My girlfriend woke up this morning and told me she had a dream where she played for the Knicks with Spike Lee. I told her I've heard that the Knicks are pretty bad, so maybe they'd take her.

Bunch of basketball games today, but we've reached the point in the tournament where there aren't a whole lot of underdogs to cheer for. I'll probably keep cheering for the lower seeds (especially in the Ohio St. game) but ultimately when the teams get to be closely matched, it's not even a matter of who the lower seed is, it's who is actually behind right at this moment. I'm not interested in blowouts, except maybe over number 1 seeds.

An interesting article by Geoff Baker in the Seattle Times today about how tricky it is to evaluate players from their spring training numbers and performance. And an interesting kneejerk response to it at the USS Mariner blog. Apparently those guys can't handle: 1) any use of the word grit in conjunction with the game of baseball 2) any possible suggestion that intangibles might mean something.

Never mind that the article seems to me to be completely in line with the USS Mariner way of thinking, meaning that it takes fans to task for trying to draw ridiculous conclusions based on the small sample of spring training games.

I liked this bit about yesterday's game in particular:

Batista's stats will show he allowed 11 hits and four runs in five innings. They will show how all the runs came in the third inning, along with seven of the hits.

What they won't show is how that inning was prolonged by hit balls, which would have normally resulted in outs, being blown beyond the fielders' reach by the wind. Or accurately portray how Batista somehow adjusted to conditions that initially had his sinker bouncing a foot in front of its target, toughing out two more innings and keeping his team positioned for a comeback.

"It was pretty uncomfortable in the beginning," said Batista, who had to squint to keep the sand from blowing in his eyes.

Hargrove came away impressed by what he won't see in Batista's stats, including an ERA that jumped from 3.00 to 4.50. Plenty of pitchers would not have recovered from Batista's third inning.

It's games and stuff like this that helps make baseball worth watching. Players overcoming difficult situations. Things that have nothing to do with numbers. These things are worth talking about.

One more article: Putz has twins! Just when you think our closer can't get anymore awesome.

I've learned a couple things the last couple of days:

1. Brackets are stupid. I stopped caring about my brackets as soon as Friday came along I started to think that North Texas could beat Memphis and Texas A&M Corpus Christi could beat Wisconsin. When I saw that the Miami (Ohio) coach was a wearing an ill-fitting turtle neck and was losing his hair I found myself halfway rooting for them against the Ducks. And yesterday, well, almost every single game yesterday had moments where it seemed that the higher seed might pull off an upset, and believe me, I was cheering for the little bracket busters every time.

2. I think my dad is right when he calls me an albatross for teams (meaning I cheer for losers). I don't know if they lose because I cheer for them, or if some sad little part of me cheers for them because I know they'll lose. But oh, did yesterday hurt. Xavier, VCU, MSU, Boston College? You guys broke my heart. The one game where I wasn't cheering for the upset (WSU vs. Vanderbilt) I still ended up cheering for the loser!


2. a) Hey, how cool is it that CBS is posting highlights of the games on YouTube? It's a good way to generate interest and it means I get to link you all to some video content. We're working with all media here! How fancy.

3. Ducks are playing this afternoon, and even though they looked a little sluggish in the first round, I'm hopeful that they can get their stuff together for the game today. The optimist in me thinks that it was a good sign that they could grind out a game against a tough lower seed, even though they never caught fire and pulled away. It shows maturity and a willingness to suck it up and deal even if the shots aren't falling at first. Of course, I expect the most likely way of things today will be a big Winthrop upset (which I can't really enjoy because I'm cheering for Oregon) and a sweep of the underdogs in the other games.

Hopefully the underdogs will at least get my hopes up by playing tough. That way it will be more discouraging when they blow it in the end. Woohoo! Let the Madness continue!

Duke flops (but they flop with class and poise)

Paulus, according to some you may be quarterback like in your playing ability (and your ability to make announcers drool) but you really should be playing soccer.

As we speak, Texas A&M Corpus Christi is shutting out Wisconsin, Winthrop is beating Notre Dame, and Long Beach State is within 7 of Tennessee. I'm betting we get at least another upset before the day is through. Let's just hope that Oregon isn't on the end of it!

Initial predictions and hopes for the NCAA tournament

The teams are selected. The brackets are set. I'm excited. Here are my initial thoughts on the NCAA tournament, and my uninformed and unrealistic predictions. I'll post my full bracket sometime later this week.

Midwest:

No. 1 Florida (29-5) vs. No. 16 Jackson State (21-13)
No. 8 Arizona (20-10) vs. No. 9 Purdue (21-11)

No. 5 Butler (27-6) vs. No. 12 Old Dominion (24-8)
No. 4 Maryland (24-8) vs. No. 13 Davidson (29-4)

No. 6 Notre Dame (24-7) vs. No. 11 Winthrop (28-4)
No. 3 Oregon (26-7) vs. No. 14 Miami (Ohio) (18-14)

No. 7 UNLV (28-6) vs. No. 10 Georgia Tech (20-11)
No. 2 Wisconsin (29-5) vs. No. 15. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (26-6)

This is the region I'm the most interested in, for obvious reasons. I have a couple different ideas about how this should play out. Ideally, I'd love to see University of Oregon stay hot after their Pac-10 tournament win. They get a satisfying win against Notre Dame, and play out of their minds to beat favored Wisconsin and make it to the elite eight. They play well against Florida, and even though they lose, they win the respect of the nation and cast off their reputation for choking.

