Hello,
I love the NCAA Tournament so much, especially compared to the millionaires vs. billionaires in the NFL labor negotiations. The NFL and the players are having a he said- she said showdown right now. It doesn't make for compelling theater. It doesn't matter who wins this battle, it only matters how the fans respond to this latest temper tantrum. As fans I say we ignore both sides until they recognize what idiots they are. How greedy and stupid do both sides have to be not to figure out a way to share $9 billion dollars?
Thanks to espn.go.com this is the latest in the NFL fiasco: "The NFL's locked-out players wrote back to commissioner Roger Goodell on Saturday, responding to his letter to them by saying: "Your statements are false."
In their four-page letter, the players told Goodell that during labor negotiations, the league's owners did not justify "their demands for a massive give-back which would have resulted in the worst economic deal for players in major pro sports."
Goodell wrote all active NFL players Thursday, outlining the league's description of its last proposal and cautioning that each day "puts our game and our shared economics further at risk."
I love that last sentence of Goodell. If that's so obvious why aren't the sides at least meeting? I also like Mike Vrabell's suggestion that the owners and players directly talk. They would be bypassing arrogant Goodell and his corporate America minions. I bet the players and owners working together would be able to hash out a deal quicker without the middle men. In fact "American Idol" and the NFL remind me a lot of each other. Greed is hurting both as corporate America is trying to figure out how to resolve their issues. Of course "AI" is a lot further gone. Although I think the greed and stupidity of "AI" should be a cautionary tale for the NFL.
While the NFL and it's players are greedily battling, other sports are actually playing! Major League Baseball is currently going through it's few weeks of optimism with it being spring training. At this point everyone is tied for first place even the Pittsburgh Pirates. Now on to the beauty that is the NCAA Tournament. In the battle of idiot coaches, Kentucky is the first team to advance to the Sweet 16. They beat West Virginia and their prickly coach, Bob Huggins, in today's first game. As Kentucky's reward for getting to the Sweet 16, they'll in all likelihood play #1 seeded Ohio State. Not only are the Buckeyes the overall #1 seed, but they are probably the best team in the nation. I predict OSU will dispatch of George Mason fairly easily tomorrow. That's a game that I have no rooting interest in.
We know that either a 12 or a 13 seed are going to advance to the Sweet 16. That's because #12 seeded Richmond plays #13 seed Morehead State about 5:15 EST today. Pittsburgh plays the upset minded Butler team today. I predict Pittsburgh wins this game, but I think it will be fairly close. If everything holds to the seedings Pittsburgh will play Wisconsin in the round of 16. I predict Pittsburgh will be the first #1 seed to lose in this tournament. Of course I'm not the only one, over 50% of people at espn.com predicted the same thing. I think Kansas will be the second #1 seed to lose. Although with Richmond and Morehead State's first round upset, their pathway got a little easier. Then the #2 seed in their bracket is Notre Dame, a team that doesn't have a lot of history in the NCAAs. I still think Kansas will be the second #1 seed to lose as Duke and OSU are very tough teams.
Although I still dislike Duke with a great intensity. Remember whoever beats Duke I will buy a hat from your university. For instance, I'd love to have to buy a Michigan hat tomorrow.
Florida is in a dogfight right now with UCLA. If UCLA somehow wins, Florida would be the highest seed team to lose.
MWC news: The MWC falls to 2-1 in the NCAA Tourney as UNLV forgot to show up for their game with Illinois last night. San Diego State needs to play a lot better today, than they did against #15 seed Northern Colorado on Thursday. The Aztecs play #7 seed Temple today. I predict that SDSU, who has only won NCAA Tourney game ever, will double their number of NCAA Tourney wins today. I predict this won't be a blow out, I think Temple will keep it close. SDSU is a hungry team, this is the last run for their 4 seniors who play significant minutes. They are playing with a chip on their shoulder, at least they were until their snoozer against Northern Colorado. I expect a much more spirited effort for the Aztecs today.
But as a BYU fan, the big game for me today of course is BYU-Gonzaga. It was 30 years ago this year that BYU advanced to the Sweet Sixteen their last time. It's been a run of mediocrity for BYU basketball since then. While watching neighboring Utah get all the way to the NCAA Finals a few years ago, BYU barely has had a significant moment on the national stage. That is until Jimmermania exploded in Provo last year. The first notice of what was to come of Jimmermania was when Fredette scored 47 points on the Wildcats in Arizona. That was last season and Cougars basketball actually found their way on to ESPN. Then probably his next significant moment on the national stage was last season in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. In a thrilling game, BYU outlasted Florida in double overtime 99-92. In their victory BYU ended 17 years of frustration by winning a game in the NCAA Tourney. BYU ultimately lost to Kansas State in the second round last season 84-72.
Of course Jimmermania has been going on this whole season. It started when he was named a preseason All American. Then BYU and Jimmer Fredette have had a good run all season. BYU is currently 31-4. Again they beat Arizona this season as Fredette scorched Arizona again. Fredette went off for 47 points against arch rival Utah on the Utes home floor. Then BYU beat SDSU twice, including on the Aztecs floor. The SDSU student section calls themselves the show, but BYU was the show on February 26th.
Then just a few days later Brandon Davies was suspended for the rest of the season and the naysayers came out in full force. That's justifiably so as BYU is only 4-2 since Davies suspension. And the two losses have been ugly, getting beaten in dominating fashion by New Mexico and SDSU. Of course, a couple of weeks later, BYU got a measure of revenge against New Mexico. Fredette went for 52 points and the Cougars won by double figures.
Watching ESPN this morning, one of their experts predicted Gonzaga would beat BYU. The alleged expert is Doug Gottlieb. It seems that national commentators and experts pick against MWC teams and BYU just out of habit now. Gonzaga has a size advantage with two 7 footers, but is Gonzaga really a better team than BYU? I would say no, but Gonzaga of course could win this game. The game is in Denver which is closer to BYU than Gonzaga. Also BYU travels well so I think it will be a bit of a home court advantage for the Cougars. I'm nervously waiting the start of this game. It's cool that BYU basketball has got so much press this year. Whatever happens today, it has been a fun ride. Go Cougs!
Under appreciated song of the day. I've featured this song before, but I enjoyed this song as it played at the end of my workout today. I extended my workout to listen to all of this song. This has got to be a Top 250 greatest song. It's Depeche Mode's "Strangelove":
I especially love the line, "I give into sin because I like to practice what I preach".
themusicaddict
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