Can UConn win its third title in four seasons? Will Michigan just continue what it started this season and maul the Huskies? Let's find out!!!
08:00 - All up ... almost.
10:37 - Signs of life from Kev-O.
10:59 - Continuing a conversation from yesterday, Sinickal texts Allison to remind her that "funny is the point!"
11:19 - We have scheduled Maguire University for a home-and-home series next year.
11:38 - Off to lunch.
11:39 - So we messed up big time. For the first time ever, the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament, the National Invitational Tournament, and the Division II and III Championships were all here in the same location. Since it was the first time ever, we did not expect or anticipate it. There could have been A LOT more basketball this weekend. We will rectify this next year. [Ed. Note - This scheduling was changed because the NABC annual convention is always on-site of the Final Four. With all the tournaments here, all of the coaches can also be in attendance.]
11:44 - We pass a building that is very obviously an old/former church. It is now a dispensary. The stained-glass windows framing the front door are of Bob Marley and Willie Nelson.
11:50 - Enter Fat Dan's Deli. After walking around the block to find it.
11:51:30 - It is a Chicago-Style deli. The Chicago Combo with is 1/2 sausage and 1/2 Italian Beef with peppers, dipped, is calling Sinickal's name. Pepster orders the same.
11:56 - It arrives and is glorious. Tony orders the Italian Beef, and Kev-O has one of the best Cuban Sandwiches he has ever had.
11:59 - The guy at the bar sitting next to Sinickal strikes up a conversation. He ends up being the President of the Indy Eleven, a USL soccer team.
12:06 - A sign behind the bar of Champagne Velvet Brand Beer. Apparently, Miller High Life ISN'T the champagne of beers!
12:07 - The bar does not carry Champagne Velvet.
12:21 - Kev-O notices this gem on one of the walls.
12:23 - OK, this place is just loaded with amazing signs. One is from Burn Em Brewing, whose motto is "Comforting the Disturbed and Disturbing the Comfortable!"
13:11 - Pepster buys Tony a hug from the bartender. They are actually listed on the menu. Hugs are free, but kisses are $5.
13:50 - As Kev-O is on a call outside, the bartender catches Sinickal, Pepster, and Tony all looking at their phones. She asks why everyone is so serious. Sinickal said that it's bad as he was doom scrolling. Pepster goes, "Serious? I was checking some gambling odds." Tony, "I was just looking at porn!" [Ed. Note - He wasn't. We think.]
13:58 - We all started to notice the pheromones.
13:59 - Bartender asks Pepster if he would like another Old Style. He says "No. I would love another Old Style." Bartender immediately yelled, "Woooooo!" Out of nowhere from some other region of the deli a waitress yells, "Wooooooo!"
14:08 - Sinickal after returning from a bio break mentioned that there is a cuck chair (and a spare) in the bathroom. Seriously, a chair sitting against the wall facing the toilet. Kev-O says, "Yeah, I tied my shoes on it earlier!"
14:17 - Discussing the reasons for the chair being in the bathroom, the bartender says, "I have not heard of untoward things happening in that chair. I have heard not a thing." Do we believe her, or is she hiding something?
14:35 - A local couple sits down next to us, although the guy is covered head-to-toe in Michigan gear. She roots for Auburn, so she watched the NIT final last night. He, obviously, is a Michigan fan. Strike up one of many conversations, but when he says he is from Marysville, Ohio, where a Honda plant is, he notes, "I hope you don't drive a Honda, because it was likely made by my classmates. That isn't good."
14:59 - Discussing Southwestern Central and our merch shop with this couple as Sinickal is going to text the link to the lady. Kev-O tells him he should just get a QR code, followed by, "Damnit, why am I helping you." He claims he has Stockholm Syndrome and will likely be the first recipient of the Southwestern Central Stockholm Syndrome Scholarship. Pepster immediately starts to call him "Patty Hearst!"
15:18 - Having a discussion about extroverts and introverts. Trying to convince everyone that he is an introvert, Sinickal explains that he set his mancave up so he can just be in his basement by himself, and that Allison doesn't even want to go down there. Pepster remarks, "So introverts include people hiding from their spouses? That's like 90% of the population!"
15:21 - Sinickal re-sent the text to the couple next to us because he messed up the area code the first time and mistakenly sent it to someone in Quebec. Kev-O tells Pepster to start brushing up on international law because we are going to need help with all the tariff issues.
