With the end of John MacLeod's reign and the arrival of Matt Doherty, Irish men's basketball has a great chance of actually being exciting and worth watching. Tonight's "Friday Night Live" signifies the official start of college basketball practice with a night of excitement and fun.

Now, an event that signifies the start of college basketball season would obviously have as its central theme basketball. As I look down the schedule of events for that night, I see the basketball theme is very prevalent.

A men's interhall tournament and a women's three point shoot-out kick off the evening followed by Coach Doherty and his staff taking on the champions of each event a little later. This part of the evening is definitely basketball related.

Doherty will then give a speech at 11:45 p.m., and the first practice of the year will kick off with a scrimmage after that. I'd have to say that Coach Doherty and the men's basketball team most certainly have a basketball theme.

Throughout the evening Dick Vitale will serve as a host and master of ceremonies. You can't get much more "basketball" than Dickie V. Whenever I hear his voice shrilling out "totally awesome, baby" or "PTPer," I know that basketball is close at hand.

Serving as the head coach for one of the men's basketball squads in the midnight scrimmage will be Irish basketball legend Austin Carr. Since Carr is coaching one team it would be natural to assume that another basketball legend would be coaching the other team, right?

Except, what's this?

Tommy Hilfiger will be coaching the other team in the midnight scrimmage? What does Hilfiger know about coaching basketball?

That must be a typo. They probably meant to write Tommy Amaker. But then I realized that Amaker would be busy getting Seton Hall ready for its season.

And plus, why would Notre Dame invite Seton Hall's head coach to its basketball Midnight Madness? Heck, that would make about as much sense as inviting a fashion designer to Friday Night Live.

So looking at this schedule of events, I have only one question: What does Tommy Hilfiger have to do with Notre Dame men's basketball?

How does the maker of overpriced clothing have any relevance to the 1999-2000 men's basketball season at Notre Dame?

Hilfiger makes clothing that he calls "athletic wear." Maybe that's why he was invited to Friday Night Live. Except that Tommy's "athletic wear" is only useful if your idea of athletics is standing around and looking cool (or at least looking like you spent way too much money for a T-shirt).

If you wear Hilfiger "athletic wear" and you get grass stains on it, you're out $40. That's not "athletic wear." It's idiot wear.

So the question remains, why did Notre Dame feel that Tommy Hilfiger would be a good person to represent Notre Dame basketball?

Oh wait … now I remember! Hilfiger has a contract with Notre Dame to make clothing. It's all becoming clear. This has nothing to do with basketball and everything to do with money.

• Friday Night Lame