Game Plan

What smart fans should do this week

• WATCH
NCAA Selection Sunday
Sure, they'll be sweating over No. 1 seeds in Connecticut, North Carolina, Pittsburgh and Oklahoma, but the announcement of the tournament field will trigger serious mood swings on the campus of Northwestern. It's one of five schools that have played since 1948 and never made the Big Dance. The Wildcats were on the bubble heading into this week's Big Ten tournament.

• READ
Becoming Manny
Fans either love or hate Manny Ramirez; this authorized bio speaks to both camps. Written by a journalist (Shawn Boburg) and a psychologist (Jean Rhodes of UMass-Boston), it examines the slugger's youth and the societal forces that shaped him. Manny lovers will see a complex man of his times. Manny haters will cringe at what sound like excuses for his loopiness.

• FOLLOW
Skiing World Cup finals
Points leader Lindsey Vonn is closing in on her second straight World Cup overall title; she would be the first U.S. woman to win it twice. There will be a new men's champ crowned in Are, Sweden, though. Last year's winner, Bode Miller, called it quits last week after failing to win a race this season. The finals start this Wednesday; NBC will have coverage over the weekend.

• CELEBRATE
Rock the Mullet Night
It's known as the Kentucky Waterfall, the Tennessee Tophat and the Neck Warmer. But wherever ponds freeze, the mullet is Hockey Hair, a heritage the AHL's Manchester (N.H.) Monarchs will honor this Saturday. Before they play the Worcester Sharks, the Monarchs, who keep their own Mullet Hall of Fame, will fete five 1980s bands with hair like Slap Shot extras.

• WATCH
Late Night Beer Pong
Jimmy Fallon took over the NBC show last week, and on his fourth night he challenged Serena Williams to a game of beer pong. Are you sure she didn't go to college? Serena has some pong skills. (The host downed two beers; check YouTube to see how many Williams quaffed.) Funny, we don't remember Martina Navratilova and Tom Snyder doing anything like this.

The Pop Culture Grid

Ray Allen

Legally Blonde (top)Left Eye from TLCStephon Marbury VERA ZVONAREVA WTA Player Stay creative Michael Phelps What Women Want Russian actor Dmitriy Pevstov Paris Hilton JAMES PARR Braves P Get a life My fiancée, Lara How to Lose a Guy In 10 Days Vanessa Williams Barack Obama KEN GRIFFEY JR. Mariners LF Keep making music Charles Barkley Waiting to Exhale Jayne Kennedy Negative things happening in sports

INSIDE THE GRID

"I get asked every day, 'How do you feel about Stephon Marbury?'" says Rondo, who welcomed the much-maligned ex-Knick (above) to the Celtics on March 4. "Steph and I are cool, and we will be good teammates." Parr doesn't buy into the hype surrounding the President and his stimulus plans. "I'm not saying he's bad or good," Parr says, "but he's not the savior. With the economy, he acts like it's America's own fault we're in this."

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DENNIS WIERZBICKI/CAL SPORT MEDIA (NORTHWESTERN PLAYER)

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ALESSANDRO TROVAT/AP (MILLER)

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BRUCE BENNETT STUDIOS/GETTY IMAGES (MULLETS)

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DANA EDELSON/NBC PHOTO (WILLIAMS)

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DAMIAN STROHMEYER (MARBURY)

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RON EDMONDS/AP (OBAMA)

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GREGG DEGUIRE/WIREIMAGE/GETTY IMAGES (BARKLEY)

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JOHN BIEVER (GRIFFEY)

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CHRIS GRAYTHEN/GETTY IMAGES (PARR)

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BOB MARTIN (ZVONAREVA)

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GREG NELSON (RONDO)

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PARAMOUNT (DVD)

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MGM/EVERETT COLLECTION (LEGALLY BLONDE)

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