Go Spartans! (or Cats!)

I will get to the Final Four later in the week, although the title shows who I prefer to win, but just wanted to share an amazing factoid:

Since coaching his first Michigan State squad in 1995-1996, every Four Year Senior recruited by Tom Izzo has played in a Final Four.  He has made Final Four appearances in 1999, 2000, 2001, 2005 and 2009.  14 years an all four year players have got to at least cut down the regional bracket nets.

They should make him CEO of GM!

Breakin’ Down the ‘16′ Yes MSG Style (no research, off the cuff, accurate)

I will take the next 5 minutes to thoroughly analyze the Sweet 16 without using annoying stats like Points, Rebounds, PER, Win/Loss, etc. 

Louisville v Arizona: Arizona did not deserve an invite but is now the “Cinderella” story. Sorry, but you cannot be a Cinderella when you have 25 straight NCAA appearances that includes a title and at least two other Final Four appearances. However, Rick Pitino is the best at hiding his sleaziness (see Calipari and Calhoun by comparison).  Louisville wins, but you should root for the AZ Interim Coach.

Kansas v Michigan State: Self won last year; and Michigan (the state) needs something to root for. But Kansas too athletic for the plodding Spartans (a team I adopted in the MoPete days).  Kansas moves on, boring us all.

UConn v Purdue: Calhoun is a tool.  Arrogant; he cheats, his players steal laptops, and he is headed for, SURPRISE, probation.  No one can root for that guy. YOu have to root for the guys who have to play in Indiana and go to an engineering school.  Yuch!  Purdue loses, but don’t let the sportsbook get in the way of what is ethically correct.

Missouri v Memphis: OK, on the Kurt Warner scale, this is an easy one.  The coach at Mizzou takes over a program in disarray after Quin (The ‘do) tried to destroy it.  And he goes against Pitino Jr. who never met a misfit that could hit a 20ft jumper that he did not like.  Mizzou in the upset!

Pitt v Xavier: I still feel bad that Xavier gave Ohio State a ‘3′ to tie their Elite 8 game two years ago, but really, Pitt deserves this.  Gotta break the Sweet 16 jinx, and this is the year.

Villanova v Duke: OK, Jay Wright acts like the best looking man in College Hoop, but aren’t we all sick of Coach K.  He may be a good guy, or he may be totally contrived (like the two sides of Derek Jeter), but regardless, I cannot take any more of his teams.  I liked it better when they lost in the first round.  This year it is the 3rd round.  Nova has more talent; now if it just does not choke.

UNC v Gonzaga: Just cut and paste the above Nova v Duke for this game.  Cannot stand Carolina, Heels, Blue, etc, although less the players and more the coach.  Zags are Jesuits — the most inclusive of all the Catholic sects.  They cannot win, but I will root for them.

Syracuse v Oklahoma: Blake Griffin?  Not enough against Syracuse, but watch how Coach Capel parlays the success of Blake into a new contract or gig next year.  See Beasley and Kansas State last year for comparison.  Personally, would like to see Blake move on, but unlikely.

(Oh yeah – gratuitous Cheerleader photo)

Back from LATAM

Well, Yes MSG got back from LATAM just in time to see that the sportsworld has gone rather crazy.  The NCAA Tourney was about to start and:

• Missouri won the Big 12
• Mississippi State won the SEC
• Purdue won the Big 1o
• USC won the Pac 10

Huh?

And the first few days of the Tourney have produced exactly one interesting upset — Siena with some late 3s to down Ohio State University.  And even as I write this, I am watching my adopted hometown UW Huskies play and ugly game against Purdue, which is 10-6 after 8 minutes.  Um, no one is tuning in for 50-30 — so hope they pick up the pace.

Figure I will post after we get to Sweet 16.  In the interim, I have to ask how A-Rod actually justifies paying an army of advisors who dole out the following advice:

1. You are seen with a stripper, so follow that up with a tryst with Madonna and then get divorced
2. Take steroids, then go through a series of lies, then weak apologies, then accuse the respected journalist of breaking into your home
3. Pose in Details Magazine

If you missed this photo layout, here is just a single sample:

Just the thing to help your image with the skeptical public and your macho teammates.  What a narcissistic idiot.  This is worse than Tom Brady and the Goat.

The only good that comes from these types of photos is increaing my female readership.