Friday 6 Pack

1-Junior Seau, the Hall of Fame LB from the Chargers (and Dolphins and Patriots) committed suicide with a gunshot to the chest last Wednesday.  Nothing has been found that it was due to concussions and NFL head injuries, though people are connecting the dots.  First thoughts of Junior’s career and lasting image in the NFL and also in your opinion how will this affect the image of violence and head injuries in the NFL?

Matt – Junior to me always looked like he was having fun playing football.  He’s a Charger in my mind too, #55 pumping his fist in Jack Murphy Stadium.  As for concussions, the dots are lining up to much and I think it puts a focus on the NFL to improve maybe the helmets and maybe take some precautions more so too.  Also as a parent it makes me wonder about letting my kid play football too.  I want him to if he wants too but also got to think of his health.

Painter – Seau was one of the greatest linebackers to ever play the game.  I would have liked to see him walk away sooner but that's gotta be easier said than done.  Sadly the head injuries and violence is part of the game.  Most fans like football for the violence rather than the strategy.  I'm becoming more in favor of dropping all forms of tackle football and going to more of a flag football type of game.  Not only would it cut down on the violence but also the unnatural weight gain

Majors – As a Raiders fan, I have a strong respect for Junior. He was one of those guys I knew I should not like, but loved him anyway. I will always remember him as a great player, great man. We never know the demons some people face.  As for the NFL, I don't think much will change. It is a true barbarian sport. The only way to get the injuries and such under control is to go to a flag football system, which won't happen

Zach – It may make the NFL think about protecting its players more, but I think that has already been in place for a couple years now

2-The Saints Bounty Gate had punishment handed down last week with the biggest punishment on Jonathan Vilma getting a year.  Feel this is too much for Vilma?  Just right or not enough?

Matt – I think this is right and just.  With safety being the biggest thing now in the NFL’s front office, this came at the wrong time for Vilma.  You can’t go Boba Fett on people and their lively hood.

Painter – There's been so much going on with the bounty deal that I don't even know what to think about it anymore

Majors – I live just a couple hours from NOLA, so I am in the middle of 'Aints territory. it is blowing up around here, all types of controversy. I think the year is pretty harsh, I expected 6-8 games. It will be interesting to see what comes of the appeals. I don't want to hear the players complain anymore about Goodell hearing the appeals, they are the ones who approved it in the CBA

Zach – It's more toward 'just right' if anything else, but a season-long suspension is a serious and hefty one

3-Kentucky is wanting to shut down the basketball rivalry with Indiana (after losing in Bloomington last year) unless it’s in a bigger venue that is at a neutral setting.  How is this good for either school?  The fans?  And an already watered down regular college basketball season?

Matt – C’mon. The college basketball regular season is already watered down. This ticks me off as much as Iowa and Iowa State not wanting to play at UNI or Drake. How are these decisions good for the fans, and the already terrible regular season? I don’t want to see any more games by big schools vs schools for the blind and deaf. Give us big great matchups. I loved when Iowa played UNC and Duke in the late 80s and early 90s. This is total crap and a BIG middle finger to the fans.

Painter – With the 1-and-done NBA entry rule college basketball has become pretty watered-down as it is.  If Kentucky wants to shut down rivalries then they have that power.  It's almost like the non-conference football schedules

Majors – Eh, it stinks, I guess, but I am not much of a college basketball guy anyway. The players come and go so fast it is hard to keep track. I enjoy the tourney and some rivalry games, but that is about it

Zach – It's not good for either school. Kentucky is just bitter that it lost at a true road site. Indiana was the better team that night, and this proves that Calipari is a bitter SOB about many things

4-Mariano Rivera’s career may be over after blowing his ACL in Kansas City shagging flies pregame.   Who is more responsible for the Yankees dominant run from the mid 90s to their last championship a couple years ago, Rivera or El Capitan…Derek Jeter?