Homer pick aside, I'd also like to see Winthrop and Maryland make a splash. Maryland upsets Florida (who seem to have the potential to collapse). Winthrop pulls off a first round and then beats an overconfident Oregon team. I also wouldn't mind seeing Wisconsin come into the tournament with renewed investment after the loss to Ohio State today.

West Region:

No. 1 Kansas (30-4) vs. No. 16 Florida A&M-Niagara winner
No. 8 Kentucky (21-11) vs. No. 9 Villanova (22-10)

No. 5 Virginia Tech (21-11) vs. No. 12 Illinois (23-11)
No. 4 Southern Illinois (27-6) vs. No. 13 Holy Cross (25-8)

No. 6 Duke (22-10) vs. No. 11 Virginia Commonwealth (27-6)
No. 3 Pittsburgh (27-7) vs. No. 14 Wright State (23-9)

No. 7 Indiana (20-10) vs. No. 10 Gonzaga (23-10)
No. 2 UCLA (26-5) vs. No. 15. Weber State (20-11)

My main preferences for this region: Duke goes out in the first round, and Gonzaga beats UCLA. Pac-10 loyalties aside, I'm not a fan of UCLA. The only way they'll get my support is if they play Duke in the third round.

East Region:

No. 1 North Carolina (28-6) vs. No. 16 Eastern Kentucky (21-11)
No. 8 Marquette (24-9) vs. No. 9 Michigan State (22-11)

No. 5 USC (23-11) vs. No. 12 Arkansas (21-13)
No. 4 Texas (24-9) vs. No. 13 New Mexico State (25-8)

No. 6 Vanderbilt (20-11) vs. No. 11 George Washington (23-8)
No. 3 Washington State (25-7) vs. No. 14 Oral Roberts (23-10)

No. 7 Boston College (20-11) vs. No. 10 Texas Tech (21-12)
No. 2 Georgetown (26-6) vs. No. 15 Belmont (23-9)

What I want: for someone, anyone to beat North Carolina. Washington State and USC make statements, one or both make it to the sweet sixteen. At the very least, Georgetown beats UNC.

South Region:

No. 1 Ohio State (30-3) vs. No. 16 Central Connecticut State (22-11)
No. 8 BYU (25-8) vs. No. 9 Xavier (24-8)

No. 5 Tennessee (22-10) vs. No. 12 Long Beach State (24-7)
No. 4 Virginia (20-10) vs. No. 13 Albany (23-9)

No. 6 Louisville (23-9) vs. No. 11 Stanford (18-12)
No. 3 Texas A&M (25-6) vs. No. 14 Penn (22-8)

No. 7 Nevada (28-4) vs. No. 10 Creighton (22-10)
No. 2 Memphis (30-3) vs. No. 15. North Texas (23-10)

Oh heck, what do I want to happen here. Well, I want Stanford to win a few and get some cred for the Pac-10. Beyond that: go low seeds! Assert yourselves! Gain my interest!

Tory, My friend from Syracuse is all torn up because of their snub, but in her anger dissed the Pac-10. And I can't allow that. I've watched the Pac-10 (and other west coast conferences) get consistently screwed by the NCAA. It's about time they give us a little respect.

I think the Pac-10 has a good chance to rack up more wins that the Big East this year. I certainly hope they take that opportunity so I can give Tory a little hell.

The List:: who to cheer for

Folks, it's that magical time of the year when college basketball is actually exciting. Basketball is a weird sport. It's fairly fast paced, and yet regular season pro and college games put me to sleep. On the other hand, I think it's one of the most exciting games to watch when everything is on the line for the teams.

Of course, half the fun is getting invested in the games. But when the field starts with 64, how do you choose who to cheer for? I think we all have a list. I think we have a set of guidelines that we mentally review as we settle down on the couch and get ready to watch. Here are my cheering guidelines for the NCAA tournament this year:

1. Cheer for the underdog. I have to admit, this rule will often trump all other rules and loyalties. This may be why I'm often such a disappointed fan--I set myself up for failure by cheering for the guys that will probably lose. On the other hand, when the you've been rooting for wins, there's nothing better. I don't understand people that only cheer for powerhouses. With so little risk, how good can the rewards be?

2. Cheer for the University of Oregon. I'm not bound to my school--in football, I got so sick of the Ducks and their weak efforts that I actively cheered against them. But I like this basketball team. You see, we have this Tajaun Porter.


He's 5'6", he's a scrappy point guard. I'm little and scrappy myself. It's impossible for me to NOT cheer for little guys.

3. Cheer for Syracuse. Does this mean I'm breaking my first rule? I have a very good friend who's a rabid Orange fan, so I mostly cheer out of loyalty for her.

4. Cheer for the PAC-10. West coast pride, baby.

5. Cheer for whoever is playing UNC. I hate the TarHeels in every sport, no exception.

6. Cheer for Michigan and Wisconsin teams. If there are no underdogs available to me, I often cheer for teams from regions like that I like. See rule number 4.

7. Cheer for Maryland. Why? They're turtles. That's awesome. 'Nuff said.

8. Cheer for whoever is behind. Come on boys! In the end, I'm not real concerned with who wins and who loses. I just want to see them make a game of it!