I went to two parties yesterday for 40th birthday's. Long after the second party ended, I found myself sitting alone upstairs in a back corner section of the bar that had been closed for a while watching the end of the Houston-Purdue game. At around 12:15 this morning, I looked around and saw no one. Even the bartenders were gone.
How did this happen? How had I not noticed that everyone had left? The one word answer is gambling. The bracket games and survivor pools and fantasy leagues and betting apps are driving my life right now and I can't even recognize the world around me. Damn it, I love this time of year!
My love affair with the NCAA tournament is all consuming. I never miss the 12:15 tipoff on the opening Thursday, I watch as many minutes of as many games as possible for three weeks, and I attend a lot of Final Fours in person. Even when games are not on, I am consuming content.
This morning is an ESPN 30 for 30 binge watch and while writing this post, I have been re-watching Requiem for the Big East. Forgetting the nostalgia of one of the great periods of sport, the early dominance of the conference in the 1980's is something that can't ever be replicated. The league formed in 1979, and in just 10 years had produced 8 Final Four appearances by 6 different schools and 2 National Championships. The peak of the power came in 1985 when three Big East teams made the Final Four. Something not done before or since.
That brings me back to last night. Houston's last second inbound play to beat Purdue last night completed an unbelievable Elite 8. Seven of the top 8 seeds are still alive and the lowest remaining seed is #3 Texas Tech. Also interesting is that an SEC team is playing in each regional final meaning that there is a possibility of replicating a conference dominance not seen since Villanova upset Georgetown in that great 1985 final.
These two days of Regional Finals should be outstanding! I can't wait to consume more of this drug.
As for the block squares pool, did you see the ending of that Ole Miss-Michigan State game? In the last few seconds of that game, the winning block was seemingly stolen from people twice before Ed Clarke finally won it. Then two identical scores? Weird night. The winners are below.
Today, the squares are worth 200 apiece. Good luck everyone!
--Your Commissioner
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