The Sleepers Show Up
No, I am not talking about the sleeper team, the dark horse, the Cinderella story of the overachieving underdog. I am talking about the sleepers. You know the ones. You see the opening tip, and then next thing you know, it’s 2:30 to go in the game, your neck has a cramp, and there’s a puddle of drool on your shoulder. For my part, I appreciated the much-needed nap time while Villanova, Connecticut, and Memphis absolutely routed their opponents. I have nothing to say about these games…except that my neck hurts.
Blake Griffin Scores a Cripple Double – 33 points, 17 rebounds, 10 shots to the chops. Seriously, the way opponents try to stop this guy gives new meaning to the phrase “survive and advance”. I would advise them to run every man on their next opponent’s team through a metal detector.
Toe, Schmoe – Ty Lawson scores 23 points, turf toe notwithstanding, to get North Carolina past a scrappy LSU team. I’ll go out on a limb here and say that if Lawson keeps playing, so do the Tarheels.
An Upset In Name Only – The Purdue Boilermakers provided the day’s only upset, if you want to call a 5-over-4 victory over Washington an upset. This game was a foul-fest, a parade to the free throw line. The two teams combined to commit 41 fouls and shoot 42 free throws. This game was also a continuation of a new event in this year’s madness: the short people showcase showdown. Washington played three players under six feet tall, and Purdue played one. These guys should join the local YMCA under six foot league. They would dominate.
My favorite team in this year’s tournament is…whoever is playing Duke. I mean, really, haven’t we all had just about enough of these guys and their coach with the hideous facial contortions and unpronounceable last name? I know it has been a few years since they made it to the Sweet Sixteen. What, am I supposed to feel sorry for them? And do we really need to relive Christian Laettner’s miraculous shot to beat Kentucky in 1992 in that vitamin water commercial? Sure, the commercial is clever with the closing cameo from Rick Pitino, but how about a commercial that relives the fact that Laettner stepped on Kentucky’s Aminu Timberlake…on purpose…in the same game, but was not ejected. Anyway, the boneheaded play of the day award goes to Texas forward Gary Johnson, who emphatically, and unnecessarily, shoved Elliott Williams out of the frame while chasing a loose ball toward the end of the game. Texas still had a chance at that point, but not after. Thanks, Gary. Now we get one more weekend of Dook.
Gonzaga finally wins a close one. In the night’s only thriller, Gonzaga escaped an upset bid by Western Kentuckywitha length-of-the-court, seven-seconds-to-go, Tyus Edney-esque layup by Demetri Goodson with 0.9 seconds left. I have to admit it. I love Gonzaga. I have loved Gonzaga ever since Matt Santangelo and company made the Elite Eight in 1999. Adam Morrison, the shaggy-haired, mustachioed hero of the 2005-2006 season left me crying at the altar as the 3-seeded Zags lost to UCLA in a game they led by 17 in the second half. Since then Gonzaga has lost in the first round each of the last two years. Maybe this gutsy performance will be what they need to get over the hump and stun North Carolina next weekend.
Ok, it’s late, and I have a busy day tomorrow, so let’s have a few awards, and call it a night.
Day 3 Awards
The Apparently This Contest Is Way Too Easy Award goes to the 87 contestants who picked all 8 games right today. No way am I typing all those names. Go look at your own picks to see if you are one of them, and then pat yourself on the back if you are.
This is kind of a strange award to give out. I will call it the Thirteenth Floor Award. Unfortunately, I cannot find anyone to give it to. For about 10 to 16 games now, after every game, I have gone to the standings looking for the person in 233rd place. Why? Because 233rd would be the exact median position in our contest – 232 better and 232 worse. I was going to give this contestant the Yellow Lines And Dead Skunks Award (the only things you find in the middle of the road). However, no one has yet appeared in exactly 233rd place! Ties always seem to cause 233rd place to get swallowed up in some group at some other position. It must be, then, that 233rd place is like the 13th floor of a building. You know it exists. It just doesn’t have a button in the elevator.
The Lookout Below! Award goes to Lori Boswell, who dropped from 20th all the way down to 321st.
The The I’s Have It Award goes to Cason DiIulio, who has more I’s in his name than anyone I have ever met. He also managed to climb from 437th all the way to 30th! Good job, Cason.
The Trash Talking Award goes to Wayne Murray, who has ridiculed me without mercy for the fact that he is beating me so soundly.
The Absent Minded Professor Award goes to Mike “BogeyP” Boger, who emailed me today asking for the link to the contest. Along with the link, I sent Mike a jar of flubber.
Finally, the Give The Man The Yellow Jersey Award goes to our current contest leader, Mike “gobble101” Wilson, who is an astonishing 37-3 so far in the contest. I don’t know if Mike is a turkey hunter or a Pac Man champ, but he sure knows how to pick ’em in March Madness. Well Done!
Parting Shots
Keep the emails coming. I always enjoy your thoughts and feedback. Who knows. You might even make it into the commentary. You can also view the commentary as a blog at http://www.sixlittles.net/wordpress. Register for the blog and you can post (moderated) comments.
Keep your eyes on the game between Cleveland State and Arizonatomorrow. It provides the best chance so far for a scategories bonus for those who picked Cleveland State.
By popular demand, I will start including the link to the contest website in all the commentary postings and emails.
The Wizard Of Whiteland