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It did not disappoint

Posted on April 6, 2022 by moc

To summarize Monday’s championship game between Kansas and North Carolina: it did not disappoint.

Shades of 2003, when the Jayhawks fell behind early to my favored team, this time they completed their comeback and will soon hang that 2022 championship banner at Allen Fieldhouse.

To think I was going to go to bed at halftime. Shame, shame.

When KU started the second half like a team ready to win, I knew it was only a matter of time.

And speaking of time, I do love the short turnaround between the end of March Madness and the beginning of the Masters (not sure how Nantz feels about that one). And have we ever had the opening round at Augusta occur on Opening Day of the baseball season?

Seriously, somebody pinch me.

It was epic, and will be re-epic tonight

Posted on April 4, 2022 by moc

Sometimes the buildup to something bound to be amazing is a bit overwhelming, and the event itself never lives up.

But come on, did you really think the Duke-Carolina game Saturday night was going to disappoint?

They’re the Yankees-Red Sox of college basketball, always worthy of primetime, and with the added element of (potentially) Coach Mike Krzyzewski’s final game, the happening had legendary status before tipoff.

Still does.

Which sets up tonight, bound to be epic again, two of the most storied teams in the sport (37 Final Four appearances between them), meeting for a championship yet again, 65 years after they met in one of the most famous finals of all time.

I can’t guarantee triple overtime tonight, but then, you never know.

Gonna be epic

Posted on April 1, 2022 by moc

They are four of the most storied programs in the history of college basketball, and when they face off against one another this weekend we have the possibility for the most epic nights in, well, the history of college basketball.

(Actually this is the NCAA Tournament, so any night can end up the most epic night in the history of college basketball.)

Villanova, Kansas, North Carolina, and Duke together have gone to 61 Final Fours won a combined 17 national championships. Furthermore they’ve combined for 8 of 21 crowns awarded this century, a staggering 38 percent among only these four schools.

It’ll be 9 of 22 as of Monday night, hopefully a shining moment for sports fans like this guy who don’t really care about any of the schools, just want to see awesome basketball.

And for a further discussion, tune in to this week’s broadcast of Math and Musings.

Lousy Smarch weather

Posted on March 30, 2022 by moc

Second day in a row I’ve woken up to temperatures in the 20s. At the end of March.

Remember that old line about in like a lion and out like a lamb?

Well, sometimes it goes out like a lion too.

Actually more like a polar bear as long as we’re changing the metaphor.

Send that one to Bartlett’s.

All kinds of surprises

Posted on March 28, 2022 by moc

I’m still a bit confused as to what happened, but my Twitter feed was rather crowded last night with news of an incident between comedian Chris Rock and actor Will Smith.

At the Oscars.

And my first thought was, The Oscars were tonight?

They seemed like really good predictions

Posted on March 25, 2022 by moc

Today’s episode of Math and Musings features some hot takes on this year’s NCAA Tournament.

I recorded it several days ago, of course, and half the teams I mention today have since been knocked out.

That’s March Madness for ya.

Back on the old beat

Posted on March 23, 2022 by moc

Spring has sprung, and baseball has begun.

That means we begin again…

the Jacob deGrom watch.

Yesterday’s spring training outing? Two innings, one hit, five strikeouts. Wow.

Alas, oh for oh at the plate.

Calling it now: deGrom DHs for self at some point in 2022.

No complaints

Posted on March 21, 2022 by moc

Make that six nights in a row of keeping me up, but no complaints here.

One item to note…

Has anyone ever pointed out the irony in the term “sleeper” when used to describe an upstart NCAA tournament team?

Sleeper does not describe anyone who pays attention to this tournament.

Tourney never disappoints

Posted on March 18, 2022 by moc

Move over, Mr. November. The new greatest holiday sports moment is Notre Dame’s midnight miracle of St. Patrick’s Day 2022. Damn that was nice.
Keeping me up three nights in a row is the tourney that never sleeps…

and never disappoints.

This is why I can’t get work done in March

Posted on March 16, 2022 by moc

I used to think the “First Four” contests were fake games designed only to bring in more money for TV and/or the NCAA.

I still do. But damned if they don’t have me hooked from tip to midnight.