POLICE HELP MY BRACKET!

The stories are true, but the names have been changed to protect the innocent and sure why not let’s protect the guilty too.
A completely unknown sports blog writer spent Friday night of the NCAA tournament riding shotgun in a squad car. Have you ever tried to keep track which teams are winning and how your bracket is doing while going to a code 12 on the 265? Well it’s intense (or so I have heard and by the way that is not the real code either that is classified, but it is a number 1-100). There is nothing like trying to find out if Louisville is beating Cal while going to a noise ordinance call. Even better is finding out about Michigan State and New Mexico State while issuing a citation.

It was a cool night with a storm moving in and there was something strange in the air (possibly Cajun steak on the breath of the blog writer). It started with getting the attention of a police officer in his vehicle to let the writer into the police station. The writer waited in the breakroom until the sergeant came and asked if he wanted to sit in on a staff meeting. The staff meeting would be symbolic of the night in general, basketball mixed with police work. In the corner sat a giant big screen tuned to the only station played in work places during the month of March, CBS. As the officers learned about special areas to focus on and people and vehicles to be on the lookout for, the blogger was distracted by Michigan State vs. New Mexico State and the tiny ticker in the corner of the screen informing of all the recent and current scores.

The writer was assigned to his officer, who proved to be an all around great guy and great officer, and waited by the breakroom while the officer started the vehicle. Then they were off. First stop a side street off a main thoroughfare where the speed limit changes. This was radar gun paradise and sure enough Duke was up big. Five minutes in and they had the lights going that first stop is thrilling. Then as Georgia Tech was closing on Oklahoma State and they were leaving the stop they were dispatched to a car accident. There is nothing more thrilling than a double-digit seed making a run to the Sweet Sixteen and a full siren and lights run to a scene. As you are accelerating and cars are pulling to the sides the blood really gets to pumping and the adrenaline kicks in (or so they tell me).

Accidents are unfortunate even without injuries, because people have been scared, their property smashed, and embarrassment for having messed up. This was similar to the range of emotions the blogger was feeling as he received a text message informing him that Louisville, who he had making a run to the Sweet Sixteen, was losing to Cal. After the accident the officer was dispatched to a noise disturbance, as the officer went to check on the problem the blogger sat in the vehicle. Something eerie happened in two parallel worlds at what must have been the exact time a text informed the blogger that Louisville had been defeated the officer stepped in puke. Again all two similar the blogger’s bracket was puked on the same time as the officer. As disappointing as not being able to wear a bulletproof vest the blogger’s bracket was now destroyed.
What could possibly cheer up the officer and the distraught blogger, both feeling a little nauseas at this point? Surprisingly it was the police world that provided a lift to the spirits of both. A driver decided to run not one not two, but three stop signs in a row. It was something miraculous the third one ran as the lights were flashing, much like a last second shot hurtling through the air with lights flashing and horns sounding the triple non-stopper is a sight to behold.

It just goes to show you at the end of the day whether you win, lose, or step in puke there is something beautiful and exciting to hang your hat or police utility belt (yes it is just like batman's) on every day.  If you ever get the chance to take a ride along with the police or a last second shot don't pass. 

Conbracketlations!

Mad ups to the ultimate sheet of integrity who ended the weekend in first place in the ultimate bracke challenge!  We would also like to acknowledge the cellar dweller Chewbacca you managed 21 of 48 games correct, somehow still losing to someone who had North Texas and Siena in the championship.  Everyone is basically still alive as long as you have a chance to win the championship.  Regardless the first weekend leader still gets our respect and our anger.

If any of you had Northern Iowa over Kansas let us know as you have a special award waiting for you in the Four6Three storage unit, aka my fridge.

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...

Late Night Recap

Today's action concluded with 8 games this evening 6 of which were worth the price of admission.

Kansas acted like a number one overall seed with a 90-74 win over Lehi.
Kentucky followed suit with a blow out victory over East Tennessee State.
Texas and Wake Forest went to overtime where Texas grabbed the lead and control before the Demon Deacons stormed back and then hit a jumper with under 2 seconds left to win 81-80.
San Diego State and Tennessee battled to the very end before San Diego States desperation three fell short.
Northern Iowa beat UNLV by 3 in a well played well fought game that was close all the way.
Washington upended Marquette by a deuce 80-78.
In a day of close games the upset of the day was not close as the Bobcats of Ohio defeated Georgetown by 16.
In the night cap Montana was down big at half against New Mexico, but battled back to provide one more exciting ending, but ultimatley came up just short. This concluded a day that saw buzzer beaters, upsets, overtimes and great basketball.
Will tomorrow's games be as good as today...there is only one way to find out.

Today's Bracket Leaders are Nickster and The Ultimate Sheet of Integrity picking 12 out of 16.  In a topsy turvy day this is quite an accomplishment as a reward for their efforts we would like to offer them a Topsy Turvy Tomato Planter at a low introductory price.  Nice work, tomorrow we'll see if your luck holds. 

Second Session

The Second Session is in the books.  It provided us with this years first blow out and first buzzer beater.  Kansas State dominated North Texas while Vanderbilt was upset by Murray State by an 18 footer at the buzzer.  St. Mary's and Baylor both advanced by 9 in the South Region defeating Richmond and Sam Houston respectively.  Butler closed the late afternoon with a double-digit beatdown of UTEP. 

