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Bing Crosby will always be the most famous person associated with Gonzaga, and it doesnt matter how many national championships the Zags go on to win in basketball. The Binger could croon.

When it comes to hoops, though, the Zags have jumped through plenty to get to where they are today, a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament and a team that conceivably could reach its first Final Four.

As much run as Gonzaga has received for its incredible run of basketball success thats 15 NCAAs in a row if youre counting the Zags still havent been able to top that first appearance in the run, an Elite Eight as a 10-seed in 1999 that included wins over Minnesota (7 seed), Stanford (2) and Florida (6) before a loss to No. 1-seed Connecticut.

As coaches and athletic directors at schools with high basketball hopes but national anonymity have watched Gonzaga built a resume one that no longer includes anonymity they have whispered to themselves: Why cant we be like Gonzaga?

A few, like Butler, VCU and George Mason, have reached Final Fours in recent years. Butler and VCU have remained at a high level; George Mason has fallen off.

And what about Wichita State?

Could the Shockers, who with Gregg Marshall have been two consecutive NCAA Tournaments for only the third time in history, blossom into Gonzaga territory?

Marshall was intrigued by, yet unworthy of the question, he said. At least for now.

Its definitely possible for us, Marshall continued. But it would be hard to do and were certainly not there now. But with our resources, yeah, I think its certainly possible.

WSU has been to a Final Four, albeit 48 years ago. The Shockers have arguably been the best team in the Missouri Valley Conference over the past four seasons and with Creighton all but certain to depart for the new Big East Conference, WSU is poised to become the undeniable powerhouse in the league, much as Gonzaga has been in the West Coast Conference.

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The Spokane word : Gonzaga’s model is one Wichita State wants to emulate

Britain's reputation as an Internet-friendly creative hub was in jeopardy today as websites voiced their anger at draconian attempts to regulate online commentary and news.

Some website founders told The Independent that they were considering moving their businesses overseas in order to escape the risk of crippling legal costs resulting from their inclusion within press reforms introduced on Monday in a Royal Charter.

The warnings came as several established media organisations signalled that they would not be signing up to the new regulatory system.

The Spectator magazine produced a front page with the single word No. Ian Hislop, editor of Private Eye, said he saw no reason to join. At the moment I'm out, he said.

Four of Britain's largest newspaper groups, including the publishers of The Telegraph, The Daily Mail and The Sun, were tonight taking high level legal advice amid speculation that they might set up a breakaway press regulatory system. In an email to readers, Daily Telegraph deputy editor Benedict Brogan expressed the personal view that we should note the outcome, thank the politicians for their engagement, and quietly but firmly decline to take part.

But the question of internet regulation could prove even thornier. The influential Association of Online Publishers (AOP) tonight issued a statement to say it had major concerns about the charter, particularly over the threat of punitive awards in the libel courts for those who do not join the regulatory system. The organisation's chairman John Barnes said: There are major concerns about Exemplary Damages and arbitration and AOP is concerned that the new system will just not work.

The charter will undoubtedly have a chilling effect on everyday people's web use, the freedom of speech group Index on Censorship said. Bloggers could find themselves subject to exemplary damages in court, due to the fact that they were not part of a regulator that was not intended for them in the first place. This mess of legislation has been thrown together with alarming haste: there's little doubt we'll repent for a while to come.

Camilla Wright, who founded the entertainment website Popbitch, said she would be prepared to move the site to America to avoid being subject to a regulator which will have power over websites which produce gossip about celebrities, other public figures or other persons in the news.

She said: It will put some people out of business I would have thought. It would be a massive step to turn Popbitch into a North American publication and get First Amendment protection but it would not be out of the question. I would not want to move out of the UK but it would be a sad day to stop publishing because of a law brought in to help rein in the excesses of some newspapers.

Jamie East, founder of another entertainment site Holy Moly, said he was confused by the proposals and why Twitter is seemingly exempt from regulation. Making Twitter exempt is weird because the majority of stories on celebrity blogs are derived from Twitter anyway - you could argue it is more of a news feed than a social network.

Excerpt from:
Press 'deal' offers more questions than answers

Dexter's Makayla Waldner guards Incarnate Word's Nakiah Bell on Thursday in a Class 4 semifinal game at Mizzou Arena in Columbia. (Photo by David Jenkins, Staff)

Incarnate Word, Napheesa Collier routs Lady Bearcats 66-25

davidj@standard-democrat.com

COLUMBIA -- All season long the Dexter Lady Bearcats basketball team has went by the mantra, "one team, one dream."

On Thursday the Lady Bearcats saw that dream shattered by the nationally ranked, undefeated Incarnate Word Red Knights in impressive fashion 66-25.

