It's been awhile since I've posted, okay, it's been about a millenium.  But I thought I would throw this up there and let anyone interested know you can find me at www.featurepresentationonline.com.  This piece is cross-posted there under my real name.  If you like what you read, check it out.  Several other NGS alums are writing for the site as well and doing some great things.

The University of Tennessee athletic department announced on May 22 that women's basketball coach Pat Summitt had signed a six-year contract extension.  The deal promises Summitt approximately $1.125 million a year in total compensation, making her the highest paid coach in NCAA women's basketball.  But the deal marks more than just a watershed moment for salaries in women's sports, it also serves as a quiet indication that the glass ceiling in college coaching may be cracking. 

Summitt, who has coached at UT for 32 years, is the winningest coach in NCAA Division I basketball.  Her 923 career wins are the best all time, ahead of Dean Smith (879), Mike Krzyzewski (750) and John Wooden (665).  She has amassed 25 Southeastern Conference tournament and regular season championships, made appearances in 16 Final Fours and brought six national championships home to Knoxville.  In addition, under her guidance the woman's basketball team has a 100% graduation rate for players completing their four years of eligibility.

Summit made about $900,000 last season.  Contrast that with Krzyzewski whose total compensation package from Duke University was about $1.5 million.  The two coaches share a lot in common - unqualified success on the court and a reputation for demanding academic excellence off the court.  Their teams also both play on home courts dedicated in their names.  But while Summitt's total wins outnumber Krzyzewski's and her number of NCAA titles eclipse his (six to his three), she has made significantly less over the last few years.  Although a strong argument can be made that Duke has had to increase Krzyzewski's salary to keep NBA teams with their deep pockets from poaching their coach, it just didn't seem right that Summitt's success doing the same job - on and off the court - was not being rewarded in the same way.

Economists and politicians have been predicting for years that as more women moved into the workforce and attained higher levels of education, the wage gap between the sexes would narrow.  But that has not proven to be the case.  Four decades after the Civil Rights Act banned gender-based discrimination in the workplace, women continue to earn less than men for the same work.  According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2003, the last year for which data are available, women earned $.76 on the dollar compared to men, and women's median income was $30,724 compared to $40, 668 for men.

In college basketball at least, things are looking up.  The contract extension announced this week puts Summitt, possibly the most high-profile coach in women's sports period, on par with her male colleagues.  UT Women's Athletic Director Joan Cronan correctly called the deal "a landmark statement for women's athletics."  However, it is just one deal, hard won after a long and extremely successful career.  The true test will come as other women follow in Summitt's footsteps and begin to build impressive resumes.  How will they be rewarded?  Let's hope it's in the same way that their male colleagues are - fairly, equitably and based on results.

Forty-one, that's the number of goals Washington Capitals rookie Alex Ovechkin has scored so far this season.  That's one less than league-leader Jaromir Jagr, and the second-highest tally for a rookie since Teemu Selanne put up a record 76 goals as a rookie in the 1992-1993 NHL season.

Scoring 41 goals in your rookie season is a remarkable accomplishment for any player, and considering the Caps have 22 games left to go this season, it's conceivable that Ovechkin will finish with more than 50 goals and close to 100 points (he has a rookie-leading 76 points now).  The 20-year-old Russian has demonstrated great strength, speed and agility with the puck.  He's also shown he not shy about giving or taking a hit.  His physical play and infectious, almost giddy joy in playing the game have quickly endeared him to teammates, DC fans and hockey fans in general.  What's even more remarkable is that Ovechkin's accomplishments have come with less than spectacular support.

Ovechkin's outstanding rookie performance has been one of the few highlights of the season for Washington fans.  There will be no playoffs in DC this year.  But fans can still dream about next season and the "what ifs." 

It's no secret the Caps are in a rebuilding mode.  Right winger Dainius Zubrus has played well and complemented Ovechkin on the top line, but DC has no true first line center.  Brooks Laich has played admirably lately and may develop into a solid second line center, but he lacks the passing and playmaking ability of a top line guy.

The Caps are well under the salary cap and Ovechkin's spectacular play and boundless enthusiasm should make DC a more attractive place to free agents in the off season.  Securing a first line center who can not only distribute the puck but take some of the defensive heat away from Ovechkin should be their first priority.

Imagine what the new Russian Rocket could do next season ...

It's that time of year again kids.  No, not March Madness.  Not spring training.  It's NCAA lacrosse season!

What the hell is lacrosse, you say?  Lacrosse is the greatest sport you have probably never heard of.  Take the speed and hard hitting of hockey and the high scoring and bone crushing hitting of football and you've got yourself a great time.  Before you football fans dismiss it out of hand as a preppy pursuit, let me point out that the great Jim Brown played lacrosse as an undergrad at Syracuse and is commonly regarded as one of the best to play the game.  He's in both Canton and the lacrosse hall of fame.

