Final March 6 pack

1-The Final Four is set.  In State battle with Louisville and Kentucky in one semifinal….some Midwest flavor in a Big Ten-Big 8…er..12 showdown with Kansas and Ohio State.  Who is playing Monday Night and who cuts down the nets?

Matt – I’m going to say that Pitino is going to get the best of Calipari and Louisville knocks off the ‘Cats.  Kansas wins on the other side and Monday Night Bill Self is cutting down the nets.  (**this is the scenario my boy picked on his logo bracket-so I’m hoping this happens)

Wendt – Ohio State vs Kentucky and I'm gonna pick an upset and say the Buckeyes are cutting down the nets.

Painter – Kentucky will beat Ohio State

Blake – Ohio State and Kentucky.  Kentucky is still by far the best team in the Nation, the only thing that stops them is themselves and if they were to have an off night.

BSox –Gut is telling me Kentucky vs ohio st for the title, but I have this weird feeling about Louisville, and maybe this is their year. I’ll go Kentucky though, I picked them to win, and not going to give up now

Majors – Kentucky beats the Cardinals; Rock Chalk Jayhawk beats the suckeyes, and The Kentucky Wildcats beat the Jayhawks

2-The Iowa basketball seasons are over.  In 3 words or less describe the instate seasons and future of the men’s basketball programs.

Matt –  IOWA:  Getting MAD again!        IOWA ST: Keep Transfers Coming     UNI: Damn you McDermott     DRAKE: Future looks better         

Wendt –  IOWA: Future is bright   IOWA ST: Future is unclear   UNI: Future is average   DRAKE: Future is below average     

Painter –  IOWA: Future is bright  IOWA ST: Need high schoolers  UNI: Roller coaster ride  DRAKE: Cotlar loves you  

Blake –  IOWA: Fun Again  IOWA ST: Awesome Run  UNI: Gotta start improving   DRAKE: Who?

BSox –  IOWA: improvement, toughness, crowds  IOWA ST: transfers, recruiting, magic UNI: disappointment, future, bright  DRAKE: ummmmm, wha, who

Majors –  IOWA: On the rise  IOWA ST: does anyone care? UNI: Still hanging around DRAKE: Ummm, about them...         

3-Des Moines had a successful showing at the women’s regional final that may have featured Pat Summit’s final game.  Will this get Des Moines a Men’s first round game?

Matt – I would think packing in 17,000 for the session for a WOMEN’S Regional and selling out the NCAA Wrestling Championships would be enough to get a Men’s First Round site here.  I flipped on the Fresno Regional final last night and ESPN wouldn’t show the crowd at all…like no one was there.  NCAA give us a MENS TOURNAMENT!  Des Moines will sell out!

Wendt – Not next year but I could see Des Moines getting one in the next 5 years

Painter – I'd like to think so but there needs to be some sort of hotel actually connected to Wells Fargo apparently. 

Blake – I believe so, good job Des Moines!

BSox – It’s a step in the right direction, I’d say next 10 years we have a good chance of seeing it. They need to get more stuff to do around the arena to really up the shot.

Majors – Living here in FL I am not in tune with the DSM sports scene. However, it seems they are picking it up rather well. It would be cool to see the state get a 1st round game!

4-Tim Tebow is now on the J-E-T-S JETS! JETS! JETS!  He apparently picked New York over Jacksonville.  Good move for Tebow and the Jets?

Matt – The Jets are going to sell jersey’s and cause controversy when Sanchez goes out and throws picks.  I thought Jacksonville would have been a better fit for Tebow.

Wendt – I'm still not sure why New York thought it was a good idea to even be in the conversation and why didn't Tebow want Jacksonville? Still alot of questions unanswered if you ask me

Painter – I don't think so.  The Jets don't need him and he's not real good with the media.  He would have been better off going to a team with a creative offense that could fit him into certain situations.

Blake – Who cares, fun for everyone else to sit back and watch the drama!

BSox – Not at all. Jets are a mess at the moment. The first time Sanchez has a bad game they’ll be calling for Tebow. It makes no sense bringing in a guy like Tebow to an environment where you have a QB that isn’t the overall leader of the locker room. It’s going to be a huge head ache for them this season. But maybe Sanchez works way harder because of Tebow …

Majors – I think it is an okay one for each side. I do think it shows a lot that the owner, coach, & GM are in Fl when the presser happened. I know the meetings are here, but they could have arranged it. I am a firm believer in the statement: "If you have 2 QB's, you have no QB's."