"Definitely a tough opponent today," said Dexter head coach Chad Allen. "I think all of us coaches in Class 4 were disappointed to see them come down from Class 5. They are an extremely tough team. They are good at every position."

The Knights came into the game with a 29-0 record and are the 12th ranked team in the nation by USA Today. They average beating their opponents by more than 35 points and knocked off Kirksville 78-26 in the quarterfinal game on Saturday.

Incarnate Word showed they were as impressive as their record in Thursday's semifinal, quickly jumping ahead of the underdog Lady Bearcats 7-0. Dexter senior Brittany Harris hit two free throws for Dexter's first points with 4:50 to play in the first quarter but the Knights scored the final 14 points of the quarter to take a 21-2 lead.

"We always talk about dictating the tone right off the bat, the first three minutes of the game, and I thought we did a really good job of that today," said Incarnate Word head coach Dan Rolfes. "Attacking the basket, getting to the free throw line and then defensively to hold them to two in the first quarter I think that really set the tone of the game."

Allen said he thought nerves played a part in the game for Dexter early as Incarnate Word, playing in their fourth-straight final four, seemed at home on the Mizzou Arena floor.

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Word up

(AP file photo)Lou Piniella has never been known for his way with words. The ex-manager is a master of the malaprop and his difficulty with the English language caused more than a few press conference chuckles during his skipper days.

What Piniella said while he provided commentary for the YES Network during Wednesday's Red Sox-Yankees game though, was far from funny.

After being asked in the eighth inning about last year's lopsided trade between the Toronto Blue Jays and Miami Marlins, Piniella's apparent initial impulse was to describe it as a sexual assault. And while Sweet Lou never technically used that description, he still completely stepped in it by even saying the word.

Here's a transcription of what Piniella said (via Larry Brown Sports) and here's the awkward audio via Deadspin:

Well they just, I dont want to use the word raped, but they basically took a lot of talent from the Miami Marlins, Piniella said. Toronto will probably be picked to win the (AL East) by a lot of people.

Here's the thing: Letting the word pass his lips constitutes using it, even if he followed it by saying that wasn't his intention. It's why Piniella who currently draws paychecks to speak publicly for a living might want to look into a better filter when describing a trade that was heavy on prospects for pros.

Because, yes, there are words so crude and offensive that they can't be laughed away as humorous misspeak from a crusty old lifer.

Are you ready for baseball season? Follow @bigleaguestew, @KevinKaduk and the BLS Facebook page!

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Lou Piniella uses the word ‘raped’ while discussing the Blue Jays-Marlins trade

DUBLIN, March 20, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --MindConnex Learning, an award winning global provider of digital learning solutions, has launched the first six titles in their brand new product series of interactive phonics-based readers for Kindergarten and Grade 1 students.

The Word Monsters uses phonics, interactive animation, activities, and additional optional instruction in a quirky narrative environment to give children a rich and engaging introduction to reading. Each "book" is developed in accordance with modern literacy pedagogical standards while still remaining appealing to today's children.

Aligned to Common Core State Standards every screen in The Word Monsters features optional supplementary instruction around phonemic awareness, print concepts, reading comprehension, vocabulary and sight words. Every book also includes three activities that address each of the main strands of the Common Core Standards: Literature, Foundational Skills, and Language.

Key features include:

"Most introductory reading programs focus purely on covering the requisite decodable words with little attention given to themes or characters that truly engage children at this age-level," says MindConnex CEO, Michael Cordner. "At MindConnex, we believe that stimulating interest in young readers is vital to ensure they develop competency in reading. Our aim with The Word Monsters is to create a series of decodable readers that not only helps young children learn to read, but engages and delights them, while kindling a lifelong love of reading."

The Word Monsters series is designed for use at home or in a school setting. The first six books of the Kindergarten series are now available in the Apple App Store and the first book is free!

For more information, please contact: Zoe Faulder, Director of Marketing, MindConnex Learning T: +1-617-963-0126; E: Email; W: http://www.mindconnex.com

About MindConnex Learning (www.mindconnex.com) MindConnex Learning is a global provider of digital learning software solutions aimed at the school education sector. MindConnex Learning offers an easier way to learn and teach using rich, contemporary multimedia designed to engage the senses and create empowering, relevant and personalized learning experiences, available in easily downloadable software programs that can be used on virtually any platform Tablet, PC, Smartphone or online.

This press release was issued through eReleases Press Release Distribution. For more information, visit http://www.ereleases.com.

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MindConnex Learning Launches The Word Monsters, an Interactive Reading App Series for Kindergarten and First Grade ...