The Final Four Chronicles: FAQ

 

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! 

The Final Four Chronicles: THE DEPARTURE

 

So the Michigan Wolverines are the champions, and we are EXHAUSTED!  That does not mean that we cannot get a few more shots up on the way out.  

07:45 - All are up.  It is still freakin' cold - 36 degrees Fahrenheit!!!  Isn't this April?

09:53 - AirBnB cleaned, and we are showered, packed and leaving for breakfast.

10:05 - Reacting to Trump's tweet today about destroying a civilization today, Sinickal notes that "We might actually be the terrorists."

10:08 - We enter Lincoln Square Pancake House.  As we sit down at our table we notice that Caribbean Queen by Billy Ocean is playing.  Oh yeah, we picked the right place!

10:15 - After coffee, and while perusing the menu, we notice that they have Boston Creme pancakes - AS A SIDE to their egg entrees (skillets and omelets)!!!  Yes please (at least for Sinickal and Pepster)!

11:00 - I think it is important to note that this place is AMAZING!!!  Traditional diner with mostly traditional breakfasts, but some slight twists.  To quote our waitress Michelle, "Everything here is good.  Even the butter.  We make it in house!"

11:03 - Leave Lincoln Square Pancake House.  It has not warmed up one degree.  In fact, it feels colder!

11:21 - Drop off Pepster at IND.

11:42 - After Pepster clears security and is walking to his gate, he sees a police officer walking through the concourse with a sealed and clearly labeled evidence box.  

11:47 - As Pepster enters his concourse, he sees a police handler with a dog that is going ABSOLUTELY NUTS!!!  Nobody is around and neither is anything.  This can't be good.

12:17 - Pepster is posted up at the bar nearest his gate, several people who are not together but only started talking because the bartender admonished them for looking at their phones begin talking about Fernando Mendoza, the Heisman-winning, soon-to-be 1st overall draft pick from Indiana via California via Miami.  The bartender chimes in that he was just in the airport the other say sitting at her bar.  One of the guys - wearing Indiana gear - says that people look at him like Jesus around these parts.  Pepster reminds them his name is Mendoza, so they probably look at him like Hay-Zues.  Laughter ensues, but only after a two-second delay.

12:20 - On the drive to CVG, Sinickal remarks that "you know you are in the middle of nowhere when you see 4G on your phone." Tony replies that he knows because he is looking out the window. 

12:59 - Sinickal, Kev-O and Tony arrive at the CVG rental car return center, then head to the Delta Sky Club. Unfortunately, we have arrived more than 3 hours before our flight. Agent takes pity on us and lets us through.

13:10 - Sinickal and Kev-O realize that the long weekend requires a soft landing. To the bar for bourbon!

14:02 - While finishing the final work on the tournament squares, Sinickal reminds Tony how close he was to winning the final square (he needed Michigan to miss two free throws at the end of the game). He then is told how much the square was worth and says that "if I had known how much the square was worth last night, I would have shot the guy myself."

14:00 - 14:20 - A guy sitting two stools down at the bar is asked by another two people if he could move down one seat so they can sit together.  He obliges.  She starts talking to him and at first he is cordial answering her questions:  He is a famous criminal lawyer in DC, Maryland; he went to Morehouse; is an Alpha Phi Alpha, Incorporated (his words); he defends white-collar criminals - like drug dealers; and they know someone in common.  She starts to ask him incessantly how he knows this guy Tony, she says they should call him, and then just starts to cross-examine him about everything.  Finally the guy tells her that he used to bust Tony's ass, that is how he knows Tony.  Not taking the hint, she then starts to talk about everything else, including that Michigan won the championship (she is an alumna), and that Morehouse hasn't won anything.  He tells her he has won a lot of trials, then she tells him if she was a lawyer she would beat his ass.  Finally guy next to me looks to the other guy in the couple in a way that says, "Come get your girl."  Other guy, getting the hint just says, "She ain't my girl.  I mean, we traveled to the game together because we both went to Michigan, but she ain't my girl.  I don't control her like that."  And this was only part of the conversation for that 20 minute time period.  Pepster almost wishes he didn't have to leave to go board my flight.

14:41 - Pepster boards his flight behind a kid in his 20s wearing a Duke hoodie.  Fifty or 60-something guy in the aisle seat on the last row of first class asks Duke kid to lean down and tells him, "You guys played hard."  He said this, but sarcastically.  Duke kid keeps walking.  Women, who does not look like she is with UConn man but is sitting next to him says, "He thinks you're being an asshole."  He retorts, "So what if I am?"

14:59 - Pepster wheels up to CLT.

15:05 - Mike and Larissa Hanpeter enter the CVG Delta Sky Club and join us. They know Sinickal and Kev-O from their golf club in Washington DC and are on their way home from Oakland. We are all on the same flight back to DCA

16:24 - Pepster wheels down in CLT.

16:30 - Tony found our Uber driver with too much cologne's girlfriend on his flight.  Ladies, what is the ladies' perfume equivalent of Drakkar Noir?  Seriously, we need to add it to our repertoire of disses.

