Spain

So I finally predicted the winner of a tournament. Spain pulled it out and won the World Cup. It wasn't pretty, and I was actually cheering for the Dutch, but Iniesta came up big and spoiled it for the Dutch. Too bad it's over and I'm left to wait 2 years for Euro 2012. South Africa hosted a great tournament.

Finals

My prediction is Lakers in 7, but I would love to see the Celtics pull it out. History shows that the winner of game one will win the series (especially if your coach is Phil) so tonight's game is huge.

NBA Finals

Unfortunately it looks like it will be the Lakers and the Celtics in the finals. Unless the Suns or Magic can pull off something miraculous, I'm stuck watching Kobe and the Lakers. Definitely cheering for the Celtics in the finals if it's Lakers vs Celtics.

One Month and Counting

World Cup begins in exactly one month! My early champion prediction is Spain.

Down But Not Out

I doubted the Jazz. I didn't give them much of a chance to win game two, or to win a game at all with the injuries piling up, but they proved me wrong. Let's hope DWill can go for 30 and 10 again and help the Jazz win a pair at home.

NBA Playoff Picture

The seeds in the western conference (besides 1 and 8) are still undecided as of the last day of the regular season. The race is so close that the Jazz could end up in 2nd or down in 5th depending on the outcomes tonight, crazy!

My predictions:

1. Lakers

2. Mavs

3. Jazz

4. Suns

5. Nuggets

6. Blazers

7. Spurs

8. Thunder

So Close

What a great way to finish the college basketball season. If only Butler could have pulled it off. The game was intense the whole way through, much better than recent championship blowouts. I think I was more nervous than the Butler faithful, and I'm not even associated with the school. It seemed most of America was rooting for the underdog bulldogs. None of the ESPN guys gave Butler much of a chance though, saying Duke would win by double digits. Well, they were wrong. Butler hung around and came inches away from a hoosiers-like celebration. I, unlike the experts, thought the game would be close and that Butler really did have a chance. They just came up a few inches short. So now the dance is over and I'm left to wait till next year. If Hayward stays, Butler should be back making noise in the tournament next year. Only 346 days to go.

Tournament Expansion

It looks like the expansion to 96 teams is going to happen. Initially I was all for the expansion but I've got mixed feelings now. This is all happening so fast. I think the NCAA should first focus on what isn't working - college football post-season - and change that before messing with a great thing. Maybe one positive that will come from this is the elimination of the silly tournaments like the CBI and CIT.

Final Four

I correctly picked zero teams in the final four this year. That's right - zero! And I only had three correct in the Elite 8. For someone who follows college basketball as much as I do, that is embarrassing. Even more embarrassing is the fact that I'm in last place in my family bracket group (no offense to any family members). At least I still have a team to root for. I've been a casual fan of Butler for a couple of years but after seeing them in person last weekend, I'm tempted to buy some Butler gear and proudly sport it on Saturday. I can't stand Michigan St. and Duke and I wouldn't really mind seeing West Virginia win it all, but I'll definitely be cheering for Butler. Here's hoping the home-town advantage works. Let's go bulldogs!

Sweet Sixteen - Salt Lake

Incredible! That’s how I would describe the two games last night at the ESA. Butler upsetting the Orange in game one was fun to watch, and then the second game between Kansas St. and Xavier was even better. Xavier rallies from an early deficit to make it a close game at the half, second half is back and forth, and then the end of regulation and the overtimes were just insane. Huge 3 after huge 3 by Crawford, Holloway, and Pullen. Back and forth they went. I think we definitely got our money’s worth in SLC. You couldn't ask for a pair of better games. I’m ready for four overtimes Saturday.

March Madness

I love March! Spring is almost here but the madness is what I live for and why I love March. I always look forward to this time of year, and have since I was pretty young (ask my mom, she’ll tell you I wanted to skip school to watch games back then, too). I’ll freely admit it, I watched almost non-stop basketball during the weekend. Some people say I’m obsessed, I like to think I’m dedicated. Skipping classes was well worth it. The weekend was one of the best sports weekends in recent memory, with close game after close game.

How about the Big Red, the Gaels, and those Panthers of Northern Iowa! Not only does Ali Farokhmanesh have a sweet name, he’s got guts. To take that shot and drain it, man that was awesome! Kansas was stealing it left and right at the end with their press so in my mind he made the right play to shoot and avoid turning it over. Ryan Wittman of Cornell, Ali Farokhmanesh of Northern Iowa, and Mickey McConnell of Saint Mary’s can all stroke it. As one who has never shied away from launching the deep ones, those guys are my favorites of the tournament so far. McConnell’s rainbows, Wittman’s knock it down right in your face jumpers, and Ali’s game winners are a thing of beauty.

My bracket is a officially a mess, but at least I didn’t have Kansas winning it all. I picked Kentucky to go all the way, but wouldn’t mind seeing them knocked off by Cornell. I’ll be cheering for Cornell, St. Mary’s, and UNI. Hopefully one of them can keep their run going. I wouldn’t mind hearing a few more jokes and comments from Omar Samhan. He's a pretty funny guy. Listen to some of his interviews and you’ll see what I mean. I’m ready for the Sweet Sixteen and stoked to see two of the games on Thursday in person (going to the games in Salt Lake with my dad). Let the madness continue.