Matt – Apparently this is normal activity for him but I’m shocked he did this.  I hope his career isn’t over but I am glad I got to see him in NYC and come out to Enter the Sandman.  As for the most important figure, it’s clearly Mariano.  He made (most) games for the  Yanks a 7 inning game.

Painter – Jeter by far.  Rivera only pitched one inning every few games while Jeter played every inning of every game during the playoffs.

Majors – I am a firm believer in everyday players having a big role in the games. Mo is a great pitcher, and was available more than a starter, but Jeter was the rock of that team. I am so against pitchers being MVP's it is ridiculous. I do like Rivera though, and wish him a speedy recovery

Zach – Rivera, Rivera, Rivera. He has played the equivalent of two full seasons in the postseason and his numbers rival that of a video game. Absolutely dominant

5- Bob Bowlsby took a new position as Big XII commissioner.  The conference is going through change, Texas A&M and Mizzou are leaving (marking the 4^th orig Big XII member to leave) and West Virginia & TCU are coming in.  Put yourself in his shoes…to make the Big XII stable and on par with the SEC and Big Ten what do you do?

Matt – First thing I’d do is talk to Texas and tell them this is 9+1,this is a ten team conference.  Then you have to look at adding 2 more teams to get the football championship and the first one I’d make is to Notre Dame.  Force their hand with the new National Championship playoff that is coming.  That would be a big statement and also hurt the Big Ten who tried to get the Irish for years.  Add them with Louiville…Split the divisions to be Texas/TCU/Tech/Baylor/ND/Louisville and OU/OKState/ISU/KU/KSU/WVU.  After that go to NBC/NBC Sports and negotiate a TV deal and show the mothership that there are other outlets who want college football.  But they made a play this week to extend contract with ABC/Fox through 2025. 

Painter – First and foremost take the power away from Texas.  One school cannot be making the decisions for the rest of the conference.  2nd get rid of the Longhorn Network and replace it with a conference network and make it available to everyone in the country

Majors – Institute a new rule in the Big XII football. Teams MUST play defense, haha. They are actually not a bad conference, their lower teams are on par or above the bottom dwellers of the SEC. (Kentucky, anyone?) I think he has to continue to keep the football strong, and hope the basketball can remain popular as well

Zach – Not much he can do until his conference starts being competitive with SEC and B1G

6- The voting is over…the pewter family is dead, or melted down and the new Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk trophy is a wood base, Herky and Cy in a corn field holding up a football.  Do you like the trophy that was fan decided?  Would you have done something different, or do you want to see the old one back?

Matt – This is a better choice than the Pewter family, but really I don’t know if I like it yet.  What happens when ISU changes their logo and Cy every 5 years, is it interchangeable?  I thought a legacy trophy with Nile Kinnick and Jack Trice would have been cool.  Or a Barn with the scores every year on the side.  That’d be cool.  But what we got I’d take the old one back.

Painter – I still like B-Sox's Cornbelt Championship.  I've never seen a rivalry trophy that's actually a championship belt.  At least this one is much better than what we saw last fall

Majors – I think the new one is ok. It represents the state and the teams well. Better than the family one

Zach – What was wrong with the old one? Don't change something that isn't not working. I don't hate the new trophy, but this drama could have been avoided if it was simply left alone

Friday 6 Pack

1-Bubba Watson out dueled Louis Ousthiezen in two sudden death holes to win the green jacket in a wild weekend at Augusta.  Phil, Kuchar, Freddie and a couple others had shares of the lead this weekend before Bubba won.   Final thoughts on this year’s Masters?  And should Bubba be a favorite heading into the US Open?

Matt – Saturday was great with 7 different leaders.  I wish Freddie would have been there Sunday, but the last 9 holes were amazing with Phil, Kuchar, Hanson Louis and Bubba all making shots.  I was rooting for Kuchar, his shot on 16 hurt.  Glad Bubba got it in the playoff and it was a great scene afterwards too when he won.