16:32 - Sinickal and Kev-O board flight. Mary Washington basketball team - the team that just won the Division III national championship, is on the flight.  One dude is still wearing a part of the net he cut down around his neck!  THAT is a flex! They walked past us in first class to their coach seats as we all said congratulations.

16:50 - Sinickal and Kev-O wheels up to DCA.

17:55 - Tony wheels up to LGA.

18:31 - Sinickal and Kev-O land in DCA. 

18:53 - Pepster wheels up to PBI.  After his Indianapolis bar experience he is happy for quiet in Charlotte.

19:30 - Tony lands in LGA!

20:43 - Pepster lands at PBI, maybe his last flight before it changes to DJT.

It has been another great tournament weekend, even if the basketball wasn't.  See everyone in a revamped and renewed, and apparently vibrant Detroit!!!  Might even bring the passports for a sojourn into Windsor!!!

Final Four Chronicles: THE FINALS

 

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!

Final Four Chronicles: THE INTERREGNUM

 

Low-key day today with no games, and everything pointed toward our favorite Saint on this Easter Sunday, St. Elmo.  We will get to that, but also, a HUGE REVELATION!!!!

07:30 - We are all up and awake.

07:45 - Speaking with Racecar who was just informed about our MERCH STORE for Southwestern Central.  Her first comment:  "I hope you didn't spend any money for that," followed by her second, "Where is the women's merch?".  She ended it with, "You know I am not buying anything from there!"  In short:  (1) No; (2) We just went live, we will be updating it with women specific merch; and (3) Yes, we knew.

09:06 - Sinickal telling us about his conversation with Allison this morning about trying to figure out how to put our meeting with Sue and her friends into the blog.  Allison: "What do you mean figure out?  You just told me what happened."  Sinickal:  "Yeah, but we have to tell it funny."  Allison:  "You're not funny.  The blog posts aren't funny.  You are a little clever ... sometimes."  We are taking shots left and right.  I feel bad for Kevin, he's probably up next.

10:36 - As it is Easter Sunday, we are having our serious conversation about the resurrection.  Tony, who had a little incident shaving his head, looks like he is wearing the Blood of Christ.  Kev-O remarks that it has filled in nicely.

10:56 - It has gotten really cold here in Indianapolis and none of us are properly prepared. Kev-O notes that he should have thought to bring a light jacket. Tony replies "but, it is not April 25th." Happy early Miss Congeniality Day.

11:00 - In Uber to go eat.

11:11 - Enter Ralston's Draft House.

12:00 - The bartender definitely undersold us on the quality of the food.  She previously said that it was, "a little elevated bar food."  This was good.  Pepster's trio of Waffle tacos was amazing, especially the chorizo with goat cheese.  Sinickal's Smashed Patty Melt was spectacular.  Tony's traditional breakfast of eggs, bacon and pancakes was spot on.  Kev-O's pesto chicken flatbread was way better than any bar food should be!  We picked well.

12:10 - We noticed that ESPN The Ocho is on today.  Up first, the Bullshooter Invitational Shootout of Darts.  Later followed by Omegaball, and Wiffle Ball.

12:16 - Find out the bartender went to Indiana University.   She says she isn't really into basketball, because they aren't very good.  "Maybe they will figure it out.  Probably not."

12:46 - On a trip for a bio break, Sinickal has to walk past a table of UConn fans.  He tells them to enjoy your run since 1999, it will be shortlived!

12:46 - 14:29 - There is not enough time to put in here all of the different topics that this woman sitting behind us has an opinion on.  I will say that her friend showed up for an impromptu birthday party, wondered how the lady and her husband were already at Ralston's.  Lady said, "When we got the texts to meet at Ralston at 1:30, we were already here.

14:29 - FA Cup Quarterfinal before West Ham and Leeds goes to PKs.  (Not on the Ocho!)

14:42 - Pepster notices that in the shadowbox in the bar announcing upcoming events, Ralston's is hosting a Drag Brunch next Sunday.  Somewhere Mike Pence's mother is rolling in her grave.

15:00 - AKC Agility contest on the Ocho!  The table behind us with the lady starts analyzing all of the dogs in the contest.  We start evaluating the handlers as if this is the AKC/NFL combine.  Hip movements, backpedal, footwork, hand signals, all on the table. The handlers did not serve the racers well. 

15:02 - I am not saying that Dexter came here in a Subaru, but Dexter came here in a Subaru.  [Ed. Note - Dexter is a dog in the agility competition and we are evaluating handlers.]

15:18 - Sinickal is trying to find out how to bet on the AKC Agility contest.

15:24 - We have figured out that the AKC Agility contest is broken into categories of dogs by size (height).  The 24" category comes out.  They stop timing the dogs with a stopwatch and start using a calendar.

15:30 - We missed the start of the women's championship game.  TVs turn to UCLA - South Carolina.

17:11 - Trey and Tyler arrive.  Trey is Pepe's cousin's husband, and Tyler is his friend.  They are joining us for most of the remainder of the evening.

17:49 - UCLA wins.  Lauren Betts won Tournament MOP, but that game was controlled by Gabriela Jacquez, causing Pepster to remark, she is Hispanic like I am Hispanic!

