117th Edition -- 3/15-3/18

OK - here is the plan ... I will update this one entry (117th Edition) throughout the next 4 days. I will always put the newest entry at the top, so if you are just joining, you might want to scroll down and read that first.

Also - Movie Review - "I Think I Love My Wife"

• 6:45 p.m. - Sunday - over

The games aren't over. I am. Done. I can't believe Texas is done and I didn't get to see a dominant Durant game. Just said. Now I have to wait five years before he can dominant for a season in the NBA. Three if I am lucky.

"Cold Case." I never have seen an edisode, and now that I have been shown the same damn two seconds of someone pulling a gun on someone else -- I want the show cancelled. Tonight. Before it airs. Just awful.

Ohio State was the game of the weekend. Mainly because I found myself rooting against an underdog (which I rarely do) because they were beating up on the Buckeyes so bad. Plus, it was one of those cases where Xavier didn't blow it, Ohio State just played amazing down the stretch. Plus, it was the first really good game of the tournament and it started an amazing day of basketball.

Now I need to start preparing for my Fantasy Baseball Draft. Yes people, the REAL excitement is about to begin.

• 4:03 p.m. - Sunday - close

Virginia was close. Purdue was close. I am watching the games on tivo and it looks like I am about 45 minutes behind. Florida just pulled away and won by seven, but the game was much closer than that. I wish there was a stat to show close games during the regular season. Like, if a game is ever within 4 points with 3 minutes left, that's a close game. So far, I think every Saturday and Sunday game has qualified for that. Though Southern Illinois and Oregon are trying to erase that fact.

I had to go watch "TMNT" this morning. It's what they have decided to call "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles."

I still can't believe we are close to finishing four days of college ball without one buzzer beater.

Hmmm, I wonder if I get the UNLV pick right I will officially be in the top half of the bracket.

• 7:45 p.m. - Saturday - Buzzer? Beater?

Wash St vs Vandy. Tie game. 60 to 60. Damn. OOOOOvertime. Both teams are making great shots in OT. James Brown says 5, 8, 5 on the game clock, 8 on the shot clock ... then he gets it right. Vanderbilt ball, seconds remain ... I hate Mencia's Bud Light commercial. I want that little guy at the end to break the bottle over his head, and now back to the game... Our first double OT of the tourney.

Somehow VCU is tied with Pitt (the one game I was calling a blowout). Insane day. A 35-16 run by VCU to get back into it. 1:00 left. Wow, free throws. Two seconds left. Fields misses the first. The crowd is cheering. Misses them both. OT.

Wash St is slipping. Vandy up by four ... YOU GOT TO FOUL ... nope, Vandy wins by 4 and will play Georgetown. Georgetown won thanks to Patrick Ewing Jr's reverse dunk in the final minute.

Back to VCU vs. Pitt ... VCU down three with 19 seconds left because Pitt didn't want to make free throws. Damn, missed the three. Pitt should finish this off now. Argh, hate the huge comeback that doesn't produce. Still no buzzer beaters today.

• 7:05 p.m. - Saturday - Best. Day. Ever.

I'm not going to say this is the greatest day in the history of college basketball, but ... This Is The Greatest Day In College Basketball. If there is one buzzer beater then everyone else will agree with me.
Butler won. Sosa decided to miss two free throws after making his first 15 and Louisville lost. Vanderbilt and Wash St are tied late. The only game that is not amazing is Pitt killing VCU. So far, six games, all but one close. I've stood on the couch once already during the Ohio State game, and it just might happen again.

Side note - I'm really tired and only had one green beer today ... wow, writing that sentence just made me hungry for more beer ... And YES! The F is not at the grocery store yet after working out, Guinness will be MINE!

• 2:40 p.m. - Saturday - It's over

I believe I said that about six times during the Xavier/Ohio State game. Most of the times I said that I assumed Xavier was going to win. Clearly the best game of the tourney. Just an amazing comeback by the Buckeyes. I assume most of the country wanted the comeback to happen since NO ONE had them losing this early.

• 1:05 p.m. - Saturday - good morning

I have had my omelet, biscuit, homefries and french toast. And now it's halftime with Ohio State leading Xavier 29-25.