Wendt – I'll be honest, I watched a few holes but that was it. I guess I'm all about USA USA USA when it comes to golf tournaments

Painter – I love that guys like Bubba, Louis, Rory, Keegan, and the other youngsters are winning these major tournaments.  I've said for a while that it's good for the young guns to win tournaments while Tiger and Phil struggle.  It shows the sport has a future.  In no way should Bubba be the favorite for a tournament that's over a month away, but a Master's win sure doesn't hurt his chances

Blake – I'm glad that Bubba was able to pull it out.  I don't know how you could root against him knowing his recent adoption and going for his first major.  That second shot out of the woods and onto the green was one of the most amazing golf shots I've seen.  And no, he is not the favorite, just because there are no favorites in golf anymore.  It'll be someone else, just like the last, what, 14 major's have been

Majors – Bubba! Bubba! Bubba!!! You guys need to listen to me more often, haha! That was a crazy shot ont he 2nd hole of the playoff. I thought the Masters was great this year. I think golf has some great young players, there can be some great rivalries in the near future. As for the Open, I think Bubba could do it. Lots of competition, though...

Silker – I didnt watch it, but i saw the highlights. It looks like a great last round. From Phil to Bubba, to Tiger falling all apart. No Bubba is not the favorite. I dont think  you can really call anyone in the top 10 a favorite at any match anymore.  There is no dominate Tiger of the early 2000s that would win at all costs

2-Bobby Petrino crashed a motorcycle with a 25 year old female friend that he “forgot” about when telling his boss, is now on paid leave from Arkansas.  Will he be coaching next season for Arkansas, and if you were the AD what would you do?

Matt – First off, is anyone surprised?  If you are…WAKE UP.  He will end up being retained I think…why, 21-5. If he was 13-13 he’d be gone.  If I was AD…I’d probably can him, as with Tressel and the Saints, the cover up is worse than the crime.

Wendt – He'll be coaching and honestly, do we know if he and this 25yr old were bumping uglies or not?

Painter – Well we all know that Petrino is no longer employed by Arkansas which was the right decision

Blake – I think I fire him.  It's not the crime, it's the cover up, and this one is brutal.  There was no reason for him to even hold a press conference if there were circumstances that hadn't come out yet.  That means not only is he a filthy liar, he's a stupid one too.  Not the type of person I want leading my program

Majors – See, what ha-ha-had happened was...  and yes, he should be fired. Wonder what her fiancée thinks about all of this? 

Silker – Time shows NO! I would do the same thing. He lied and he deserved to get fired. However he will probably be the Saints coach for 6 games next year

3-I’m going to steal this from the Dan Patrick Show….you can choose to change one of the two, what do you do.  The BCS/College Football Post Season or College Basketball’s One and Done rule?

Matt – Since I love college football more it’d be college football and get a 16 team playoff and then also cut the bowls by 10 and get rid of the 6-6 bowl teams.

Wendt – College Football needs a playoff, so I'd change that in a heartbeat

Painter – I'd change both but the most pressing to me is the football bowl system.  The BCS is horrible and there is no reason a playoff would hurt the game and the students

Blake – I fix the BCS and the football playoff.  I don't mind the One and Done rule from the NBA point of view, it makes for better basketball at that level

Majors – That's easy, College Football. Rotate the bowl games as playoff games, it will be fine. The basketball rule doesn't bug me as much

Silker – BCS. Make it a playoff! One and Done is fine! WE NEED A PLAYOFF!

4-Saturday is Iowa’s spring practice; should Kirk go back to actually having a Spring Game or continue this practice that will still pack thousands of fans into Kinnick Stadium and fans in the parking lot to tailgate?

Matt – I have a lot of memories with my dad going to the spring game and took my kids to the spring practice a few years ago.  I like the game part but hell with the Iowa running backs going down like crazy I’m ready for them to not even be on the field at all.  Give me the game though.

Wendt – I guess if he chooses not to hold a "game" and instead a practice that's his opinion. We really don't need another reason to have a running back get hurt I guess. 

