NCAAs MARCH 30, 2010

The NCAAs in Providence were a lot of fun. It was a basketball bonanza with 2 games Thursday afternoon (Robert Morris vs. Villanova and Richmond vs. St. Mary’s) and two at night. One drawback was that you couldn’t leave the Dunk between games, only after the day session ended. The 12:30 start time must have cut into Villanova’s reveries since they slept-walked through the game. ’Nova got all the favorable calls from the refs and needed them to beat Robert Morris in a 5 minute overtime.

St. Mary’s, a team with 5 Aussies (and an Australian coach), squished the Spiders from Richmond. We got to learn first-hand about 6’11’ Omar Samhan, who is not an Aussie, but who really is a Beast (he has that tattoo inside his lip).

The 5 minute overtime cut into our meal time. I had called the Old Canteen from the Dunk, asking for reservations at 6:10. The guy laughed and said they were all booked. We went to Camille’s and had a great dinner at the bar.

The night time saw Ohio dismantle Georgetown, whose Hoyas were more papier mâché than rock. And the second game between Tennessee and San Diego State didn’t end until about 12:20 AM, so it made for a long day. The Vols never quite got in sync but still had enough to beat San Diego State, whose mascot looked like a USC Trojan reject.

There was no alcohol sold at the Dunk (NCAA rule) which might have been just as well since there could have been some ugly drunken episodes otherwise. The bathroom stalls had empty nips and pint bottles as it was.

On Saturday, as on Thursday, there were beer tents set up next to Trinity Brewhouse. All of the out-of -towners didn’t know how lucky they were with our 70 degree weather from Wednesday to Saturday. Our Marches sometimes have snow.

St. Mary’s showed that they were no fluke as they ended Villanova’s stay by coming thru with clutch shots down the stretch and the strong play of Omar Samhan (32 points, 7 boards, 2 blocks). Tennessee was a much more cohesive team on Sunday and their 6’7” guards overwhelmed Ohio’s 6’2” Armon Bassett and 5’11” freshman DJ Cooper.

RIM SHOTS

Mr. D. said that San Diego State had the best cheerleaders and Ohio the best band. The Bobcats band was indeed impressive, especially the duelin’, dancin’ tubas.

Robert Morris at one point had players on the court with the numbers 1 (Robinson), 2 (Nwigwe), 3 (Jones) and 4 (Abraham). The Colonials’ mascot looked like Pat Patriot.

	PUT SOME SOUTH IN YOUR MOUTH

At a crucial point in the overtime of the ’Nova-Rob’t Morris game, a guy was standing in the aisle talking and blocking people’s view. Unaware that there was a game going on.

Each team had 5 timeouts per game. Adding in those for TV advertisements (‘extended media timeout’) not only lengthened the games but prevented teams from making runs.

We were impressed with the Georgetown cheerleaders. The two men hoisted the women up to their shoulders and then the guys lifted the ladies above their heads. Then we saw Tennessee’s squad which had 5 guys elevate 5 women and then hold them by one hand.

Someone needs to explain to me how the Vols’ mascot is a dog (00) whose name is ‘Basset’. The Volunteers’ name goes back to the Civil War and those that joined the Confederacy. Not sure what the dog has to do with this. We did like the dog rolling down the river of male cheerleaders who jumped in front of the pooch and rolled their bodies.

The only real gripe we had with the NCAAs was that there were almost no replays, even on non-controversial plays. They’d start to show the replay and then switch to the NCAA logo. What was weird – the few times there were replays were during the Vols’ games.

A woman got out of a Red Bull promotional car and asked the cops who were stopping cars for pedestrians whether they wanted some Red Bull. They laughed and declined.

Stopped to chat with Jim Donaldson Saturday before the games. He had written a piece referring to Bryant College. I told him it was now Bryant University. He said that it would always be Bryant College. When I persisted, he said, “You’re lucky I even mentioned them.” Ah, still the charmer.

Having the NCAA opening round in Providence was like a breath of sun-kissed fresh air touching Providence, Rhode Island and the people of our state with a feel-good time, something to lift us all from the doldrums of winter.

BULLETS

• We have the NCAA basketball Final Four this weekend, the opening of the baseball season with the Yankees vs. Red Sox at Fenway Park on Easter Sunday night, and the NCAA hockey Frozen Four Final on Saturday. Oh and Tiger Woods in the Masters. Plus the temperature this weekend is predicted to be in the 70’s. The moon is in the 7^th house and Jupiter has aligned with Mars.

• So the Red Sox win the World Series, the Celtics take the NBA crown, the Patriots triumph in the Super Bowl and the Bruins make the playoffs. What? Well, I haven’t totally lost my mind.

