NCAA Tournaments Are Over

By far, my favorite part of the sporting year.  And this year's edition did not disappoint. We had some upsets and a lot of close games.  As usual, I pulled mostly for the Little Guys even if they were playing favorite Big Guys teams of mine.

And, this year, I was even paying attention to the women's games more because, of course, of the Kaitlyn Clark hoopla.  Sure enjoyed the University of Iowa women's games.  Hopefully all this will carry over to the future college womens games and the WNBA.

I do think CBS made a major mistake in only offering the Final Four mens games on cable stations TBS and TNT.  They should have been on CBS.  And, even worse, the championship game last Monday came on at 9:15 pm in the Eastern Time Zone.  Another mistake.

I was pulling for Iowa to win in the womens tournament and Purdue in the mens.  However, it was not to be.  Both Iowa and Purdue gave good games in the first half, but were destroyed in the second half.  UConn and South Carolina were just too good.

Congratulations to UConn and South Carolina.

--RoadDog

Tournament Time: CB&C and B-Ball

MARCH 21--  THURSDAY

I should mention that I got my third corned beef and cabbage dinner at the Fox Lake (Illinois) seniors luncheon earlier and were entertained by an Irish performer.  Good Irish food and entertainment.  

I am also glad now that we have complete choice as to what games we see since they are all shown from beginning to end on four different channels:  CBS, TBS, TNT and True TV.  That used to drive me crazy when we had to watch Duke blowing out some #15 or #16 team when we could see that there was a close one or upset in the offing on another channel.

With me, it is all about close games and upsets.

And, I still remember when they experimented with the triple screen (they showed three games at once).  That made it impossible to figure out what was going on.

Highlight of the day was Kentucky getting upset by  Oakland. Oakland?  Had to look it up.  It  is in Michigan.  I am not a fan of Kentucky in any way.  It was one of the original one-and-doner schools.  Then, I ended up staying awake until nearly midnight when Samford took Kansas down to the wire in what would also have been a major upset.  They lost by four.  I am a Kansas fan, but Samford is a major Little Guy school.

By the way, Samford is in Alabama.

--RoadB-Ball

Ending March: NCAA Tournament, Fish Fry, Legion, St. Peter's Wins

FRIDAY, MARCH 25

How could the Sweet 16 NCAA Tournament games be any better.  Of the four games yesterday and four today, I counted seven close games and three major upsets, including two #1s knocked off!!  Looking forward to the Elite 8 games now.

Met Kevin and Kelly at 'Cuda's on Grasslake Road for their AUCE fish fry ($10.99) and then went to the Fox Lake American Legion.  Watched the NCAA games at both places.  Big crowd at the Legion watching and pulling for St. Peter's (#15) in their game against Purdue (#3).  Even though I am a Big 10, 11,12, 13, 14 fan (except Michigan and Ohio State and the two newest teams Maryland and Rutgers) I was pulling for St. Peter's.  I always pull for underdogs against any team.

And, St. Peters won a close one 67-64.

Attendance at the Friday 50-50 is climbing again after a big drop off back before the virus hit.

--RoadDog

The Second St. Patrick's Weekend: That Great Tournament!! Margaritaville, Ultimate Jukebox, CB&C, Stucky's and the PLAV

FRIDAY, MARCH 18

Yesterday was a great day for college basketball, especially with that St. Peter's (#15) upset of Kentucky (#2).  I had to loon up to find it where this college was.  It turns out to be in Jersey City, New Jersey, two miles from New York City. I don't like Kentucky at all.  

Anyway, it was just one upset or close game after another on Friday.  That's the way I like my NCAA Tournament games.  We didn't even go anywhere.  I just enjoyed my Margaritaville Bar in the basement.  I've got a fully stocked refrigerator, a TV in the corner of the bar and the Ultimate Jukebox (300 discs).

Why go anywhere else?

SATURDAY, MARCH 19

Again, saw a bunch of games in Margaritaville before going to Stucky's in Johnsburg where we had the corned beef & cabbage (cb&c) dinners.  I sure wish we had cb&c dinners more often during the year besides just around this time.

Now, a perfect cb&c bite consists of equal parts corned beef and cabbage, heavily peppered and with a dash of horseradish and/or mustard.  But, I hate when I run out of corned beef or cabbage before the other.  Not cool man.

Had a great time watching the tournament games and singing karaoke.

