So in other words: sort of yes to both sides of my OR! (where NC is concerned - but, of course not in Jordan's league):-)

>It depends. It is college basketball, and many go on to play pro after March Madness. If you make it to March Madness (get to do the dance) then you have a good shot of going pro (where the money is) like Michael Jordan did. However, it depends on the person (fan) and the area. Here in NC, pro basketball is not a major sport (seldom does anyone even comment on it) but college basketball is HUGE. Surprisingly, pro football and highschool football are big here too. I went to numerous highschool football games in Fayetteville, NC and it is too crowded to find a parking space because so many locals (who do not even have kids in school!) attend. I cannot emphasis how BIG college basketball is here. It is bigger than ANY other sport - even pro football. In other areas of the U.S., perhaps college basketball does not get as much attention (I don't know). Now, in Chicago, pro basketball is big as well, same in Portland, OR, and Milwaukee, WI. Pro basketball is big in the Norteast
>(I went to a couple of 76ers games when I was up there in fact).
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>>Just on a change of subject, certain of you ham shanks are often going on about baseball and basketball. The other night I caught a game between USC and UNC (I was routing for NC of course, as certain of you buddies are on the UT - I don't recall any SCians). Are they considered to be major teams over there, or is this just varsity basketball, i.e. not in the M Jordan league?
>>
>>>Everywhere except for English in England, Icelandic, Indonesian, Russian, Lithuanian, Norwegian, and Slovenian :o)
>>>
>>>
>>>>And your point is that programme and program seem to be used in the definitions of each other?
>>>>
>>>>>http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/programme
>>>>>
>>>>>pro·gramme (prō'grām', -grəm) Pronunciation Key
>>>>>n. & v. Chiefly British
>>>>>Variant of program.
>>>>>
>>>>>Main Entry: 1pro·gram
>>>>>Variant: or chiefly British pro·gramme /'prO-"gram, -gr&m/
>>>>>Function: noun
>>>>>: a sequence of coded instructions (as genes or behavioral responses) that is part of an organism
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>In terms of TV programming, ...
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>...I can't find a way to program my TV at all. It keeps showing me commercials, reruns, selling channels, and full month of begging on PBSes. I'm supposed to know these things, being a programmer, but I must admit I have no clue.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>Did anyone succeed in TV programming? Which language does it use? Does it have a debugger (other than a hurled brick)?
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>Using either the TV control itself, or via remote control, click the 'off' button, pick up a book, and read. That's how I do it.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>In the UK we have a distinction between "program" and "programme": the former being re: computers and the latter re: a series of incidents, such as what to expect to see at the theatre, or a TV or radio emission
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>Technically, we have the same distinction, but due to heavy influences close by, the distinction is blurring, if not being erased.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>You know, I had a feeling there'd be a comment like that, accompanied by a red & white flag :-)