The only thing better than watching the NCAA Tournament Selection Show is the hours and then days of analyzing the brackets. But by the time you're done watching Jay Bilas, Dick Vitale and most every expert pick four number-1 seeds to reach the Final Four, it seems a little disappointing. Of course, last year for the first time all of the top seeds did actually advance to the Final Four. Come on, give me a George Mason or Davidson type pick. What makes the tournament memorable is that team that breaks though and goes much further than a first-round exit.
Sometimes I spend more time filling out my brackets than I did studying for college exams. I couldn't stomach picking all top seeds for my brackets, so here goes...a pair of number-1's in Louisville and North Carolina, a number-2 in Memphis, and 3rd seed Villanova beating Pittsburgh. Louisville beats Memphis, and North Carolina over Villanova. Then it's Carolina finally over Louisville, despite the Cardinals being the best team from the best conference, the Big East. A healthy and rested Ty Lawson can help UNC wear down opponents as they are a terrific second-half team when they can push tempo. Their focus from the beginning of this season is a national championship, and only the loss of Marcus Ginyard has diminished the belief that they can follow through.
Even though their record is not very impressive, it's good to see the Bobcats in the hunt for a playoff spot. The only thing that can warm Charlotte up to this NBA team is winning. It's a team that plays hard under Larry Brown, who has brought credibility to the team and tweaked the roster closer to his style of player. It would be nice to put behind the numerous mistakes made by the Bobcats organization since arriving in town and just give area basketball fans a team they can get behind. It would have been nice if the NBA had at least reserved the Hornets name and logo for Charlotte's return to the league. It's hard watching Chris Paul in those colors playing for New Orleans instead of here.
Wonder what colors Julius Peppers will be wearing next season? If not black, blue and silver, then New England makes the most sense. They were reportedly on his list of four teams that he would accept a trade from Carolina. The Patriots have the cap space and draft picks to trade with the Panthers. The Panthers would also gain nearly $17-million in deleted salary for 2009 by trading Peppers, but most of this year's free agency class has already made their moves. Speaking of which, it's been one of the least intriguing off-seasons in regard to the quality and depth of this season's free agent potentials.
Hope A-Rod and his cousin Yuri are enjoying their downtime from baseball. Maybe passing the time enjoying a video at home, like Dumb and Dumber....then there is Roger Clemens and his former trainer Brian McNamee, who
saved a used steroids needle in a Miller Light beer can in 2001 to save
as evidence..."builds muscle mass, less filling!"