SUNDAY, MARCH 20

We were hoping to check out the newly remodeled McHenry American Legion, but there were too many cars parked outside it.  So ended up at the Polish Legion of American Veterans around the corner and had a great time as we know a lot of people there as well.

Afterwards, we found Stucky's was closed so went home and watched some more great Tournament games at Margaritaville.

--RoadDog

JSS: Tired of Da Snoop Dogg-- Tired of Da Gambling Spots-- Not Tired of Da Tournament

JSS--  Just Some Stuff

1.  TIRED OF DA SNOOP DOGG--

I think this guy is on TV pitching something every commercial break these days.  Kind of reminds me of the bad old days when you couldn't avoid Michael or Mike.  (Michael Jordan and Mike Ditka)

2.  TIRED OF DA GAMBLING SPOTS--

And man, are there commercials to get you into the clutches of gambling.

3.  NOT TIRED OF DA TOURNAMENT--

But, the NCAA Basketball Tournament has sure not failed to live up to its hype.  By my rough count e have had 26 games I consider great games.  I mean, real close.  Also, there have been 11 upsets.  Especially that win by St. Peter's over Kentucky.  

I don't know about you, but I sure had to look up and see where St. Peter's was (in New Jersey a few miles from New York City) much like I had to do Gonzaga in the early days of their dominance.

And, We Start the Sweet Sixteen Today!!!  

Please, Give Us A Break from the Dogg.  --RoadTourn

Around Here: Da Bulls, Weird Hair on Athletes, Stucky's, Da Beatles and Stucky's Again

SATURDAY, JANUARY 15

We had snow flurries all day, but there was no accumulation.  That's a real good thing.  We went to Stucky's and watched the Bulls game, which sadly, they lost.  They are on a losing streak right now, but before that playing very well for the first time since the fabulous 90s when they won six NBA Championships in eight years -- the Michael Jordan years.  Ever since, they have been very sad.

I wanted to show Liz the hair that Bulls player Coby White had last year compared to this.  Back then it was one of those very eye-insulting 'dos, but now just a regular cut.  I don't like long, weird hair on athletes no matter if they're Whites or Blacks.

While looking for pictures of him, I found out that he was born in Goldsboro, North Carolina, which perked my interest since that is also where I was born.  However, he played high school basketball in Wilson, N.C.  He went to UNC-Chapel Hill, but unfortunately was one of those one-and-diners.  I'm not real happy with these guys or the schools that "hire" them for that one year before they go to the NBA.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 16

Bob Stroud featured the Beatles Album "Meet the Beatles" as later this week will mark the 58th anniversary of its release.  This was the fun Beatles in my book.  And, they were the ones who got me to listening to pop music.  I never did before.  And, of course, music has had a huge impact on my life.

We went to Stucky's in Johnsburg, Illinois, and watched two NFL Wild Card Playoff games.

--RoadBeatle

Those Who Left Us in 2021-- Part 3: Baylor, McMurtry, Liddy, Philip, Mondale and Collins

MARCH

ELGIN BAYLOR, 86

The Lakers' 11-time NBA All-Star.  Died March 22.

LARRY McMURTRY, 84

The prolific and popular author who wrote "Lonesome Dove."  That still gets me when the mass of cottonmouth snakes killed that kid crossing the river.  YUCK!!  Died March 25.

G. GORDON LIDDY, 90

A mastermind of the Watergate burglary.  We sure heard a lot about him back then.  Died March 30.

********************

APRIL

PRINCE PHILIP, 99

The husband of Queen Elizabeth II.  A World War II hero.  Died April 9.

WALTER F. MONDALE, 93

Former vice president and a liberal icon.  Died April 19.

MICHAEL COLLINS, 90

An Apollo 11 astronaut whom orbited the moon while Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin made their historic first steps in the lunar surface.  Died April 28.

How About That UCLA-Gonzaga Game Saturday!!! Wow!!

Like they said, it just doesn't get any better than this.  MAN!!!  What a game!!!

Regardless of who won.  

And, I had Gonzaga going all the way and it is from a Group of Five conference which means the lower echelon when compared to that snooty Power Five group.  And, UCLA is a member of a Power Five conference.

Normally, I would have been pulling all the way for Gonzaga.  But the road that UCLA had to go, having to play into the tournament with the Front Round and then those two games the previous weekend against Alabama (and that one, Wow!), a #2 and then a #1 in Michigan.

But, nothing prepared me for Saturday.  Talk about two great teams.  And, I found myself in the strange position of pulling for one of the Big Guys.  UCLA.

