There has been some swift and telling fallout to my report yesterday that West Virginia QB Pat White chose not to play baseball at the university in part because there aren’t any African-Americans on the team.

Ed Pastilong, WVU’s veteran athletic director, said in a statement issued Tuesday night:

“The university is committed to diversity as evidenced by the development of the OneWVU program. Our coaches and staff also are committed to an atmosphere of community for our student-athletes. I look forward to speaking with Pat more about his thoughts.”

During an interview at Big East Media Day in Newport, R.I., White told me (and several other reporters) that he did not play baseball because because of the lack of African-Americans on coach Greg Van Zant’s squad. (more…)

The interest in St. Patrick guard Kyrie Irving just keeps growing.

Florida called to inquire about getting involved with the 6-1 junior guard, and Notre Dame and Virginia are also interested. They join a list that already includes Memphis, Rutgers, Seton Hall, Texas A&M and St. Joe’s. (more…)

NEWPORT, R.I. – Cincinnati football coach Brian Kelly understands the doubters.

A year after finishing 10-3, 4-3 in the Big East, many observers don’t expect the Bearcats to do that well again in 2008. Hence the No. 5 pick by the coaches in the Big East Football Preseason Media Poll announced Tuesday. Defending league co-champ West Virginia was chosen No. 1, followed by South Florida and Pittsburgh.

Read the rest of the story with notes on West Virginia, Oklahoma and the Presidential race.

St. Benedict’s coach Dan Hurley said he agrees with Tamir Jackson’s decision to decommit from the University of Alabama-Birmingham.

“I disagreed with the decision initially,” Hurley said Tuesday by phone. “I think there’s a much better fit for him as a student-athlete.”

Jackson, a 6-foot-2 senior shooting guard from Paterson, N.J. native, says he’s now considering Miami, Penn, Harvard, Virginia Tech, Rice, Davidson and Arizona. UAB is still an option.

“Word’s going to start to circulate and over the course of the next 10 days to two weeks, we’ll put some things together for him,” Hurley said. (more…)

Watch today’s episode of the Nooner over at TheNoonerBlog.com.

At WasWatching, Steve Lombardi says that Carl Pavano and Phil Hughes will make rehab starts for the Charlestown RiverDogs.

Tommy Dee of TheKnicksBlog grades the Renaldo Balkman trade, while Adam Zagoria at ZagsBlog has full coverage of the Big East media day.

Brian Basset at TheJetsBlog has a look at the what the Jets have done on defense, while Anthony De Rosa at Giants Football Blog has Giants Training Camp coverage.

Toby Hyde at Mets Minor League Blog gives an update on Fernando Martinez, who is ‘coming along’ after his latest injury.

Lastly, at SNY.tv, Ted Berg says, although he looks just like Tom Morello, Raul Ibanez isn’t nearly as ‘awesome.’

NEWPORT, R.I. – The most interesting and controversial comments from Big East Football Media Day came from West Virginia senior QB Pat White, who said he did not play for the school’s baseball team this spring because there haven’t been many African-American players on the team.

“In my knowledge of West Virginia baseball, there’s not been many players of my race on his (head coach Greg Van Zant’s) team,” said White, who is African-American. “He’s not too high on it.”

Van Zant did not immediately return a phone message left at his office. (more…)

NEWPORT, R.I. – Blogging live from Big East Media Day in lovely Newport, R.I. After hitting the Bruce Springsteen concert at Giants Stadium last night, I got to bed near 1 a.m….and then woke up at 5 to drive up here. I’ll need a nap later! Meantime,

On the heels of two BIG EAST championships in the last three seasons, West Virginia has been tabbed as the favorite to take the 2008 title in the conference’s annual preseason media poll, released Tuesday as part of the conference’s Summer Kickoff at the Hotel Viking.

The Mountaineers (11-2, 5-2 BIG EAST in 2007) received 22 of a possible 24 first-place votes to finish with 189 points in the poll of media representatives from each of the eight BIG EAST markets. West Virginia, which earned the BIG EAST’s Bowl Championship Series berth last season on its way to a 48-28 win against Oklahoma in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl, will be led by two-time BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year Pat White, who enters the 2008 season as a bona fide Heisman Trophy candidate. The Mountaineers are under the direction of new head coach Bill Stewart, who was promoted to the top spot in January after leading West Virginia to the bowl victory against the Sooners. (more…)

Tamir Jackson has decommitted from UAB. Can DeMarcus Cousins be far behind?

Jackson, a 6-foot-2 senior shooting guard at St. Benedict’s Prep in Newark, says he has decommitted from Mike Davis’ program.

Jackson, a Paterson, N.J. native, says he’s now considering Miami, Penn, Harvard, Virginia Tech, Rice, Davidson and Arizona. UAB is still an option.

“I don’t have a favorite,” he said in a text message. (more…)

Isaiah Epps is reaping the benefits of his strong play in Vegas.

After scoring 23 points in the Playaz 78-74 semifinal loss to DC Assault in the adidas Super 64, the 6-3 guard from Plainfield High School is garnerning major interest.

“Isaiah is going to be recruited by Texas, UCLA, Michigan and Ohio State,” Playaz director Jimmy Salmon said.

Epps already holds offers from Rutgers, Seton Hall, Maryland, Pitt and St. Joe’s.

“That makes me feel good,” Epps said. “That shows me that I’m doing a good job at what I’m doing.”

Epps said he had no favorites at this time, but that he wants to go away from home for college.

“Far away,” he said. (more…)

Bruce Springsteen played the first of three shows at Giants Stadium last night and I’m headed out tonight to see Show No. 2. Can’t wait. If anyone wants to chime in with comments on last night’s show, I’d love to hear them.

Here’s what Backstreets.com had to say, complete with setlist: (more…)