Brackets, bubbles and Bilas all combined once again this weekend in the most quixotic brew of the sports landscape. March Madness is commonly referred to as the best month on the sports calendar. Hey, I loves me some college hoops, but Im not sure it so dominates the NFL playoffs, October baseball or even the Canadian box lacrosse championships. It is without doubt, however, the most dizzying four weeks in sports.
From metaphoric bubbles bursting, selection committee lambasting and bracketology prognosticating, comes a whirlwind that sometimes stops resembling college basketball.
Did that dentists receptionist from Pidgeon Forge, Tennessee actually predict all 64 games correctly? Did I really pick nearly all 64 games incorrectly? Is that Digger Phelps real hair? Its gratifying, electrifying and maddening in unison. Of course, its that -mad- part thats become an accepted phrase of American lexicon, so I guess we knew all this already.
Kansas fans had emailed me by Sunday night, already decrying their four-seed highway robbery and Texas two-seed an unwarranted gift. Lets hold on here, Hawkers. Yes, these two teams split the season series after KUs impressive performance in the Big 12 championship game, both teams shared the leagues regular season title and both advanced to the conference title game. But UTs non-conference resume is far superior to anything Kansas owns. Texas played three of the tournaments number-one seeds and beat both Memphis and Villanova. Compare that to KUs best non-con wins over Cal and St. Joes and its completely fair to give Texas a higher seed.
As for KUs bracket, the selection committee wasnt nearly as unkind as critics might believe. Kansas was rewarded for a being a four-seed by being placed in Memphis region. Everyone agrees the Tigers are the weakest number-one seed and KUs tremendous guard play matches up well against Memphis. On top of it, UCLA and Gonzaga represent two higher seeds that are both beatable. Ironically, the problem games might be the first two for KU. Bradley had a disappointing regular season, but the Braves finished the season white-hot, destroyed tourney team Northern Iowa on the road and muddying the water enough in the Valley tournament to reach the championship game. Bradley has two big men in the middle 6-10 or larger and post-play has been a problem for KU all season. Potential second-round opponent Pittsburgh is a veteran, well-coached and grimy squad. Carl Krauser and Aaron Gray are tough-nosed, gritty guys that set the attitude of the team. The Panthers have an intimidating, NYC playground feel to them and if they start getting physical and nasty, the young Jays might not respond well. Should KU get past the first weekend, sailing could actually be smoother heading to Indianapolis.
This outcry over Missouri State missing the bracket reeks of pundits simply jumping on the easiest angle to workÉ that the little guy got screwed. Hey, there was no one sounding the Valley horn louder than me this season. But the selection committee found room enough in a field of 32-at-large berths to place THREE Valley teams. Thats amazing. Yes, the Bears had a strong strength of schedule and an even stronger RPI, but to suggest they didnt get the requisite love because theyre just little old Missouri State is nonsense. The Valley got more national love and respect this year than any non-BCS conference in memory. The league got a story in Sports Illustrated three weeks before selection Sunday and its title game in CBS. But Wichita State and Northern Iowa were locks as at-large bids and Bradley did more damage in St. Louis. Easy as that.
As a guy still paying off his Syracuse University student loans, everyone has asked how Ive responded to a surreal Big East tournament championship. To be quite honest, Im trying to remember the last time I watched such an inspired run of hoops. Defeating Cincinnati on a last-second heave (lets face it Orange fans, it WAS a heave) and then toppling three ranked teams in three days, including the nationÕs top ranked Huskies, ranks with some of my favorite sports memories ever. Not just because how they did it, but because of every circumstance surrounding it. This team was garbage during the regular season. I mean, theres just no other way to put it. The Cuse was just hard to watch. When SU lost by 39 points to a bad DePaul team in a must-win game to close the regular season, even the most ardent fan admitted the season was over. You could just never fathom this squad actually wrecking shop in the Garden over four days, accomplishing something no team ever had. But something happened over the course of that tourney. Boehiem blew up at the media (more on that in a moment), G-Mac started playing out of his mind, Terrence Roberts actually got off the team bus and the guys started believing they were a team of destiny. Maybe they were one of those teams that were just too dumb to realize they couldnt do it. Maybe they were playing possum all season. Maybe I should have avoided the orange shots at The Granfaloon Saturday night so I couldve remembered more of the second half. Who knows, but it was one of those runs you dont ever forget.