5-The Saints got punished heavily by the NFL.  Fair punishment or did Goodell go too far?

Matt – This was a statement punishment meant to have a ripple effect throughout the NFL down to College and then to High School.  Saints fans shouldn’t cry like they are, they just got caught.  Then the Cover Up is worse then the crime.

Wendt – Goodell seems to be softening a little bit on Sean Payton but the punishment was fair in my opinion

Painter – Goodell wanted to send a message which he did. Kind of hard to say he went too far or not. 

Blake – Not at all.  I think everyone had an idea that bounties for good clean hits were going on, but money for Cart-Offs is barbaric and wrong in a civilized society.  Goodell had to leave no doubt that such activity would never happen again.

BSox –Completely fair, maybe not enough. Paying someone for a good play, good hit, getting a fumble stuff like that isn’t a big deal to me. Going out and trying to ruin someone’s career/life is a whole other issue. I almost go with the punter who says kick them out of the league

Majors – The Aints... I would say they got busted. I think the penalty is very harsh, however, they had multiple chances to stop the program as well as be honest with Goodell. They did neither. He has shown he hates being lied to, and he punished them as he saw fit. Now with them talking to The Big Tuna, who knows what will happen. I think losing Payton hurts, I think losing Loomis really hurts, though. Losing a GM for 8 weeks, including the draft? Ouch. I know they will find ways to talk, but they better not get caught.

6-WRESTLEMANIA is this weekend.  The Rock vs John Cena!  Finally! What is your favorite Wrestlemania moment?

Matt – Favorite match is WM3 with Ricky Steamboat vs Macho Man…one of the best matches I’ve seen.  Also WM6 with Hogan vs the Warrior at Sky Dome.  I think Jericho-Punk steals the show this year.

Wendt – Hulk Hogan slamming Andre the Giant was awesome

Painter – Wrestlemania X8 in Toronto (2002).  Rock vs Hollywood Hulk Hogan.  The original WWF/WWE superstar passing the proverbial torch to the "People's Champion".  Plus Jericho and Triple H had a good match for the Undisputed Heavyweight Championship.

Blake – Um, huh?

BSox –Shawn michaels vs the undertaker…or pretty much any shawn michaels match. Those were the best matches. He sells so well, and tells such a great story throughout the match. I still consider him the greatest wrestler ever, and haven’t watched a ton since he left

Majors – Wow, haven't watched wrestling in years. Fav moment? Probably the original one. I remember being at my buddy's house watching it. Good times!

A Mad 6 Pack!

1-Everyone fills out a bracket, who’s your pick in the Final Four, and your Champion?

Matt – I think this bracket will be a lot of chalk, the top 16 teams will advance.  So with that there will probably be a lot of upsets.  My final four Kentucky, Ohio State, Michigan State, Kansas.  Championship for Sparty.

Painter – Why would I disclose that this early in the week?  I'm not giving other people a chance to see my picks until our ESPN bracket opens to everyone (let's just say a Big 10 team is favored).

Wendt – Missouri, Duke, Syracuse, Kansas. Syracuse wins it all

Blake – I've changed it a dozen times, especially with Fab Melo now being out.  Give me Kentucky, Michigan State, Florida State, and in the Midwest, I have no idea.  I have Creighton in one of my brackets

Majors – Well since I have a 1/68 shot, I guess it is an easy guess, right? I am thinking Kentucky will take it. They are solid, but I worry a little about them breaking down mentally. I would love to see Mizzou win it all. They will have a tough time beating Mich St since it is March, and, well, Izzo doesn't lose in March. I have FL St & UNC as my other two. FL St is on a roll, and are not afraid of anyone. I think Syracuse loses to Vandy too.

2-Iowa State gets the #8 seed and will play defending champion UConn.  If they get past the Huskies, #1 Kentucky is waiting.  To be the Man, wooo, you got to beat the man.  Crystal Ball the Clones?

Matt – The Huskies aren’t the Huskies from last year and I think they get ISU.  It’s going to be close I think.  If ISU can get past UConn I think for 20 mins then they can put a scare into the Wildcats, but that’s about it.  Good year for the Clones, keep Royce nose clean and they are sitting ok for next year.