Painter – A game would be more fun for the fans but it's more important to build continuity in your units.  A game would most likely require splitting the players up in some form.  Don't mess with it unless people stop coming

Blake – Does it really matter?  Both are really just practices and pretty vanilla at that

Majors – The Spring Game would be cool. I don't mind the practice, but the game would be fun. The fans will show either way

Silker – Really Iowa Fans, you tailgate for a practice? That is like tailgating for a T-Ball game. Kirk give us a game! show us what you have or don’t have. It’s not like you will be closing the season out with your starting running back anyways so it wouldn’t matter if he got hurt

5-Spring and Summer are around the corner…as a kid what are some of the sports/games you played a lot?

Matt – My buddies and I played a game we called Tennis ball.  It was baseball in the tennis courts so we had a fence, but it also had dodge ball in it where you could chuck the tennis ball at the players too to get them out.  Lotta hours spent playing that. 

Wendt – Baseball, tennis ball (same thing except a tennis ball to hit instead) basketball, tag, hide and go seek, Ghosts in the Graveyard. We were outside doing stuff from sun up till sun down

Painter – We played a lot of home run derby, we're talking from 10 am until 5 or 6 pm Monday through Friday.  In the evenings we'd get back together for video games of some sort

Blake – Baseball!

Majors – Baseball, Wall Ball...

Silker – Loved baseball, it was always fun to go out and play. Other than that, Kick the can and such was always fun as a smaller kid

6-Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw are selling out stadiums this summer with their Brothers Under the Sun tour…best concert(or most fun you’ve had) at and also who do you wanna go see that you haven’t?

Matt – My favorite concert because of most fun was probably Kenny Chesney with Montgomery Gentry at the Mark in the Quad Cities in 2003.  It was on my birthday and a blast just hanging out there and then hitting the district later.  I’d love to go to the Tim & Kenny concert and have friends who are going.  I think an Aldean and a Eric Church show would be a party too! 

Wendt – We saw Garth Brooks in 1997, that was alot of fun. No real concert I "want" to see

Painter – Nine Inch Nails in Minneapolis in 2008 was a great show.  Some of the visual effects were bad ass.  I'm looking forward to LAZERFest this year and getting to see Chevelle, Shinedown, POD, Volbeat, Adelita's Way, and Theory of a Deadman.  Beside those bands I'd love to see Disturbed, Breaking Benjamin, and Smashing Pumpkins

Blake – Most fun is probably when Dave Matthews played Principal Park.  I want to see Jimmy Buffett, but, yeah, I'm not rich

Majors – I am pretty lucky, we have tons of concerts around here. I have seen Kenny 5 times now, Godsmack 4, plus many, many others. I would love to check out Zac Brown Band, Jason Aldean, Three Days Grace..

Silker – Best Concert I have been to is a tie between Garth Brooks in 1999 and Neil Diamond. Both were great performers that kept the crowd in it the whole show! I want to see Coldplay, but I have tickets for them this fall, so I would have to say U2 and Zac Brown Band

A Tradition Unlike Any Other……Your Friday 6 Pack.

1-Kentucky cut down the nets Monday…final thoughts on the 2012 NCAA Basketball Season?

Matt – I liked the resurgence of the Big Ten teams, Iowa getting better is always nice, and Indiana seems to be back.  But this season I don’t think was memorable, I wish players would have to stay 3-4 years if they go to college.  College bball is too much of a tease, you get a taste of these players and then they are gone on NBA benches or NBAD League teams.

Wendt – I have to be honest, I didn't watch a minute of the game Monday night. Can't stand Kentucky and their fans and really don't care a whole lot about Kans.