18:18 - J.J. Spaun wins the Valero.

18:48 - As we were preparing to leave Ralston's to head toward our dinner reservations, two guys wearing Maguire University shirts enter the bar and sit down.  Something is off.  Pepster jokes that he found another fake university.

18:48:30 - Kev-O shows us this start of the wikipedia page for Maguire University.

To quote Danny Hurley's mom after Brylon Mullins hit the buzzer-beater to defeat Duke, "Holy Fucking Shit!"

There is another fake school that predates - by a lot - Southwestern Central.  The most important thing is that we came up with Southwestern Central independently.  It is also important to note that somehow Pepster knew immediately that Maguire University had to be fake.  You know how they say "Real recognize Real?"  Well apparently "Fake recognize Fake!"  It is weird that we have never ran into anyone or anything related to Maguire University before today.  

19:02 - In an Uber to St. Elmo.

19:14 - We are checked in for our 19:30 rezzie at St. Elmo.  This place is packed - befitting one of the truly great steakhouses in the country, nay, world.  We head across the street to Tom's Watch bar.

19:37 - After ordering and receiving a round of drinks, the six of us find a standing room only ledge and post up.  We stand next to a couple in UConn garb, and Sinickal starts up a conversation with them about Syracuse - surprise, surprise - and the old Big East.  Delightful conversation which culminated in the guy's spot-on impersonation of Bill Raftery's call of Pitt's Jerome Lane breaking the backboard on a dunk back-in-the day.

19:47 - Pepster receives the text from St. Elmo that the table is ready.  Pepster and Sinickal bid adieu to the UConn couple in mid-conversation about Dan Hurley's, um exploits, toward referees, especially how he received no discipline for the head butt in the Duke game.  UConn couple calls it the "head nuzzle".  Pepster tells them they can soft play it all they want, but a coach shouldn't even be head nuzzling an official.  Guy asks, "Are you a lawyer?"

19:53 - At table in St. Elmo.  In the basement room.  Apparently Jalen Rose is upstairs.

20:01 - We order the first round of drinks. Pepster orders a high-end bourbon as asks if they have big rocks. Sinickal angrily asks why he thinks a classic midwestern steakhouse wouldn't have big rocks.

20:15 - Seriously, if you have never been to St. Elmo and you like steakhouses, GO!!!  They have one starter/appetizer on the menu, shrimp cocktail, with the hottest/tastiest cocktail sauce you will ever have!  You can see some of the remnants in this photo.

20:47 - A large table of like 16 or so next to us gets up to start going to the restroom and leave, and just general rustling after the end of their meal.  We notice that many of them have this somewhat now recognizable green, orange, and white pins, bracelets, and other accoutrement.  We ask them about it.  THEY ARE WITH MAGUIRE UNIVERSITY!!!  One of the guys goes through the story.  This thing is apparently huge.  They have their own website, a portion of which covers THE ORIGIN STORY.  The primary guy talking to us says that we actually just missed the founder as he left a couple of minutes before we started to engage with them.  They give us bracelets and pins.

22:22 - Time to leave St. Elmo after a ridiculously good bourbon butter cake.  Still flabbergasted by Maguire University, Tyler looks them up a bit and notices that several years ago, "To comply with Title IX," they send a contingent of fans to the Women's Final Four in addition to the Men's.

22:29 - Enter Le Meridien hotel bar.  Yes, the Mike Tyson/Desiree Washington hotel bar.  We tell Trey and Tyler the greatest bar argument of all time story.

22:35 - Tony's order of a Paloma has one of the bartenders scrambling to find someone else to make it.  Not because he didn't know how, but because he is allergic to grapefruit juice.  And yes, this is a thing (we looked).

22:27 - Sinickal compliments the bartender on her bunny ears. She remarks that she loves festive holidays and enjoys dressing up for them (except for Flag Day or Arbor Day). Sinickal responds that he also likes festive holidays, which is why he is wearing all black. The bartender says "I like black also." Sinickal replies with "thank you."

23:01 - Pepster and Sinickal start arguing over the reasons Mike Tyson and Desiree Washington were in Indianapolis back in 1991.  Pepster believes Tyson was in town for the Indy Black Expo.  Sinickal thinks he was judging the Miss Black America contest.  [Ed. note - Desiree Washington was a contestant, having won Miss Black Rhode Island.]

23:12 - Somebody looks it up.  The Miss Black America contest was sponsored and promoted by the Indy Black Expo.  They were both right, AGAIN, in this same bar.

23:45 - Out of context quotation, "This is how an economy gets ruined by AI."

00:15 - Begin actual discussion about AI.

00:43 - Discussions turns to all of the jobs AI is going to take away (or not).

00:44 - Pepster remarks that the only jobs AI took away were point guards in the Chinese Basketball League.  Kev-O, who just sits-and-waits for a bad Pepster joke so he can chastise him, gives a Chef's Kiss.  [Ed. Note - This was a pretty good joke, but Kev-O might also be drunk].  [Ed. Note - Probably not the only one].

00:48 - We pay our tab and as we are awaiting our Uber, bartender just casually mentions that her best friend's son is Desmond Bane.

