I’ve been watching a lot of basketball this weekend. I like to watch the tournament on my iPad because it’s easy to swipe between games. Also, I avoid the big screen because Dianne finds the whole thing annoying, especially the guys on the analysis shows during the breaks. Me, I love Charles Barkley!
In fact, I’ve spent so much time with Chuck, Greg Gumbel, Clark Kellogg, Kenny Smith, Ernie Johnson, Candace Parker, Seth David and Jay Wright that I count them among my closest friends. I find myself wanting to offer them my bowl of chips through the screen.
Here’s my bracket system.
First, pick all the Big 10 teams. However, never pick Penn State.
Second, pick Jesuit schools.
Third, when in doubt, pick the team with the better record in the last 10 games of the season. When that’s a tie, pick the team with red in their colors.
This system has served me well. I got 24 of the first 32 games right. If I had just picked the higher seeded teams I would have had 25, but what fun is that?
Everybody’s brackets are busted (thank you Fairleigh Dickinson, Furman, Princeton, et. al.), but I’m pleased to say that my Final Four are still dancing. They are Houston, Alabama, Gonzaga and Marquette. I have the Bulldogs and the Golden Eagles playing for the championship with Marquette winning it all.
If all this fun and excitement weren’t enough, it’s also St. Patrick’s Weekend (why stop with just a day?). I boiled the biggest slab of corned beef Dianne could find, which created plenty of leftovers for Reuben sandwiches. These go well with beer.
And then, of course, the Badgers are in the National Inconsequential Tournament, so that’s fun to watch as the NCAA games start to thin out.
It’s the most wonderful time of the year.
Postscript: So much for that.
Yellow Stripes & Dead Armadillos 
It’s remarkable how many Jesuit universities have good basketball teams. This year’s roster of Jesuit qualifiers include Creighton, Marquette, Xavier, and Gonzaga. Other Jesuit (former) powerhouses include Georgetown, Loyola, Holy Cross, San Francisco, Boston College, St Peter’s and Saint Louis. Not really sure why the Jesuits place a high premium on hoops but they do.
The Big Ten, as usual, has underperformed.
Time to crack a cold can of Rhinelander to begin an afternoon of inertia. Go Marquette.
LikeLike
Clearly, this is because God is on the side of the Jesuits, but does not like the Big 10.
LikeLike
Not just God, but more specifically, Jesus. They are the Society of Jesus, after all.
LikeLike
Jesus did not come through this afternoon.
LikeLike
“And then, of course, the Badgers are in the National Inconsequential Tournament” (italics/bolds mine)
Still DISSIN’ Sports/Venues which you deem less worthy?
Your…um…sentiment aside, the guys** pressed on, despite a furious effort by that 5’9″ 3 Time ASUN POTY/Leading scorer in both Liberty U. & conference history, and who beat a 7 footer [Crowl] to rim McGhee kid.
And Bucky…almost a perfect night from 3, am I right.
One more thing.
**Guys aren’t the only show in town: H/T to the U.W. Badgers Women’s Hockey team, NCAA Champs a record seven (7) times! !
ON WESCONSIN!!
LikeLike
Ok. Ok. Ok. And now with Marquette biting the dust, I see your point more clearly.
LikeLike
Izzo’s a gosh dang Yooper, a quadrant with which you’re enamored, am I right?
Hails from the same place (Iron Mountain) to which my Swedish Great Grandparents emigrated ~ 1900.
Is this a great country, or what?
LikeLike
It is a great country, I love the UP and I have a ton of respect for Tom Izzo. Sadly, my brackets, which had been only badly nicked up to that point, are now totally destroyed. How ’bout that NIT?!
LikeLike