Running blog of day 2 of the NCAA tournament.

I decided since I’ve been terribly lazy lately, I owe it to myself, and to all of you (of which there is probably 5) to write a running blog on the second day of the 1st round of the NCAA tournament. I am even forfeiting a shower after my morning trip to the gym, in order to get started on time. At one point there is going to be a 15-20 minute lapse, as I go to my friend Jason’s. Just excuse that.

Basically, there were too many funny things said yesterday by my friends during 10 hours of watching college hoops. Coupled with my idol, Bill Simmons, doing a running blog, I figured I could not miss the chance. So here we go.

12:08 pm: There’s a snow storm brewing in Boston and channel 4 news just came on to say they would not be broadcasting until after the games tonight. If you aren’t from Boston you don’t understand how mad the news and weather team is here. They treat winter storm coverage as the biggest natural disaster that could ever occur. A killer earthquake could hit Los Angeles and kill people but that wouldn’t matter. Now they have to sit idly by for basketball while 3 inches accumulates outside!

12:10 pm: Alliteration from Clark Kellog, “double-digit devotees” I think we have the new poet laureate. He’d be better at that then predicting games.

12:12 pm: Something we were wondering last night, which is too good not to mention now. How do the Wright State Raiders have a dog as a logo? Is there a dog that is half cocker-spaniel half marauder? Either call them the Wright State Dogs, or change the logo. Better yet, after last night’s debacle cost me an upset pick; let’s call them the Wright State Wrongs.

12:13 pm: Commercial for Fridays. What’s the difference between Friday’s and Applebee’s. Aren’t we just wasting building space?

12:14 pm: Going to Jason’s at 1. His mom is the best woman in the town of Needham. She brings on the food like VCU brought the press on Duke last night. I leave that house 10 pounds fatter with 5 new blemishes on my face.

12:15 pm: How come the host schools get to keep their logos on the court? I think it’s unfair advertising. (Not that anyone wants to attend OSU anyways).

12:17 pm: Mike Giminski just said he loves to watch the players sway before the game during the national anthem. Waiting now for Mike to tell us he also loves watching the towel boy wipe the court and also loves watching grass grow.

12:19 pm: 6-0 Virginia. Albany really looks like an American East team from the middle of nowhere in upstate New York. Oh wait, they are? Why did I pick them to win this game?


12:21 pm: Matt Cain for Virginia has one of those sketchy thin black mustaches that my friend Dan would call a “poop mustache.” When I go to Jason’s let’s see if Dan mentions this at some point.

12:24 pm: Georgia Tech vs. UNLV takes the place of Albany vs. UVA. Should be a great game, except we get Billy Packer announcing this with Jim Nantz. That’s like when you get a really hot substitute teacher come in for your sick professor on the day of a test, only to find out the professor still gave the test to the substitute for you to take. Ok, I’m stretching, but Billy Packer sucks.

12:25 pm: The blue NCAA bubble in the middle of the court is enormous. Reminds me of the bubble Sonic the Hedgehog gets to protect him. A made basket from the sonic bubble should count for 10 points.

12:27 pm: I can’t understand the infatuation with this Georgia Tech team. At best, they beat UNLV and lose to Wisconsin, but I don’t think they even win this game. They are too young and too mistake prone to win tournament games. (note: this is my first comment that actual is relevant to any of these games. It took me 19 minutes).

---------------------shower break, I stink and feel bad going out in public----------------------


12:42 pm: Back, 15 minute shower is lighting fast for me. This blog means that much.

12:43 pm: How bout those Great Danes of Albany! I think they’re still in shock that they almost beat UConn as a 16 seed last year. Down 33-14 to the Wahoos of UVA right now.

12:44 pm: Mean Green of North Texas are leading Memphis 17-14. What could the mascot of the Mean Green be? My vote would be for Oscar the Grouch.

------------- In car on way to Jasons. Can taste Patty’s signature Nachos.----------------------

12:58 pm: Back in front of Jason’s new Aquos TV and it only took :45 seconds for Patty to ask if we wanted Nachos! No lie. I think I just peed my pants a little.

12:59 pm: Dan mentioned the poop mustache. I’m like Nostradamus with my predictions today. Can I predict a Niagara win over Kansas??

1:02 pm: Just found out Thaddeus Young’s major is management! Dan’s is too. They share a special moment. Also, why does it matter what his major is when Thad is probably going to the NBA next year? Can we change his major to “pimp daddy Thad?”