For anyone not from the northeast or Canada, here is a quick introduction.  Lacrosse, commonly referred to as LAX, was invented by the Native Americans as a war game.  Today, it is commonly played at schools up and down the east coast and has developed a following in Colorado and Arizona.  Teams have 10 players each -- a goalie, three defensemen, three midfielders and three attackmen.  Players have sticks with a net at the head so they can catch and cradle the ball while running.  Attackmen and midfielders generally use short sticks, while most defensemen use longer sticks to give them greater reach.  Like hockey, the field, which is slightly larger than a football field, is divided into two and then into three zones -- the defensive zone, the midfield and the attack zone.  A team must keep its four defensive players in the defensive zone and its three attackmen in the attack zone at all times.  Midfielders can roam anywhere on the field.  Again, like hockey, faceoffs are used after scores and penalties to gain possession of the ball.  Body checking and stick checking are permitted.

The NCAA men's season offiically got underway last weekend.  Because the sport's popularity is mostly limited to the northeast, there is a limited number of NCAA Division I teams.  The old guard consists of Johns Hopkins, Syracuse and Princeton, among others.  As lacrosse's popularity has spread, the number of contenders has also grown.  Most recently, Virginia and this year's preseason No. 1 Duke have become power houses.  Because of the small number of D-I teams, schools play each other more often and the rivalries are intense.  It also means ranked opponents tend to meet throughout the season.  On Saturday, Duke will take on No. 2 Maryland, while defending champion Johns Hopkins, ranked fourth, takes on No. 7 Princeton.

If you live near a university or college with a team, check out a game this spring.  There's a lot of great action to come between now and the Final Four over Memorial Day weekend.  If you're longing for the hard hitting of football, I promise you won't be disappointed.

ESPN's Page 2 is running another one of its hottest athlete polls.  I have no problem with these polls; I find them entertaining.  I can even appreciate the majority of the picks in the women's top 10, which you can see for yourself here.  In fact, I find it refreshing when guys focus on healthy-looking athletic girls like Tanith Belbin rather than your typical anorexic-looking actresses.

But my friends and I agreed that the men's list, which you can check out here, is in need of some editing.  Who selected the finalists?  We thought we shoudl chime in.  So without further ado, and in no particular order, our picks for the hottest male athletes ...

Jeremy Bloom (Freestyle Skier/NFL Prospect) - The reigning World Cup champion failed to medal in Torino but his dating life isn't likely to be impacted with abs like that.

Jason Taylor (DE, Miami Dolphins) - MMMMMMMMmmmmmmmm, sorry, we lost our train of thought just staring at him.

Henrik Lundqvist (Goalie, NY Rangers) - What is it with Swedish hockey players?  There must be something in the water up there.  Swats away 100 mph pucks like they're flies and plays in a rock band in his spare time. 

Brady Quinn (QB, University of Notre Dame) - Adorable, Irish and can throw for over 330 yards per game.   Makes us wish we were undergrads again.

Kelly Slater (Pro surfer) - The undisputed king of the waves.  Only gets better with age ... just ask Giselle Bundchen.

Hines Ward (WR, Pittsburgh Steelers) - Best smile in professional sports, hands down.  And yes gentleman, a great smile goes a long way.

Michael Owen (Striker, Newcastle United) - Keep your David Beckhams, give us clean cut good looks over Mohawks and peroxide any day.

Dhani Jones (LB, Philadelphia Eagles) - He writes poetry, he paints, he designs bowties and, oh yeah, crushes quarterbacks.  What girl doesn't love that?

Jim Jackson (Guard/Forward, Phoenix Suns) - This 6'6" swingman can do it all; smooth moves and amazing arms.

Giorgio Rocca (Alpine Skiier) - What woman can resist a rugged Italian man who likes life in the fast lane?

This represents the opinions of just a few of us girls.  Anyone else have thoughts?

Much thanks to my girls - Katy, Chrissy, Nga, Rachel and Laura - for their input.

NBC is letting viewers select one of the contestants for the next run of the Apprentice.  The kicker -- they get to select from 12 U.S. Olympic athletes.  Among the contestants are speedskater Chad Hedrick, who I'm sure would get the team player award, and bobsledder Todd Hays.  My vote goes for snowboarder Danny Kass.  If only because I loved in the run up show to the opening ceremonies how he answered the question "How has winning an Olympic medal changed your life?"  Kass' reply, "Parents seem to dig me a lot more when I ask their daughters out," or something to that effect.  Kass would make for good TV.

Check out all the contestants and vote here.