Good Morning and wasn't it nice to hear the birds singing this morning!

With all the running around this weekend (or, more specifically, sitting around at a conference), I didn't have a chance to fill out an NCAA Tournament bracket.
Usually, I am able to get around three done myself then have the children pick one and feel really bad by the end when they beat me.
This year, though, time just got away and, really, I forgot.
It's a good thing. I definitely would have picked Notre Dame, Georgetown and Marquette. When all three Big East teams lost (and Villanova nearly lost), my first thought was: 'At least I still have my five bucks!'
Seeing the weather report for the weekend made it even better. Now, when it hits 70 degrees, I won't feel the pull to put on a basketball game.
I might even try to play a basketball game, which will make my knees hate me even more.

Good Morning and welcome to the weekend!

So, we have Pitt against Villanova Saturday playing for a chance to reach the Final Four.
Talk about memories. There is a lot of history between these programs, some not so nice.
For instance, in the final game of the 1985 regular season (That was the year Villanova won the title), Pitt blew out the Wildcats, possibly setting up the impossible run.
A few years later, the Panthers and Wildcats were involved in a couple of nasty recruiting wars.
First up was Doug West. His career hadn't even started on the Main Line when he told a reporter a Pitt booster offered him cash to switch to Pittsburgh. I was in the arena when Villanova and West made their first visit to Pittsburgh. Let's just say it was ugly.
Then came Bobby Martin. The all-everything from Atlantic City verbally committed to 'Nova, then switched to Pitt later his senior year. Martin, a relatively non-descript college player, was given a Philadelphia welcome every time Pitt came East.
The coaches, Paul Evans for Pitt and Rollie Massimino for Villanova, got into several on-court verbal battles that lasted until each was forced out of their coaching spots.
That was a long time ago (the go-go '80s) with different players and a different attitude.
Now, enjoy the game:


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Good Morning and welcome to the first day of .... spring?

In the words of a great philosopher, it's time to 'Ramble On:'

• If I can somehow convince the government that bailing me out in this economy is the best thing to do, does that mean I can stop paying taxes as well?

• While it's fun to watch the NCAA Tournament basketball games this weekend, it's probably better if you can turn down the sound. Sure, you'll miss the cheering and the bands in the arena, but at least you won't have to listen to the announcers. Case in point: Dick Enberg and Jay Bilas during the Villanova/American game. They were tripping over each other's words all night. At one point, while you could clearly here 'Go Eagles, Go Eagles' (the American nickname) in the background, Enberg said the Villanova fans were really getting loud to fire their team up. Right before a second-half commercial break, Enberg called Villanova 'Willanove' at least three times, then called American 'Butler.' Hey Dick, you had a nice run, now go home with Bobby Knight.

• Oh yeah, take Joe Buck with you.

• Last year, the first day of spring was about 30 degrees. This year, we woke up to snow flurries. Kind of takes the punch out of that free Rita's Water Ice, doesn't it?

• OK, there have been some exciting games in the World Baseball Classic (at least according to the ESPN highlights), but does anybody really care? Instead of delaying the season, let's just cut the losses on the WBC and get going. We need a 'real' Phillies game.

• Does the NBA even exist in March? Maybe the league should take the month off. Or, better yet, shorten the season and start the playoffs in February. If ever a pro sport gets lost in the spring, it's the NBA. We have college basketball, then baseball. That's more than enough.

• Has the NHL disbanded yet?

• Julia Roberts plays a former CIA operative in her new movie 'Duplicity.' Yeah, that sounds about right. Talk about being realistic. What's next, Nicholas Cage saving the world?

• OOPS

• If John Lennon, Jim Morrison and Jimi Hendrix were still alive, would they show up on a 'Special American Idol?' How about 'Celebrity Rehab?'

• OK, back to sleep...


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Good Morning and welcome to the middle of the week!

