Tired

...and need to be put to rest:

People toting NCAA brackets in public. It is the equivalent of an adult bringing his mitt to a professional baseball game.

Amy Nelson as a reporter. Her Washington Nats piece is horrible.

Few Rattlers

A few things bouncing around in my head.

I had a great time at the NCAA games at the Verizon Center (Purdue, X, Duke, WVU). Got our tickets (great seats) through a WVU connection (someone from Stafford having a WVU connection, who knew?). great to see WVU fans wearing overalls to the game. It was disappointing we saw no upsets, but wouldn't be surprised if WVU beats Xavier. I need another 48 hours of Huggy Bear jokes. Really impressed by Purdue basketball, with an extremely young team. With a taste of the tournament in 2008 I expect big things next year. Before I heard Drew Lavender was on a bad wheel, I was perplexed how a 5'8" guard couldn't shoot. Funny/sad episode between sessions, watching adults binge drink at Clyde's. Many were perturbed the Verizon Center wasn't serving, but can you imagine being able to drink for 12 straight hours? The place would have resembled Thriller.

Recent musical rota - old Whiskeytown, The Rentals, the new Crowes.

I have no idea why (Glenn) Doc Walker is nicknamed Doc. I must get to the bottom of this.

Like Uncle Eddie said...

Bingo.

You're telling me the Belmont band doesn't know 'Thank God I'm a Country Boy'? It would have turned Verizon upside down.

Firstdibz.com

The site is self-explanatory. It is endorsed and supported by the NCAA (who takes a 17% commission on sales).

Just another avenue to make money...for the NCAA.

NCAA Brackets

Considering I've been completing NCAA brackets for twenty years, I figured I'd bestow some knowledge on the many variations of ways to complete. There is a huge difference between intent and commitment.

1.) Favorites bracket - Hearing 'chalk' annoys me to no end. The Favorites bracket avoids any true upsets, and predicts a boring Final 4.

2.) 'Satisfaction' bracket - The most widely known story in rock 'n roll is how Keith Richards found the opening chords to Satisfaction from a recorded session months earlier, when he was in a stupor and too slammed to initially remember. The Satisfaction bracket turns chaos into a symphony, with the favorites emerging from a first weekend with many upsets and triumphant lower seeds.

3.) Poison pill/Godzilla bracket - A bracket crafted of the finest porcelain, gorgeous, but once something unexpected happens (early loss of a team expected to dominate, misjudging the strength of a conference in the tournament) the firing sequence is immediately launched. Bridges collapse, buildings implode, Godzilla chases the population down city streets.

4.) Moonwalk bracket - When you know who you want in the Final Four, and work your way backwards through the bracket.

5.) Homer Simpson Meteor bracket - Loosely based on 'The Simpsons' episode, where Homer was the only resident of Springfield who correctly predicted an incoming satellite would burn up in the atmosphere and be harmless to the town, having a hunch that plays out to fruition, against the common sentiment. My last almost-HSMB was when a Salim Stoudamire led Arizona team lost to Deron William's Illinois team in the Great Eight, squandering ten points in 3 1/2 minutes. Like Homer, I was poked in the eye by the pebble/meteor.

6.) Beat UVA bracket - Going long on teams who have beaten UVA in the calendar year (Tennessee anyone?).

I strongly suggest completing brackets by following multiple disciplines.

NCAAs

Very excited for the NCAA games in Washington DC. Not overly enthused Duke is the 2, but Belmont, having made the tournament for three straight years, may make it interesting. I am looking forward to:

1. WVU v. Arizona
2. Watching Purdue play
3. Drew Lavender

4. Not being surprised when Georgetown loses to Davidson.

Great Move

I am appalled by the Clemson (Tommy Bowden) decision to give Ray Ray McElrathbey his walking papers. Further proving college football is a business, and not interested in advancing the academic prospects of student athletes.

I truly miss the days of George Welsh at Virginia. Admittedly, Groh has his shortcomings, namely ensuring proper academic support to his players, but his approach to coaching/player development far surpasses the Bowden antics.

#44

I could write for days on the respect I have for Sean Singletary; I am grateful for his contributions to the UVA basketball program and his general character.

Feb. 19th 2005, I remember sitting in a hotel room in West Palm Beach, screen door open to catch the breeze from the ocean and enjoy an escape from DC for President's Day weekend. UVA v. UMD, not expecting much, but was blown away by the competitiveness, aggressiveness, and overall demeanor of #44. He abused John Gilchrist with an array of moves and misdirections. Unfortunately, his efforts extended the game for 10 minutes, but couldn't produce the win.

A win on Senior Night over Maryland and surpassing 2000 points was deserving closure on a season which didn't meet UVA expectations. The team was plagued with countless frontcourt injuries. Lacking support, #44 drove recklessly to the hoop (innately) and found the floor more than he found the foul line. He's got a short memory, as it didn't stop him, or temper his game instincts.

Funny how my most vivid memories of #44 come in losses (2005 UMD, 2007 NCAA v. UT, and his subsequent collapse on the court). #44 is a competitor who will be missed at UVA, and a departing cause for celebration throughout the ACC.

Thank you #44.

Twice As Hard

Did a quick review of the top 100 songs of the 1990s. The Black Crowes are the ONLY good band to emerge from the decade. The only other band I consider 'good' is Alice in Chains, who crumbled with the unfortunate passing on Layne Staley. AIC may be the most underrated band of all time.

Still chewing on 'Warpaint', the new Crowes album. Some songs are great, but the band/album is hurt by their virtuoso live performances. Songs with potential to be amazing live are too tight or too flat on the album.

Found Twice as Hard on Youtube. So funny to watch their early stuff. What was Chris Robinson on?

Honestly,

In all Honesty, it was a real shame to hear of Patrick Swayze's battle with pancreatic cancer. Patrick played a part in two of my favorite twenty-so movies, Dalton in Road House and Bodhi in Point Break, additionally, he participated in my favorite SNL skit of all time.

On a related note, a rarely seen Chris Farley video .