Back and forth, back and forth.  Usually the difference in scores was one or two points.  And then overtime and that shot at the buzzer from almost half court that went in to secure the win for Gonzaga.

This is why the basketball tournament is my favorite sporting event of all.

Man, Just Too Much!!  --RoadBall

NCAA Basketball Tournament Sure Hasn't Disappointed

I sure missed it last year.  This is by far my favorite of any pro or college playoffs.  One and Done, you know, if you don't win.  It's all out.

In the first two rounds I pull for every Little Guy versus Big Guy team and all the Underdogs.  I sure enjoyed the runs by Oral Roberts (which sent everyone to their smart phones to find out where this school was), Abilene Christian, Ohio and Loyola.

And how about perennial powerhouses Michigan State and UCLA having to play in.  Even better, those two One and Done player schools Kentucky and Duke not making the playoffs at all.  Loved it.

Anyway, I would normally be pulling for Gonzaga tonight as they are Little Guys not in a Power 5 conference, but you've got give UCLA credit, man those were great games, especially the Alabama one.

So, I'll have to see who I will pull for in that game.

--RoadDog

North Carolina-Duke Basketball Game Saturday: The Battle of the One-And-Doners

A couple weeks ago I watched the much ballyhooed North Carolina-Duke basketball game.  And even Dick Vitale was not calling it because of the two very mundane basketball programs that were facing each other.  He called the next game. 

The announcers kept referring to the numerous mistakes the two teams were making on the floor and saying that in the past they wouldn't have been making those mistakes.  And the REASON for all the mistakes was that both teams are made of of mostly all freshman in their starting lineups.  In the past, there might have been one of what Dick Vitale called Diaper Dans (for dandies), but now in this era of one-and-doners, not so much.

Unfortunately, high school grads have to sit out a year before going to the NBA and the big name schools get their services for a year before they vault to the big bucks.

It was an exciting game, nonetheless featuring two of what used to be my favorite big-time college hoops teams.  But, not anymore.  I actually find myself pulling against both teams.  I do not like one-and-doners.

I also do not like what their respective colleges have done in regards to their Confederate heritage, particularly what UNC did to Silent Sam.  Imagine destroying college property with no repercussions. 

There is another one-and-doner school as well that I know of and it is Kentucky,  I've never been a Kentucky fan.

And how about their records right now:

Duke  8-8

UNC  12-7

Kentucky 6-13

Very mundane records for storied teams.  I don't care how talented freshman are, when they play a team of upper classmen who are talented and have been playing together for several years, they are going to beat that freshman team.

The NBA Needs to Do Something About One-and-Doners and Colleges As Well.  --RoadFedUp

STUDENT TEST ANSWERS:  England is located on the coast of Great britain not far from the sea, which makes for good fishing.

The Tribune's Final Four and National Champion in NCAA Basketball Tournament, My Final Four and Champion

From the April 5, 2020, Chicago Tribune.

Kansas beat Florida State to go to the National Championship Game.

Michigan State beat Seton Hall

and, the National Champion is...

KANSAS!!!

*********************************

My Final Four and National Champion.

Kansas beat Dayton

Michigan State beat Gonzaga

NATIONAL CHAMPION

MICHIGAN STATE!!!!!

Kelly would be so proud of me.

--RoadDog

NCAA Final Four, 2020 Tournament (And You Thought You Weren't Going to Get It This Year

Two weekends, they would have played the 4 games to break the Elite 8 down to the Final Four.

The Tribune's picks:

MIDWEST WINNER

#1  Kansas

EAST  WINNER

#2  Florida State

*************************

WEST WINNER

#3  Seton Hall

SOUTH WINNER

#3  Michigan State

**************************************

These are particularly hard as I like all four teams.  If I go with Little Guys, I'd pull for Dayton and Gonzaga.  If I go with the Big Guys, it would be Kansas and Michigan State.

Decisions, decisions.

MY FINAL FOUR

*************************

MIDWEST WINNER

#1  Kansas

EAST WINNER

#1  Dayton

***********************

WEST WINNER

#1  Gonzaga

SOUTH WINNER

#3  Michigan State

I'll split the difference.

At least Kentucky is not in there.  I have never liked Kentucky.  And now, I also would have been pulling against UNC and Duke, two teams I've always liked in the Big Guys.  But Duke now is one of those one-and-done schools (like Kentucky) where they get all new starters every year.  I don't like UNC because of what they did to the Silent Sam statue.

So, who would your Final Four be?

