Friday Farewells for March 19, 2010

This week's edition of Friday Farewells is brought to you by the Big Dance (just don't tell them). 

This week we must say our so long to so many so let's get to it.

Farewell:

33 Teams.  Over one half of the 65 tams in the NCAA Tournament will be finished at the close of today (depending on your time zone).  We are glad they came and thrilled at their effort sadly they are one and done.  If only there was some way they could still be playing like a Consolation Bracket.  Too many tears to count, but the Buzzer Beaters that sent some of them home were pretty awesome.

Winthrop. After losing to Arkansas Pine Bluff your trip to the Big Dance was over before the music really ever began.  Ahh the joy of playing in the play in game, a game that CBS won't even show.  Gone is your chance to go .500 in the tourney oh well misery loves company and 31 more will join you as one and done. 

Big BEast.  The Big East was regarded as the Big BEast for most of the year yet in tourney time they have quickly been renamed to the conference formerly known as the Big BEast or the Big LEast whichever you prefer.  Always sad to lose a catchy nickname that required little to no creativity, but our sorrow is brightened by an equally lame nickname. 

Mike Bellotti. Oregon's Athletic Director, resigned today and will join ESPN as an analyst.  Maybe the prison visits to Duck football players were becoming too much.  One year as an AD we still think of him as Coach.

Boring Opening Day. Last years snooze fest is over as yesterday provided one of the best in recent memory with upsets, overtimes, and buzzer beaters.  No sorrow for this departure! YAHOOOOOOO!

Perfect Bracket. Like the fountain of youth always alluding me perfection left my bracket as Vanderbilt was making their departure.  Thanks a lot Murray State. Why...Why...WHY...! 

Missed Last Weeks Farewells get them here...

Best Opening Day Ever?

Yesterday proved to be a terrific opening day even by March Madness standards, but was it the greatest ever?  It is difficult to say for sure, but it was definitely the best in recent memory.  The thing that made yesterday so great was not the fact that a 14 and a 13 both won.  It isn't the fact that 7 lower seeds beat higher seeds.  It wasn't the fact that the Big East took a big whooping, going 1-3 yesterday thanks to Nova's overtime defeat of Robert Morris.

So what made yesterday so special? It was the fact that 9 games were still in doubt with under two minutes to go in regulation.  Many of the other 7 games were competitive much of the way.  Was it the best day ever? I don't remember a more competitive day that provided more drama.  Let's hope that the rest of the tourney isn't a let-down after all of the excitement.  At this point it might take the Golden Lions of Arkansas Pine Bluff sending the Blue Devils of Duke packing for day two to surpass day one. 

Friday Farewells for March 12, 2010

This weekly edition of Friday Farewells is brought to you by your local grocery store because groceries are what you eat (you guessed it Jo Gates didn’t pay up).


Farewell:

UConn and UNC. Two very distinguished programs were ousted early in their respective conference tournaments. Neither of these schools will be making the NCAA Tournament this year. Rebuilding year is a nasty word around these two campuses because they so rarely do it, but hopefully they will return to some sort of dignity and the big dance soon. Two Carolina blue teardrops.

Speculation over Jim Calhouns future. He’s back, he says for many more years. This is good news for Husky fans and bad news for the rest of the Big East. We love speculation, but when health issues are factored in we are glad to see it go.

Jose Reyes. First hamstringitis and now thyroid problems, Reyes is 6-8 weeks away from baseball activity. Never good to see someone have health problems. On the other side if you want to hear from someone who truly cares check out TheFour6Three on twitter our TWEETER DJ is Mets fan, because this is one blog where the Mets don’t get much love. I might be sad if I, well, hmmm… nope I got nothing.

Common sense. If common sense were common everyone would have it. Ben Rothelisberger and Allen Iverson wish this were the case. Between drinking themselves into horrible situations and not ever wanting to take responsibility for their actions these two could really use some decision making skills. Life coaches everywhere could be cashing in on these two. Sad to see the state of stupidity of what we call celebrities and stars.

Tourney Losers. Too many to name or even remember you came to your conference tournament needing to win it to get into the big dance. Goodbye too to your hopes and dreams. Hello spring break. One tear for each of you.

Manhood. Remember the days when a football team that was really talented and tough would take any team on, anywhere, anytime. Well apparently the anytime is a problem for Alabama. YES ALABAMA the defending National Champs. They complained to the SEC this week that they play 6 teams coming off bye weeks. SO WHAT? You are the number one team in the country. Last time I checked if you are the best you have to prove it. It really stinks to be number one and a sissy. Curl up tonight and watch a double feature of Sleepless in Seattle and You’ve Got Mail and cry your elephant size tears on your crimson pillow. Its time to be MEN again.

Cable TV Shows. Running on a schedule no one can figure out, we will sadly watch re-runs or do something productive with our life until you return in two months. Come on you can do it.

Missed last week's Farewells... here you go.

Pre-Dance Drama!

The big dance is closing in and the conference tournaments, despite dilluting the field, are filled with big time drama. Last night, Quinnipiac was upset by Robert Morris in a hard fought closely contested game. Robert Morris will make their second consecutive trip to the dance. The Big East Tournament is always full of drama, but has been fairly reserve this year although Marquette did get a scare from St. Johns.

The game with the most bang last night was Montana and Weber State. Yes, I did just mention those two schools in the same post. The bang came in the second half when Weber State imploded losing despite having a 40-20 halftime lead. There were a few questionable calls down the stretch, but come on Wildcats you doubled Montana in the first half. Doubling some team in basketball is like lapping them in a race. No one loses being a lap ahead. This was as suprising an explosion as a guys girl-friend getting blown up in a plane (White Collar Season Finale). The crowd in Ogden was stunned and I can't blame them. To lose this way on your own home court is heart breaking.

Monday's Marquee Matchup

Finally, the matchup we have been waiting for... Villanova at West Virginia. Three weeks ago, all anyone could talk about was the Big 12 matchup of Kansas and Texas in Austin on the 8th of February. Texas has since lost 4 of 6 and is tied with Missouri for fourth in the Big 12. After being drubbed Saturday by a 13-9 Oklahoma team, tonight is a real test for the Longhorns. It is not a must win, but they must be competitive to try and get things back on track.

The matchup between Villanova and West Virginia is another Big East brawl. It should be a dandy as Villanova looks to get back on track after losing only their second game of the year to Georgetown on Saturday. The Mountaineers of West Virginia last lost January 16, to first place Syracuse. The Mountaineers are not always pretty, but just seem to find ways to win behind their great frontline while the Wildcats thrive on their backcourt play lead by Scottie Reynolds. With a victory, Villanova will join Syracuse atop the Big East, but a loss and the Mountaineers will tie the Wildcats in second place.