00:50 - In Uber, and an automated voice tells us all to put on our seatbelts.  Kev-O in the back states how that is too much work.  Sinickal responds, "Already did.  Not too much work for me."  Kev-O's retort, "Shut up Shotgun!"

00:51 - One of us may have said, "No one should ever let me have this many Manhattans!"

00:51:15 - "Sundown, Sundown, Sundown!"

00:54 - Arrive home.  Tony calls it a night.

01:00 - Find that Mr. 3000 is on television.  Learn that Bernie Mac apparently has good taste in women.

01:39 - Mr. 3000 finishes, Sinickal and Pepster both head up to bed after trying to wake Kev-O from the couch.  "He'll figure it out eventually," says Sinickal.

Freaking Maguire University!

The Final Four Chronicles: The Conclusion/FAQs

 

So, now that a couple of weeks have passed since the conclusion of this year's Final Four in San Antonio, Texas, it is time to address the questions that have come in from our readers.  This is a segment we started a couple of years ago, and we feel it is a great way to sum up our adventures.

Q:  Why do you Chronicle?

A:  For several reasons, the most important being that we love looking back through the years at all of the happenings of the various Final Fours we have attended, and it is a great way to enhance our memories as some of the tournaments fade into the distance.  A secondary effect is that we have become hyper-aware of our surroundings - the people, the places, and the conversations around us - to enable us to enjoy someone or something upon which we may never have picked up, or heard if we were not trying to chronicle all of the minutiae of the event.

Q:    Who does the Chronicling?

A:    We get this one every year.  We all take notes throughout the day, and we all contribute to the process of uploading the events to the blog.  Once we feel everything has been typed, we each take a turn at editing, sometimes for content, sometimes for grammar and diction, and sometimes just because.  So, in short, we all do.

Q:    I am confused.  Why are the women tagged in the Facebook postings of the Chronicle?  Do they attend, and if not, why not?

A:    This year our respective wives did not attend, but they have in the past, and they are always invited/welcome.  But, for two primary reasons they have not been attending in some time:  (1) For as far back as we can remember only one of us has won the lottery for tickets in any given year, so we only have 4 tickets to the games; and (2) I am not sure they can really stand us all together four days+ straight.  And frankly, I don't blame them.  They key to remember is, that they are always invited.  We tag them so they, like the rest of our readers, can follow along with our adventures.  And, at least one of our wives LOOKS FORWARD to reading our entries.  We should note that we also get this question every year.

Q:    Why do we care what time you wake up and what you have for breakfast?

A:    We don't necessarily think you do, and sometimes neither do we.  But the day - and thus the Chronicle - has to start somehow, and it makes sense to start from the beginning.

Q:    How is San Antonio as a host city?

A:    As a host city, San Antonio ranks pretty high.  Very walkable Riverwalk and a very walkable to the stadium from the Riverwalk.  Other areas of the city, like say, The Pearl, have a lot going on within their own area/neighborhood, and they are walkable among themselves, but not so much with the rest of the city.  Lots of bars/restaurants, but very slanted toward Mexican/food and drinks, as well as themed chain restaurants/bars.  That being said, San Antonio is good place to host the Final Four, but alas it is dropping out of the rotation.  A stadium that seats 20-35K less people than other cities, and newer, bigger, domed stadiums in other cities (Dallas, Detroit, and Las Vegas for example), make it hard for the NCAA to return.

Q:    How is San Antonio in general?

A:    Well, the Riverwalk is very entertaining with a lot, and we mean A LOT, going on.  But, as Kev-O put it, "Riverwalk is like Bourbon Street and EPCOT mated and had a baby."  And that is incredibly accurate.  The city itself, despite being the 7th most populous city in the United States, has almost ZERO skyline.  What it does have a lot of is large leg tatoos.  It also has a visible unhoused population, although that is something we have noticed in most of the southern states over the past few years (Phoenix/Scottsdale/Glendale last year, Houston before that, and New Orleans before that).  We had a lot of fun, and some really good food, but San Antonio is good for all of that, but not necessarily great.

Q:    As for the games, weren't they great?

A:    Yes, and no.  The games were close and highly competitive, and it is unusual that we see all three games be that close.  But they were not great games.  Very sloppy, by all teams.  Part of that is because Houston plays tough, in your face, defense forcing sloppy play, while also being a bit sloppy themselves, and Florida has struggled with turnovers this whole year.  So exciting, Yes; great, No.

Q:    Have you ever seen an ending like Houston's last play in the Final?

A:    No, we haven't, but that ending was so very appropriate for that particular game.

Q:    Who had the best fans?

A:    Certainly not Duke.  Auburn fans could not have left sooner after the end of the semifinals than they did.  They must have already had their flights purchased.  Houston was out IN FORCE in the finals, but they were not omnipresent around town like their numbers would have suggested.  That is probably because a lot of Houston fans live/work in and around the San Antonio area and just came in for the game.  Doesn't lend itself to any additional contributions to the ambiance of the event.

Q:    Who were you cheering for?

A:    Never Duke.  Pepster and Sinickal had selected Florida to win in their respective NCAA Tournament Pool brackets - Pepster even had Florida over Houston - but we were captivated by how Houston controls the game, even when they lost.  Oh, and by the way - NEVER DUKE!

