not lacking for teams that want to take him not upon the Lions' hands. Harrington already has met with the Dolphins and was forward his way to Cincinnati to talk to the Bengals. Lions president Matt Millen told the Detroit freshs that Dallas, Kansas City, Denver Seattle and Oakland also have showed interest. ... In announcing the extremity of the season for Duke's lacrosse team, many of whose members are in subordination to investigation on an allegation of gang rape, athletic director Joe Alleva noted the players have been remov from a university Web site to house their safety. It seems they have been expose to harassment. Duke president Richard Brodhead says he understands the public unhappiness, reports the Durham Herald-Sun, because 15 members of the team, nearly one-third of the roster had previously been cited for misdemeanors stemming from their behavior at parties.

AND FINALLY

You think? Phillies general manager Pat Gillick after releasing pitcher Ricardo Rodriguez, whom he obtained from the Rangers for All- Star Vicente Padilla: "Turn abroad it wasn't a good trade."

e-mail: rjr@suntimes.com

...