More P.O.T.T. (player of the tournament):
Reynolds from Virginia - 28 pts, 7 reb
Kemp from Nevada - 27 pts, 12 reb, 4 assists

• 8:40 p.m. - Friday - classic

Nope, I'm not talking about the games. The F (fiancee) just went to "get ready." This is after the last 20 minutes, when I kept saying, "Do you need to get ready?" And her saying, "I am ready." And yes, her bracket is killing mine.

P.O.T.T. watch - Durant - a quiet 25 points and 8 rebounds.

Illinois decided not to score in the 2nd half and lost by two. 54-52. I will make a post before I sleep. I swear.

• 6:50 p.m. - Friday - it's racial!

"Oh, yeah ... Fight the Power!"

"He's got that farmboy look."

Can you guess the color of the players that were referred to in the above quotes by the announcers? Neither can I ... neither can I.

Illinois is looking good, up by six close to the half. Listening to Billy Packer call the Kansas/Niagara game is just awful. He's picking on Niagara every chance he can get as they slowly slip away from a superior team. "Kansas makes sure Niagara falls," yup, that's going to be the headline.

OHHHHHHH!!!!!! Carter just hit a 3 for Illinois ... and was fouled. Let's see if he converts the four point play ... an it counts! Illinois up by 10. It's that easy.

• 4:40 p.m. - Friday - overtime. OVERTIME!?!

Just annoying. Creighton falls in overtime to Nevada. I had it right there, the amazing comeback was within my grasp. But now, all is lost. I will officially now just root for good games, I swear. No more thinking I have a chance.

On a side note - the Shia LaBeauf movie was pretty good. Though I had no idea what I was walking into, so I had no expectations.

At least I had Winthrop. The only thing I can currently hang my imaginary hat on.

Also - it couldn't be more disturbing to finish watching a basketball game and then be taken to a Dr. Phil, already in progress.

• 11:26 a.m. - Friday - embarrassing

So, I just went to check my bracket ... Yup, I have Albany (read below). Just embarrassing. Albany just chucks it up. I have already seen one 3 hit the side of the backboard. My other upsets sure to go wrong today ... Creighton and Winthrop.

• 11:18 a.m. - Friday - "working"

I'll do my best to keep notes and update at about 12:30 then late afternoon, then late late night. We'll see how that goes. There is a going away party tonight. Mike D (NFL picker) is moving.

I am in NCCA On Demand no problem this morning. In fact, this thing is great. Plus, next year when I get VIP status I can look down at all you people and laugh.

So - today, once again, I have to miss some afternoon games. At 2:30 I need to see a Shia LaBeauof (I try to spell his last name different every time) movie. He's the kid from "The Battle of Shaker Heights" and "Holes" and "Constantine." If you don't know him yet, you will, he also scored the (human) lead in "Transformers." I will be interviewing him in the coming weeks.

Anyway, it's Virginia 8, Albany 2. Clearly this is a version of the bigger school just being better, taller, quicker. No way Albany keeps up with them.

I'll do my best to keep notes and update at about 12:30 then late afternoon, then late late night. We'll see how that goes. There is a going away party tonight. Mike D (NFL picker) is moving.

• 9:56 a.m. - Friday - the comeback!!!

I am in last place, tied with a girl -- out of 24 people. Three individuals currently have 14 points each. My West bracket is horrendous and my East is barely holding on ... BUT there is no way I can finish last. I am the letter j! So I am on the comeback trail and my goal is to finish middle of the pack. I want to be the guy that no one pays attention to, that is just glanced over while their eyes make their way up the leaderboard.

• 10:46 p.m. - Thursday - I rue

I rue the day I picked Gonzaga based on the logic of them playing Indiana (overrated) and them playing a tough regular season and them not having good luck in previous tournaments (so I thought they were due). Rough night all around, "Scrubs" wasn't even that funny.

• 9:37 p.m. - Thursday - And we're BACK!!!!

Sorry. I "had" to go watch Shooter for "work." Am I using these "" correctly? Any way, Oh course Duke lost. My reverse logic never works. My bracket is busted, so now I can go about my business and just enjoy the games. Glad that nonsense is over with ... though, it Gonzaga could beat Indiana, UCLA and not Duke, then I'm right back in it ... sigh.

