Picking your NCAA bracket with a firearm

March 20th, 2008 | Posted by PostmanR

I’ve never been to a shooting alley in my life; this is something that’s probably a good thing. If I never hold a gun and shoot it — except for a nerf or water variety — I’ll probably be better for it.

However, it also might come in handy for important things. Like picking your NCAA bracket. This is what the Sporting Blog’s OrsonSwindleSpencerHalllookatmycooliPhone did last night. He took a gun and shot at a target with team names on it.

Hey, the picks weren’t brilliant, but I bet he still does better than some of you out there.

I am lost in unfriendly territory. Send help.

March 20th, 2008 | Posted by PostmanE

This is my first year in a professional setting for the first day of the NCAA Tournament, and I gotta say: This is a big letdown.

Everyone’s busy. I get it. I’ve had my fair share of work to do today. But last I checked, there were four people in our company bracket — four. We invited 200 of you. No one even appears to care about the tournament. You’re not even sneaking glances at a scoreboard. It makes me — the guy over here viewing March Madness On Demand every time there isn’t someone hanging over my shoulder — feel like Chris Hansen is going to pop out of the nearest conference room with a camera crew any second.

There are two TV’s in the cafeteria, and I can’t get one person to watch a game with me. I turned on a TV. No one even blinked. If I did get a look, it was less “oh, cool, NCAA Tournament,” and more “Excuse us, we’re meeting about product dev here. Can’t you see I’m reading my XML for Dummies book? Ugh.”

Seriously, people. What the fuck? Is everyone just pretending they don’t care? Or do you really not care? If not, what the hell is wrong with you people?! I feel like I’m taking crazy pills!!!

/end transmission

Programming alert Vol. 2: The Dagger again

March 20th, 2008 | Posted by PostmanE

FYI peeps: I’m blogging at The Dagger all afternoon today and tomorrow, and I’d really like it if you, after reading this, decided to come over and say hello. Because I miss you over there.

So come on over. I’ll give you an OTPHJ. Or something.

Case of the Mondays: Action, but at what expense?

March 19th, 2007 | Posted by PostmanE

Those of us clamoring for more upsets, more close games and more overall excitement in our NCAA Tournament were rewarded this weekend, finally, when everyone decided to go all crazy. My title-winner, OSU, nearly lost (I’m naming my first kid RonLewis), Purdue played Florida tightly, Wisconsin was upset and sent home, and Louisville and Texas A&M played a rousing game defined by ballsy guard play from Acie Law IV and Edgar Sosa.

All in all, a good weekend. Well … sort of.

There were at least two serious negatives here, too, and they were both brought on by LA’s two pristine academic institutions.

First, UCLA was complicit in a criminally disappointing end to our Hoosiers’ season, in which IU’s first half field goals (five) were outnumbered by their fouls (six). Terrible, terrible stuff, made all the worse by IU’s insistence on getting everyone’s hopes up and winning that thing down the stretch. Hard to swallow, to say the least. (And it kept me from another week-long vacation in California. Motherfucker.)

But the greatest loss was, by far, the USC-imposed tournament departure of Kevin Durant, who is likely to go pro now that his Longhorns failed to make it even to the Sweet 16 this year. That means no more of Durant’s sublime domination of the college game, no more Texas-Oklahoma State triple-overtime thrillers, no more 37/15 against the nation’s most athletic defense (Kansas). Instead, we have to watch Durant go through the altogether painful process of NBA draftdom. Instead of celebrating his mastery, we’ll be hearing for the next few months about the small flaws in the kid’s game, how he needs to put on weight, hold his follow through longer, and so on, why Chad Ford thinks he’s a mix of Player A and Player B with a mix of Player C thrown in, but with a higher ceiling.

It’s exciting, sure, but it’s also sort of sad. In that way, Kevin Durant, as we now know him, is gone for good.

The Postmen’s NCAA Tourney Extravaganza: Part 1

March 14th, 2007 | Posted by The Postmen

We both compiled our picks for this March Madness thing or whatever they call it. If you care to read it, E’s picks are below. R’s run tomorrow or maybe later today.

Sweet Sixteen: Florida vs. Maryland, Notre Dame vs. Georgia Tech, Kansas vs. Southern Illinois, Pittsburgh vs. UCLA, UNC vs. Texas, Washington St. vs. Georgetown, Ohio State vs. Virginia, Louisville vs. Creighton

Elite Eight: Florida vs. Georgia Tech, Kansas vs. Pittsburgh, North Carolina vs. Georgetown, Ohio State vs. Louisville

I admit, there aren’t that many surprises in my Sweet Sixteen, but let’s address the notable exceptions.