Q:    Did Florida State actually win the 2020 NCAA National Championship?

A:    No.  It was canceled because of Covid.  But, that was probably FSU's best chance ever to win.

Q:    Who was one of the Carolina Panthers who Pepster knew his alma mater?

A:    Adam Thielen - Mankato State.

Q:    What was so interesting about the story of a co-worker asking Allison if she works outside of the home?

A:    Interesting? No.  Possibly degrading and hilarious?  Yes.  The question basically just asked if she had a job.

Q:    How are the academic credentials of Virginia overrated?

A:    In short, a large number of classes may be taken Credit/No Credit, instead of for a grade.  This doesn't apply to general education credits or your major classes, but still.

Q:    While we are on the topic of ACC academic credentials, what type of majors for Duke students was discussed?

A:    You don't want to know.

Q:    Christian Laettner played basketball and "offsides" is a football term.

A:    Not a question, and precisely.

Q:    What is the R. Kelly joke?

A:    You don't want to know.  And if you do, ask us in person.  Not going on this blog.  [Ed. Note - It vilifies R. Kelly, not celebrates him, but still.]

Q:    Why do you call Day 3 of the Chronicle "The Interregnum?"

A:    In general, an "Interregnum" refers to a time between leaders.  Although British history has had a couple of famous interregnums, this term is often used in conjunction with the Papacy (timely note given Pope Francis' recent passing.)  With regard to the Papacy, conclaves couldn't always meet immediately, and sometimes they could not agree immediately, so the Interregnum could last two to three years.  In our case, Sunday is the "Interregnum" because it is the day between games.

Q:    Why were you discussing the Intricacies of Monitoring the Transfer Portal as an NAIA school?

A:    Sounds like a future presentation topic.

Q:    What "Profession" is Tony in?

A:    Never you mind!

Q:    Did Racecar actually text Pepster, "Don't be sloppy" in reference to the Gators play?

A:    Yes she did.  And she was very prescient.  Turns out the Gators won anyway.  As a refresher, Racecar is a University of Florida alumna.

Q:    Cancun Queso Cooler.  That is brilliant.

A:    Not a question, but yes, yes it is.

Q:    Where is next year's Final Four.

A:    Indianapolis, Indiana.  Just a great - and we mean GREAT - Final Four city.  Plus St. Elmo's.

Q:    Will the WeMakeItRain crew be in attendance?

A:    The plan is yes.  The AirBnB rental is already in progress, some or most of us have already put in for the lottery for tickets, and Pepster has already made the reservation for St. Elmo!!!

The Final Four Chronicles: Day 5 - The Departure

 

Not gonna lie.  This trip has been exhausting.  Not going to be much for the Departure, or at least not as much as in past chronicles.  But, we owe it to our readership, and to ourselves, to at least publish something.  So, here we go.

4:29 (C.D.T.) - OMG ITS EARLY:  Kev-O leaves for his flight to Chicago.  Yes, its an early flight, but it is for work, so it was either that or miss the Championship game.  Good choice Kev-O.

Also very early:  It may be early, but at least Kev-O got to have breakfast together with Tubby Smith at a burrito spot in the airport! 

06:00 - Kev-O wheels up for Chicago.

06:45 - Sinickal is up.

07:00 - Tony awakens and sees the door to Kev-O rooms closed.  Immediately panics.

07:00:30 - Phew.  Kev-O is gone.

07:30 - Pepster arises.

0730 - Sinickal is cleaning out the refrigerator. Late night drunken shopping at the Circle K and food deliveries from Taco Cabana may not have been our best idea. The inventory remaining in fridge includes six egg and bean burritos, a sausage egg and cheese biscuit, several candy bars, and a lot of Miller Lite and Bud Light. It's like we are reliving our late 20's here. 

07:30 - 08:30 - Prepare AirBnB for exit, and watch Bill Simmons' podcast. This house was interesting in that the washer and dryer were outside in the carport area. The instructions for exiting the house included stripping the beds and putting all dirty laundry on top of the washer. Outside. 

08:46 - Say goodbye to our lovely old home on Calhoun Street.

09:00 - At the Newstand for breakfast and coffee.  Breakfast sandwich here costs $17, but was we are on the way to drop Pepster at the San Antonio airport, we are kind of stuck.

09:06 - Sandwich arrives and it is HUGE!  Understand the $17 now.  Bacon, egg and pimento cheese sauce.  It is delicious!

09:50 - Drop Pepster off at airport.

11:15 - While on the plane for his 10:58 flight, the captain of Pepster's flight makes an announcement that the flight will be delayed an hour - until 12:15, since there is a ground stop at Fort Lauderdale international due to weather.  Apparently Miami airport is affected too.

11:18 - Some already served older men just start chanting, "It's Great.  To Be.  A Flo-ri-da Gator!"  Nonstop.  Well, they had their fun.

11:33 - Kev-O notes that his total sleep for the night/day was 5 hours, including the 45-minute nap he had in the cab from the airport.

