Almost post time … Tonight could be nice/needed boost for Journalism. If not, sticking with the theme, there’s Publisher at 30-1. And to clarify for Altoona Mirror employees, present and past, No. 21 is Baeza, not Bacza.

Curt Cignetti is calling out the schools cutting massive checks. He named Notre Dame, Miami, and Texas Tech alongside the usual suspects. Apparently some teams are rolling out $40 million rosters — and Cignetti’s not afraid to shine a light on it. Let’s break it down ⬇️⬇️

You can’t get the ball inbounds, you don’t deserve to win. Just a brutal loss that overshadowed Donovan Mitchell’s incredible effort.

I don't know what Don Kelly is going to do for his coaching staff. But I'd love to see him make John Wehner the bench coach.

Sources: The #Colts and No. 14 overall pick TE Tyler Warren have agreed to a 4-year, $20.96M fully guaranteed rookie contract, including an $11.88M signing bonus. Indy’s franchise tight end is officially locked in.

I’m old enough to have watched Willis Reed, Walt Frazier, Earl The Pearl, Bernard King and Patrick Ewing — and Jalen Brunson is the greatest Knick I’ve ever seen.

On this rainy day, Central HS product Paxton Kling will be on Big Ten Network, starting shortly (2 p.m.) for PSU vs. USC in Big Ten tourney in Omaha. An LSU transfer, Kling has had a great year — with team high .345 average, 13 HRs and 14 doubles.

There's been a lot of rhetoric around Pat Kraft building a monster -- which will be on display once again this weekend. However, he's not building one. He is making one stronger. buff.ly/6gIHGLJ

Watching #PSU in national lacrosse semifinals and learning about the game. Keep thinking how NFL great Jim Brown was also a renowned lacrosse player at Syracuse and wondering how anybody stepped in front of him.

I don’t have a handy roster of backup NBA point guards, but T.J. McConnell surely is among them, if not at the top of the list. Across-the-board stat stuffer and pesky defender on one of the NBA’s best teams — and maybe its best.

Last year I covered a start by Ashcraft in Altoona and left that game thinking to myself why he was there. Other than Tommy John, I didn’t get why he was in AA as late as he was. Great moment for the former Curve starter.

Towns holds more than NFL linemen.

How did Arnie and Jack function without these wind-o-meters and 10-minute gust sensors?

Pretty cool that small-market OKC could weather departures of Durant, Hardin and Westbrook and climb the NBA mountain. Well deserved against an Indiana team that played as hard as any team in memory.

Rutgers had two of the top five NBA picks and finished 15-17. 🤔 I guess that speaks well of the Big Ten. 🤷‍♂️

Break up the Bucs.

Gerry DiNardo on Big Ten Network visit to #PSU: “Wow. That’s as good a team as I think we’ve seen in the Big Ten in (my) 19 years (with BTN) … They’re definitely a national championship contender.” Dave Revsine: “They’re going to be judged by how they do against the best teams.”

Despite renovations and temporary seating, Beaver Stadium capacity this year will be 106,304 — 268 shy of previous capacity.

AD Pat Kraft reinforces the temporary arrangement has been inspected, including by an independent company, and that “the structure is safe.”

On the day high school football starts, a worthwhile read/message from Michael Boytim. Let's all enjoy the season. altoonamirror.com/sports/local-s…