--B-BallDog

LAUGHTER HELPS WITH THE "V":  To the tune of Paul Simon's "Fifty Ways to
Leave Your Lover":

"Sneeze Into Your Sleeve, Steve
To Keep Virus Free."

Tonight Would Have Been the NCAA Basketball Championship Game. So, Who Woulda Won?

From the April 5, 2020, Chicago Tribune.

The newspaper had what most likely would have been the 64 teams who made the tournament earlier, based on an expert's picks.  And, then they had the Sweet Sixteen and Elite 8.

As far as my brackets, I am glad to say that I haven't missed a single pick yet.  But, by the same token, I haven't picked any correct either.  About as good as I usually do, anyway.

But, here are their Elite 8 picks:

MIDWEST

#1  Kansas
#2  Kentucky

EAST

#1  Dayton
#2  Florida State

******************************

WEST

#1  Gonzaga
#3  Seton Hall

SOUTH

#1  Baylor
#3  Michigan State

So, What Are Your Final Four Picks?

*******************************

Mine are Kansas vs Dayton and Gonzaga vs. Michigan State.

*******************************

Who needs No Stinkin' Tournament?  --RoadDog

LAUGHTER HELPS WITH THE "V."   My wife came across this on FaceBook.  Somebody did a great job on these.  To the tune of "Fifty Ways to Leave Your Lover" by Paul Simon.

"Don't Hop On the Bus, Gus."
"Stay Away From the Pack, Jack."

And, there are more.

--RoadDog

Here Are My Sweet 16 Picks for the 2020 NCAA Basketball Tournament: All the Lil' Dudes (Not Young)

Since it didn't happen and I can't lose any money, I can go through and pick the actual teams I'd like to see make it to the Sweet Sixteen and beyond.  That means all underdogs and Little Guys.  Of course, it goes without saying, every #16 beat every #1.  I would be all smiles if that happened.

So, here we go:

MIDWEST

16  Siena
13  North Texas

14  Belmont
15  North Dakota State

***********************

EAST

16  Robert Morris
13  Akron

14   Hofstra
15  Northern Kentucky

**********************

WEST

16  N.C. Central
12  Yale

14  East Washington
15  UC Irvine

*********************

SOUTH

16  Winthrop
13  Vermont

14   Bradley
15  Little Rock

I'd have to look up some of these to find out where they are.  Remember Gonzaga?  What?  Where?

This Would Sure be One Fun Tournament With the Big Guys All Gone.  Just Little Dudes, You Know.  RoadFun

LAUGHTER HELPS WITH THE "V":  "Can't wait for this coronovirus thing to blow over so I can stop washing my hands  again."

How I Pull for NCAA Basketball Tournament Teams

Regardless of my picks, I always pull for the Little Guys in the games.  Like Siena vs. Kansas or Stephen F. Austin vs. Ohio State.  This regardless of whether or not I like the Big Guy team.

As far as Big Guy teams, in the past my big two teams were North Carolina and Duke.  However, North Carolina  students pulled down the Silent Sam Confederate statue a couple years ago, plus they are getting a lot of the one-and-done freshmen players.  That is the same with Duke.

I also liked Virginia a lot, but not now since its town Charlottesville is so intent on pulling down its Confederate statues.

Of course, I have never liked Kentucky, Ohio State or Michigan in the Big Guys.

Go Little Guys.  --RoadDog

LAUGHTER HELPS WITH THE "V.":  "Dance like nobody's watching. Wash your hands like everybody is."

Hey, Here's Your NCAA Basketball Brackets-- Part 2

Today we would be in the Elite 8 with two games to determine the first two entrants into the Final Four.

*********************

WEST

1.  Gonzaga
16  N.C. Central

8  LSU
9  Oklahoma

5  Michigan
12  Yale

4  Oregon
13  New Mexico State

6  BYU
11  Indiana

3  Seton Hall
14  East Washington

7  Arizona
10  Texas Tech

2  San Diego State
15  UC Irvine

*************************

SOUTH

1  Baylor
16  Winthrop

8  Saint Mary's
9  Rutgers

5  Ohio State
12  Stephen F. Austin

4  Louisville
13  Vermont

6 Virginia
11  Cincinnati

3  Michigan State
14  Bradley

7  Illinois
10  USC

2  Creighton
15  Little Rock

Make Those Picks.  --RoadPick

LAUGHTER HELPS WITH THE "V."--  Your grand were called to war.   You're being called to sit on your couch.  You can do this."