As for Jimmy B, blasting local media and Big East assistant coaches, dropping F-bombs to negate any positivity after a win and defending his senior star McNamara? Truthfully, after the title of 2003, Boeheim can get away with that at SU. It used to be taken the wrong way, like a grumpy old man that cant ever be happy and gripes about every kid on the block that plays his music too loud. But since, not only have most fans accepted Boeheims warts and defended whatever he says or does, Jim himself has changed. Hes a much more likeable character now, probably because he doesnt have that specter of never winning the Big One haunting him. Hes looser, funnier, more playful. Did you catch him on PTI, Monday? He acted like he just won a time-share in the Bahamas. Its all gravy for him from here on out. Look, spending 30 years at one place can sour anybody. But, now it seems like hes really soaking it all in and Cuse fans are doing it with him. (That said, Im terrified of Thursdays game against Texas A&M and a potential second-round game against LSU. Just terrified. Then again, I just took an orange shot Saturday night that tasted like jolly ranchers so life is good).
Finally, the DA official bracket looks like this (you know, the one that always places me last in the office pool): Utah State is your 5-12 upset over Washington in the first round. UW-Milwaukee also upsets six-seed Oklahoma in the first game. Memphis is the first one-seed to go down, losing in the Sweet 16 toÉ Pitt. Yep, Ive got the Panthers defeating the Jayhawks in the second round. Itll be Gonzaga in the Oakland region, however, overcoming years of underachievement in the NCAA tourney and marching to its first Final Four. In Hot-lanta, Duke bows out in the Elite 8 to a hungry Texas squad as the Horns are moving to Indy. UConn shakes the cobwebs off and gets its wakeup call after the loss to Syracuse to capture the DC region and another Final Four for Jim Calhoun. In Minneapolis, Villanova and Boston College wage an epic duel in the Sweet 16, leaving Nova still standing. Ohio State proves plenty worthy in the Elite 8, but Thad Mottas -Thad Five- fall to Allen Ray's deadly shooting and the Wildcats, Novas dancing into Indy. Whos cutting down the nets in the RCA Dome? Lets wait to see just how badly my bracket gets blown up before we go there.
DAs Complete Picks- Round of 32: (Duke, UNC-W, SU, LSU, WVU, Iowa, Cal, UT, Memphis, Bucknell, Pitt, KU, IU, Gonzaga, Marquette, UCLA, UConn, UAB, Utah St, Illinois, MSU, UNC, Wich St, Tenn, Nova, Wisc, Nevada, BC, UW-Milwaukee, UF, N. Iowa, OSU) Sweet 16: (Duke, SU, WVU, UT, Memphis, Pitt, Gonzaga, Marquette, UConn, Illnois, MSU, Tennessee, Nova, BC, UF, OSU) Elite 8: (Duke, UT, Pitt, Gonzaga, UConn, Mich State, Nova, OSU) Final Four: (UT, Gonzaga, UConn, Nova). Title Game: (Nova over Texas 76-71)
BEST OF: The Panthers Dancers stop by and don't stop talking for twenty minutes. Wait, you're home schooled? BEST OF: Heat legend Glen Rice in studio on dropping 56 on the Magic, Final Fours and MMA. BEST OF: "The Obama Guy" now has D.A.'s old job! He asked the Prez a question, then he joined the show. BEST OF: Phil and Chris Simms drop by the broadcast to rap about dad's career and son's future. BEST OF: Why so few minority college coaches? DA answers with one word: Boosters. BEST OF: When a Super Bowl MVP and Hall of Famer talks, you listen. The immortal Lynn Swann. BEST OF: TNA Wrestling's Traci Brooks on being blessed with, ahem, great dimensions. DA LOVES THE KIDS: After Marlins summer-camp day, the next gen of Fish Fans might be in trouble. DA LOVES THE KIDS: Part 1 Heat charity camp shows us D-Wright's defense needs a little work.
DA LOVES THE KIDS: Part 2 Not everyone is thrilled with the hiring of Eric Spoelstra. INSTANT CLASSIC: Free-agent Joe Horn blasts his old coaches and asks for Dolphins forgiveness, all live on the show! INSTANT CLASSIC: The man who took down Kimbo Slice: overnight celebrity Seth Petruzelli talks about the fight that stunned the fight world. BEST OF: Author Jeff Pearlman on the controversial Cowboys dynasty. Uh, ew. BEST OF: Heat rookie Mario Chalmers needs help hot-boxing. Cough, cough.. BEST OF: DA is named a Godfather. Can he handle the responsibility or will he sleep with the fishes? BEST OF: DA witnesses the greatest kids game ever. Rock, paper, scissors, space! STAR WARS GEEKS: Part 1 DA goes where no sportstalk host has gone before: Star Wars premier night.