• Alex Speier, a very good read, used the term ‘LOOGY’ in a 3/3 WEEI.com piece. A ‘LOOGY’ is a ‘left-handed one-out guy’.

EVERYTHING BUT YANKEES TRIVIA

What batter holds the record for walks in a season by a rookie (107)?

(Thanks to Paul Beaudette for the source book)

YANKEES TRIVIA

Who is the only pitcher in MLB history to begin his career with more consecutive winning seasons (at least 50 starts) than Andy Pettitte (13)?   Hint - Red Sox pitcher.

(Thanks to Jim ‘Mr. Yankee’ Dwyer)

RED SOX (AND NY) PROSPECTS
Here are the BoSox players and Yankees that ‘insider’ Keith Law of ESPN (1/28) listed among his top 100 prospects entering the 2010 season:

#10 Jesus Montero C (NY)

#18 Casey Kelly RHP (BOS)

#32 Ryan Westmoreland OF (BOS)

#53 Anthony Rizzo 1B (BOS)

#56 Lars Anderson 1B (BOS)

#70 Austin Jackson OF (NY– traded to DET)

#86 Ryan Kalish OF (BOS)

#91 Jose Iglesias SS (BOS)

#96 Manny Banuelos LHP (NY)

#98 Junichi Tazawa RHP (BOS)

#100 Nick Hagadone (BOS – traded to CLEVE)

These are Gordon Edes’ top 10 Red Sox prospects (ESPNBoston.com – 1/29)

1. Casey Kelly, P
2. Ryan Westmoreland, OF
3. Jose Iglesias, SS
4. Reymond Fuentes, OF
5. Josh Reddick, OF
6. Ryan Kalish, OF
7. Lars Anderson, 1B
8. Derrik Gibson, INF
9. Jose Vinicio, SS
10. Anthony Rizzo, 1B

MAIL CALL

Chuck D and I were talking about the different languages in which the Bible was written

Two favorites:

http://bible.cc/psalms/137-9.htm

And Ezekiel 23:20:  “There she lusted after her lovers, whose genitals were like those of donkeys and whose emission was like that of horses.”

Chuck D Computer

EVERYTHING BUT YANKEES TRIVIA ANSWER

Ted Williams

YANKEES TRIVIA ANSWER

Cy Young (15)

Sportzine is also available at jimdawsonsports.com (Thanks Buffalo Steve)

THE HOT CLUB WHERE HEARTS ARE ON FIRE BUT IT’S NEVER TOO HOT FOR THE DEVIL MAY CARE 575 South Water Street Providence, RI

THE HOT CLUB

On St. Patrick’s Day, the HC was quiet when I got there around 2 PM. I said it would pick up when the pub crawlers came in. Adam told me that pub crawls had been outlawed in RI. The response from Pal Al and I was: “What no pub crawl? I’m leaving.”

So when two groups of college students came in about 4:30 on a pub crawl, I grilled Adam on this ‘illegality’. He muttered something about non-enforcement of the law.

The film crew for Body of Evidence, a TV pilot, has been shooting in La Prov. The day before St. Pat’s, they were filming at the Hot Club and on Captain Tom McGinn’s boat. No wonder I got strange looks when I walked thru a scene across from the Turk’s Head Building on the way to the Hot Club on St. Patrick’s Day. Hope the pilot gets picked up.

Alexander the Great said that I got it wrong about the Leo Sayer song that had a section that was lifted by Sting. The Sayer song was (I Love You) More Than I Can Say.

Greta recently had a baby girl, Gianna, according to CJ. We wish Greta and her family the best of health.

We were speculating whether UConn had ever played URI in basketball. We were hoping that UConn would beat Virginia Tech in the NIT so that the Huskies would have to play the Rams at URI. We figured that had never happened. Bags thought that UConn and URI might have been in the Yankee Conference together. Foot Joy didn’t think so. The Wise Man and I weren’t so sure either. Bags wanted credit if it did occur.

Frequent Flyer was scanning the Hot Club one recent Friday. I asked him what he was doing. “I’m counting cougars”, said FF.

Told Wise that David Letterman said Tiger Woods may not win a green jacket at The Masters but his wife Elin will win a green jacket – made out of Tiger’s money. Online a Twitterer said that Tiger has added Flo the Progressive insurance lady to his harem.

And I mentioned that in talking about Tiger Woods, Arnold Palmer suggested that “You guys should be able to take shots at him.” I envisioned Tiger on a golf course with his fellow pros whacking balls at Woods.

The Hot Club (HC) as the Hotel California (HC): Patti Quimby recently returned to visit.

The Wise Man has company in having problems with MLB opening the season on Easter Sunday night. Jackie MacMullan, a traditionalist, said on WEEI that she does not like it.