I think the world of sports could take a cue from the world of politics (never thought I’d say that) and offer write-in ballots to our NCAA Tournament brackets.
I’m writing in Monmouth as the #11 seed in the South over Wichita St. and Vanderbilt, hoping for a brokered convention when those delegates are counted.
Why it’s called Champ Week these days and not Championship Week I could not tell you. (Shorter hashtag?)
Regardless, the week leading up to the NCAA Tournament remains one of the best weeks of the sports year.
Most of all it’s fun to see who’s in what conference these days.
Dear Monmouth Hawks:
I sincerely apologize. That was me jinxing you the other night and I was wrong. Please accept my concession.
Dear Syracuse Orange (nee Orangemen, team of my youth):
If you do not win this afternoon I think Monmouth’s got your at-large bid in the NCAA Tournament.
And I’ll be fine with that.
I’ll admit that after one episode of Season Four of House of Cards I was a bit disappointed. I’d thought the magic was finally gone and I was watching just another show worthy of about a third-rate cable station, one that somehow combined the worst elements of The West Wing and your average soap opera or dime store novel.
Oh, Netflix, you always prove me wrong.
I am now into Season Four and I must say once again I am into it. The folks at Netflix and HOC Inc. are not resting on their laurels and subscription dollars.
Speaking of great TV, that now makes three shows I am currently watching, unheard of in 2016. These days you’ve got Better Call Saul, The People v. O.J. Simpson (which just gets better and better with what’s happening in real life), and the aforementioned HOC. Add in Archer beginning later this month and you’re set for Spring. What is this the 1990s? (And I mean that in a good way.)
But first, tonight, as a little appetizer… Monmouth playing for a spot in the NCAA Tournament? This is a good time to be alive.
One of my two best friends in the world has a birthday tomorrow. He’s the little boy who calls me “Daddy” and tomorrow he’s turning two. He doesn’t know it, but I’m sure he’ll be happy about all the attention.
And cake.
I was told there’d be cake.
It’s been a full decade since the worst day of my life: March 2, 2006, the day my best friend was killed in an automobile accident at the age of 23.
For reasons I can’t explain or perhaps wish to remain ignorant to, the pain of that day somehow feels worse now than it did the day it occurred. For years I’d always thought it would sort of fade or eventually go away.
Nope. I’ve actually become more mad about the day and its consequences every year since. My best explanation is that 10 years living without someone is even worse than 10 years of imagining living without someone. That’s about it.
I like to think even a sad post should end on something positive… so, yeah. I’ve made friends over the past 10 years. Even better, my two best friends actually live with me these days.
And the thing I always tell myself: my life sort of worked out anyway.
You know, despite being born with every advantage in the world.
As one given much, however, I am cursed with wanting everything, and some things you just can’t have. And that is why today’s anniversary is the worst.
Today is Leap Day, an unusual date on our calendar. Here are a few other unusual things that occurred yesterday that made me ponder cosmic alignments this day.
Caps lose.
Whoa. That doesn’t happen often. Is it the playoffs already?
Wizards beat Cavs.
Seriously? Okay, LeBron didn’t play, so it was sort of a gimme, but still.
Hollywood leftists make fun of their own racism.
Nice job, Hollywood, and kudos, Chris Rock. Way to own the lack of black nominees this year. Jokes came early, jokes came often, and they really never stopped. Having viewed not a single one of the eight movies up for Best Picture this year, and having heard of only scant few of the others up for awards, this was pretty much all I was watching for.
Mission accomplished. Bonus day earned.
You’ll remember a few months ago I had the pleasure of spending the afternoon in Frederick, Maryland, seeing some legit minor league baseball with an affable group of baseball devotees (see post of August 3, 2015).
I was more or less a guest that day; the real gang had committed to seeing games all summer at various parks across the country, minor and Major League.
Our ringleader has a blog about his travels and experiences seeing baseball and traveling the country with his son, and you should check it out. The following details their trip to Denver to see the Colorado Rockies in action, and their adventures in the Mile High City. Its thorough description of the history of baseball in Denver is topped only by the personal reports of sightseeing and friendship they encountered.
http://jimkulhawy.blogspot.com/2016/02/rocky-mountain-baseball.html
Last night my local school board—they’re also my employer—voted to cancel school next Tuesday. That’s Presidential Primary Day in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Can’t have the kids in school with all those angry Trump voters roaming the halls!
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind having the day off that day. I just can’t figure out what’s most embarrassing: that we can’t all get along in public buildings; that we can’t find places other than schools in which to vote; or that the thinly-veiled reason behind the change this year is the poorly-coiffed guy I want to be president!
With victories now in consecutive state primaries, it seems Donald Trump should cruise to the Republican nomination for President. (I should probably have picked another word than “cruise.”)
Much depends, of course, on next Tuesday’s “SEC” primary, which includes not only most Southeastern Conference states but my home state of Virginia.
I do not hold much hope for Mr. Trump in the Old Dominion state on March 1. I’ve met the “Republicans” we have here. They’re more likely to write in Bernie Sanders than vote for any of our candidates.
With Republicans like these…