The sports world this week mourns the tragic death of Cinderella.

The cause of death was bludgeoning by her ugly stepsister NIL. She was last seen publicly in 2022 in the NCAA College Basketball Championships in her incarnation as the St. Peter’s Peacocks.

Until her untimely death this year Cinderella would often appear during March Madness. In 2018 she showed up in the form of Loyola Chicago. Five years prior she was a 15-seed, Florida Gulf Coast, and two years before that it was Virginia Commonwealth, an 11 seed which got to the Final Four. She appeared earlier as Davidson (with a fresh-faced kid named Stephen Curry) a 10 seed that reached the Elite Eight; and George Mason, which got all the way to the Final Four in 2006.

Her carriage was supposed to take her all the way to midnight, but NIL saw to it that she was a victim of a hit and run that occurred at about 7:30 p.m.

Rumor had it that she was on the verge of a groundbreaking shoe deal with Nike for a signature line of glass slippers, but it appears that NIL sabotaged that as well.

The NCAA issued a moving statement upon news of her death, “Sorry to see you go, ho, ho, ho, ho. We’d rather you just let the big kids fight it out.”

After watching the first two rounds of March Madness this past week, I’m convinced that Cinderella has danced her last dance. It used to be that a team that has been together for four years of college and was well coached had a chance against college basketball’s thoroughbreds, just because of time together and maturity.

Sadly, because of the NIL that allows the rich to get richer. The mom-and-pop shop version of college basketball simply can’t afford to stay together, nor to mature. If a kid shines in the “minor leagues” he’s destined for six figures in Lexington, Fayetteville, Gainesville, Baton Rouge, Waco, or Lexington.

I used the word “bludgeoning” in describing the demise of Cinderella teams. That’s how the big kids played them this year. Every top team it seems has an able point guard, a spot up three-point shooter, and two 6’7” to 6’9” wings that are basketball’s version of a battering ram. By halftime last weekend, the little guys were pounded into submission.

Movement, motion, patterns and screens be damned. Just put your head down, pound it to the basket and add up the body count.

There are, of course, exceptions. Duke was impressive and well coached. And Cooper Flagg is the most complete player to enter the draft in eons (Yes, more complete than Victor Wembanyama).

I picked Houston to win the whole thing, despite having to get by Duke to do it. Again, well coached by Kelvin Sampson, AND they really play defense.

Florida is talent-deep and has a high percentage three point shooter for that extra dimension. Plus I like former USF Dons coach Todd Golden, now with the other Gators (not the ones from SF State).

I still feel as though Auburn is vulnerable and Alabama is one dimensional.

And then there’s Michigan State. I would never bet against Tom Izzo in a game of importance. They are an anomaly. They have no transfers, nor have any of their players left the program for greener pastures.

They’re also not quite as talented as the others I’ve mentioned, but they have the intangibles.

They would have to get by Mississippi and Auburn to get to the Final Four. And if they do, well, “old school” meets “new school.”

I know who Cinderella would be rooting for.

How ’bout those Giants?

Hey look! Baseball season started on Thursday for your San Francisco Giants and I’m trying to take the temperature of the Giants’ fan base.

It seems to be something less than burning hot, but also improved considerably from last year’s final reading which was somewhere between comatose, and euthanasia.

The over/under for this year’s team right now is 79.5. That would be two games under .500. I am confidently taking the over. By comparison, the Dodgers’ over/under is 103.5.

I will offer this declaration absolutely free of charge. The Giants will not beat the Dodgers. You heard it here first.

But, here’s what I do see with this team. A clubhouse with adults in it. Justin Verlander, Matt Chapman and Wily Adames are grownups whose track record allows them the designation of guru. They all relate to the younger guys. Adames is still one of the younger guys but he’s also still a guru.

Young pitchers flock to Verlander like he’s Obi -Wan Kenobi. The big difference between last year’s rent-a-pitcher and this year’s is that Matt Snell was more Darth Vader than Obi-Wan Kenobi.

Chapman is a do-as-I-do guy, and won’t tolerate locker room inanities. And Adames has a “great to be here” attitude that is infectious.

Buster Posey has already had a positive affect on Patrick Bailey, whose game preparation was questioned by some in the last couple years.

Jung Hoo Lee, I believe could be a major contributor for this team. Defensively, I see a big improvement. If the young arms exceed expectations, and the bullpen holds up — well, they’re still not beating the Dodgers. But, they could get to the playoffs and then you’re in a short series where strange things can happen.

It’s all out in front for these young San Francisco Giants. Coming out of Spring Training, hope springs eternal for every major league baseball team. Last year eternity lasted about three weeks for this team.

This year?

If only Cinderella were still alive.