So one week out from the National Championship game (and the Final Four Chronicles), and as always, your boys are being inundated with questions about the trip. Here are some "important" questions from our readership that we think we should answer.
Q: Who all went on the trip? We suspect it is the four guys (Kev-O, Pepster, Sinickal, Tony), but in the Facebook prompts for the Chronicles, you always tag three of the ladies. Are they present also?
A: This question seems to come up every year. Our respective wives (Susan, Racecar, Allison) are always invited, and welcome, but they seldom want to join us. I suppose it depends upon the location, timing/schedules and teams. In a pre-Kev-O trip, Allison and Racecar did join us in Indianapolis, and Racecar is still a little miffed at herself that she did not go last year to San Antonio, being University of Florida alumna, but none of the wives attended this year.
Q: Why do you always tag us? Stop doing that! (From Racecar)
A: Our bad.
Q: How much planning goes into the trip beforehand?
A: Well, we enter the NCAA ticket lottery as soon as it opens, which is generally the week after the tournament concludes (so now). Then we book plane tickets and an AirBnB generally at the end of the year. For individually planning of each day, we generally just wing it, except for one really good meal during the trip. This year it was St. Elmo, which Pepster booked on the Wednesday after touching down back home from San Antonio in 2025.
Q: Is St Elmo really that good?
A: Quick Answer is YES!!! Longer answer is ... it is pretty amazing, but it depends upon what you are looking for in a steakhouse. They only have one appetizer on the menu because the shrimp cocktail is so legendary. But, if you are looking for a lot of choices, this isn't the place. The ambiance is steakhouse ambiance, but very busy, so if you want quiet, this isn't the place for you. But, it IS amazing.
Q: What one thing stood out to you about this trip?
A: On the court it was the extremely poor basketball. Off the court, it was Ithiyia, our waitress at The Fountain Room for brunch on Saturday, and no, this isn't a veiled post about looks. She was absolutely amazing. On top of everything we needed without being constantly at our table, jumping in with quick quips after she hears parts of our conversation as she delivered food, drinks, and more drinks, putting up with us staying longer than we wanted to because it started pouring rain outside, just really a great server. The type we all wish we had at every meal. And the food/drinks were great too.
Q: What was the most surprising thing that happened during this trip?
A: On the court it was Michigan absolutely boatracing Arizona, the team most thought was the second-best team all year (behind Michigan). Off the court was Kev-O being converted into supporting Southwestern Central (Stick 'em Scorpions!). It was instinctive, and he almost didn't even know it was happening, as it was happening! Soon he might become part of the administration!
Q: What was the least surprising thing that happened during the trip?
A: That we ended up running into and hanging with people we already knew outside of our Final Four trips. Sinickal's friend Anne - who is "in the business" (they always are) - joined us for the Arrival Day. [Ed. Note - In the business means in the engineering field with Sinickal and Tony]. Pepster's second-cousin-in-law Trey and his friend Tyler (we did not know Tyler beforehand) joined us for part of The Interregnum and dinner at St. Elmo! Something akin to this ALWAYS happens. And, we have peeps in Detroit, so we assume it will happen next year as well!
Q: So the trip could not have been all roses. Anything disappointing?
A: Oh God yes. During the weekend, we had been discussing the best starting five for each of the Final Four teams. For example, Michigan's is Juwan Howard, Chris Webber, Jalen Rose, Glen Rice, and then really any other guard - let's say Rumeal Robinson because of the title, but Trey Burke could work, or Lendeborg could join him. [Ed. Note - we did not discuss Lendeborg in this group; just added him for this blog entry.] UConn's team is Ray Allen, Rip Hamilton, Emeka Okafor, Andre Drummond if you want to go big, or Clifford Robinson if you want a more standard team - with Kemba Walker at point, or Kemba and Shabazz Napier if you want to go small. Illinois' team is Deron Williams, Dee Brown, Kendall Gill, Marcus Liberty and honestly, I don't remember the 5th - maybe Nick Anderson. And, Arizona's team is Gilbert Arenas, Sean Elliott, Mike Bibby, Richard Jefferson, and Lauri Markkanen or DeAndre Ayton if we have to have a big, but really another guard here like Damon Stoudamire or Andre Iguodala work as well.
