The Southwestern Central Scorpions: An Origin Story

There is a lot going on in the blog right now with two tournament pools and a chronical of our trip to San Antonio to attend the Final Four. If you are reading the Chronicles, you have probably noticed that the Southwestern Central University Scorpions have a prominent role in the proceedings. 

I have been asked. So, let's go ahead and answer some frequently asked questions

Who are the Southwestern Central Scorpions?

Southwestern Central University is the brainchild of this blogs founders. We represent as a small National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) school approximately located near the Northeastern Panhandle of Oklahoma. The Fighting Scorpions don the red and black as primary colors and boast a proud basketball tradition dating back nearly 20 years.

Is Southwestern Central is a fake college?

That depends. While we do not play a traditional schedule of games, or maintain academic facilities and a paid faculty, our administration is serious about our status as a premier, small school basketball power.

How was Southwestern Central founded?

Glad you asked! In 2007, Sinickal, Pepster and Hopps were at the Final Four in Atlanta GA. During an unplanned social event at a bar called Jack's and Jill's, your blog team was having an animated debate about the future professional prospects of University of Kansas freshman center Cole Aldrich. After a Final Four debut with 7 points, 8 rebounds and 4 blocks in a win against Tyler Hansbrough and the North Carolina Tarheels, this is exactly the debate you are supposed to have. Anyway, some assistant coaches overhear our conversation and ask us where we coach. An idea was born.

Did the Southwestern Central coaching staff really attend the National Association of Basketball Coaches Convention?

Well, sort of. In 2015, the Southwestern Central coaches did arrive in Indianapolis IN with the intention of crashing the convention. We were able to get into the convention center and wandered by a conference session on Managing Player Social Media Use. We ultimately decided to go a different direction with our time at the final four.

Do you really hold an annual coaches meeting?

Of course we do! Generally in conjunction with the Final Four. The planning meeting occurs on the Sunday of the weekend and involves good food and drink. It is a great way for us to understand evolution in the game such as the intricacies of working in the transfer portal as an NAIA school.

How many Final Fours have you been to as a coaching staff?

For Sinickal, this is the 17th Final Four attended in person. As you know this is my favorite event every year. As for Southwestern Central, the staff has attended nine Final Fours together since 2015. The staff has changed over the years as we have added and lost coaches, but Sinickal and Pepster have attended all of them.

Which was your favorite Final Four?

Hard to say all of them have been a lot of fun. If I had to pick one, I would say it was Indianapolis in 2015. The coaches planning meeting was at St Elmo Steakhouse. Shortly after the meetings, Southwestern Central was validated in its quest for recognition when a couple of assistants from Yale University engaged us in a long conversation about our school and staff. 

Pepster and Sinickal had arrived!

Does the University have gear, and is there a place for fans of the Scorpions to purchase?

Of course we have gear. In fact, below are some additional pictures from coaches meetings over the years. While our primary colors are red and black, we have several alternate uniforms. Those are in black, green and blue. Unfortunately, there is no team store yet, and we have not made gear available to the public.

What's next for the Scorpions?

We will continue to represent the university at upcoming Final Fours and we will continue to innovate in our look and feel as a basketball factory.

We look forward to the remaining chronicles here in San Antonio, then next year in Indianapolis IN!

--Sinickal

NFL DRAFT - Hooray Sports!!!

So, we finally have something normal about sports to celebrate, the NFL Draft, even though there is nothing normal about this NFL Draft.  Coaches and GMs in different places - except in Dallas where they are all present in different rooms on Jerry Jones' yacht.  Players in their parents' homes and not Las Vegas, and we will have to wait until next year until we see the players arrive at the red carpet to walk up an reach Roger Goodell.  With virtually all sports - except for Belarussian Premier League, Nicaraguan Soccer and Ukranian Table Tennis - in hiatus, the NFL Draft it is.

First, let's take roll to see if we have a quorum.

Dr. Pepper:  Here

Hopps:  Here

Pepster: Here

Sinickal:  Here

Tony:

Tony:

Ok, never mind.  We have a quorum.  The draft may proceed.

Also, present today are special guests Audio, Prez and Vinny.

17:39 - Vinny here, and already watching ESPN like a crackhead.  (The draft starts at 20:00).

18:01 - Prez repping the Fins!  Fitz is on the honey bun diet and the rest of the team is on South Beach - and I don't mean the diet.