P.O.T.T. (player of the tournament) watch: Can't be Curry (scored 30) from Davidson because they lost. Greg Oden started strong with 19 pts and 10 boards. Rice from B.C. scored 26 points.

• 4:00 p.m. - Thursday - No upsets.
  

Good, god, Vanderbilt is off to a quick 7-0 lead. Is there no upsets planned today? This is unreal. It's the opposite of real.

As soon as I was done complaining about the Butler game, Old Do hits a 3 and then that is followed by Butler hitting five 3s in a row. Butler takes a big lead and doesn't look back.

Georgetown was down 11-4, then they went on a 76 - 44 run. At what amount do we have to cap a run? Perhaps when one team scores over 40 it is too much.

Some quick STUFF -
*David Duchovny will be in a sitcom on Showtime. About ten years ago I declared Duchovny would be one of the biggest comedy stars of our time ... can I still get credit for this?
*My favorite - Ben Folds - will be opening for John Mayer this summer ... So apparently, Ben doesn't want me to see him anytime soon.

• 3:20 p.m. - Thursday - slow...

It's 29-29 with 12 minutes left in the Old Dominion vs. Butler game. Apparently they are choosing to only shoot with two seconds left on the shot clock. Slow game. I have Butler, in fact I have all #5 seeds winning, which, in it's self, is an upset. Wash State ended up winning by 16, there should be a rule that teams make keep it close in the first half unless they promise to keep it close in the second. I had dreams of Oral. I wanted Oral. I could feel Oral ... winning the game and me looking super smart. But no, I'm just the moron who thought I'd get Oral all the way to the second round ... and I knew it the entire second half.

Also - I just got an interview with Molly Shannon lined up. I think this is my first SNL actor that I get to interview ... I just hope she's ready to talk about "Don't get me started, Don't EVEN get me started," for 30 minutes.

• 2:34 p.m. - Thursday - Yeah! I mean Oops... I mean YEAH!!!

OK, so I thought I had Oral Roberts beating Washington State. I was sitting here cheering like an idiot as Oral played tough and took it to half with a 28-26 lead. Well, then I was updating my bracket and noticed I have #3 Wash State winning. So, I quickly change sides, and BAM! They go on a 9-0 lead to start the half and my favorite team in the world, Washington State, is in control of the game ... Wow, nope, I am right, I did have Oral Roberts. So my positive vibes clearly have kicked me square in the arse. Is it possible to be drunk on basketball?

• 1:21 p.m. - Thursday - Wow. Ohhhh for Two.
  

Texas Tech lost by nine. Maryland hit a huge 3 with two minutes left, and held on to beat Davidson. Two games are done and I am 0-2. If this keeps up I will have the worst bracket in the history of the NCAA Tournament. Actually, I would be pretty cool to miss every single one.

On a side note, I highly recommend Lean Cuisine Brick Oven-Style Pizza (BBQ). As far as microwaved individual pizzas are concerned, this is my favorite. Lean Cuisine ... It's not just for middle aged women who pretend to eat healthy.

This afternoon I will be watching one game on TV and another on the Web.

Just got an email asking if I want to interview Jamie Kennedy for his new movie "Kickin' It Old Skool." Wow, I've got some thinking to do.

• 11:54 a.m. - Thursday - God Lord, It's WORKING!

Currently at work, watching Davidson vs Maryland (I have Davidson). This was exhausting. It wouldn't work for the last 20 minutes. I now I get to see Davidson leading by 5. Joy. I won't be updating until I get home and eat some lunch.

• 11:08 a.m. - Thursday - The Waiting Room & The Brackets

I am currently in the NCAA March Madness On Demand Waiting Room. It's as exciting as you think it is ... I started at 92,000th in line, and now I am at 35,000 ... but I've been at this number for a while and it doesn't seem to be going anywhere. On the plus side (sarcasm), if I was a VIP I would be 11,000th in line. I can't be VIP this year, but I could next year, so really they are just rubbing it in. Just like that little curtain that seperates me from first class. Wow, it just changed. Now I could be 6,300 for VIP ... and 34,800 is my current position.