12:16 - Pilot on Pepster's flight now announces that there is an additional thirty-minute delay, but that we will take off at 17:45.  As everyone does the calculations, Pepster has to reassure those around him that 17:45 announcement was Greenwich Mean Time, which would still be in thirty minutes.  (HE HOPES - GULP?!).

12:28 - Tony drops Sinickal off at airport in Austin

12:45 - Pepster is wheels up to FLL.

12:46 - Sinickal has finally gotten through TSA. Ignores the CLEAR line which has several hundred people in it. TSA Pre isn't a better option, so Sinickal ends up in the priority boarding line at regular TSA. Only a couple of people in the line, but now shoes come off and laptops come out. So common. 

12:58 - After a short wait and a waiver for being at the airport too early, Sinickal sits at the bar in the Delta Sky Club. Orders a bourbon and soda and says to the bartender "don't lose track of that bottle. I will be here a long time!"

16:34 - Pepster wheels down in FLL.  Airport is a shitshow thanks to the ground stop.  We literally stop on the runway for 20 minutes until the tower can tell the pilot where to hide the plane - since no gates are available.

16:51 - Sinickal is wheels up to DTW

17:23 - Pepster is finally at the gate.

17:45 - Sinickal is at the Detroit Sky Club, which closes in 15 minutes. Is able to grab a drink and get a bite to eat. While eating, the staff keeps coming by and placing more food on my table saying that it is going to be thrown out so take all you can. Club is wild at closing.

18:50 - Sinickal is wheels up to DCA

18:26 - Pepster finally retrieves luggage.  That ground stop almost ruined this airport.

19:31 - Pepster arrives at home.

20:10 - Kev-O checks in from Chicago. His sales meeting attended the Cubs baseball game this evening. Kev-O didn't have warm enough clothes for the game and arranged with Sinickal to buy back a Cubs jacket that he purchased for the game. Unfortunately, the "Cubs gear lost to a Brooks Brothers sale in Chicago O-Hare Airport." 

21:15 - Sinickal arrives at home. 

Thursday, April 10, 2025

Kev-O gets rebooked on flight number 2 out of Chicago Midway, and the tequila bar forgot to keep their queso warm.  This reminds Kev-O of some things we forgot to mention on Finals night, namely that Ted Cruz was in attendance.  Since Texas teams always lose whenever Ted Cruz attends, Kev-O had originally dubbed him the Cancun Cooler.  After today's episode, Kev-O revises that to the Cancun Queso Cooler.

Friday, April 11, 2025

At some time, Tony will get to fly back home to New York, after spending the rest of this week in meetings in Austin, Texas.

The Final Four Chronicles: Day 4 - The Finals

 

We survived our meat coma and are raring to go.  Today is the Finals.  The culmination of the entire college basketball season, the culmination of every NCAA Tournament gambling pools, and the zenith of our trip.  Who will win:  The Florida Gators or the Houston Cougars?!

07:30 - Pepster awakens.

07:45 - Sinickal comes out of his room.

08:10 - Tony comes downstairs.  With laundry.  One of the "joys" of travelling a lot for work is you have to find a way to get some laundry done.

09:30 - The Bourne Identity is on.

11:11 - Watching The Right Time with Bomani Jones.  He has this gem about Houston's win over Duke, "Houston did it for everybody that has ever been raised right on this earth!"

11:13 - And this one, "Cooper Flagg doesn't feel nearly as insufferable as you would expect someone named 'Cooper Flagg' to be."

11:52 - Enter the Ridge at the Hill for lunch.

12:06 - Kev-O says that Southwestern Central is like the beignets we had at NOLA yesterday, fluffy and substantial on the outside, but lacking any substance on the inside.

12:20 - Sinickal to Tony, "You are just using a fork to eat french fries to taunt us right now."

12:51 - To the Riverwalk we go.

12:57 - Pepster is talking about his issues getting a seat reserved for his flight home. Sinickal suggests that he must be flying Southwest. Pepster replies "I wish!"

13:12 - Enter Mad Dog's British Pub.

13:13 - While walking up to the bar, each of us hit a Florida fans' Cowboy hat that was sticking into the aisle as he was wearing it, because IT WAS IN THE AISLE.  He looked at us as if we did something wrong.  Buddy, that hat is wrong.

13:22 - Techno dance remix of "I Won't Back Down!" Eight Gator fans just pulled a Sally from When Harry Met Sally

13:26 - Tony asks the bartender if they have Topo Chico.  She says, "Yes!"  Comes back, "No."  Maybe some downstairs?

13:28 - Throwback stained glass at the British pub.

Maybe the "God Save the King" one is on back-order.

13:39 - So many people wearing Florida hockey sweaters.

13:52 - They don't really like Ted Cruz in this part of the state.  This is in the bathroom.

13:53 - We think Ted Cruz and Rick Pitino are related vampires.

14:08 - DJ plays Kendrick Lamar, and at the correct part, nobody in the bar is chanted "O-V-Ho".  We are so disappointed, and none more disappointed than Pepster.

14:09 - Never mind.  More disappointed.  Nobody else yells out "A-Minor!"  That is a worse omission.

14:30 - Crazy discussion on the Intricacies of Monitoring the Transfer Portal for NAIA schools.

