March MADNESS!!!
March 6, 2010
“The Battle for College Hardwood SUPREMACY”
By Phil “The HAND” Hackett
What’s In a Name!?
Well… It’s that time of year again! From the moment the 2010 NCAA basketball season opened, B-Ball fans began making their March Madness picks. Homebodies and blue collar workers across the country are now scrambling to get last minute information in hopes of cashing in on the local bar, on-line and/or office pool. Hell, even the well-to-do white-collar worker can’t resist looking into his or her crystal ball for the chance at claiming this year’s top prize when it comes to college hoops. Being no April fool, March Madness is world renowned and gathers more TV attention than all the Easter and St’ Patrick’s Day parades combined making it the most viewed event during the spring.
Where the Action is!!
Let’s face it… The action really heats up after round 2 of the tournament. It’s the Regional games that start drawing the real ratings and will be putting ASSES in the Arenas and sport bar seats across the nation. This year’s Regional Arenas are strategically placed to do just that. St. Louis, MO. Edward Jones Dome plays host to the Midwest Region. Reliant Stadium; in Houston, TX. will host the Southern Region. The Western Regional will take place in Energy Solutions Arena out of Salt Lake City, UT. Leaving the Eastern Regional to be decided in the sea of orange known to those as the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, NY. The “Final Four” game to decide just
who will be “CUTTING DOWN THE NETS” will be held at the Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, IN.
Who’s Who!?
With the field of 64 seemingly wide open this year; it’s anyone’s guess as to who will be crowned as “NATIONAL CHAMPS” on April 5th in Indianapolis. The usual suspects are, well, “SUSPECT” this year, which couldn’t make for a more exciting tournament are North Carolina, U-Conn, Florida, Memphis, Louisville, WHO? These tournament perennial powerhouses have stumbled this year. Former winners, N.C. and U-Conn and runner-up Memphis are not even on the radar to make this year’s field. Purdue, Kansas State, West Virginia, New Mexico, Temple, Richmond, WHO? Two number (2’s), a (3), (4), (5) and (6) seed as of today, that’s WHO!!! With potential (16) seeds Coastal Carolina, Lehigh, Belmont and Robert Morris looming, WHO could possibly script a better Cinderella?
AND THE WINNER IS!?
With the Syracuse and Villanova, two potential number (1) seeds, and a loaded BIG EAST having most likely 8 or 9 teams going they look like the conference with the best shot. With current No. 1 ranked Kansas, a shoe-in (1) seed and a dangerous Kansas St., a likely (2), the BIG 12 has a stake to claim as well. Kentucky, who seems at times, unbeatable, looks to be the SEC’s “last man standing”. Always present, BIG 10’s Michigan St., Ohio St. and an up and coming dark horse, Purdue will sure to be in the mix. The ACC’s bad boy Mike Krzyzewski and DUKE, is poised and hiding in the shadows. As for this year’s glass slipper (Cinderella), there are too many to name. So the question remains… WHO’S GOING TO WIN??? Thought I’d fall for that shit huh? All I can say is “THE HELL IF I KNOW”!!! What I DO know is that I will be just like the rest of you know nothin’, alcohol drinkin’, bull shit talkin’ fanatical motherfucker’s yelling at the flat screen TV on April 5th only to swear on my dead mother’s grave that it was my
team all along “CUTTIN DOWN THE NETS”.