Playoffs

MILWAUKEE -- Things couldn't have worked out any better for the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday night if they would have scripted the evening themselves. In order for the Cavaliers to finish with their most advantageous playoff position, several things needed to happen. The Cavaliers needed to beat the Milwaukee Bucks and they did that. Cleveland needed the Chicago Bulls to lose in New Jersey and that also occurred. Also, the Cavaliers preferred to have Washington defeat Indiana and the Wizards won that game.

EASTERN CONFERENCE DETROIT vs. ORLANDO CLEVELAND vs. WASHINGTON TORONTO vs. NEW JERSEY MIAMI vs. CHICAGO WESTERN CONFERENCE DALLAS vs. GOLDEN STATE PHOENIX vs. L.A.LAKERS SAN ANTONIO vs. DENVER UTAH vs. HOUSTON

This just in from Brian Billick: The playoffs don't matter.That's right, Cyber Coach temporarily abandoned his normal laptop logic yesterday, knowing that not even his snazziest software could rig the NFL's playoff formula to restore the Ravens' chances.Instead, Billick began rehearsing for a future career in politics, claiming that down was up, night was day and the relevant was irrelevant.Alas, like every great visionary, he was not immediately understood."I'm glad we won, but I'm not really excited," Pro Bowl safety Rod Woodson said after the Ravens' 22-0 victory over Cincinnati.

Facing a credibility crisis and a firestorm of criticism over a series of blown officials calls, the NFL announced last night it will consider bringing back instant replay for the playoffs.An NFL spokesman said the league will draft a proposal for a coach's challenge system and present it to the owners for an electronic vote at a yet-to-be-determined date.The league hasn't put together the specifics of the proposal, although it will include allowing replays in the final two minutes, .. even if a team is out of allotted challenges.

For the first time in five years, the Thunder is going to the playoffs.With last night's 17-15 victory over the New York Saints, the Thunder qualified for the National Lacrosse League postseason and knocked the Saints out of contention.The second-place Thunder (7-4) can wrap up home-field advantage in the first round of the playoffs with a victory in Saturday's regular-season finale at third-place Rochester."This is a huge relief," said Thunder coach John Tucker, looking drained while sitting in the Thunder's steamy locker room.

Ever since he shredded ligaments in his right wrist in December, Patrick Ewing has said he's returning to uniform this season. And New York Knicks fans were hopeful, after seeing highlights of him shooting jumpers before a game a little more than week ago. There were even rumors that he might suit up Tuesday against the Washington Wizards.But Ewing got some bad news Wednesday. Dr. Norman Scott told him that although the wrist is healing, it's not ready yet. There is a chance Ewing could return for the second round of the playoffs -- that is, if the Knicks make it to the playoffs and then make it past their first-round opponent, either Chicago or Miami.

The Bandits have not clinched a spot in the Calder Cup playoffs, and, if and when they do, it's all but certain their first-round home games against the Philadelphia Phantoms will be played in Hershey, Pa."As opposed to previous years," explained team owner Mike Caggiano, "the American Hockey League has set a deadline of [tomorrow] for teams to provide dates and times for first-round games."We couldn't get confirmed dates for April 23 and April 25 at the Baltimore Arena because the [NPSL Baltimore]

LANDOVER -- A subdued Norv Turner stood at a bank of microphones last night at Jack Kent Cooke Stadium and talked about the latest playoff failure for the 8-7-1 Washington Redskins despite their 35-32 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles earlier in the day."I don't feel bad for myself," Turner said moments after the Detroit Lions had knocked the Redskins out of the playoffs with a 13-10 victory over the New York Jets. "I'll be coaching a long time. The people I feel sorry for are the Ken Harveys, Darrell Greens and Cris Dishmans.

Sorry to make you choke on your first cup of coffee this morning, but here's a shocking statistic:The Orioles are only seven games over .500 since completing their sweep of the Braves on June 15.That's right, they're just seven games over .500 during the past 15-plus weeks, a period of more than 90 games.In other words, they aren't just encountering a little slump as they try -- and try again -- to finish off the Yankees and win the American League East.They haven't been playing division-winning baseball for more than three months.