Q: What is your point?
A: Well, we decided to do this for our respective favorite teams. Since Kev-O and Pepster are both fans of the University of Kentucky, and Kev-O is an alumnus, we tried to do Kentucky. Point guard was a debate between John Wall and Rajon Rondo - which Kev-O eliminated by starting both of them in his backcourt. Pepster went with Rondo and Rex Champman. Some disagreement at the 3, with Kev-O going with Ron Mercer and Pepster selecting Jamal Mashburn. No argument at the center position as it IS Anthony Davis. Then came the power forward slot. For Kev-O it is Oscar Tshiebwe, who matches well with Davis since Davis can roam inside and outside on offense and defense, and Tshiebwe can literally just grab every rebound. Pepster couldn't think of his selection immediately and a discussion with him and Kev-O turned up KAT in a big lineup, or Jack Givens, or even Dan Issel. And to answer the original question as we put this topic to Trey and Tyler, Tyler - a Louisville fan - suggested DeMarcus Cousins. Who Kev-O and Pepster completely forgot about. On the good side, Kentucky has so many stars that it is difficult to always remember them all. On the bad side, a Louisville fan had to remind us of Boogie Cousins. Just so disappointed in ourselves.
Q: Reading the Chronicles, it looks like you all have a lot of fun. What was the single most fun thing that occurred.
A: Not sure we can accurately answer that question, but it is assuredly is NOT one of Pepster's jokes.
Q: What do you mean by pheromones?
A: A really long, convoluted story which has a lot of inside reference/information/ramifications for friends outside of the trip. So in order to keep that (somewhat) confidential, let's just say it isn't a bad thing in the context of the Chronicles.
Q: Does Southwestern Central really have a merch store? You guys are kidding, right?
A: YES WE DO! And no, we are not.
Q: You all are just egotistical enough for this ... Are you taking credit for Viktor Orban's loss in Hungary since you watched the Last Week Tonight episode.
A: Somehow, Yes we are.
Q: Are all of your Holy Week references/puns (Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Sunday) intended?
A: What do you think?
Q: Did you all really notice drapes? Seriously?
A: Yes we did. And you would have too, if you saw them!
Q: Who IS Pam?
A; Not sure we all really know. She is basically a representation/manifestation of a conglomerate of people. And no, she is not the Pam that regularly meets up with us when the Final Four is in Houston.
Q: What and where is Kev-O's school?
A: It is New Madrid College in New Madrid, Kentucky.
Q: Why were you discussing hollers?
A: Listen, in a span of four plus days, lots of unusual topics will arise in discussion.
Q: Why did you mention the Illinoisivic shirts on the Illinois fans?
A: Illinois has at least five Eastern Europeans on their squad, starters David Mirkovic, and Tomislav Ivisic, and rotational players Andrej Stojakovic, Zvonimir Ivisic, and Mihailo Petrovic.
Q: DV cannot be a real person, can she?
A: Sadly, yes.
Q: What has "filled-in nicely?"
A: We will probably catch some flak for that one!
Q: You guys made up Maguire University just so you wouldn't seem so bizarre for creating Southwestern Central, right?
A: Nope. It was a real thing. And not only pre-dates Southwestern Central, it predates US!!!
Q: Did you really schedule Maguire for a home-and-home?
A: No, not yet. But the conversations have started. Seriously.
Q: How do you know Bernie Mac has good taste in women?
A: That is a story for another day/time, but trust us, he does.
Q: What IS the ladies' equivalent of Drakkar Noir?
A: This is a very good question. Please let us know once you find out! From our senses it is Clinique "Happy". Any ladies have a different opinion?
Q: Are you really going to Detroit?
A: Absolutely. Well, we are certainly planning on it. Of course, sometimes real life gets in the way, and it may for one or more of us next year, but it is on our respective calendars, and the plan is to attend one way or the other!!!
See you all in Detroit!