Thursday brings the first day of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament, a three week journey that offers sports fans a bunch of good stories and exciting games. Even for non-sports junkies, though, the tournament has taken on a life of its own.
A lot of people who have never watched more than 30 seconds of a basketball game fill out a bracket, give a co-worker $5 and hope to win big money by picking the most right.
By the way, you can save the $5 (or maybe more) and have a chance to win $1 million. Just Click Here. It's Free. You can win $1 million. Did I mention it's free.
Even President Barack Obama gets in on the fun. He'll be picking his bracket live on ESPN at noon today. Which is just what you want of your leader while the world continues to fall apart.
Anyway, put down the the official ladder of the NCAA Tournament and put down these winners:
First Round: Louisville, Siena, Utah, Wake Forest, West Virginia, Kansas, Boston College, Michigan State; UConn, BYU, Purdue, Washington, Marquette, Missouri, Maryland, Memphis; Pitt, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Xavier, UCLA, Villanova, Texas, Duke; North Carolina, Butler, Illinois, Gonzaga, Arizona State, Syracuse, Clemson, Oklahoma.
Second Round: Louisville, Utah, West Virginia, Michigan State; UConn, Purdue, Marquette, Memphis; Pitt, Wisconsin, Villanova, Texas; North Carolina, Illinois, Syracuse, Oklahoma.
Third Round: Louisville, West Virginia; UConn, Memphis; Pitt, Texas; North Carolina, Syracuse.
Fourth Round: Louisville, Memphis, Pitt, Syracuse.
Final Four winners: Louisville, Pitt.
Champion: Louisville.
So, there you go. Either use this guide to pick the opposite or get a 4-year old to pick winners out of a hat.


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GOOD MORNING, DELAWARE COUNTY!

So, we have Memphis vs. Kansas for the NCAA Tournament title tonight. Like most, the 9:20 start is just too late for me. Why do major events tend to start later and later all the time? I understand the networks want ratings from California, but, with pre-game and a longer-than-usual halftime, it's probably going to push midnight before the game is over.
Just like the World Series and NBA Playoffs, the games are negating a big part of a possible viewing audience: children.
Sure, most of them would probably watch the new adventures of Spongebob or Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends, but they aren't given a chance to see these events.
With all the pressure being put on children at school, they need to get to bed earlier and earlier. With games pushing the midnight mark many of those who would enjoy the games the best are no longer able to watch them.
Add to that the overpriced tickets for a 'regular' game and suddenly it's a lot easier to sit in front of the television or play video games.
Then, we wonder why more children aren't out being active.
Just a thought.
Anway, here's a funny photo sent along by reader Raymond Supper from Tampa, Fla.:


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GOOD MORNING, DELAWARE COUNTY!

I offer a public service for you today.
First, though, a bit of history.
The first time I realized how exciting the NCAA Mens' Basketball tournament could be was in 1979. That's the year Michigan State and Magic Johnson played a classic against Larry Bird and Indiana State.
I know, having studied the history, the tournament had been around before 1979, but that's when it really began.
Click Here to see some highlights of the game.
Anyway, from that point on, I really studied the teams in the tournament. I couldn't wait until the newspaper came out the next day with the brackets (remember, there was no ESPN back in the dark ages).
I did as much research as I could about the teams, tried to pick the winners, then got frustrated when my favorite teams would lose.
As TV got more involved, the tournament became bigger. Soon, newspapers like USA Today were putting out special sections with all the stats or other info needed to make 'expert' opinions on the games.
I can still see Michael Jordan making the shot. Thanks to the Internet, you can see it now
I remember Australian rent-a-player Andrew Gaze somehow pushing Seton Hall of all teams into the finals. Or Danny Manning and Kansas shocking high-scoring Oklahoma.
Still, I never really could get a handle on the pools. Sure, I tried. I watched thousands of games throughout the year. Studied the stats. Studied the history, then watched as all my Final Four teams were bounced in the second round. Year, after year, after year.
Then, in 1995, somebody I know now as the greatest mind in history, picked UCLA to win it all.
UCLA? That team can't win. What, are you crazy?
UH, UCLA beat Arkansas in 1995.
So, what does that have to do with 2008? Well, I did no studying, saw very few games and had a 5-year old pick the games.
So, when you see a Final Four of North Carolina, Kansas, Pitt and UCLA, don't forget you read it here first.
When Winthrop and San Diego make runs, don't say I didn't tell you so.
South Alabama? Take them to win two games.
So, there you have it. A sure winner.
Now, to get everybody fired up, a few words of wisdom from the greatest coach in college basketball history:


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