Leading off today: We'll depart from the normal focus on high school sports today to focus up front on the very surprising news from the NCAA.

   College sports' governing body granted a waiver for an extra year of eligibility to 33 Duke lacrosse players, arguably a noble decision and certainly a controversial one.

   The ruling opens the door for as many as 13 seniors to return to the field -- and not necessarily just for the Blue Devils -- after having thought that the 12-11 loss to Johns Hopkins in the Division I title game was their finale. The waiver does not affect the senior class of 2006, which had its season wiped out after Duke canceled the remaining games in the wake of rape charges against three players.

   All of the charges were eventually dropped, which the NCAA noted in its announcement, pointing to "unusual and extenuating circumstances surrounding the cancellation of the season" as well as the "hardship endured by the team from the false allegations."

   The decision had unanimous support from the university presidents of the Atlantic Coast Conference. Virginia coach Dom Starsia questioned the waiver, and critics are sure to point out that the NCAA is trying to remedy an over-reaction by the Duke administration -- which has yet to admit that it erred. The scandal ended up costing coach Mike Pressler his job.

   The just-graduated seniors will be eligible to play if they attend grad school at Duke or another school. But few if any Division I have scholarship money available at this point. There are 12.6 scholarships available per team, or roughly three full rides per year. But that money has already been promised to incoming freshmen.

   A breakfast treat: Dunkin' Donuts franchisees presented a check for $30,000 Tuesday to ADs to support 30 high school sports programs throughout the Albany area, the Berkshires and western Vermont.

   The money came from the chain's first high school sports day in the Albany market, which was held last month. Dunkin' Donuts said franchisees in the region have donated more than $90,000 to area high school athletic programs since March 2005.

   No ordinary kid: Michelle Wie is skipping her high school graduation in Hawaii on Saturday in order to play a golf tournament in South Carolina.

   My first reaction was that it's just one more cherished memory that she'll never have.

   Upon further reflection, though, Wie hasn't had a normal life these last few years. Between playing and practicing golf at home and traveling the world for tournaments, she's spent relatively little time with her classmates.

   And let's be realistic. She may not go through life with very many memories of her school days, but she's already seen and done more than anything that 99 percent of the planet will ever experience.

   Extra points: Uruguay native Brayan Martinez, a 5-foot-9 senior midfielder for West Orange, N.J., High School, has been selected as Gatorade National Boys Soccer Player of the Year. Martinez, who had 21 goals and 21 assists in just 17 games, is the fourth New Jersey player to win the honor, which began in 1985. No New Yorker has ever won the national award.

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