Painter – Another Kentucky team stacked with potential pros? Anyone wonder why they were the best in the land?  It was good to see the excitement come back to the state of Iowa during the winter

Blake – Better, more entertaining season than the past few, and probably benefited from the NBA lockout with players sticking around for a second season.  Entertaining final game, and the best team won the championship

BSox – Kentucky is GOOD…well was GOOD…you know since the team is moving to the NBA. Otherwise, I thought it was a great season, and a lot of interesting games through. I mean who would have thought duke, and mizzou would go out in the first round? Good times though all the way around

Majors – The right team won. It is rare when a team that offensively talented can also be that unselfish as well as that defensively talented. They were good

Silker – Typical season of freshman kicking ass and the occasional sophomore sticking around for another year. It was alright with some good games. I wish you could see teams for three years not just one.
Zach - Realistically, Kentucky was king throughout and Calipari is right by saying he has the best job in all of basketball.

2-Hello friends….its Masters week in Augusta….who puts on the Green Jacket Sunday afternoon?

Matt – Tiger will be in the top 5 when it’s all said and done.  I don’t know if we’ll see Rory, after Norman’s epic collapse he wasn’t the same at Augusta.  I hope in the final 2 groups we get Tiger, Rory and Phil, that would be epic.  I’ll take a tip from Faherty and say Sergio breaks through and wins it. 

Wendt – It won't be Tiger and it won't be Rory, probably some no name again

Painter – I'd love to see Rory McIlroy redeem himself from last year and if he can't Zach Johnson would be my next pick

Blake – I'm so freaking excited for the Masters for some reason.  I want a Tiger-Rory showdown on Sunday.  I'll take Rory, making up for his collapse last year

BSox – Tiger Woods…otherwise no one cares. Serious, when tiger doesn’t win, the vast majority of the country doesn’t care, only the golf nuts care

Majors – I am pulling for local boy Bubba Watson. He and Boo Weekley both live by me. I actually dated Boo's wife a while ago, but I was not country club material, lol

Silker – Does Zach Johnson get his second? I think this year is Rory vs Tiger with Rory showing he is the new big thing winning his first green jacket
Zach - Louis Oosthuizen. Why? No idea.

3-Baseball first pitch is upon us….who’s your NL Champ, AL Champ and World Series Champ?

Matt – I’ve picked Philadelphia the past 4 years as NL Champ, that’s changing this year, I think they are too banged up and getting old.  My pick is the Yankees over the Dodgers in 6, Jeter walks off after game 6 in to the Yankee Sunset.  But wouldn’t it be great to get the Pirates vs the Royals?

Wendt – Philadelphia vs Detroit with Detroit winning in 6 games

Painter – I don't follow baseball closely enough to make a real intelligent prediction so I'll say the Astros will beat the White Sox in the World Series just because they are the teams I follow the closest.

Blake – The NL is wide open.  Phillies are getting old, the Cards lost Prince Albert, the Brewers lost Prince, the Marlins are insane.  Could leave the door open for the Giants.  In the AL, I'll take the Tigers, and they win the Series

BSox – No idea, I’ve heard the rangers could be up there again. I’ve heard good things about the Yankees, and Detroit, but way too early for me to pin anything down. Sorry folks

Majors – NL- Phillies, but not 100% sold on that. Utley is a shell of himself, Howard is recovering from Achilles. AL- I would love to say the Rays, but the Tigers are scary. Go Indians!!!  WS- The Tigers

Silker – NL will be the Phillies AL will be the Yankees and the world series champ as much as I hate it will be the damn Yanks
Zach - AL: Angels, NL: Cardinals, Pujols gets season and WS MVP as Halos win in 6 with home-field.

4-Which season has the best opening day/weekend?  NFL, MLB, College Football, NBA, NCAA BB, NASCAR?

Matt – I really like what the NFL has done on the Thursday night making it a party and celebration with the previous super bowl champ.  College football opens with too many cupcake games.  NASCAR is fun too with the Daytona 500.  MLB has a lot of buzz too but really only about 10 teams have a chance to win it all opening day.  NFL gets the nod.