And it looks like we have 24 players in the 1st Annual The Daily Score NCAA Tournament Pick'em Competition Spectacular!

I am most curious about a few of them...
1. The Sports Guy - I read him all the time and think if cat's wore pajamas, he would be those pajamas. So I read his picks and filled out a bracket for him.
2. Girls - We have 5 women participating. I watched my fiancee fill out her bracket and it was a real treat. I think she had Oregon winning because we want to live there one day. She got lucky with Kansas winning some games because she has a friend that lives there. I believe the standard woman is just as capable of picking as the standard guy, I just love the thought process.
3. Me - I really hate some of the picks I made. But I threw in some reverse logic and suddenly, Duke was winning two games.

116th Edition - 3/15/07

116 - Shakespeare's sonnet #116. Wow, hopefully that will be the last time I link to Shakespeare, I couldn't get through that whole thing.

• NCAA coverage -- I might just run continous updates throughout the next 4 amazing days ... Calling all of it 117th Edition. We'll see. Since I will be in the office until 12:45 today I have hoping to be one of the lucky ones to watch the games online.

• Special Guest

Erin Studer is a man. Most that know him call him Stu, and then after a few months on knowing him, realize in fact, his name isn't Stu, it's Erin--spelled the girl way (he's Irish). Stu runs a school out in Los Angeles, and word on the street is, he'll give you a teaching job if he likes the cut of your jib. And if you need a man to quote the speech from "Braveheart" look no further ...

Mad Marchness: 5 True Things about the NCAA Tournament

I didn’t play in high school. My official playing career in basketball ended in 8^th grade – B team. I was a guard. The highlight game of my career was on a cold January night in Spirit Lake, Iowa. The Spirit Lake Indians vs. the Emmetsburg E-Hawks. I was playing the 2 for the E-Hawks and scored four points in the closing seconds of the half (two of them off of a break away steal) to help us take the lead. I finished with a season high 8 points, 2 boards, and a technical for mouthing off to the ref while taking the ball out of bounds. For those of you who know me, the technical is no surprise, but the eight points might be. I went on in my high school career to play a little football, a little baseball, and whole lot of wrestling. My basketball career was relegated to late night games at the local park and later to the occasional pick up game in the Field House at the U of Iowa. There was a brief stint as a middle school basketball coach when I first started my teaching career, but I am sure that was because of the school’s desperation as opposed to any insight into my former middle school basketball prowess.

All that said, I have always been an avid watcher of the NCAA Tournament – a uniquely American event that celebrates democracy, parity, the little guy, and eventually some extremely well funded major basketball power house. Just makes me smile thinking about it. I can almost hear the squeak of Converse on the hardwood right now. Yes, I have been a fan of “The Tournament” for over 20 years and in that time I know these five things to be true:

1. I have never won an NCAA Tournament Bracket Pool and probably never will: It’s not that I don’t follow college basketball or don’t know the odds of a 10 seed making the Elite 8 or the fact that Indiana basketball just isn’t what it used to be. No, my brackets don’t fail because of lack of knowledge; they fail because of an excess of drama. With each passing year, with each new bracket, I create an alternate universe – a universe where David toppling Goliath isn’t just a myth but a round by round reality. I create tournament outcomes that, if they truly happened, would be the stuff of legend for generations. Sadly, the epics have yet to occur or to provide me any money in return.
Example: My final four for this year - Wisconsin, Pittsburg, OSU, and Georgetown. Finals: Wisconsin and OSU with the Badgers winning the fabulous Big Ten-homer love fest of a finale.

2. A 12 seed always beats a 5 seed:

You’ve heard this before. I’ve heard this before. It seems to happen a lot. I have no statistical evidence to support the always, yet I faithfully seek out the 12 vs. 5 upset each time I fill out a bracket. And even if it is not always true, isn’t it fabulous that year after year we get to watch a sporting event where an upset is guaranteed.
My pick: 12 seed Illinois topples 5 seed Virginia Tech. Damn my Big Ten bias!

