Saturday morning coffee

- President Obama's gaffe on Jay Leno this week has his staffers wondering how they can help manage his off-the-cuff remarks. In case you missed it, Obama and Leno were talking about the bowling alley in the White House. Obama said that he had recently "bowled a 129...it was like the Special Olympics or something." The President has since apologized to the Special Olympics. The Special Olympics is the organization started in 1968 by Eunice Shriver which is designed to help people with intellectual disabilities develop self-confidence, social skills and a sense of personal accomplishment. Shriver is, of course, the sister of John F. Kennedy.

- Seth Davis, the talking head on CBS' studio show during the NCAA Tournament, has written When March Went Mad, a book recounting the 1979 tournament championship game between Michigan State and Indiana State. That game has oft been credited as the moment when the NCAA Tournament truly became the NCAA Tournament, featuring two true stars in Magic Johnson for Michigan State and Larry Bird for Indiana State. Thirty years later, the tournament is now a mega-machine with a huge television contract, thousands of attendees, and millions in licensed royalties, not to mention the millions of online brackets in circulation during the three weeks of the event.

- The Big 12 is 6-0 thus far in the Big Dance. But, in the not-so-Big Dance--the NIT--the Big 12 only has Baylor still playing. The Bears have just tipped off this morning against Virginia Tech. Baylor made the NCAA Tournament last year and were expected to contend for the conference title this year. But, Scott Drew's team under-achieved all year until it won three in the conference post-season tournament, only to fall to Missouri in the championship game. The Bears are apparently still in the recruiting sweepstakes for PG John Wall although the latest word is that Wall is favoring Memphis over Kansas and Baylor.

- For those not caught up on Dancing With the Stars, Belinda Carlisle is the first "star" to be kicked off the competition. Carlisle, former lead singer with the Go-Go's, apparently did not have the beat. (For those who don't get it, consult your 1980's list of top singles by this all-girl band.)

- If you've not watched Friday Night Lights, I'd strongly encourage you to catch this show at 8:00 p.m. Central, Friday nights on NBC. Now in season three, this show has been loved by the critics but never achieved critical mass with its viewership. This season the show debuted on Direct TV and then the episodes aired on NBC. Based on the book by the same name, by H.G. Bissinger, the show is about life in small town Texas. It's not a show about football but football is what links the town and characters together, just as the sport is at the core of Texas small town and high school life. Go check out season one on DVD--you'll be hooked.