14:46 - We remember the discussion we had about Zach Collins at River North Icehouse yesterday while watching the Bulls game.  Sinickal says, "That is a good-looking white man.  6'9".  NBA player.  Just running through the Chi.  I fully expect to see in the news come playoff time that "Collins is out for 2 to 3 weeks.  Unspecified STD."

14:49 - Free Green Tea shots!

15:12 - Free Coors Lites.

15:13 - DJ plays Baby Got Back.  Sinickal remembers that back in the day, white girls with small assess on the dance floor trying to twerk.  Pepster chimes in, and when a guy starts to push up on her and she backs it up, guy gets injured!

15:18 - DJ LAZ!!!

15:19 - Pepster tells a story about DJ LAZ being from Miami and getting in an accident resulting in him now having one leg shorter than the other. Sinickal is angry that he can't come up with the correct G-Reg, 7th Floor Crew joke.

15:30 - Time to journey to the Hard Rock.  This is the University of Florida's home bar.

15:36 - While waiting to order a drink at the bar, a much older gentleman walks up to Pepster to ask him if he could order a margarita on the rocks for his wife.  Pepster asks if he can have the wife's number.  Man responds, "I don't know it!"  After that line, yes, we can order a margarita for your wife.  Guy tries to hand Pepster money, Pepster says, it's OK.  Your response was hilarious.  Turns out the guy lives in Pepster's home town, and the lady he gave the margarita to was a smokeshow.  Turns it it was his daughter-in-law.  Not sure why he called her his wife, but we are too many drinks if for a psychological evaluation.

16:00 - Sinickal meets another Syracuse alumnus and they start a Let's Go Orange chant.

16:11 - On to County Line Barbecue.  Sinickal and Pepster immediately recognize this place as the location where we crucified Hopps back in 2018.  You can see some of that HERE!

16:12 - We tell Kev-O about the curcifixion story.

16:18 - Tony and Sinickal's friends from the "Profession" join us.  Marty and Craig were in town as sponsors of a golf tournament.

17:54 - Leave County Line.

17:55 - As we are walking the Riverwalk, we hear Freestyle coming out of Fat Tuesday's - Lil Suzy and Gucci Crew!

18:04 - Pepster receives a text from Racecar.  It reads, "Have so much fun.  Go Gators.  Don't be sloppy.  That was for the Gators not you.

18:08 - Tony's friend from the "Profession", Diane, joins us for the walkup to the game.

18:28 - Enter Francis' Bogside.  You might remember this is the official Duke bar for the weekend.  Pepster orders a Makers rocks, splash of Duke tears.  Waitress says that they are only serving simple drinks this weekend.  We think Pepster's order broke her.

19:06 - We are disappointed that we did not keep a running tally on cougars spotted.

19:37 - Leave Bogside for stadium.  It's two blocks away.

19:51 - Tipoff.  We forgot to get a picture.

Radio Silence during game.

20:44 - Houston dance team dances to Teach Me How to Dougie.

21:01 - Second half starts.  After only 4 fouls in the first half, there is no way anybody can get into foul trouble.

22:09 - Florida wins!!!

22:13 - While making our way into the lower bowl to watch One Shining Moment, we pass a guy wearing a "Girls Are Drugs" tshirt.

22:21 - Olivier Rioux stands on his own two feet to cut the net.

22:23 - One Shining Moment.  They have like 4 total plays from the Finals.  Definitely had to re-cut that to add some good plays from the earlier rounds.

22:42 - Leave the Alamodome.

23:10 - In the car.

23:30 - Home already, after some seriously Brooklyn driving by Tony to get us out of the parking lot!

23:31-00:00 - Final beers and reminiscing as we prepare for next year.

The Final Four Chronicles: Day 3 - The Interregnum

 

It is the day off between the games, which is the most unpredictably fun day of the entire weekend.  No tip-off time, no specific plans.  We could do a little, or we could do a lot.  Who knows?!

07:30 - Pepster comes downstairs.

07:52 - Sinickal awakens.

08:14 - Tony rises.

09:45 - The Distinguished Gentlemen in on television. We always seem to find an Eddie Murphy movie on television, year-after-year.

09:57 - "Zeke, you sunbitch.  I'm runnin' around here crazier than a dog in a hubcap factory."

10:10 - "Except for this one.  That woman got her shoes back!"

10:27 - Enter Nola for brunch.  On time for our 10:30 reservations.

10:32 - Remember that our last Uber driver from the night before had her car just riddled with hail damage.  And driver discussing how her 18-yr old daughter bought a motorcycle before she even had a license.  And she made the daughter change the breaks, and re-paint it before she could ride it.  Which happened BEFORE she got her license.

10:40 - As we order our first course at brunch, Sinickal tells the waitress that Tony is going to need another fork.

10:44 - So, for our first round of drinks, Sinickal had a bloody Mary and Pepster, Tony and Kev-O had various types of mimosas.  Kev-O decided he needed a change and asked for a screwdriver.  It was then - and only then - that we learned Nola does not have a liquor license, only a beer and wine license.  Since the Bloody Mary obviously confused us, waitress explains that it isn't technically made with vodka, but with a wine-based alcohol, at 11 ABV.  Kev-O asks if he could have that "vodka" with OJ.  Waitress says she will ask "our very superficial bartender."