Hey, Here's Your NCAA Brackets-- Part 1: Sweet Sixteen

This was in the March 22, 2020, Chicago Tribune under "Fantasy basketball" by Shannon Ryan.

These are thanks to ESPN's Joe Lanardi who projects the bracket throughout every season.  So this is very likely what it would have looked like.

And, remember, had the tournament been on this year, we would have been in the Sweet Sixteen games.

MIDWEST

1  Kansas
16  Siena

8  Houston
9  Marquette

5  Auburn
12  Liberty

4  Wisconsin
13  North Texas

6  Iowa
11  East Tennessee State

3  Duke
14  Belmont

7  Providence
10  Arizona State

2  Kentucky
15  North Dakota State

EAST

1.  Dayton
16  Robert Morris

8  Colorado
9  Florida

5  Butler
12  Texas

4  Maryland
13  Akron

6  Penn State
11  UCLA

3  Villanova
14  Hofstra

2  Florida State
15  Northern Kentucky

Make Your Picks!!  --RoadDog

LAUGHTER HELPS WITH THE V:  "This quarantine is affecting everyone in the workforce, but it especially sucks for men.  We are losing a dollar for every 79 cents women are losing."

Was That Ever A Great Weekend for College B-Ball!!

As boring as the games were the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament, this past weekend more than made up for it.  We had four of the greatest games I've ever seen. (Actually, five when you count the Friday Duke-Va. Tech game.

And, even better, BOTH of the One-And-Doner teams are gone.  (Teams that start all or mostly all freshman who will be gone to the NBA next year.)   That was my biggest fear that the championship game would be played between Duke and Kentucky.  I figured I wouldn't watch if they were.

And, Duke used to be one of my favorite teams, but not anymore.  I'm thinking of burning my Duke hats and shirts.

We watched in bars and at home.  We're planning on watching the Final Four on Saturday at Half-Times in Johnsburg which attracts more of a college crowd.

Friday, Duke barely squeaked by Va. Tech 75-73.  Then Saturday Texas Tech upset #1 Gonzaga 75-69 and Virginia beat Purdue 80-75.  But Sunday was the best when Auburn beat Kentucky 62-58 and best of all, Michigan State defeated Duke 68-67.

This was a real fun weekend.

Final Four!!  Hope They Keep the Close Games Going.  --RoadDog

TOP TEN TRIVIA:  A swarm of 20,000 bees followed a car for two days because their queen was trapped inside.

It's That Tournament Time Again, I'm Talking 'Bout "March Madness"

Spent a lot of time yesterday watching the NCAA March Madness games.  As I've said before, I regard this as the best sporting event anywhere.  There are so many upsets, so many close games, so many who-are-theys.  Had to look up Belmont and Northeastern.

Yesterday, of the sixteen games played, I count two  upsets and a whole bunch of near upsets.  Six of them in fact.

In the first round, I always pull for the underdogs or little guys.  Even if they are playing a favorite of mine like Michigan State, Kansas or North Carolina.  Even if they end up getting blown out while doing that horrible intentional fouling at the end.  If the game is close, or the little guy is winning much of the game, I like it.

It is now so much better now that we can watch every game on the four different channels.  I used to hate it when Duke would be blowing someone out by fifty points and there was a close game going on elsewhere and we had to watch the boring Duke game.  Now, I can flip over to the "fun" games.

And speaking of Duke, which used to be my second favorite "Big Guy" team (behind UNC), I no longer support this team because they gave joined Kentucky as a one-and-doner team.  That cheapens college basketball.  I am so ashamed of Coach K going this route.

Doesn't Matter Who Finally Wins It As Long As It Is Not Duke or Kentucky.  --RoadDog

NOT THAT BASEBALL PLAYERS ARE GETTING PAID TOO MUCH, BUT:  With Mike Trout's new contract, he is getting paid $222,222 a game.  Good work if you can get it.

The Battle on One-And-Dones Tonight: Duke vs. Kentucky

And, I'm not going to watch it, even though Duke USED to be one of my favorite of the big guy schools.

I have no respect for any basketball programs who depend on players who are only going to be three for one year before going to the NBA.

Kentucky started it and now Duke follows along puppylike.  I thought Coach K had more class than that.

The only good thing about these one-and-doners is that come tournament time, it greatly increases the chances of a little guy knocking off a big guy.

Guess Not.  --RoadDog

IT'S ALL IN THE NAME:  A thief's son named Rob.