Final Four Chronicles - The Finals

April 8

We all awake and do work - it is Monday after all.  Plus, the finals do not start until 20:20 local time, thus we will still have all day to enjoy the festivities.

13:12 - Uber downton.  Country music blaring from the Uber.  Definitely not what we expected from this driver.

13:16 - We notice that this  Uber driver is driving us through every neighborhood in town.  Sinickal looks at the map on the driver's telephone and says, "Yeah, this is the route the other Uber driver says was useless.

13:29 - :Land at the Host Bar - Runyon's.  Order lunch.

13:55 - Wings are delivered and Dr. Pepper notes, "Properly sauced".  Tony looks at him and says, "You or the wings?"

14:29 - After hearing glass break for the second time of the day, we remark that this has happened every time we have been at Runyon's.  We ask our waitress if "Things just jump off ledges and shit".  Waitress responds that "We don't like cleaning dishes!"

14:37 - Also remarking about the improper staffing levels at most of the establishments around town, Sinickal asks our waitress if the owner can read a calendar.  She remarks after noting they had the same problem during the Super Bowl, "I don't know if he can."

15:20 - We pay the tab as we are finishing our drinks, and Sally the redhead waitress at Runyon's comes in to start her shift.  You may recall Sally as the waitress that refers to us as her bodyguards because we kept clearing the aisle for her to maneuver on Saturday, comes up to us, says hello, and asks, "What, no Jameson's today?"

15:23 - First round of Jameson's.

15:58 - Leave Runyon's to head to Nicollet Mall.  Nicollet Mall is not a shopping mall, but rather a boulevard that has been shut down for the tournament.  It houses ESPN and CBS Sports, concerts and all types of games, etc.  The establishments along the boulevard love this, I am sure as they have all been packed.

16:23 - While walking along Nicollet Mall, Sinickal wonders if Texas Tech wins tonight, then Lubbock might turn into a shit show.  Tony and Dr. Pepper state simultaneously, "It already is!"

16:27 - Texas Tech cheerleader parade, excuse the pom team.  "Guns Up!"

16:40 - Pop into 8th Street Grill.  Get into a discussion with the security guy as we sit on the porch, asking about possible late night locations to eat after the game.  He explains to us all of the issues with Minneapolis regarding staffing and food, as well as the differences between Super Bowl week and this weekend.  We find out he is a former cop.  Without knowing anything about him personally or why he is no longer a cop, we conclude based upon our interaction and conversation with him that he is exactly the type of person who we - as a public - still needs to be in law enforcement.

17:23 - First time the sun has been out all day.  We are all remiss that we did not bring our sunglasses.  Nah - won't need them in about 5 more minutes.

17:26 - Pop into Brit's Pub.  Apparently patterned pants are in.

17:45 - Christian, Pepster's friend from North Palm Beach arrives with his boys for a drop in.  Christian and his peeps are UVA alumni, so they head over to the free UVA party.  We don't blame them.

18:35 - Alan - Tony and Dr. Pepper's friend from Providence whose birthday dinner was last night - joins us.

18:44 - See the news report about Nike possibly paying Zion's mom.  Pepster remarks that it is a shame, "He might have to go pro now!"

19:37 - Table next to us - obviously sisters - starts comparing pictures of dogs with us.  We note that one picture of both her dogs standing facing away from the camera.  The other sister responds, "She likes ass!"

19:38 - After celebratory Jameson's with Alan, Dr. Pepper yells, "We ain't going to the game!"

19:43 - Brit's manager while changing the televisions to CBS asks if we were watching the current channel (we weren't).  Tony asks, "Do you have Skinemax?"  Sinickal remarks, "He said that out loud!"

19:44 - CBS is showing a repeat of the Katy Perry concert from the night before.  Alan asks if that "Is Ivan Drago's wife?"

20:05 - Head to the stadium.

20:20 - Dr. Pepper, Tony and Alan and talking about an old acquaintance from Providence, Dr. Pepper tells us "That is the smallest racist in the state!"

20:31 - Hit our "seats", which we have once again just chosen a railing on the concourse as it is lower than our seats, has good sight-line, and is closer to the rest room and concessions.  Mostly the same people around us as on Saturday.  We are a bit late.  Score is 3-2.

20:34 - The University of Virginia student section is a bit less than half filled.  Sinickal remarks, their must be tests on campus.

20:35 - Mostly radio silence during the game.

22:30 - Free basketball.  Overtime!

22:47 - University of Virginia wins.  Note from twitter, "Finally a Cavaliers championship that did not involve Draymond Green being suspended!"  Twitter is awesome.

22:50 - Head down for a better view of the championship trophy presentations and the cutting down of the net.  Who are we kidding, a better spot for One Shining Moment!

22:52 - Alan takes leave.  Before One Shining Moment - ridiculous!

23:14 - Sinickal is worried that Syracuse will not have a presence in One Shining Moment!

23:17  - ONE SHINING MOMENT!!!  [Ed. Note - The Syracuse Orange was in the opening montage].

23:22 - Sinickal notes that everything is better with Luther.  Pepster concurs - but especially with Big Luther.  Not Little Luther, Big Luther.

23:23 - Leave the stadium.  We need to find somewhere to wait for the ride share prices to fall.

23:39 - Enter the AC Marriott bar.  We can do the above, and they have clean facilities.  Perfect.

23:55 - We say goodbye to Dr. Pepper.  He has an early flight in the morning so that he can make the home opener/championship presentation for the Red Sox.  The rest of us will not be waking up to see him off.

00:05 - Pop into Runyon's to led the ride share surge pricing dissipate further.  For the first time we sit at a bar and not a table.  Sally tells the bartender, these are my Jameson's guys.  Not tonight we aren't.

00:10 - We are informed the kitchen is closed, which we knew based upon the fact that we are in Minneapolis.  We get into a discussion of things, and we find out the kitchen and bar closed early Saturday evening because somebody threw a chair through one of the front glass windows.  Glad we weren't there for that one.

00:46 - Uber home.  No use galavanting around to find a last meal in this town.  Even the 24 hour diners are not 24 hours Sunday through Thursday.  There will always be breakfast tomorrow.

Time Unknown - Arrive back at the house.