What a great NCAA tournament this has been so far. Too bad it's about to end. I'm telling you, I would be looking forward to watching the championship game this Monday and all, but I have driving school that night ... all because of my speeding ticket that I got on December 28 of last year.
Sadly, this is a true story.
Regardless, the Final Four this weekend should be off the hook. Last weekend's Elite Eight frenzy was among the best action sports fans have seen in recent memory. The one that meant the most to me was seeing Illinois come back with a minute and a half to go to tie the game and send it into overtime.
I was with my girlfriend at a Chicago south suburban Hooters as this was all folding down. The entire restaurant just stopped as Illinois made its triumphant comeback. The best feeling was high-fiving the surrounding people at other tables, not knowing who any of them were. My girlfriend, not a sports fan by any means, even found the whole thing exciting.
I am finally convinced that the NCAA tournament that makes the month of March famous truly is one of the best phases of sports. No longer do the NFL playoffs or Super Bowl require me to cling for full attention.
While the Super Bowl has turned into a celebrity pop-fest and is more about pop-culture entertainment, the NCAA tournament is one of lasting truths of sports that is yet to be taken over by the celebrities who show up only to look cool. I find it cool that a Bill Murray shows up to Illinois games to root for the Fighting Illini. That's cool with me.
This Final Four should be among the best we have seen in recent years. I expect nothing but the very best to come from North Carolina, Michigan State, Louisville, and Illinois. I still am having a hard time picking who will make it to this Monday night.
I think the Illinois and Louisville game will be very close. The very fact that many Chicago media personalities are so confident that Illinois will win this game scares me. Asides that, Louisville is a solid team that matches up almost evenly with the Fighting Illini. Illinois' guards are a little better, though, and if they can play at their very best, I expect them to get the win. It will be close. Illinois wins by five.
North Carolina and Michigan State is hard to pick, too. A lot of people have picked against MSU every time in the tournament, and look where they are now. Can Roy Williams finally win the big game? As much heart MSU may have, I find it hard to pick against Carolina.
Championship game: I predict North Carolina over Illinois. I hope I'm wrong and that on Tuesday, I am praising the orange and blue. That is, of course, after I leave my driving school class, which is scheduled to be released by 10 PM. Going to have to setup the good ol' VCR for this one ... it's going to be a late night. I'm lovin' it.
Run & Shoot
* Looking forward to baseball's Opening Day. Opening Day is another great day in sports, in my opinion. Always reminds me that the warm weather is on its way out and I can finally start doing things outside again.
* The Bulls are riding high on an eight-game winning streak. They will make the playoffs (still can't believe I just typed that), but they won't make it out of the first round. As Carmen DeFalco from said from ESPN 1000's (WMVP-AM) midday show, the playoffs are a whole different animal.
Feedback may be e-mailed to [email protected]. For more on Martin, visit his personal website.
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