My brain is a bit fried right now. I wrote down the bracket as it came over the air on CBS. I had to quickly break down the Atlanta Region so I could discuss it on SPORTSBLOGGERSLIVE just a half-hour later. I went online right before air to find out that I've been switched to the Oakland Region.....so I had to quickly come up with some notes on a different region. I've been working on my "HOOPS ASSASSIN" by The SPORTZ ASSASSIN blog where I am breaking down the tournament. I'm also running two seperate Bracket Pools....and living my life.
So, to take a break from this....let me touch on a few bases that doesn't pertain to this....
SORRY BUT IT HAS BEEN A WHILE: Please, click this.....Welcome to CarlLewis.com! Sorry, but that will, never, never, never get old.
SHAQ GETS BENCHED: Against Cleveland, Heat coach Pat Riley sat Shaq on the bench in the 4th quarter...and the Heat went on to win the game. In Shaq's stead was Alonzo Mourning....who's defense and energy lifted Miami. Quite interesting. Remember, Zo was Shaq's nemesis since they went 1-2 in the 1992 NBA Draft. Also, it says something that a 36-yr old kidney transplant recipent brings more energy than "The Most Dominant Ever". Again, Laker Haters....this is why the Lakers didn't want to pay him $30M a season.
BARRY BONDS HEAD: I read this classic take on SI.com...."If Barry Bonds is admitted to the Hall of Fame, we know it will be in a Giants cap. But which face will be used -- the steroid-bloated mug from 1999 one (what most fans recognize), or the lithe El DeBarge portrait that marked the majority of his playing days? This is at least as big a question as what Carlton Fisk or Dave Winfield wore in their plaques. Who decides this?" Freakin' classic!!
AMERICA'S PASTIME??: In the World Baseball Classic, the United States lost to Korea 7-3.....just one day after they shoulda lost to Japan. Right now, the USA's record is 3-2....again, with the win over Japan as a lucky one. So, the Americans have beaten Mexico and South Africa.....and that's it. They will need to beat Mexico to have a shot at getting to the next round of the Classic. Great! And we haven't even SEEN the Domiticans or Puerto Ricans yet. Ouch!
JOHN CHANEY RETIRES: Sure, he'll be known as the guy who told John Calapari that he'd kill him. And the guy that sent out the Goons against St. Joe's. But he's also one of the best coaches we've seen. And not just that, but he stayed at a non-elite school and made his player into men....on and off the court. He was a great inner-city coach at an inner-city school who kept the shine on Philly hoops when the rest of them weren't so hot. He should be commended for playing the toughest schedule he could muster. That's something I really admire in this day and age of just trying to impress a committee. I guarantee you that Temple would have had more NCAA tournament appearances if they had scheduled a few more cupcakes to pad the Win-Loss record. But Chaney believed in playing the best he could....and he did. To him, why play a subpar schedule just to get into a tournament that he couldn't win anyways?? Why not just schedule those tournament teams during the season and play them as much as you want?? Awesome. Coach, you will be missed.
NFL FREE AGENCY IS GREAT: Unlike in the NBA where there is that dead period where guys aren't allowed to sign a real contract yet....once the NFL gets started with their money....it is ON! And the biggest signing to date is Edgerrin James to the Cardinals. For the first time in the Arizona Era of the Cards, they have a premiere back in his prime. Add that to an offense with Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin...and this thing could get lethal. Sure, Kurt Warner is still the quarterback....but remember the last time he paired up with a former Colts back??? Some dude named Marshall Faulk.
A KICKER'S MARKET: And who woulda thunk it?? Right now, Adam Vinatieri is on the market. Yep, he's not a Patriot anymore....though his FGs were the difference in all three of their Super Bowl titles. And soon, Mike Vanderjagt could be on the open market. Wow.
LADY HEELS GET SCREWED: Okay, this is the women's tournament....so it doesn't count against my pledge. But how do the #1 and #2 teams in the RPI get placed in the same bracket???? The same bracket as Big East champ Rutgers. The same bracket that would have UNC playing Vanderbilt...IN NASHVILLE!!! Just stupid!
THROUGH THE FIRE: Is it me...or is ESPN's "Through The Fire" just a retread of "Hoop Dreams". Instead that here the guy actually goes pro.
THE KNICKS SUCK: I know this isn't news to anyone...but it's just so weird to hear it: The Knicks have the NBA's highest payroll [by far] and the NBA's worst record. Shouldn't someone be fired??
1 comment:
It's funny that Riley- who never won dick without Kareem loping up the court behind every play- suddenly forgets where his bread is buttered and starts benching Shaq. It's a shame when a coach's ego gets in the way of proper hoop strategy.
Miami wouldn't make the playoffs without Snaq. Check the 2004-5 Lakers for proof.
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