ACC scenario is free for all

If you want to know how goofy the Atlantic Coast Conference expansion process is, consider this: Virginia Tech could be considered a plaintiff and a defendant in the same lawsuit.
The ACC wanted to become a 12-school conference, settled for 11, and could ultimately end up with 10, if Miami decides to stay in the Big East. It could happen; originally, Miami was going to make the move with Syracuse and Boston College, two schools with considerable draw for the school's alumni in the northeast.
Now that it's been determined that those two will remain in the Big East, and the seeming reluctance of Miami's board of trustees to rubberstamp an agreement to switch leagues, one might conclude that it's not a done deal by any means.
This much we know: Virginia Tech will be joining the ACC. What happens beyond that is anyone's guess.
There was considerable political pressure from any number of directions once the big Big East grab began. That's why Virginia held out until an invitation was extended to its in-state rivals. The addition of Virginia Tech makes little sense, because there's nothing Virginia Tech brings that Virginia didn't already.
The Big East's concern is that, without it's two marquee football programs (i.e., television ratings grabbers), it will lose it's place in the BCS scenario (i.e., lots and lots of money). Unless of course, it can somehow convince Notre Dame to drop its independent status (i.e., not bloody likely.)
And, what if this happens: Miami opts to stay put in the Big East, and Florida State, which put the squeeze on the ACC to approach the 'Canes in the first place, decides to switch leagues -- which drops the ACC back to a nine-team league. The ACC would have essentially swapped the Seminoles for Va. Tech and lose the lucrative Florida markets.
Far-fetched? Sure. But who among us thought we would be discussing any of this six months ago?
Indians
In case you missed it, former Mahoning Valley Scrapper Victor Martinez got the call to The Show Saturday. He started at catcher for the Cleveland Indians and went 1-for-4 with a double.
Martinez played for the Scrappers in 1999, the team's inaugural season in the Valley; he was part of a team that included Nate Grindell and Alexander Requena, who are also highly regarded within the Indians system. Grindell is at Class AAA Buffalo and Requena is at Class AA Akron.
LeBron James
If you didn't get a chance to catch the ESPN special on LeBron James this week, you missed a chance to gain some insight into the newest member of the Cleveland Cavaliers. While the show didn't deal too much with some of the more controversial issues surrounding the prep phenom, it did provide a close look at James' inner circle of friends and associates, as well as his burgeoning relationship with Syracuse's Carmelo Anthony.
Regardless of your feelings about James, it's an interesting show and well worth the time to watch it.
Pavlik
In two days, middleweight Kelly Pavlik will enter the ring at Cafaro Field against Rico Cason in a fight that will be part of ESPN's Tuesday boxing series.
Pavlik has trained awfully hard for this fight, which could go a long way in determining his future with Top Rank Inc.
An impressive victory, i.e., a knockout in the early rounds, could propel Pavlik to some major fights and high-profile television appearances.
Stat of the day
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who won the last game of the 2002 NFL season, are one of the first two teams to open training camp in preparation for the 2003 campaign. The Bucs and Green Bay Packers begin July 19, just 20 days from now.
XRob Todor is sports editor of The Vindicator. Write to him at todor@vindy.com.