1:06 pm: Dan brings up a GQ (good question). When the ref points to signal which team has possession, where is he pointing in relation to you? (person watching TV). Is there a way we can figure this out? Is the ref pointing directly at you? These are the things we ponder.
1:07 pm: Annnnd Nachos! Patty just said “these aren’t the best I’ve ever made.” That’s like when Michael Jordan score 60 and says it wasn’t his best effort. Still unreal.

1:09 pm: Commercial for Sonic America’s Drive-In. Please note there isn’t a sonic within 300 miles of here. This is way too tantalizing seeing as I’ve been to Sonic and it is phenomenal. As punishment, the Midwest should have to see Papa Gino’s commercials. (My Midwest readers have no idea how good Papa Gino’s is. It is a New England gem).

1:11 pm: Dan makes a good point. Isn’t this blogging taking away from my watching the games? He is spot on; I have no clue what’s happening.

1:14 pm: Look-in on Memphis/North Texas, and YES Bill Raftery. He should be announcing up until the championship game, not Billy Slacker.

1:18 pm: Dan: If you get the nachos stuck together, is that one nacho? (taken from Saving Silverman).

1:20 pm: These Mac/PC commercials drive me crazy. Next year for Halloween, I’m going to walk around really subdued and mellow and when people ask what I am I’m going to say “oh hey, I’m a mac.”

1:22 pm: Jason is infatuated with the North Texas lettering on the back of their jerseys. It’s so big and bold you could probably spot it from space.

1:24 pm: Memphis pulling away, these 15 v 2 games always follow the same script. Raftery is getting excited “Dorsey is just a load around the rim.” Sounds like my morning dump.

1:27 pm: Games are at the half. More alone time with the nacho plate.

1:30 pm: Albany trailing by probably 90, all of us in unison “I’m never picking the America East again.”

1:33 pm: Live look-in at UVA Ndiyane just hit a 3, this guy couldn’t hit water if he fell out of a boat against BC. UVA doesn’t look like they’re over-seeded anymore. Albany still looks like a crappy upstate New York city.

1:38 pm: UVA looks real good. If Singletary and Reynolds play steady at the guard positions this team can get to OSU and maybe… just maybe beat them. This does not match-up to what I was saying 3 hours ago when I was predicting the Albany upset.

1:40 pm: Commercial for Buffalo Wild Wings… again we don’t have one within 300 miles. Revenge by airing Needham House of Pizza ads in Tennessee.

1:42 pm: Thanks to the “B Dubs” website, we found the nearest location. Milford, Connecticut. If we leave now we can get there by 4:00. Nice.
1:43 pm: 60-32 Virginia. Great Dane fans are still chanting “defense.” When does this become a complete waste of time? Certainly not when your team is down 28 with 10:00 to go. Of course not.

1:45 pm: The new Mcdonalds “cheddar onion crap on a bun” burger honestly looks like a patty… with mucas hacked up by a person with a nasal drip. I thought all food looks good in the advertisements.

1:48 pm: WRITING THIS IN NORTH TEXAS FONT

1:50 pm: Memphis is mighty athletic. I still don’t buy this team going more than 1 round. Can’t wait till I’m wrong on this one too.

1:51 pm: If Canada conquers the United States tomorrow, and it means that we don’t have to watch the “This is Our Country” commercial ever again, I might start worshipping Steve Nash and saying eh.

1:52 pm: Dan loves the new mastercard commercial, because the zookeeper is Mr. Carosi from the Saved By The Bell Beach Episodes. Dan is depressed over how much his acting career has digressed.

1:53 pm: Jason: If they really want to show “Our Country” they should show route 1 in Dedham, the auto mile and the Dedham mall. That’s really our country.

1:54 pm: Georgia Tech has stormed back to 40-40. But I think they are settling too much for the three, sometimes a flaw for teams in the tourney. UNLV wins it mark my words.

1:55 pm: Billy Packer: “Jim, White is a guy UNLV can get the ball to.” Thank you Billy, I believe they can also get the ball to the other four guys on the court too, but I’m not sure.

1:57 pm: I go to school in Ohio, Jason in Boston, and Dan in Waltham, mass. We all just commented on how much we wish we went to UNLV. Gambling club, anyone? Strip Club, club anyone?

1:59 pm: Javaris Crittenden for Ga. Tech is super athletic. Dan makes the point that if they return all their guys next year, Georgia Tech going to be scary good. Hard to argue with that.

2:00 pm: With my wrists in pain and my inability to actually focus on the games we are going to end the blog for now. Hopefully you enjoyed, enjoy the rest of the games.