First: Georgia Tech. I think Tech can make it past Wisconsin, who haven’t looked themselves since Brian Butch was hurt. Second: that Creighton-Lousiville tilt in the South is probably a long shot, but I think Louisville is legitimately good enough to make it past to the round of eight, and Creighton is underrated in a lot of ways this year. This wouldn’t feel so wrong if it were Washington St. and not Texas A&M, in the South, but hey: you’ve got to take some chances, right?

In the Elite Eight, Georgia Tech can handle Notre Dame if they get past Wisconsin. I’m counting on Aaron Gray to have a big tournament for the Panthers - who, keep in mind, were derailed by a sizzling Georgetown team. Everything else, I think, is self-explanatory.

Final Four: Florida vs. Kansas, Georgetown vs. Ohio State

National Title: Ohio State vs. Kansas
Winner: Ohio State

My philosophy on all of this was articulated in my conversation with R last night, but here’s a shot at greater coherence. It is hard, extremely hard, for me to see Ohio State being challenged once on their way to the Final Four. If they somehow draw Tennessee, and Tennessee can speed the game up sufficiently, then maybe, but they have the easiest road to Atlanta of any of the No. 1 seeds. Also, the Buckeyes have lost three games this year, all on the road to either the No. 1 or No. 2 team at the time. That is an unbelievable record. Third, Greg Oden just sort of seems to be getting into full strength. He’s been playing with one hand the entire season and playing well; now, with sufficient use of two hands, he’s starting to look all the more a monster.

For simple aesthetic purposes, I’m salivating over the Georgetown-OSU semifinal, but I think Hibbert will have trouble with Oden (who wouldn’t) and Conley and OSU’s guards are equal to the G-Town task.

On the other side of things, I think Kansas and Florida will play a tight game, but that Kansas’ athletic ability provides the Jayhawks a unique chance to stop both Florida’s interior play and to outrun the Gators on the break. In either case, I think Ohio State - with, again, Greg Oden at full strength - takes down the net regardless of who wins the opposite semifinal. It pains me say it a bit, but Hail to the Buckeyes in 2007.

Who’s going to win this thing?: An IM conversation

March 13th, 2007 | Posted by PostmanR

There’s really no better way of conversing nowadays than through IM. Seriously, it’s perfect. Say someone IMs you that you don’t want to talk to, why, just ignore them. When you see them in public or at work or in class next, just say your Internet was messed or you “weren’t by your computer.” And if they don’t live in your immediate circle, you don’t even have to worry about it!

Can you do that if they’re standing right next to you? If they’re chatting their ass off in the break room, babbling on about Timmy’s soccer game over the weekend? Eff no. (Presumably, this some sort of logic could be applied to the telephone if you don’t answer, but for the purposes of this post, we’ll suspend that logic for now.)

Anyways, E and I conversed about what team might be crowned champion of the NCAA Tournament last night, and I’ve decided to republish it below for you. When Tim Hardaway doesn’t say he hates gay people, this is the kind of stuff I’m unfortunately going to have to throw at you. Apoligies. So, here’s the conversation, realitively the same way it happened live, minus all of E’s “LOLs” and “ROTFLs.” Man that stuff gets annoying after awhile.

R: if you’re going with a big ten squad, go with ohio state, not wisconsin
10:08 PM E: i have them winning it
i honestly think they can
R: yeah, i mean, they lost to florida at florida, nc at north carolina and wisconsin at wisconsin
that’s it
30-3
E: 30-3, all their losses AT 1 or 2 teams
GREG ODEN WITH ONE HAND
R: and lost arguably to the other three top teams in the country
E: yes
they are winning it
i’m convinced
10:09 PM R: i might go with them
but florida still intrigues me
10:12 PM E: yeah, it’s just hard man
i get the feeling they sort of lost focus down the stretch
10:13 PM R: but the can regroup and win
they won the SEC
E: and i’m (admittedly unreasonably) one those guys that sees the difficulty inherent in winning two straight titles and considers that to be more reason than matchups, etc
10:14 PM R: i mean, yes, that’s a good point
but at the same time, i’m of the mind where, if it hasn’t happened in awhile
then it could probably happen this year
what was it? 92-93 when duke won back-to-back?
10:15 PM it’s been a healthy enough amount of time in between for me, where, in my mind, it could happen again
E: yeah
that’s a good counterargument, and on the same terms
10:16 PM R: but again, that’s the same kind of rationale you could use with kansas
bill self hasn’t done dick in the tourney
he’s got a No. 1 seed now
they are a good team
who knows
E: right
R: so, they could maybe win too
E: damn
R: damn, this stuff is hard

Note: Expect a more coherent and complete set of picks later today. Actually, make that tomorrow.