Wendt – I love college football but there is something about MLB's opening day that will always be special to me

Painter – All of those opening days/weekends have seemed to lose their luster in the last few years.  I'd like to offer a different one: opening weekend for golf's major championships, aka The Masters

Blake – I hate the trickled out starts.  Baseball started last week.  The NFL plays on a Wednesday this year, nobody notices when the NBA or College Hoops starts.  I guess I still have a place in my heart for Baseball's opening day

BSox – For me, I like college football’s the best. But the nfl doesn’t hold anything back either. Ncaa bball is fun just because of all the early tournaments and the midnight hoops

Majors – I would love to say the NFL or College Football, but Baseball and the tradition win out

Silker – I am not a NASCAR fan but if you like a party it is NASCAR. However who can take anything away from college football weekends? It is a party and a good kickoff to an awesome year
Zach - Damn, I hate to say this but football does the best job marketing itself. I wish baseball would do the same way. Instead, they want to start the season in another country.

5-American Reunion opens this week – what “PIE” character are you most like?

Matt – I’m definitely like Jim. 

Wendt – I'm probably a mix between Stiffler and Jim

Painter – I think Jim with a little Kevin and a little Stiffler would be the closest match

Blake – I'm stoked for this movie.  I graduated with those guys.  I'm most like Kevin, aka Rookie of the Year

BSox – I think if you mixed jim and stifler together, you’d get something close to me

Majors – Hmmm...The Sherminator? I am kidding! Jim I guess, kinda end up in some crazy situations from time to time...

Silker – I would say Jim because I am a stupid awkward. However have all these guys careers really hit this low that they have to make another?
Zach - I'll go with Jim.

6-James Cameron did a dive in a solo sub to one of the deepest trenches in the world….what one thing on your (non sports game/event) bucket list do you want to do the most and cross of in 2012?

Matt – I’d love to hit the boundary waters or white water rafting but doubt that happens this year.  A day or so on Ragbrai as it goes to Garwin would be cool too!

Wendt – I'd love to ride a day on RAGBRAI

Painter – There are a few things I'd like to do this year but doubt will happen:  Go to the Summer Olympics, visit Lambeau field for a Green Bay game, go to a NASCAR Sprint Cup race, and go to a Stanley Cup Finals game.

Blake – I'm wanting to do some sort of race or triathlon

BSox – Get through this whole marriage thing alive :-)

Majors – Hmmm...swim with sharks? Oh wait, I do that everytime I am at the beach. How about... climb a mountain. Fo sho

Silker – I want to skydive since I am already learning to fly and so on. So skydive
Zach - Go on vacation to Hawaii.

2012 Arch Madness Prediction



Arch Madness Starts tomorrow…below are my predictions.  Going mostly straight chalk. 

Good luck to  UNI and Drake!

Best and Worst of the Weekend

BEST – We finally got outside and played in the yard and busted out Brayden’s wiffle ball and t set.  He did pretty good, and so did Addy.  Then I unleashed some warning track power on the balls too.  Those big bats are pretty fun to swing around.  All was great till Addy lined a shot off her brother’s head.  He got right back up.  The weather for the most part was great, and I got to break out the shorts.  Hell it was 87 on Sunday.  My stop at the grocery store included brats, shrimp and Old Style…a nice ole middle finger to Old Man Winter!  The old style was pretty tasty.  I also went to work out Saturday and ran again, and I can definitely feel it on my ass and legs.

WORST – Needing a break!  Damn I know I take a lot on my shoulders and know I can usually handle it.  Lately things have been mounting and maybe getting outside more and running will help.  I know crushing some softballs will help and also kids listening would always help more too!

This weekend took the kids to go see HOP.  The Easter bunny movie.  It was cute for a kid move, Addy loved it, Brady I think got tired a little bit after half way through as we had to walk about half way through as we had to walk out of the theater.  But as for the movie.  I didn’t realize Russell Brand was E.B., he is hella annoying to me, but as a fluffy rabbit, his voice is ok.  Kelly Cucao (Big Bang Theory) did really well in her role, but James Mardsen, what happened?  His roles seems to be changing after he was cast as Cyclops in the first X-Men movie.  He should have complained more and had his Cyclops role expanded as much as Wolverine.  Both are great XMen characters but Cyclops seemed to be minimized and then his roles have not been the same, IMO.  And since when does the Easter Bunny have a sleigh and ride around like Santa?  That is another thing I didn’t like.  The kids will like the movie, but I give it about 2 stars out of 5. 