3. Cinderella always loses.

I know this is true but ignore it habitually. There are always Cinderellas at the Big Dance. They always surprise people. No one knows who they are and there is little point in guessing (George Mason anyone? Or on a smaller more Hawkeye-centric scale Northwestern St.!). But sadly they always lose. No one lower than a five seed has ever won the tournament. Even N.C. State in their miracle march to the championship wasn’t that unheralded. So every Cinderella loses eventually, but not before utterly ruining my bracket year after year because I couldn’t guess who they’d be.
My feeble attempt to divine this year’s Cinderella: Villanova all the way to the Elite 8 before bowing out to Pitt…or wait, was Pitt the Cinderella…never mind.

4. The first weekend is the best.

This is true, though much like my first three statements, it isn’t a secret. Sixty four teams all vying for a victory, all striving to get one step closer to the National Championship. It really doesn’t matter if you are North Carolina or Holy Cross – everybody has to play a game, everybody is trying to win, and everybody knows it’s lose or go home – no exceptions. Sure, a #16 seed has never beaten a number one, but it could happen – maybe this is the year.
Most vulnerable #1 seed with the potential to make history and bow out in round one (not that I picked the upset or anything): Kansas. They got taken to the wire in the Big 12 tourney. The Big 12 isn’t that tough to begin with, and Niagara already has worked out their first game gitters. Go, Purple Eagles, Go!

5. Seeding of teams 3 and higher is irrelevant.

A #1 seed doesn’t guarantee a championship – often the opposite. Again, no one above a five has ever won. The vast majority of champions in the past ten years come from seeds 3, 2, and 1. Therefore all of this pre-tournament controversy over whether you got a 7 or 9 seed, or how a team should have been a 6 instead of a 5, is good oxygen wasted. As long as your team made it to the top 3 (even the top 4 on occasion) don’t worry. Just play your games.
Lowest seed with the biggest ego that may not make week 2: Duke. Probably lucky to be there and yet Dukies persist that a 6 seed is too low and that they are gonna play their way to the Final Four. No chance. They better focus on VCU – 11’s have beaten sixes. Happens every year!

Bonus: College Football does not need a tournament to decide its National Title.

I’m not saying that on occasion it wouldn’t be nice to have an optional “plus-one” game after the BCS to clear up confusion. But this event would be rare. Most of the time the bowl games do a more than adequate job of figuring out who was good, who was not, and who should be crowned champion. By the way, football tournament advocates, have you ever considered that the reason the B-ball tournament is exciting is that so many teams are involved (point 4) as opposed to the idea that so many teams actually have a chance to win (points 3 and 5). A Division-I college football tournament would most likely reduce post season participation from its current 32 bowl game 64 team format. Besides, have you ever noticed how the college football regular season actually matters? Can’t wait ‘till September. Meanwhile, I’ll enjoy the basketball. You should too.

115th Edition - 3/14/07

115 - Used in the title of "Bob Dylan's 115th Dream", a song from Dylan's album Bringing It All Back Home.

• NCAA: Don't forget to Dance!

The Tournament Pick'em '07 is set up with yahoo and all my readers should join. If you've already joined a yahoo group and don't feel like filling out another bracket, they will allow you to use the same one, so this should take you about 10 seconds.

The Group ID = 133325
The Group password = thedailyscore
The Group Name = The Daily Score

http://tournament.fantasysports.yahoo.com/men/group/133325

• NCAA: We're #64!

That's what Niagara gets to chant, probably for the rest of the tournament. Niagara beat Florida A&M 77-69 and now is playing Kansas in the first round. So for all of you that had Flordia A&M vs Kentucky in the 2nd round, it's not too late to change it.

• The Weekly Bull: 38-28 (13-20 on the road)

The Chicago Bulls now have a three game win streak going into tonight's game against the 76ers. Last night they beat the Celtics 95-87. Ben Wallace had 19 points and 16 rebounds, but more surprising was his 21 shot attempts (a season-high). And rookie Tyrus Thomas led the Bulls with 23 points.

The Bulls are 4 games behind the Pistons and 2 games behind the Cavs right now. Both are within reach, but clearly the most important thing should be getting home-court advantage for the first round of the playoffs. Everything else is just butter.

114th Edition - 3/13/07

114 - Stanley Kubrick frequently referenced the number in his films. That's all I could find. Boring number.

• NCAA Tournament: Dance with me!