We Recommend: CSTV

March 12th, 2007 | Posted by PostmanE

It’s been a while since we did one of these little ditties, but CSTV has been so good today it’s obscene.

I’m a bum and I’m (sort of) on vacation, so I had all day today to sit and think about the NCAA Tournament. That sounds like fun, sure, but when there’s no basketball actually on TV, it’s torturous. You just sit … and flip channels … see if there’s any basketball on … and there’s no basketball on … and you consider suicide … and you watch a few episodes of The Sopranos … and then BAM! CSTV!

It’s like a shot of adrenaline. Kentucky-Duke 1992. Valpo-Ole Miss (Bryce Drew game). Then an hour of tournament analysis from a surprisingly capable group, including Jim Larranaga and Seth Davis, whom CSTV somehow poached from CBS. What’s best: none of these guys are named Digger Phelps and none of them wear the same color tie as their highlighter without a hint of self-irony.

Then, finally, CSTV dropped this bomb. Vermont-Syracuse 2005. Taylor Coppenrath. T.J. Sorrentine. Tom Brennan. Gus Johnson - who goes totally ballistic about eight different times during his call of this game. It’s totally beautiful in every way. Don’t believe me? Here.

Anyway, CSTV is bringing the heat today. No hockey highlights, no NASCAR … just the best of college basketball all day with minimal interruption. Would I watch this channel regularly? Probably not. But for today and tomorrow, it’s everything I needed and more.

Case of the Mondays: I guess they call this March Madness

March 12th, 2007 | Posted by PostmanE

Pat Forde makes an excellent point in the first few paragraphs of his column from yesterday. Forde writes: “It’s now time for those of us who have been living and dying with every dribble since November to look on in disgust as the office pools are won by secretaries who make their picks based on team colors.”

He’s right, you know. The many of us who follow this game religiously are consistently outnumbered and outflanked by those who don’t, those who enjoy the tournament simply for its structure and distraction. It’s one of the things that makes me sort of sad every year; watching lots college basketball games, one of the great joys of my life, is sometimes what causes me to be so bad at picking college basketball games.

With that in mind, it’s time to think about this year’s version of America’s best tournament. The team I follow most closely got a surprising seven seed (if you don’t know, I’m going to make you guess which seven seed I’m referring to.) Illinois somehow snuck in without a really solid win and stole that No. 12 seed from Drexel, whose coach was furious on the selection show yesterday. Suppose I can’t really blame him, but too many unworthy teams beat the Drexalators (that’s their mascot, right?) throughout the year, so their high-profile road wins look a little less impressive.

Very quickly, as the teams stand, here is a short and perhaps soon to be updated list of squads who can actually win this thing:

No. 1 Florida, No. 1 Ohio State, No. 1 Kansas, No. 1 North Carolina: This is pretty obvious. All four seeds deserved their spots, and all four can definitely win this thing. Kansas is maybe the weak link here; I can’t bring myself to trust Bill Self in the tournament.

No. 2 Georgetown, No. 2 UCLA: Memphis is too streaky, and Wisconsin is too slow and too crippled without Butch. But UCLA can get hot at the right time, and Georgetown is almost a sure thing to play in their regional final.

After that, I’ve got: No. 3 Pittsburgh, No. 3 Texas A&M, No. 4 Texas, No. 4 Maryland, and, as a stretch, No. 6 Louisville: Like I said, Louisville’s a stretch, but they’re hitting their stride at the right time, as is Maryland. Durant could lead Texas to a Carmelo-esque National Title, or they could be done by next Sunday. Aaron Gray has to show up for Pittsburgh, but they could be dangerous, and A&M is just a tough team.

We’ll do more in detail on this thing later, but this is a start. It’s going to be an awesome couple of weeks, huh?

Early Weekend Fun: Sorry, but we are SOOO out of here

March 9th, 2007 | Posted by PostmanE

R and I are about to hop in my car and make the northward trip to the Big Ten Tournament, and since last night was a drunken mess, I had neither the time last night nor the ability this morning to do anything resembling sports observation/analysis.

Anyway, I write to apologize for this post’s lack of redeeming value. Also, I write to let you know: keep an eye out for some on-site stuff from the United Center in Chicago. I had the privilege of covering the national title game last year; I’ll probably try to duplicate that effort as far as postseason play will take us this year.

So yeah … sorry. As my penance, I give you this:

Never has a nut shot been administered - or received - with such enthusiasm. See you soon.