STAR WARS GEEKS: Part 2 Will DA make it out alive or turn into an extra from the Cantina Bar? INSTANT CLASSIC: Legend of the MMA Dan "Hendo" Henderson on the circus attraction to Kimbo and the rise of UFC. BEST OF: New UFC Champ Forrest Griffin on the belt and bouncing out of fighting while the gettin's good. INSTANT CLASSIC: Zo's youth clinic brings us immediate joy: Heat Kids Say the Darndest Things BEST OF: Miami boxer Joey "Twinkle Fingers" Hernandez found himself on the streets. How he got his mojo back. BEST OF: CBS4 Weather Wizard and Miss Florida Lissette Gonzalez on the jet-stream and the wave. BEST OF: Marino delivers a commencement speech and DA's own graduation horrors. INSTANT CLASSIC: Cats winger Nathan Horton is married to a Playmate? Oops. INSTANT CLASSIC: What does JoePa really mean at pressers? Ask Penn State 101. INSTANT CLASSIC: St. Patty's Day means celebrating Irish sports legends: DA Show style. INSTANT CLASSIC: Canes Big Man Dwayne Collins has his Aladdin DVD stolen. The Horror! INSTANT CLASSIC: Dontrelle says peace to South Florida with DA. Here's his Top-3 movies of all-time. SUPER BOWL XLII: NYG's Lawrence Tynes stops by after the ticker tape parade. INSTANT CLASSIC: Is Shaq becoming M.C. Hammer Jr? Say it ain't so. INSTANT CLASSIC: DA melts down as his alma mater brings brings back the dimwitted Greg Robinson for more SU pain. INSTANT CLASSIC: This placed DA squarely on the Chiefs blacklist forever. DA and King Carl in THE Battle Royale. BEST OF: Where it all started: Herm
and Carl agree... Damon is a nice name. SUPER BOWL XL: D.A. does his best investigative work ever. It's the field turf press conference from Detroit. INSTANT CLASSIC: The Mark Mangino Montage tastes better than ever! INSTANT CLASSIC: The 2007 Herm-Gasm. 'Nuff said. INSTANT CLASSIC: The Chiefs Dept. of Misinformation is at it once again. Are the Chiefs wearing white or not? Don't ask them. INSTANT CLASSIC: Chicago's legendary Mike North joins DA to preview Chiefs- Bears. Da Bears! INSTANT CLASSIC : The annual DA Show NBA Mock Draft is here... with a return from Stormbot. FEATURED AUDIO: Royals legend Denny Matthews has bought his first cell phone. Unfortunately, it's not as easy as 6-4-3. FEATURED AUDIO: A fond DA Show farewell to Buddy Bell. He really was "Our Buddy." FEATURED AUDIO
: Lauren Nichole has made quite an impression with her traffic reports. Great or gross? You decide. The
one, the only, Zach Greinke from Royals Spring Training. The
2007 One NIT NIT Moment.
The 2006 Caller Hall of Fame Track One: Christopher Walken's legendary roast
of the new class
First the staff. Then listeners. Now LJ has the Herm-gasm? Crazy
Ray sings the Growing Pains theme song. The
Royals 70's jingle that puts a smile on your face during another horrid season
in KC. The
local TV anchors slip up on the broadcast and luckily the D.A. Show was rolling
tape. 6-6-06:
The Crypt Keeper's Holiday Crazy
Ray displays his talent for singing. Could he make a run at the next American
Idol? Oklahoma
takes it on the chin with this famous call from R.B. Missed
any of the NIT NIT action? Check out the recaps of the games and a special
edition of The One NIT NIT Moment. We
couldn't leave Alex the Intern out of the mix, check out the drunk dial message
Alex left for D.A. The
D.A. Show tribute to Alan Thicke.
Is
Crazy Ray really crazy? Take a listen to find out.
A
D.A. Show Investigation reveals color commentators handing out the pink slip
to local college coaches.
Quinner's
feeling a bit down. We ask, what's wrong with Quinn Snyder? Herm Edwards gave us quotable material right from jump street. He gets a montage based on his introduction presser. A
staple of any good office party. It's the Dick Vermeil montage XP: final edition.
Duh, ok.
DA's Hometown Hottie contest created controversy throughout KC. Radio superstar Johnny Dare stuck his nose in the middle of it. The
callers finally had their own chance to put their stamp on the Vermeil montage Why
do the sista's hate the show? It all started here: Yvette's call of the day The original D.A. Show parody of Jim Rome's smack-off (circa '04). The '05 D.A. Show parody of Jim Rome's smack-off, complete with a certain national columnist. The '06 smack-smack, which brought all the D.A. Show legends together for one fab event. You asked for it. We delivered. DA Show icon Alan Thicke's first appearance.
Brackets, bubbles and Bilas all combined once again this weekend in the most quixotic brew of the sports landscape. March Madness is commonly referred to as the best month on the sports calendar. Hey, I loves me some college hoops, but Im not sure it so dominates the NFL playoffs, October baseball or even the Canadian box lacrosse championships. It is without doubt, however, the most dizzying four weeks in sports. 
