In My Defense or How Terrible I Am At Picking The Tourney

Well in hindsight I should have went with St Mary's instead of BYU in the final four I guess. I bitched about how weak the South bracket was and instead tried to drag a mediocre team out of a much better West bracket. Well this isn't the first time The Church of Latter Day Saints has disappointed me and I'm sure it won't be the last!

Once again my homer picks blew up in my face, immediately. I will say this though, Marquette's bounce from the tourney was not because of lack of effort, Washington has played phenomenally thus far. Seriously, after they beat Marquette I said there was no way they would win another game, then they just beat down New Mexico. Wisconsin? They fucking stunk it up, both games. Got extremely lucky to get out of the first round and then played exactly the same the second round and deservedly were bounced out.

My biggest surprises of the tourney thus far?

Purdue, I really thought they had no chance to get to the sweet 16 and I still think they get murdered by Duke, but to win two tourney games without Hummel has been very surprising.

Obviously Kansas going down. I kind of had a feeling they might lose, but in the second round to Northern Iowa? No fucking way. I was thinking maybe Ohio St or a Final Four game.

The Big East sucking ass. I might have to stop all my crowing I do every year about how awesome the Big East is as a conference, they didn't even look pedestrian this year, they looked awful. It's up to Syracuse and WVU to redeem them.

Everything else was pretty much run of the mill for tourney, there's gonna be some big upsets, gonna be some little ones. I knew better than to praise Minnesota, but at least I anti-jinxed them. Other than that it's just been my homer picks and Big East bias that really cost me in my bracket. Which is why I hardly ever do these fucking things for money anymore, I've managed to eliminate almost all of my bias from fantasy sports, but I just can't do it when I'm picking my brackets. Oh well, my champion is still alive, Go UK!

NCAA picks!

I know nobody probably cares at this point, but I figured fuck it, someone had to help break up Juice's stranglehold on posting.

So here we go!

I'll start by saying I have a Final Four pick playing right now. That's right... BYU. Why BYU? Their offensive and defensive efficiency ratings are solid, top 20 for both. They don't turn the ball over, they bomb from behind the arc, my only knock on them is that they haven't played anyone. Wait that's a pretty big knock... Nobody said this was an exact science right?

In the East I have a repeat regional final from 2003 with Kentucky, Marquette and Wisconsin all making the sweet 16. I really wanted to pick the play in game for the Final Four to be between Wisconsin and Marquette, but I just couldn't do it. I have Kentucky coming out of the East, but of course since cheaters always get what they deserve, I'm sure Bucky will end up stomping them. I could easily see Wisconsin or Marquette coming out of this bracket. No love to West Virginia, New Mexico sucks.

Midwest is not a very interesting region, I had a couple small upsets in first round, G Tech and SD State, but after that it gets pretty run of the mill. I really didn't want Kansas to come out of that bracket and into my final, but when you look at the numbers and their record, it's tough not to pick them. Ohio State is a sexy pick if Turner can take over a couple games in a row. Michigan State sucks, Maryland is blah and G'Town has too many flaws to challenge Ohio St or Kansas.

South is also kinda boring, Duke got a fucking cake walk to the Final Four, but I did get to put Utah St and St Mary's in my sweet 16. Nova is an over rated 2, Purdue is a limping 4, Duke and Baylor in my elite eight. I fucking hate Duke and I hate the NCAA bracket deciders for giving them this walk. It's an outrage to be perfectly honest. Bullshit! My only consolation for this is that the Tar Heels missed the tourney this year.

The bottom half of the West bracket is REALLY interesting to me. I have Minnesota winning their first game and I really wanted to pick them to win a second game, but I just couldn't do it. Kansas St is really good and I think it may have been dumb of me to pick BYU over them and then have BYU run to the Final Four, but fuck it, all 1 and 2 seeds is a boring bracket to pick and I already had 3 1 seeds in. Pitt is beatable, Butler is a scary 5 seed I think, Vanderbilt, who did they play?

My Final Four is BYU, Kansas, Duke and Kentucky, my final is Kentucky and Kansas and my champion is Kentucky! Once I got to Elite Eight my bias's took over, they always do!

New Award?

I'm pretty sure that Richard became the first owner in OJSFA history to draft a kicker who was suspended by the league four weeks later for use of a banned stimulant. I am personally holding Richard and the "A-Rodg's Grapefruit" staff responsible for their obvious role as well. I don't think it is a coincidence that he was cut a mere two weeks after the draft, and a mere 9 days before his suspension. League officials are continuing their investigation, and may lay down sanctions on the franchise.

Problem with creating a new award for "First Kicker Suspended for use of a Banned Stimulant" is that it isn't likely to happen again. So maybe it can be a special award, like a lifetime achievement award or the courage award, that is always given out at those other bullshit awards shows.

In other news, BET has agreed to televise the 4th annual OJSFA Awards Banquet, hosted by Scorpio Babers, in the coveted 4 a.m. timeslot on a cold night in January. Unfortunately, we are spending all of the profits on white table linens, gift bags and appearance fees for presenters, so there will be none to share with the rest of you assholes. Al Cowlings, Leslie Nielsen and that dude that played Cochroach on "The Cosby Show" have also committed as presenters. The Jackson 4 have signed on as musical guest.

Stupid Comment

Just wanted to comment something I read in the Wisconsin State Journal recently. Sports columnist Tom Oates wrote an article on the Packers/He situation where he said trading He was the "wrong move." I have no problem with that. Oates is entitled to his opinion.

What I have a problem with is a statement he made comparing He and Rodgers. Oates said, "He's infinitely more experienced than Rodgers and, despite His age, more gifted athletically." What the fuck? What is the measurement used here? Athletically, the only standard you could argue in He's favor is arm strength. And from what I've heard current Packers say, that's a toss up. Is Oates saying He has more mobility? That's fucking ridiculous.