Keep repping fellas, see you in about two hours.

Before the draft starts, we should just lay out for you our personal preferences.  Sinickal and Pepster - Chicago Bears; Hopps - Dallas Cowboys; Tony - who cares he isn't here; Dr. Pepper - Denver Broncos; Audio - Pittsburgh Steelers; Prez and Vinny - Miami Dolphins.  But we still make Vinny claim the San Francisco 49ers and New York Dragons.

19:55 - Vinny:  Nope, just Phins here.

19:57 - Pepster:  You didn't like the Dragons reference?

19:58 - Vinny: Loved it, just very short-lived.

19:59 - Vinny:  Played for the Bears briefly in 2003 also.  Horrible year.  Our home games were at the University of Illinois.

20:01 - Pepster:  That year.  No wonder I forgot.

20:02 - Pepster:  Peyton Manning, Please shut up and go play golf!

20:02 - Dr. Pepper:  THE SHERIFF!

20:03 - Vinny:  At least we don't have to listen to Gruden this year. [Ed. Note:  I honestly could have stopped the conversation right there as we all agree this IS the highlight of the draft, at least until we get to CeeDee Lamb's house.]

20:04 - Vinny: If Phins trade up I might pitch this phone into the drywall.  [Spoiler Alert:  he doesn't].

20:04 - Sinickal:  What coverage is everyone watching?  I am NFL Network.

20:04 - Pepster:  Just FYI - I am watching ESPN, not ABC.

20:04 - Hopps: Goodell's basement sucks.

20:04 - Sinickal:  Now ESPN.

20:05 - Hopps:  ESPN

20:05 - Pepster:  He is just happy nobody is going to be booing him.

20:05 - Sinickal:  There was a rumor that they had figured out a way to pipe booing into this broadcast.  Ah, there it is.

20:05 - Vinny:  Goodell has about as many friends as Donald Trump.

20:07 - Dr. Pepper:  I would have preferred Shakira.

20:08 - I am married and quarantined and you give me a dude singing.

20:08 - Pepster:  Shakira should do every NFL event, but with a different hot woman singer each time.

20:08 - Sinickal:  NFL just filling time now?  Have we ever had an anthem at the draft.

20:08 - Hopps:  Michael Bubbly sang well. [Ed. Note.  It was Harry Connick, Jr.]

20:08 - Pepster:  Draft system must not be fixed. Stalling for time.

20:08 - Vinny:  Harry sings shit other than Christams music?

20:09 - Sinickal:  And can we get some screen shots of players kneeling?

20:09 - Dr. Pepper:  Fauci is the man.

20:13 - Dr. Pepper:  The Lou Holtz of Medicine.

20:14 - Vinny:  Dr. Fauci's voice is like fingernails on a chalkboard.

20:15 - Dr. Pepper:  Goodell is upset at this "quarantine draft" because he is a hugger.

20:16 - Hopps:  Goodell is a tool.

20:20 - Vinny:  Are we all split on ABC and ESPN?

20:21 - Dr. Pepper:  On ESPN.

20:21 - Pepster:  ESPN - No Jesse Palmer for me.

20:21 - Vinny:  Jesse and I are friends.

20:21 - Pepster:  I am sure Jesse is a good guy, but can't watch anyone from the Bachelor.

20:21 - Vinny:  Oh man did I make fun of him for that.  But he did get good tv jobs out of it.

20:21 - Hopps:  How does the director of player personnel have  a better setup than the head coach?

20:22 - Sinickal:  Who is the first team to really screw up here?  I think it will be the Bengals.  No matter what they do.

20:22 - Hopps:  I am just rating people's setups.

20:23 - Audio:  Browns will be the first to screw up - like every year.

20:23 - Hopps:  Cincy already screwed up.

20:24 - Sinickal:  And I am not even including Irvin's suit.

20:24 - Hopps:  Two minutes are gone and they haven't taken Burrow.

20:24 - Audio:  Tua is going to fall to the Patriots.

20:24 - Hopps:  Is Burrow going to cry when he slops to the 3rd round?

20:24 - Dr. Pepper:  Here we go ...

20:24 - WITH THE FIRST PICK THE CINCINNATI BENGALS SELECT JOE BURROW, QB - LSU

20:25 - Vinny:  No surprise.

