If you've ever read anything boring or the least bit statistical in nature on OMGReds.com, it was probably something Dave Clark posted. Today's guest blogger, Dave's hoping St. Patrick's Day revelers pass out sometime later this morning or early afternoon and sober up in time to give this a read.
LIBERTY TOWNSHIP, OH -- Tomorrow is one of my favorite days of the year. At this point I'd have to say it's better than my birthday. I speak from experience when I say taking in all sessions at one of the venues - first or second rounds or both - is a must at some point. I was in Columbus in '04 when ETSU gave UC a scare and UAB beat top-seeded Kentucky and it was outstanding. Thing is, there's a good chance you're going to see a thriller, a big upset, something. And the ticket isn't as tough as you'd think if you know where to look (schools often return part of their allotments). Of course, I've always wanted to be in Vegas, too, for the first Thursday through Sunday of the tourney; I've heard great things.
* I'm not sure what Thad Matta was doing if he wasn't taunting Michigan's bench after Evan Turner's buzzer-beater. I guess he could've been yelling at the score/timekeeper or an official to count the shot, but I think it's much more likely he was yelling at John Beilein, who was apparently the only Big Ten head coach who didn't vote for Turner for conference player of the year.
* Can't get enough of John Wall steamrolling Rick Stansbury. Kyle Singler crushing Dan Shulman is a close second.
* As a former SI.com producer and longtime friend of Sycamore High grad Stewart Mandel, I shamelessly plug his bracket breakdown and steps to picking a winning bracket.
* Josh Hamilton says 'Spring Training doesn't mean anything,' so I guess I'll cancel my upcoming trip.
* Somebody tell 36-year-old Mike Sweeney Spring Training doesn't mean anything. Dude is raking. Started off 12-for-16.
* The Billings Mustangs have scheduled a Jason LaRue Bobblehead Night for Aug. 7. Road trip! You'll have to chip in gas money for this one though, and not just say you're going to and conveniently forget.
* On a related note, Billings' Drew Stubbs Bobblehead Night is July 10, meaning he could have two bobblehead giveaways in one month if he wins the vote in the Reds' Fans Choice Bobblehead giveaway (July 31). And if heaven forbid he were sent down to Louisville for whatever reason before July AND he won the vote, he might not even be playing for either of those two teams when his bobbleheads would be given away.
* Why is it that entertainment "news" sites can say pretty much anything they want to about a celebrity (based on information from "sources") but a report surfaces about a possible Pujols-for-Ryan-Howard trade and everyone (Pujols and Tony La Russa in particular) gets all bent out of shape and takes it personally instead of just dismissing it as speculation or rumor?
* Hated to see that former Red Ron Villone was among the Nationals' latest cuts. Always liked him.
* I've got a fantasy draft coming up on Friday. It's only Wednesday and I'm ready to explode. I sometimes feel bad about giving friends grief about World of Warcraft because come to think of it I'm probably just about as big a dork when it comes to the Reds, baseball cards and fantasy baseball. And this year seems like as good a year as any to refrain from using an early pick on a closer.
* Cartersville, Georgia native Butch Walker (like Trent, I call the Peach State my former stomping grounds) is opening for Train at Madison Theater on April 1. I'm not a Train fan but I don't intend to miss Butch. My favorite Butch album: "Sycamore Meadows." Biggest celebrity other than Butch from Cartersville (which Butch has actually joked about in concert): Newman.
* Upon further review, running back Ronnie Brown, Padres prospect Donavan Tate and former baseball great Rudy York were also from Cartersville.
* It's funny that Trent mentioned "Police Academy" in Monday's TOL because my uncle, Jeffrey Feldman (credited as Jeffrey Stevens), was in "Police Academy 5: Assignment Miami Beach." He was in the scene where Hooks is working on crowd control and forces a group chanting 'Hell, no! We won't go' to fall into a swimming pool.
* And here you go in case you were ever wondering what happened to Marion Ramsey, who portrayed Hooks in the first six "Police Academy" films.
* Jennifer Garner and Jessica Biel as Laverne and Shirley? No thanks. Call me old fashioned, but I'd rather see Penny Marshall and Cindy Williams ... they're both still working, right?
LIBERTY TOWNSHIP, OH -- Tomorrow is one of my favorite days of the year. At this point I'd have to say it's better than my birthday. I speak from experience when I say taking in all sessions at one of the venues - first or second rounds or both - is a must at some point. I was in Columbus in '04 when ETSU gave UC a scare and UAB beat top-seeded Kentucky and it was outstanding. Thing is, there's a good chance you're going to see a thriller, a big upset, something. And the ticket isn't as tough as you'd think if you know where to look (schools often return part of their allotments). Of course, I've always wanted to be in Vegas, too, for the first Thursday through Sunday of the tourney; I've heard great things.