NCAA Championship Game

For the second year in a row the Butler Bulldogs are in the championship game, this time vs the UConn Huskies.  Jim Calhoun is going for his third title as the top dog in Storrs.  Butler has taken the reigns from Gonzaga as the best mid-major program and it’s not even close anymore.  Connecticut is on a run like no other.  5 straight wins in the Big East tournament verse ranked teams to win the Big East Crown, now 5 wins in the NCAA tournament. 

I’m picking (and cheering) for Butler to win, but I think if I was a betting man I would put money on UConn.  If UConn wins I think that Calhoun walks into the sunset and retires.  But here’s to a good game and go Butler.

NCAA Tournament Thoughts

I didn’t know how the whole four network thing was going to work when they first announced it but after 1 night, it’s a success in my opinion.  I really like that I have all 4 channels in HD on Mediacom.  Love how CBS has the logos of the stations each game are on at the top of the screen.  Made it easier to navigate to all the games. 

I wonder how ESPN/Disney would have accommodated this?  ESPN & ESPN2 are really the only accessible HD channels they have that are freely available.  Would they have made ESPNU and Classic more readily available or put a marquee game on ABC?  ESPN needs to step up their college studio experience I think to get the big dance, or really open their wallet.  CBS does it right, right now. 

I still think that somehow, someway, some day that ESPN is big enough and has enough clout that you will see more major sports and sporting events being broadcast on ESPN.  How much does CBS and Turner really lose in showcasing the games for what they pay?  Sure they get to promote their other shows, but other than that, you got to think they lose more than they gain, money wise.

One negative, to me, is the infusion of NBA talent from Turner to the NCAA.  I don’t need Charles Barkley, Marv Albert or Craig Sager (and his suits) for a quick dip into pool and then back after a week or so run.  Give me Jay Bilas and Seth Davis.  Jay Bilas by the way had a great read posted yesterday you can read here.

The biggest negative is the First Four…really do we need them?  In a word, NO.  It’s confusing to us as fans and to the non-fans who just want to do the brackets.  Go back to 64 or expand it all to 96 and dump the NIT.

My other big negative on the NCAA is the locations.  Look at the empty seats in the arenas.  Hello NCAA!  Go to some new sites!  Des Moines would SELL OUT!  Quit going to these same towns over and over.  Does St. Petersburg or Greensboro need a regional every other year.  Rotate these things more and incorporate new cities and venues.  And for the Final Four do we always have to be in a football stadium?  Go to these great arenas in the nation.  Madison Square Garden is getting a million dollar make over, get the Final Four there.  Put a Final Four in Chicago’s United Center instead of a regional.  Not to mention these great cities with actual basketball arenas, but for a player, shooting with a football stadium backdrop is a hell of a lot different than shooting in a basketball arena. 

The games the first day were amazing.  For all the flack that the selection committee has got (and seems to always get every year) day 1 was really entertaining.  Hopefully Day 2 and the rest of the days keep it up.

I mostly have chalk today, minus the 8/9 or 7/10 games which I don’t consider upsets, to evenly matched, other than Oakland over Texas.  (Texas up 10+ as I write this).  My son and wife are on top of the Wide Right pool after day 1 too, so good for them.  My bracket I went 10-6 yesterday, I hope I can at least match that today.  So enjoy the games, enjoy the weekend!

My 2011 NCAA Picks

Big Ten Tournament Predictions

It’s that time of year, gotta love brackets!  Big Ten tourney time in Indianapolis.  I think this will be mostly chalk and Ohio State will hang 2 Big Ten Championship Banners this season.  I wouldn’t be surprised though to see Purdue pull it out though (but I do have them losing to Wisconsin).  I think we are safe this year with the top being heavy enough you wont see a 6 or 7 seed in the championship game, and Ohio State I think has smooth sailing to Sunday.  Should be fun though. 