Let's hope tonight provides more drama, upsets, and great games.

The First Set of Games

The first set of games have gotten the party started & so far the party is a wild one.  There was an upset Old Dominion over Notre Dame; a double overtime thriller between BYU & Florida in which the Cougars held on; and the makings of a shocker with Robert Morris and Villanova going to overtime before Villanova  was able to hang on by 3 (I have to give props to Peach's Picks for going with Robert Morris). 

Lets hope the rest of the day goes as well.  Right now Murray State is giving Vandy a run up by 4 at half and Sam Houston State is beating Baylor by 1 at half so buckle-up.

Dance Updates

The Four6Three is hitting the dance floor to get our groove on and cover all the tourney action so you can get some work done and we can get well... lets just say we'll be using the boss button.  Those of you that like to tweet check out TheFour6Three on twitter too.  Enjoy the magic and the music; happy dancing! 

BRACKET NOT BRACKETS

It's time to take a stand America! It's a critical time and the country is facing a crisis of a magnitude we have never seen.  We must take a lesson from our President who is on a mission to rectify this wrong by setting a good example.  Whether you agree with Pres. Obama's politics or decisions is irrelevant to this discussion he has taken time out of his busy schedule to teach the American people a critical lesson.  He has been criticized for taking the time to fill out bracket on ESPN with Andy Katz because he has more important things to do.  What can be more important than teaching the American people to FILL OUT ONE BRACKET and stand by that bracket! 

We say fill out your bracket not your brackets. It is perfectly acceptable to enter that bracket into as many contests as you would like. However, what is not acceptable is entering a bracket with Baylor in the Final Four on one bracket and being knocked out in the first round in another. The point of picking a bracket is not to play the odds and cover all opportunities, but to pick the winner in every game. Picking multiple brackets is wrong in so many ways.  I think of the great men in this country's history, who if alive today I am sure would only fill out one bracket.  Would a man who walked miles to return coins say that Duke is making the Final Four on one sheet and have Louisville beating them in the second round on another? NO! It is a matter of INTEGRITY. 

How can you think Baylor will make the Final Four in one Bracket and yet think they will not win a game in another. Have some guts and make a determination of who is better and who is going to win each matchup and stick with it.

Some would say my odds of winning are better if I do different teams in each bracket, this is true if your first bracket is no good. If you are good at picking though and not just relying on luck then picking who you truly think is going to win is your best shot at winning each and every bracket you picked. I understand those that enter 10 different brackets in a tournament that gives out money to the winner. In this case I blame the tournament.  As participants though I feel we are worried too much about what our bracket can do for us.  Ask not what your bracket can do for you; ask what you can do for your bracket. 

It is completely unacceptable to say things like, "oh it’s okay if Kentucky loses cause I have them losing in the second round in one of my brackets". If you are entering multiple brackets, which is borderline cheating, you have to pick which one you are staking your reputation on. Make a decision and stick by it. We all hate fairweather fans an fair weather bracket picking is even worse.  Those not willing to choose a bracket should be floated out to sea with as many life preservers as brackets as they filled out. The catch is only one of those preservers actually floats. 

All of you are welcome to join the Four6Three yahoo bracket tournament. You must enter today and you must only enter one bracket. Its Bracketo-a-Bracketo.  The Winner will get a lot of face time and bragging rights on the Four6Three.

Expert Advice

Last night ESPN was kind enough to help everyone with their brackets by providing a 3 hour special with a panel of 8 experts discussing and voting on who would win the NCAA tournament. For a team to move on to the next round the 8 experts would vote on who would win each matchup. The results were astounding.

This panel of experts went chalk basically the whole way. Their Elite 8 was the four one seeds and the four two seeds. The Final Four was the four one seeds. The winner was Kansas the number one overall seed beating Kentucky the number two overall seed.

Thank you captains of certainty! This just in the lower the number next to your school’s name the better you are supposed to be. This would have really helped to know last year when four number one seeds made it to the Final Four for the first time ever. Will it happen again twice in a row? No! The experts decided, what we all know, the higher seeds are better teams than the lower seeds. These guys did a fantastic job if this was a selection committee special, but it wasn’t. Telling me that Kansas and Kentucky are really good, Duke has an easy bracket, and Syracuse is a tough matchup for its opponents, is like telling me that I should eat healthier. I know those things are true, but it does not mean they are going to happen. This would have been a tremendous show for anyone who has never heard of the NCAA tournament and was looking at their bracket for the first time.  I doubt, however that any rookies tune in for the 3-hour special and if this was their purpose they could have done a 5-minute segment on SportsCenter.  If the Elite Eight is all chalk I will write an apology to the panel of morons on this show, if it isn’t I expect them to apologize for wasting my time.

Who ya got?

The Four6Three is asking all of you experts out there who will win the NCAA tournament.  The bracket is out and the contests are starting we are interested to know your thoughts and your winner.  Drop us a line on Twitter or leave us a comment and we will post what everyone thinks.  It's okay to disagree with each other as well so let the debate begin.