* I'm not sure what Thad Matta was doing if he wasn't taunting Michigan's bench after Evan Turner's buzzer-beater. I guess he could've been yelling at the score/timekeeper or an official to count the shot, but I think it's much more likely he was yelling at John Beilein, who was apparently the only Big Ten head coach who didn't vote for Turner for conference player of the year.
* Can't get enough of John Wall steamrolling Rick Stansbury. Kyle Singler crushing Dan Shulman is a close second.
* As a former SI.com producer and longtime friend of Sycamore High grad Stewart Mandel, I shamelessly plug his bracket breakdown and steps to picking a winning bracket.
* Josh Hamilton says 'Spring Training doesn't mean anything,' so I guess I'll cancel my upcoming trip.
* Somebody tell 36-year-old Mike Sweeney Spring Training doesn't mean anything. Dude is raking. Started off 12-for-16.
* The Billings Mustangs have scheduled a Jason LaRue Bobblehead Night for Aug. 7. Road trip! You'll have to chip in gas money for this one though, and not just say you're going to and conveniently forget.
* On a related note, Billings' Drew Stubbs Bobblehead Night is July 10, meaning he could have two bobblehead giveaways in one month if he wins the vote in the Reds' Fans Choice Bobblehead giveaway (July 31). And if heaven forbid he were sent down to Louisville for whatever reason before July AND he won the vote, he might not even be playing for either of those two teams when his bobbleheads would be given away.
* Why is it that entertainment "news" sites can say pretty much anything they want to about a celebrity (based on information from "sources") but a report surfaces about a possible Pujols-for-Ryan-Howard trade and everyone (Pujols and Tony La Russa in particular) gets all bent out of shape and takes it personally instead of just dismissing it as speculation or rumor?
* Hated to see that former Red Ron Villone was among the Nationals' latest cuts. Always liked him.
* I've got a fantasy draft coming up on Friday. It's only Wednesday and I'm ready to explode. I sometimes feel bad about giving friends grief about World of Warcraft because come to think of it I'm probably just about as big a dork when it comes to the Reds, baseball cards and fantasy baseball. And this year seems like as good a year as any to refrain from using an early pick on a closer.
* Cartersville, Georgia native Butch Walker (like Trent, I call the Peach State my former stomping grounds) is opening for Train at Madison Theater on April 1. I'm not a Train fan but I don't intend to miss Butch. My favorite Butch album: "Sycamore Meadows." Biggest celebrity other than Butch from Cartersville (which Butch has actually joked about in concert): Newman.
* Upon further review, running back Ronnie Brown, Padres prospect Donavan Tate and former baseball great Rudy York were also from Cartersville.
* It's funny that Trent mentioned "Police Academy" in Monday's TOL because my uncle, Jeffrey Feldman (credited as Jeffrey Stevens), was in "Police Academy 5: Assignment Miami Beach." He was in the scene where Hooks is working on crowd control and forces a group chanting 'Hell, no! We won't go' to fall into a swimming pool.
* And here you go in case you were ever wondering what happened to Marion Ramsey, who portrayed Hooks in the first six "Police Academy" films.
* Jennifer Garner and Jessica Biel as Laverne and Shirley? No thanks. Call me old fashioned, but I'd rather see Penny Marshall and Cindy Williams ... they're both still working, right?
I never thought about Matta yelling at Belein at the end of the game. Saw an interview with Matta and he said he was yelling at the officials saying it was good, but I agree, it didn't look like he was saying anything like that lol. Makes sense, that's the kind of stuff that makes OSU/Michigan fun, even in basketball.
Why would the Cardinals make that trade? Unless Howard has some time left on his contract and Pujols' contract going to be up at the end of the year. The only way that makes sense is in that scenario since the Cardinals may not be able to afford a free agent Pujols after the Holliday deal.
I'm a fan of anything Jessica Biel is in period.
The Columbus Dispatch reported that Thad Matta was yelling at a referee that, let's just say, missed a call or two during the game.
Great job today!! Any advice for someone about to do her first fantasy draft (unless I chicken out)? Like a nice, simple instructional page somewhere?
I can tell you with complete confidence that he was NOT taunting Beilein or the Michigan bench. I was sitting two rows behind the Michigan bench, and watched Matta... he ran directly at the official screaming "THAT MOTHERF**CKER WAS GOOD!" He said this a few times as the officials headed towards the replay screen to make sure Turner got the shot off in time. That's it.
Sycamore High graduate? I didn't know there were alums well versed in Bracketology. Stats, Nuclear Physiology, Geothermal technology, Medicine, Veterinary Medicine, baseball and football-yes. Aviators didn't used to know basketball. All I can say is, "Wow!".
Amy, follow the article in the link-I don't do Fantasy Baseball, but it looked like sound advice to me.
I think both Penny Marshall and Cindy Williams are comedic producers/directors now. Penny collaborated with Rob Reiner on one of his latest films. Cindy was a murderer on Law and Order (either the original or Criminal Intent) a couple of years ago.