Jim Valvano

Skip Myslenski of the Chicago Tribune has a couple of examples of just how silly (to say nothing of how wasteful) some college basketball coaches can be on the recruiting trail.One Big East school took a film of its conference tournament title game, superimposed the name of the prospect on the back of one player's jersey, then dubbed in an audio play-by-play that roared out that prospect's name each time he made an important basket.Then there's former N.C. State coach Jim Valvano, who spent six figures to build something called the Room of Dreams.

Fans of ESPN's Chris Berman know him as the all-sports network's colorful anchorman and as the preening play-by- play announcer on the annual "Bud Bowl" commercials. Now, Berman has joined the ranks of book authors with the publication of "Chris Names," a compilation of his funny and outrageous sports nicknames. A portion of the proceeds from the book benefit the "V Foundation for Cancer Research," established in memory of Berman's late colleague Jim Valvano. Berman spoke recently with Sun staff writer Mark Hyman.

College basketballTop seed Mount St. Mary's will meet fifth seed Wagner in the semifinals of the Northeast Conference women's tournament tomorrow at 8 p.m. at Knott Arena in Emmitsburg. In the first semifinal, sixth seed Long Island will meet second seed Fairleigh Dickinson at 6 p.m. The championship game will be Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Both higher seeds in Tuesday's games were defeated on their home courts. Fifth seed Wagner defeated fourth seed St. Francis (Pa.), 61-51. Sixth seed Long Island defeated third seed Marist, 69-56.

As a public service, I have included no shows airing between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. You may watch Opening Day in peace."As the World Turns" (2 p.m.-3 p.m., WJZ, Channel 13) -- The soap celebrates four decades on the tube with a show including clips of such famous alumnae as Meg Ryan, Julianne Moore and Marisa Tomei. CBS."Nova" (8 p.m.-9 p.m., MPT, Channels 22 and 67) -- Benjamin Spock, the man responsible for getting an entire generation of babies off on the right foot (or messing them up (9 p.m.-11 p.m., WJZ, Channel 13)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Jim Valvano concluded negotiations with the New Jersey Nets late Friday and reached an agreement to become head coach of the NBA team, according to a source close to the negotiations.The source told The Charlotte Observer that the agreement allowed Valvano to take over the team as soon as he wanted but that he is not expected to do so until after Christmas.Valvano, 45, who won the national title at North Carolina State, is believed to have agreed to a five-year, $2.7 million contract, which would rank among the top half of NBA salaries for head coaches.

A man makes a lot of friends in 30-plus years of coaching -- even if 612 times opponents have been on the losing end of the score.Cardinal Gibbons' Ray Mullis found this out firsthand last night as fellow coaches and players past and present packed Martin's West for a night in his honor. Mullis, the area's winningest coach, was found to have pancreatic cancer in July.But the night was one of celebration."Cancer can be beaten," said Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski, who headed the impressive list of basketball talent who turned out to honor Mullis.

"Shocked" was the reaction of Northwestern High's Patti Ferrante as the 5-foot-1, 130-pound basketball player stepped up to the podium and spoke into the microphone."It feels neat," said Chesapeake's 5-7, 145-pound Tom Strong, who unlike Ferrante, "didn't even write a speech."Strong and Ferrante -- both B students -- were the football player and female basketball player honored with $3,500-per-year scholarships at the 53rd annual McCormick Unsung Heroes Awards Banquet last night at Marriott's Hunt Valley Inn.Established in 1940 by the late Charles P. McCormick, the program recognizes unselfish team play and honors those who contribute substantially to the success of their teams without receiving acclaim.

As if to match the blandness of last night's NCAA national championship game, CBS turned in a meat-and-potatoes effort, with nothing flashy or spectacular, but mostly solid.The network quickly identified the David vs. Goliath storyline of the Syracuse-Kentucky matchup and stayed with it, from the opening coaches round table to the game coverage.For once, analyst Billy Packer's attention to detail paid off, as he spotted the Wildcats' exploitation of Syracuse's 2-3 zone for three-pointers in the first half and their excellent passing throughout, and Jim Nantz was his usual understated self on the play-by-play call.

GOING TO NEW ORLEANS After beating Mississippi State yesterday in the Southeastern Conference tournament title game in New Orleans, Kentucky opted to forgo the tradition of the victorious team cutting down the nets. No matter. It should get that chance in three weeks when the college basketball season culminates at the Superdome. A balanced offense and arguably the best defense in the country has made the Wildcats the popular and most logical choice to go all the way. Who could argue with a 23-game winning streak?

Throughout the first two months of this NBA season, in which persistent rumors have placed him among the growing ranks of the unemployed, New Jersey Nets coach Bill Fitch has made only two requests of his team."