FILE - In this March 18, 2015, file photo, the NCAA logo is at center court as work continues at The Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh, for the NCAA college basketball second and third round games. A federal judge in Chicago gave preliminary approval Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016, to a reworked head-injury settlement between thousands of former college athletes and the NCAA that includes a $70 million fund to test for brain trauma. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic, File) First, let's do some housecleaning stuff.
Here are the first-out, last-in entries (and please if you submitted an entry and do not see your name, let us know - we had some email issues earlier this week):
Johnny 5 - Virginia; Michigan
James B - Oregon; Stephen F. Austin
Brandon E - Oregon and Wichita state
Dawg747 - Virginia; Wichita State
Sportsfan - Oregon; VCU
Billy in Brainerd - UNC; Pittsburgh
McPell - UNC; Pittsburgh
Mark Wyatt - Oregon; Wichita State
Chas - Oregon; Wichita State
Jomo - Virginia; Pitt
Todd C. - Virginia; Gonzaga
5-at-10 - Oregon; Wichita State
Mrs. 5-at-10 - Oregon; Michigan
Terry - Oregon; Gonzaga
scole023 - UNC; Gonzaga
Jon M. - Kansas VCU
David B. - Oregon; Arkansas-LR
Pop - Oregon; Northern Iowa
War Eagle Mike - UNC; UTC
Bob - Virginia; Gonzaga
As for the week's questions, try these:
--Rushmore of Patricks and Kurt Russell movies: Sports Patricks - Patrick Ewing, Patrick Roy, Danica Patrick and Patrick Peterson; non-Sports Patricks - St. Patrick, Neil Patrick Harris, Patrick Henry and Patrick Swayze. Rushmore of Kurt Russell movies: Escape from New York; Tombstone; Miracle and Best of Times.
--Goose Gossage has every right to say what he wants, but he was more Bryce Harper/Matt Harvey in his day than Mike Trout, so it rings hollow. Also, the old-school approach of baseball includes throwing 90-plus mph fastballs at guys, so there's that. (It will be interesting to see what happens when a beanball war causes someone to get seriously injured if there are civil or legal ramifications. And we said will, because it will happen at some point.) We also think adding fun to any game - within reason - is a good thing. This is supposed to be entertainment right?
--Rushmore of Godfather quotes (this may be the most impossible Rushmore ever by the way): "Make him an offer he can't refuse;" "Leave the gun, take the canoli:" "You can act like a man;" "But I'm a superstitious man. And if some unlucky accident should befall him - If he should get shot in the head by a police officer, or if he should hang himself in his jail cell - or if he's struck by a bolt of lightning, them I'm going to blame some of the people in this room, and that I do not forgive. But, that aside, let me say that I swear, on the souls of my grandchildren, that I will not be the one to break the peace we've made here today."
--Rushmore of buddy, road trip movies: "Planes, Trains and Automobiles" "The Hangover" "Dumb and Dumber" and "Smokey and the Bandit."
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From Ted
Man, what's your Rushmore of NCAA tournament moments? Thanks and love the radio show too.
Ted -
This one feels familiar, and we're pretty sure we have this question about this time each year.
That said, it's never a bad topic around the tournament.
The Rushmore of major NCAA tournament moments are Laettner's shot, Valvano looking for someone to hug, Keith Smart's game-winner and the last 20 seconds of the UNC title Jordan's freshman year.
That leaves off a ton of dramatic finishes - Bryce Drew's game-winner comes to mind - but man what a dance.
Thoughts?
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From MocTastic
They say the NCAA selection committee is above board and doesn't cut back room deals, so why not televise it live? It would have huge ratings. Are they afraid of what we would see, if not, then what is to lose?
Additionally, Coach Foster's comments on the NCAA women's tournament allowing top teams to play at home. Hasn't the time come to quit this or is it the almighty dollar winning again to maximize the gate by having the home games?
MT -
Completely agree with televising the selection show.
And considering the rotten ratings the two-hour debacle that was the selection show - after the released bracket, mind you - it will be interesting to see if CBS pushes for this.
Heck, in today's multiplatform world, CBSsports.com could simulcast it. As much as I've bemoaned college hoops around these parts, we think the Bilas Plan and televising the selection process combined could add more value to the regular season and reconnect trust to a sports public that thinks college hoops is pretty doggone dirty.
And, since we concur that their would be interest and in turn ratings, the only reason the NCAA would say no to a buck is control. Here's the NCAA baseline of like bucks, big bucks, HUGE bowl game bucks.
As for the women, they tried that a few years ago and it flopped. Fairness would dictate to play these at neutral sites, but I'm not sure there are enough neutral sites interested in hosting first-round games.
And beyond the dollar aspect of it - the NCAA could afford to put these at neutral sites, after all (but never forget the baseline of like above) - while it's certainly not fair, appearance also come into play on some of these first-round sites.
Let's say UTC-Mississippi State followed by Michigan State-Belmont first-round pod was being played in Norfolk, Va. What do you think the walk-up attendance would be?
In truth, the bigger travesty in the seeding/site dynamic is for Michigan State, which is the higher seed than Miss. State and would have to beat the host team if the seeds hold true.
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From Scott
I have a bet with a friend of mine that the Braves won't win more than 72 games. Now that we are getting close to the season he wants to negotitate odds.
Should I do it and what would be good stakes?
Scott -
(Editor's note: After writing Scott back, right now it's just a fairly sizable amount of money.)
Well, in general principle, we would not renegotiate terms. A bet's a bet is a bet. That's one of the fundamental laws that govern our day-to-day society. In fact, of all the "There are two types of people in this world..." cliches the most striking may be there are two types of people in this world, those who honor bets and those that don't.
First, we can only assume that your buddy is unaware how dreadful these Braves are going to be, and has since learned more about the awfulness of the team he's counting on not to lose 90 games. (We think these Braves could easily lose 100 considering if we asked the question, "What is the strength of this team?" we're not sure what the answer is.)
Knowing that you have a monetary investment already, maybe you juggle the odds a touch for him adding an embarrassing add to it. For example, if the bet is currently for say $500, maybe you give him a 2-to-1 option (meaning he puts of $250) for adding the caveat of getting to name every fantasy team he ever plays.
We're not a big fan of the "betting a tattoo" option, but that extreme is out there too. Depending on his fandom, though, there's always the fun option of dressing for a rival in a big moment scenario. (It would be worth the odds above for some of our Alabama friends to be dressed in all Auburn gear for a football Saturday. Good times.)
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Indiana forward Juwan Morgan blocks a shot by Chattanooga guard Dee Oldham, right, during the first half of a first-round men's college basketball game in the NCAA Tournament, Thursday, March 17, 2016, in Des Moines, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)From several of you last night
Does getting waxed by IU change your thoughts on the Mocs season?
Gang -
No, not really. IU was better - or at least played much, Much, MUCH better than we expected - and the blowout was disappointing.
But this bunch set records in a year that could have been an emotional roller coaster considering another coaching change and the fact that the Mocs lost their best player in December.
UTC will be loaded next year, and on the bright sides of a one-and-done NCAA trip are that a) at least you made an NCAA tourney trip and b) it feels like 95-plus-percent now that McCall and Co. will be back next season.
If anything, it knocks the Mocs' season grade from a near-perfect 99.9 to a 98, and each is a high A to even an A+, you know?