Co-coach of the YearGinger Kincaid, Glenelg: Kincaid said the team's goal was to finish at least third in the county and win the region championship. The Gladiators (11-5) did finish third in the county, losing only to Mount Hebron and Centennial, but fell to Hammond in the Class 1A-2A West region final. Still, Kincaid, who lost key players because of redistricting to first-year River Hill, was very happy with the season. "I told the players it was a great ride and a lot of fun," said Kincaid, in her 10th season.

After watching the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals win games Sunday, Ravens fans should be concerned about their team getting to the NFL playoffs. We're talking fingernail-biting, feet-tapping nervous. The magic number to get to the playoffs is always 10 wins, so that means the Ravens (3-3) have to win seven of their 10 remaining games. At the beginning of the year, the playoffs seemed likely, but after Sunday, it leaves you scratching your head. The Steelers (5-2) defeated the previously unbeaten Minnesota Vikings (6-1)

While the sting of three straight narrow defeats might have diminished for the Ravens during the bye, the lasting effect is a small margin of error for the final two months of the regular season. Recent NFL history says the Ravens need to reach 10 victories to lock up a playoff berth for a second straight season. That translates to winning seven of their last 10 games, a homestretch that includes some of the best quarterbacks and stingiest defenses in the NFL. At 3-3, the Ravens say they aren't making any playoff calculations.

MIAMI - As if his play yesterday wasn't statement enough, Ed Reed stood behind a bouquet of microphones and fired a warning shot that surely echoed from South Beach to Tennessee. "Here we come," said Reed. "Here come the Ravens." Actually, it probably wasn't a warning as much as it was a promise. With their dominant 27-9 win over the Dolphins in yesterday's opening round of the playoffs, Reed and his teammates sent a message not just to the Tennessee Titans, next week's opponent, but to the entire league.

Blast@Cougars March 16, 9:15 p.m., 680 AM Records: Blast (15-9), Cougars (8-15)

About this time last season, the Blast was 14-9, had seven games remaining and probably was two wins away from clinching a position in the Major Indoor Soccer League playoffs. The team won its next game, but a nose-dive soon followed. Six consecutive defeats, including a morale-crushing one at home to the Philadelphia KiXX in the penultimate match, left the Blast out of the playoffs by one game. This season, the Blast is 14-9 with seven games remaining and perhaps only one win from the playoffs, which will include six teams this season because of the addition of three expansion teams.

Marty Schottenheimer is the opposite of all that the Ravens seem to want in a head coach. He is old, narrow-minded and stubborn - a tired retread who has bounced around the NFL, irritating owners and players with his arrogant style and old-school tactics. Schottenheimer, 64, is the antithesis of all the young up-and-comers on the Ravens' wish list. But the Ravens appear interested - Schottenheimer's agent confirmed Friday that the two sides have spoken - because his system works. His teams win football games.

What is your fondest memory of playing in Oakland? Just getting in the playoffs. That's why we play this game. Getting to the playoffs and having a chance to do something in the playoffs is probably the best memory you can get.

MILWAUKEE -- Things couldn't have worked out any better for the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday night if they would have scripted the evening themselves. In order for the Cavaliers to finish with their most advantageous playoff position, several things needed to happen. The Cavaliers needed to beat the Milwaukee Bucks and they did that. Cleveland needed the Chicago Bulls to lose in New Jersey and that also occurred. Also, the Cavaliers preferred to have Washington defeat Indiana and the Wizards won that game.

EASTERN CONFERENCE DETROIT vs. ORLANDO CLEVELAND vs. WASHINGTON TORONTO vs. NEW JERSEY MIAMI vs. CHICAGO WESTERN CONFERENCE DALLAS vs. GOLDEN STATE PHOENIX vs. L.A.LAKERS SAN ANTONIO vs. DENVER UTAH vs. HOUSTON

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. -- The Blast hit rock bottom in its regular-season finale yesterday, and later learned that its postseason chances had expired. The Blast (15-15) suffered its worst loss of the season - a 21-6 setback to the host Chicago Storm - while Milwaukee beat California, 9-6, to secure the last Major Indoor Soccer League playoff spot. The Blast closed its regular season with six straight losses. "It was a poor performance, no doubt," Blast coach Danny Kelly said. "We had everything to play for and we didn't get it done.