Who do you got?

2010 Year in Review - Top 5 Sports Moments

I did this for my Sports Moments of the Decade last December and had fun with this, so I'm going to go ahead and do this for the year.  Now again these are what I think, so there will be a local flair and national flair. 

1-Northern Iowa upsets Kansas - The #1 seed gets sunk by Farokmanesh!  The Panthers were the best team in the State for the 2nd year in a row.  2 years ago Drake's Cinderella run was sunk on a last second 3.  Last year Northern Iowa was beat by Purdue in a close 1st round matchup.  In 2010 the Panthers beat UNLV in the first round to set up a matchup with #1 Kansas and lead damn near the whole game.  Ali sank a 3 and the rest is MARCH MADNESS HISTORY!  

They even landed on the cover of SI and even an ESPY.

2-Duke beats Butler in the Championship game after last second shot misses.  In the best championship game in memory.  The team that only had to go 5-15 mins from campus had a chance to win it all (hello college football) and missed out on beating one of the best programs in the world by an inch.  This is what makes sports great!

3-The Thomas family at the ESPYs  --  Ed Thomas was shot and killed by former player Mark Becker in 2009, but in 2010 ESPN honored his family and him and his legacy with the 2010 Arthur Ashe Award at the annual ESPY's.  Great moment for a great family.  Really shows what small town Iowa is.










4-Iowa State wins AT TEXAS - Yea it happened.  What Paul Rhoads has done with road wins at Nebraska last year and now Texas this year.  ISU has found a good coach.  Just needs talent.

5.  Iowa wins the 2010 Orange Bowl - Yea it seems like a year ago, it happened int he 2009 season, but still was in 2010. And it built up the hype machine for the 2010 season that has gone to 7-5 and an Insight Bowl Bid vs Missouri instead of a dream that many fans had of the National Championship or Rose Bowl.









So these are my moments from 2010, what are yours?

Lickliter era ends....what's next?

The worst kept secret was let out of the bag (by Phil Haddy) when Gary Barta met the media today at 230 in Iowa City. The Butler way of Hawkeye basketball under Todd Lickliter is over. The fans hated the way the system. The fans didn't show up to watch the games. The players sometimes it seemed didn't either. Was their a mutiny over the last few games and weeks? Black & gold bleeder Matt Gatens was rumored to want to transfer. The kid is a life time Hawk. If he was going to leave, there was a problem that needed attended too.

So 2.4 million later Iowa is at a point with no basketball coach again for the 2nd time in 3 years. When I was younger (I really don't remember Lute or George) I grew up with one football coach and one basketball coach. Coach Fry and Dr. Tom. My first memories of Hawkeye basketball are of Dr. Tom's first years. Roy Marble, BJ and Ed Horton. Alford then came in and gave the Hawks a couple Big Ten Tournament titles and well the most heart breaking loss since UNLV in the elite 8. Then left the cupboard bare and Lickliter was the recipient.

So what now, what does Iowa need. The "Bob Stoops" of the names thrown out is Bruce Pearl. As much as I want that, I don't see Iowa paying its top 2 coaches 7 million a year.

Who does Iowa need? A recruiter. Someone who can connect with the players. Someone who is young and fiery. Someone who will revitalize the fan base.

Bruce Pearl is probably that, but he has a great thing in Knoxville.

Who will it be? I don't know. My top 5 would be:

1-Bruce Pearl - Give him a blank check. Give Kirk Ferentz half a mil more then.
2-Keno Davis - I think he would bring a lot of fans back and he is a kin to the past.
3-Scott Drew - He's brought Baylor back for unholy depths to a 3 seed.
4-Craig Robinson - He has connections to Chicago, not a bad place to recruit.
5-Chris Collins/Steve Wojo - Only one can succeed Coach K. Why not take the other.