15:21:04 - Sinickal notices HE SAID WE!!!!
15:24 - While perusing the merch store, the lady says on her upcoming girls' golf trip her team is going to be the Scorpions and wear polos!!!!
15:25 - We tell her that every time one of them nails a putt, they have to yell, "Stick 'Em!"
15:44 - Tony notices that they have actual bleachers seats - two of them - outside of the bathroom door. (This place loves it some Chicago!). We immediately dub it "The On-Deck Circle."
15:56 - We leave Fat Dan's and notice we have received a parking ticket. Sinickal goes, "But I paid! Have we been here more than two hours?"
15:57 - We all stop laughing.
16:21 - Back at home after a stop at the store.
16:30 - Another 48 Hours is on! We somehow always find an Eddie Murphy flick on these trips!
16:45 - Nice little power nap time.
17:50 - Uber ordered.
17:56 - In Uber to Tom's Watch Bar.
18:07 - At Tom's Watch Bar. This line is way too long to wait in queue. We are walking to the stadium until we find a place with a shorter line.
18:14 - Dick's Last Resort it is. No line.
18:22 - Glancing at the television sets behind the bar, and the temperature is going to be a low of 32 tonight. We thought it was April?!
18:51 - Unc is definitely trying to hit on the waitress that is 40+ years his junior.
19:47 - Guy on the other side of the bar is lifting his shirt and taking selfies of himself.
19:55 - One bartender asks the other if he has vehicular transportation. Yes, those words exactly.
20:24 - We head to the stadium.
20:34 - Enter Lucas Oil Stadium.
20:42 - A whole lot of Michigan fans being incredibly disrespectful during the national anthem. We don't think anybody will be protesting them.
20:48 - House DJ does a pre-game yell, and this place is about 90% Michigan fans.
20:50 - Tip-Off. Radio Silence.
21:14 - We eschewed our seats and decided to stand in the standing room only area, which is close to three separate concessions, the largest men's room we have ever seen in a stadium, and the exit. As we are standing, guy walking down the concourse just yelling at everybody, "This isn't football. This isn't football." Security actually came up to us to ask what he was saying, because they thought he might be trying to start something.
21:20 - We refer to this game as a "Rock Fight" because of how poorly both teams are shooting.
21:23 -We found Waldo. Student in the Michigan section dressed up as Waldo and got pictured on the Jumbotron.
21:47 - Halftime. Michigan up 33-29.
21:59 - UConn's "Spirit Program" performs. Not cheerleaders. Spirt Program. We are doomed as a country.
22:00 - UConn's mascot is still a furry.
22:21 - They show Bruce Pearl on the Jumbotron. Everybody, and we mean EVERYBODY, Boos.
22:45 - During a second-half break, they play Journey's Don't Stop Believing, which apparently won a fan poll over Livin' on a Prayer by Bon Jovi and the Black-Eyed Peas' I Gotta Feeling. Kev-O goes, "Yeah. This one is on us."
23:03 - We call time of death.
23:19 - Michigan wins the national championship! Hail to the Victors! Wait a minute. We have not heard Hail to the Victors all night. That is odd.
23:28 - Elliott Cadeau is named MOP.
23:34 - There it is. Hail to the Victors is finally being played.
23:58 - ONE SHINING MOMENT!
00:02 - Leave Lucas Oil Stadium.
00:15 - Loughmillers is closed! Huh?
00:20 - To Ten Hands at the Westin.
00:39 - We get our drinks and are sitting out in the lobby. A group of 6 or so people in the couch/table area next to us is talking about the game. They are all Michigan fans. One of them says that if Lendeborg had two good legs this would have been a much different game. The only woman in the group said, "He had 2 good legs. He didn't have 3 good legs!"
00:40 - One of the guys at the same table jokes, "Such bad shooting. We need to fire the coach!"
00:45 - Pepster starts talking to the Michigan people next to us when one of them shows a picture on his phone of himself guarding Magic Johnson in high school.
01:03 - Checking some news about the game and The Score Mobile app has the headline, "Michigan Thrives in Rock Fight." Were they listening in on our conversation from earlier?
01:05 - Enter our Uber home. Way too much Drakkar Noir going on. Either the driver spilled some, or he dropped off some high school kids earlier in the evening.
01:11 - Home.
01:17 - The Rundown is on.
01:32 - Pepster and Tony turn in. Sinickal and Kev-O not far behind!
