If you’ve ever been interested in ambidextrous pitchers, now is the time to start reading the Double-A Zone. Here’s what you missed this week on the NCAA’s official blog: 

• American basketball star Becky Hammon became a Russian citizen after failing to make the United States Olympic team. Is this unpatriotic or just the case of someone fulfilling their dreams?

http://www.doubleazone.com/2008/06/american_basketball_star_citiz.php

• Staying with the theme of patriotism, former Navy pitcher Mitch Harris will not sign with the St. Louis Cardinals and will instead begin five years of active duty. If Harris had enlisted in the Army instead of the Navy, he would have been permitted to pursue his professional career in sports upon graduation. Harris will report to Ponce in a couple of weeks. 

http://www.doubleazone.com/2008/06/solider_athlete_armys_rule_all.php

•  Georgia Tech men’s basketball coach Paul Hewitt told the Knight Commission that the length of the basketball season impacts the balance between academics and athletics. Hewitt wants to see the season begin later in November.

 http://www.doubleazone.com/2008/06/should_basketball_season_be_sh.php 

• Felician soccer student-athlete Brittany Lohman shares an emotional guest post about the departure of her head coach.

http://www.doubleazone.com/2008/06/felician_soccer_player_bounces.php