Painter – 1st round exit.  Sorry, can't see them beating UConn. 

Wendt – UConn 78 Iowa State 67

Blake – I said all along they could be a Sweet 16 if they get hot.  I did not see them getting such a tough path though.  Doubt they get to the round of 16 anymore

Majors – They will lose to UConn. I think they could win, no doubt, they are a good team. But again, it's March, & UConn doesn't lose easily in March

3-Matt Gatens senior season lives on!  Iowa will host Dayton in the NIT.  How good is this for the program?

Matt – Really good for the program.  Any Iowa fan who says it’s not, is smoking.  Yes its not the big dance but its post season and more practice and Fran could build off this!

Painter – This is excellent for the program.  It gets some of the more casual fans interested again, it gives the players more practice time, and it's not as high-pressure as the NCAA tournament.  Iowa should beat Dayton in Carver-Hawkeye but who knows what happens next

Wendt – More practice time and a postseason tournament experience? Not a bad thing for this young team one bit

Blake – Uh, awesome.  Awesome for the fans who got a road home game.  Awesome for the team to get more practices and post season experience.  Awesome for Gatens, and awesome for White, and Basabe who had stellar round 1 games

Majors – I was really worried, but it seems they are playing pretty well. I think they will be ok

4-The Selection Committee gives a potential second round matchup of Doug McDermott vs Harrison Barnes.  Do you see Creighton giving the Heels any problems?

Matt – I’m really hoping the Bluejays win so we get this matchup.  I think McDermott would out play Barnes, but he’d have to for the Jays to have a chance.  Barnes is on a team of NBA players.  UNC will win though. 

Painter – Nope, Creighton has been very inconsistent in that last part of the season.  Creighton may be lucky to even get to the 2nd round.

Wendt – Nope. I actually laugh at the Missouri Valley Conference whiners who think Creighton got hosed

Blake – Absolutely.  I'm not sold on North Carolina

Majors – I don't think Creighton will have a huge chance against UNC. It is one game, though, so any team can win. I love March Madness!!! 

5-Peyton Manning is no longer a Colt, who benefited more from the 14 year campaign, Peyton, the Colts or the City of Indianapolis?  Where will Peyton land too?

Matt – How could they not all be winners?  Peyton has one of the greatest QB careers so far.  The Colts got a brand new Stadium.  They both got a Super Bowl Title.  Indianapolis got a new stadium that hosts more than just Colts games, they get the Super Bowls, Big Ten Championship games and Final Fours.  Everybody won.  I think Manning will be a Cardinal.  Maybe getting Wayne and Clark to follow him to join Fitzgerald.

Painter – The city of Indianapolis came out best in that relationship.  It hosted a Super Bowl because of the new stadium which was helped by the Colts' success.  That alone was huge.  I also think the new stadium played a part in hosting the Big Ten football championship this year.  Indy will forever be known for the Brickyard but the 2000's Colts will be right there with it.

Wendt – Manning built the stadium and helped win a Super Bowl. Manning will be a Denver Bronco this season

Blake – Peyton would have been Peyton in a lot of places.  Indy won for having him there.  They have a multi purpose facility/dome, and a Super Bowl

Majors – I think everyone was a winner w/ Peyton in Indy. It seems like the donkeys, (Raider Nation & I hate the donkeys), are the favorites right now. Kinda surprised he would go there, cold weather, outdoors, etc. They do have some solid young WRs, and John Fox has no clue about the offense, so he will just hand over the keys to Peyton. As a Raiders fan, I do think it would be fun to play him twice a year. I know, sounds crazy, but I like the idea of it. Besides, he only has 2-3 years left. And the donkey faithful wanted Tebow, well, they got him. Now they want Peyton. What about your beloved Tebow? Hmmm?

6-St Paddy’s day is Saturday, do you go green for the day, including blood-alcohol content level?

Matt – I will not be digesting green beer.  I tend to stay in on St Paddys day.  To many unskilled drinkers seem to come out of the cracks. 

Painter – I don't go out of my way to do anything special.  I may have a beer or 2 but not much more than that.  I just don't get wrapped up into it

Wendt – I've never done a massive drinkfest for St Paddy's Day......doubt it changes this year (although I am attending my first ever Iowa Barnstormers game)

Blake – I have drill.  2 more left after this month

Majors – I'm Irish heritage, of course I go green!!!