I?m feeling much better not that you asked. Still it?s been an emotional roller-coaster of sorts this week; starting with Coach K and the Blue Devils playing not to lose at The Garden last Sunday and giving up a 12 point lead in 4 minutes time, as well as any hope for a #1 seed in the NCAAs. Today?s #1?s (Arizona, Kentucky, Oklahoma, ???).
That frustrating loss to a St. John?s team that will feel fortunate if they receive an NIT bid, was immediately followed by my favorite Jayhawk fan C-Mac questioning how I could leave Duke off my Five to Forget list from last week. When we were younger C-Mac and I would belittle each other?s teams throughout the college basketball season, but as we?ve grown older and more mature, we limit this childish activity strictly to March.
He wants to be on record as saying that Duke could face a very early, early exit from the tourney this year, that Carmelo Anthony is the best player in the nation, and he?s been saying the Orangemen are a Final Four team since he watched them play Georgia Tech in November? He says he?s been saying it since then anyway.
One thing about Boeheim?s young Syracuse team is they are intimidated by no one, and they can win on the road. While both Michigan State and Notre Dame have had ups and downs this year, winning at both of their places within the last week and a half is a pretty impressive feat. Gerry McNamara is my favorite college player not to don a Mizzou or Duke jersey, and if I were him I?d be playing with a bigger chip on my shoulder for not receiving the same accolades as the less-consistent frosh of the ACC (Redick, Shelden, Bosh, McCants, Felton).
Following the Orangemen bringing Matt Carroll to tears on Senior Night was a pretty good SEC match-up of Florida and Georgia. Florida was back in the top 3, which obviously meant they were primed for the upset.
At halftime, Dickie V. got serious and got Georgia head coach (for now) Jim Harrick to reveal that Jarvis Hayes has no money, no clothes, no car and lives in the dorm. And then? And then? As I watched Harrick?s lips moves in an effort to vindicate any wrong-doing alleged by former Dawg Tony Cole and a few faculty members at Rhode Island, all I could think of was, “I did not have sexual relations with that woman?”
Sure enough, less than 12 hours later Harrick?s son was turning in his resignation. Where there?s smoke, there?s fire, and I?m sure this little scandal won?t go away that quietly. It will probably end with a talented Georgia team failing to make the Sweet 16, and junior Jarvis Hayes declaring for the draft after the season.
But if you think that?s a dilemma, I have a couple more for ya. First, I only found out yesterday that my rotisserie baseball draft is being held this year on the same Saturday as the Freakin? Final Four! People fly in from Texas and California for it, so there?s absolutely nothing that can be done. Of course C-Mac now in full-smack mode (lacking the necessary g.m. skills to survive in this NL-only, auction, keeper league) felt compelled to weigh in:
“Who schedules a baseball draft the day of the final four?? Missouri basketball fans- That?s who.”
He?s absolutely right. Or else he?s still a little upset that he?s (and the rest of the Big 12) going to have to deal with Ricky Paulding and Arthur Johnson for one more year.
Speaking of fantasy baseball I just made a nice little pre-draft move for myself trading Mike Dejean ($9) who will very shortly lose his closer role to Luis Vizcaino for Pat Burrell ($23). I?m now feeling downright giddy about my chances this season. Also, while I hope that you never look this way for the in-depth Major League Baseball knowledge that Andy drops, I will say this about this year?s Royals—just in case you?re involved in any mixed or AL leagues?
Expect Mike Sweeney to put up similar numbers to 2002, Carlos Beltran to get traded to an AL team and set a career RBI record, Raul Ibanez to fall short of last season?s career year, and sleeper keeper candidates Chris George (SP) and Mike Macdougal (RP) to be worthy of consideration—-but don?t expect too much from the young arms this year. And take a low dollar risk with Desi Relaford, which will pay off big time should Joe Randa get traded.
The second dilemma is concerning my Wednesday night weekly pick-up hoops run. We play from 8-10:30 which means I?d have to Replay American Idol (Come on Clay and Kimberly!), I?m A Celebrity?s 2-hour finale, Sorority Life, Fraternity Life, and Mizzou at Iowa State, and there?s no way I?d have to time to watch them all before going to bed, which means I couldn?t open any emails or visit Desipio on Thursday, as I?d surely come across some recap/summary/relevation that would taint and spoil my first time viewing experience.
So, I told them I was too sick to play this week. I?m almost ready to take that first step, and finally admit I may be watching a little too much TV, but then again I might as well wait til April before doing anything rash.
Also, I had a fish die yesterday. He was a blue beta named J.J. A moment of silence please, and a little prayer it?s not a sign of things to come.
Was that a fish that you put in a stupid flower pot and let eat the roots? You are a goody goody.
How are you feeling Jake? Yeesh, nothing like begging for sympathy.
A few things:
1) I hate Gerry McNamara. I hate that stupid haircut and that he’s made big shots in two Notre Dame choke-jobs against the ‘Cuse.
2) On your list of head coaches that you absolutely cannot believe when they move their lips, Jim Harrick gets the top spot, but Jim Boeheim, John Calipari and Steve Alford are pretty high up.
3) Hey! The Desipio fantasy draft is that Saturday, too, you know. Though it looks more and more like we’ll just move it to a weeknight. By the way, ours is scheduled many hours before the festivities in New Orleans that day.
4) Whoever traded you Pat Burrell for Mike DeJean is a complete moron. Nice move. I have much manly love for Pat the Bat.
5) Chris Judd! Was that out loud?
Andy, there’s no ‘H’ in Cris Judd, and Bob, had I put a fish in a flower pot that would have been burying it…
But yes I did put it in one of those trendy, office friendly plastic globes with a plant…
I’m getting a little emotional just thinking about it… Can we talk about something else?
Don’t drink, don’t smoke—what do I do?
Don’t drink? So you have sex with those sheep while sober?
Not exactly. WE’RE drunk.
Thanks for the shout outs this week. Among the amusing points from our many conversations over the past week is also the genius declaration from Jake that Arizona is going to be a number one seed. He then promptly proclaimed that there will be a war in Iraq, that Heidi has big boobs (which by the way seem to get bigger as she gets skinnier), and that ebony and ivory go together in perfect harmony.
Any time I can run smack about Duke, I will jump at the opportunity. However, I will also go on record to state that Kansas is up for an early exit- yes, I am going out on a limb too. But, if they make it to the Final Four I will proclaim I knew they could do it and I will promptly call every person I know and shove it in their face. If they lose? I won’t answer the phone.
Is desipio going to do a tourney challenge???
Oh- and you had a freakin’ fish??????????
Yes, I had a fish!! And I had a Barbie Doll too…but my dog chewed her head off last year.
That last comment (while true) wasn’t actually mine—–though it’s not too surprising that someone would be so uncreative that they’d simply pass themselves off as me. This will continue to happen until the Desipio techies can figure out some way to put an age filter on this site.
Obviously no Desipio reader over 8 would do something as juvenile.
But, yea I had a beta fish… The Franchise gave it to me on my birthday. And while I don’t have a Barbie, I do have a Barbie knock-off that came dressed in a Duke cheerleader outfit.
And before ‘The Sheep’ get jealous and post a witty comment, I’ve never taken her out of the box….
And yea, though completely plastic, she is the best looking Blue Devil cheerleader I’ve ever seen. Matt Doherty concurs.
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