The 1st Annual The Daily Score NCAA Tournament Pick'em Competition Spectacular has begun! And that title is awful. But anyway, I have
Tournament Pick'em '07 set up with yahoo and all my readers should join. If you've already joined a yahoo group and don't feel like filling out another bracket, they will allow you to use the same one, so this should take you about 10 seconds.

The Group ID = 133325
The Group Name = The Daily Score
The Group password = thedailyscore

OR - perhaps the link below takes you right to it.

http://tournament.fantasysports.yahoo.com/men/group/133325

There is no money involved but I am willing to look through the free DVDs I have received from reviewing movies and give a little something something to the winner.

• Quick Hits

*The Golden State Warriors ended the Dallas Mavericks' 17-game win streak. Keep in mind this is a Warrior team without Chris Mullins, Tim Hardaway and Mitch Richmond.

*Lance Briggs has said he has 'played his last snap' with the Bears. Again, I am holding out hope that an acceptable contract extension can be reached.

*Look back on the college basketball weekend with Bill Simmons. click here

• Stuff

The Pitchfork Music Festival is now on sale (at Union Park). More bands will be added. 3-day pass is $45 right now.
http://www.ticketweb.com/t3/event/EventListings?orgId=13100

Friday, July 13
Pitchfork Music Festival & All Tomorrow's Parties Present: Don't Look Back

Saturday, July 14
Cat Power
Clipse
Iron & Wine
Girl talk

Sunday, July 15
Of Montreal
Jamie Lidell
Ken Vandermark's Powerhouse Sound

113th Edition - 3/12/07

113 - A French hip-hop group -- http://www.113online.com/ AND an inside joke in animation movies - A113 appears in "A Bug's Life," "Cars," and "The Simpsons." It is a reference is a CalArts classroom where many animators got their education.

• NCAA - dance

Sung by Mr. David Barrett ...

The ball is tipped and there you are
you're running for your life
you're a shooting star
And all the years no one knows
just how hard you worked
but now it shows...
ONE SHINING MOMENT,
IT'S ALL ON THE LINE
ONE SHINING MOMENT,
THERE FROZEN IN TIME

OK, now I'm in the mood... with the Iowa Hawkeyes not coming close to sniffing the punch at the dance, I have no hopes and dreams at all for the NCAA tournament, except of course for close games and upsets.

The four #1 seeds are no surprise (Florida, North Carolina, Ohio State and Kansas), but Florida claimed the overall #1 even though Ohio State is #1 in both polls. The Big Ten snuck six schools into the tournament, and everyone has decided Drexel got screwed.

• The Big Ten: The Hawks stand alone

Step forward if you finished with a winning record overall AND are going to the post season ... not so fast Iowa. Iowa finished 9-7 in the Big Ten and 17-14 overall and they are done. No NCAA tourney and no NIT. Michigan at 8-8 and 21-12 got the only NIT bid. The lesson as always, the Hawkeyes need to find some community colleges to beat up on before the Big Ten season starts.

• Tennis: Federer can fall

Roger Federer's win streak of 41 straight matches came to an end against Guillermo Canas in the Pacific Life Open. More importantly listen to what he said ...

"It was just a normal loss, like I've had about 100 times on tour," Federer said. "That's normal to tennis. I have no problems. He played very well. I missed my chances. I think he played very well and I didn't think I was playing poorly at all. So it's OK."

I'm starting to like this guy.

• Stuff

*Box Office Recap
1. "300" - $70 million. Biggest March opening ever. It cost $65 million to make the film, but that doesn't take into account all the marketing.
2. "Wild Hogs" - $28 million. I am truly shocked. I figured the bad reviews would affect the box office a little bit, but mainly I assume word-of-mouth from people who saw it would kill this movie. Instead, "Zodiac" fell to $6.7 million.

*Comedian Richard Jeni was shot in the head and killed. Probably by himself, but that's not official yet. I will remember this guy for the rest of my life because of Lobster Claws. In college, before a movie would start in the theater, Richard Jeni would have this little comedy bit sponsored by Coca-cola. I probably saw the thing 40 times. It was NEVER funny, but became a running joke with my friends ... I just spent the past 10 minutes trying to find the bit. Can't.