11:12 - Tony drops fork.

11:14 - We ask waitress for another fork.

11:16 - We ask waitress for another fork.  She says, "Oh, you were serious?!"  Believes we somehow manifested Tony dropping it.

11:34 - Leave Nola.  It was great.  Gumbo, Boudin Balls, Catfish Po'Boys, Fried Chicken and Collard Greens Po' Boy.  Almost as if we were in New Orleans.

11:39 - Enter River North Icehouse.  Turns out this is the sports bar in town where Barstool Sports hosted shows Friday and Saturday night.  Glad we weren't there then.  This place is HUGE.  It must have been a zoo!

11:40 - Tony orders a Topo Chico, and they are out.  Seems like everywhere is out of Topo Chico.  The stadium on Saturday ran out.  What is up with this town and Topo Chico?  Anyway, because of the Barstool parties, apparently this place was out of a lot, but not necessarily anything we wanted.

12:00 - We have the Chicago Bulls game on; the Valero Open on, the Washington Capitals game is on, and most of the bar to ourselves (for now).  This is the start to a good day.  We might be here for awhile.

12:20-12:45 - We have a way too long discussion on brothers in sports, and which brothers have the largest disparity between their talents and/or impacts on the game.  Conversation starts as Sinickal brings up Seth Curry, and just that no matter how good Seth really is, he can't live up to the talent/impact of Steph.  Kev-O points out that in Charlotte, Seth isn't even the second-most admired basketballing Curry, because of his dad, Dell.  As we are thinking of brother combos, most are pretty similar - the Barbers, the Lopezes, the Mannings.  Then we discover two of Rob Grokowski's brothers made the NFL.

12:53 - OVI BREAKS GRETZKY'S RECORD!!!  Alexander Ovechkin scored his 895th goal against the New York Islanders.

13:02 - Sinickal asks about Ovechkin's wife, "Is she capable of tears?"

13:03-13:09 - We come up with scenarios that would make the celebration more interesting:  (1) Ovechkin takes the microphone and praises Putin; (2) A Ukranian sniper somewhere in the arena looking for his shot; (3) Ovechkin just takes off his skates and pads and retires right then; and (4) Gretzky sucker-punching Ovechkin starting a brawl in which all the Capitals come onto the ice and all of Gretzky's old teammates come out of nowhere.  Spoiler alert:  None of those happened.

13:32 - The Houston Astros are on television now, Tony looks up and sees Ronel Blanco pitching.  "Funny, he doesn't look like a blanco!"

13:41 - We all have a discussion about Racecar!

13:57 - Lady comes up to the bar and orders three beers.  Bartender asks if she needs help taking them to her table.  She puts both hands around all three beers and says, "This isn't that big!"

14:16 - Tipoff of the Women's NCAA Championship game.

14:18 - Leader in the Clubhouse!

14:21 - Dude has been sitting next to Tony since we got here.  He hasn't looked up from his phone except to order drinks the entire time.  We feel his attitude is such that he was rooting for Duke last night!

15:16 - See a "Fudd Around and Find Out" t-shirt in the stands of the women's game.

15:18 - Azzi Fudd's mother's pheromones are coming through the television!

16:10 - The UConn |Huskies are your 2025 Women's National Champions - although this game has been over for a long time.

16:12 - We ask each other if there is a One Shining Moment for the Women's Tournament.

16:25 - We don't know if it is One Shining Moment, as we don't have sound - but it is a montage of highlights.

16:29 - This bar must have like a Royal Rumble type of schedule for its workers, as another bartender just seems to show up out of nowhere every 45 minutes.

17:35 - Leave for downtown/Riverwalk.  As we make our way to the parking lot, Kev-O receives an e-mail that our parking is about to expire.  Perfect timing.

17:52 - Enter Yardhouse.

17:53 - Our bartender is Jaime Jacquez, Jr.

17:55 - As Prince's Raspberry Beret comes on through the Music system.  Sinickal tells a story that starts, "One of the first stalkers I ever had ..."

17:55:30 - Kev-O states, "One of?"

18:43 - 3 Stalkers.  The total was 3 stalkers.

18:49 - Enabler!  Us to Jacquez.

19:10 - Young dude sitting at the bar next to Pepster didn't just outkick his coverage, he outkicked the coverage of everyone he knows!

19:12 - To Fogo de Chao!

19:14 - Enter Fogo.

19:23 - While waiting for our table, we notice that there is a button to press to activate the hood by the front door in case of fire.  Tony states, "Who knew that Fogo de Chao was uncircumsized?"

19:26 - Kev-O remarks, "I couldn't tell you the number of times I have made reservations under the name 'Kevin Parker'".

20:54 - Waitress asks if we might want some more food or look at the dessert menu.  Sinickal tells them yes, if they have a wheelbarrow to take us home.  Pepster immediately starts the company, "UBarrow."

21:41 - Head home from Fogo de Chao.  Yes, an early evening, but we ate A LOT!