20:25 - Pepster:  Joe Burrow looks just like his mom - that is not a compliment for either.

20:26 - Sinickal:  The pick has been in for 5 minutes.  The Bengals already screwed up the draft.

2028 - Prez:  The Dolphins messed up this draft and they haven't picked yet.

20:28 - Pepster:  When notified of Burrow's pick at #1, Ed Orgeron said, "Hmmmdmdme, geirlwbfhdh, wha!'

20:29 - Vinny:  Guy chews on rocks.  He just looks like a bayou shitkicker.

20:31 - Vinny:  This gets interesting after Young goes here.

20:32 - Pepster:  Yep. Would love to see a trade at 3 to start making things interesting.

20:32 - Sinickal:  Suzy desperately needs to get into a hair salon!

20:32 - Hopps:  That's a lot of Namath cum in her hair!

20:32 - Racecar (who has now made an appearance):  Joe Burrow looks like Pete Davidson -and that is not a compliment.

20:32 - Hopps:  Chase Young has 4 phones!

20:33 - WITH THE SECOND PICK THE WASHINGTON RACISTS SELECT CHASE YOUNG, DE, OHIO STATE

20:33 - Hopps:  His hair makes him look like Jar Jar Binks!

20:34 - Sinickal:  How long until we start comparing him to Sean Taylor?

20:34 - Pepster:  When he gets shot ....

20:34:42 - Pepster: I can't believe I wrote that - I love Sean Taylor

20:36 - Sinickal:  We all do.  That's why it's funny.

20:36 - Hopps:  He's going to kill QBs.

20:36 - Audio:  Here comes the first trade ...

20:36 - Hopps:  What mistake have the Lions made?

20:38 - Pepster:  Drafting a receiver.

20:38 - WITH THE THIRD PICK THE DETROIT LIONS SELECT JEFF OKUDAH, CB, OHIO STATE

20:41 - Sinickal:  It may be just my imagination [Ed. Note - Running away with me], but it looks like Joe Burrow's family borrowed that house from a black family.

20:43 - Vinny:  (In response to Chase Young's and Jeff Okudah's highlight tapes) - Glad Purdue didn't play Ohio State this year.  We would have been on those two highlights, 100%.

20:48 - WITH THE FOURTH PICK THE NEW YORK GIANTS SELECT ANDREW THOMAS, T, GEORGIA

20:48 - Hopps:  Wow.

20:49 - Vinny:  Tua Time!

20:49 - Pepster:  Thomas annihilated Florida's defensive line in the Florida-Georgia game.

20:49 - Hopps:  Why is Gettelman wearing a mask by himself in his own basement?

20:50 - Sinickal:  That's his attic.

20:50 - Vinny: I WANT SIMMONS!

20:52 - Hopps:  Still can't pronounce Tua's last name!

20:52 - Pepster:  Why is entire family wearing leis except for Tua?

20:52 - Hopps (a BC alumnus):  Flores repping a BC hat.  This doesn't bode well for the Fins.

20:52 - Sinickal:  Where did they get leis during a pandemic?  And whose house is that?

20:53:  Hopps:  Riddick has the oldest football video game ever on his shelf.

20:55 - Dr, Pepper:  Did Kurt Warner have work done?

20:55 - WITH THE FIFTH PICK THE MIAMI DOLPHINS SELECT TUA TAGAVAILOA, QB, ALABAMA

20:55 - Prez: Ridiculous.

20:56 - Audio:  Marino - let him have your number!

20:57:  Vinny:  This kid is made of glass!

20:57 - Pepster:  His is no Fitzpatrick!

20:58 - Vinny:  The name on his jersey will be fragile!

20:59 - Prez:  They knew what they were getting into ... I say, let 'em crash!

20:59 - Sinickal:  Why don't they call him Tag?  Wouldn't that be easier?

20:59 - Dr. Pepper:  Tua Tag?

20:59:  Pepster:  Less syllables.  He certainly doesn't need to buy a vowel.

21:01 - Vinny:  I hate drafting players in theory that won't play.

21:01 - Sinickal:  Is Herbert estranged from his parents?  Shouldn't he then go to the Packers?

21:03 - WITH THE SIXTH PICK THE LOS ANGELES CHARGERS SELECT JUSTIN HERBERT, QB, OREGON

21:04 - Dr. Pepper:  It might be the acne.

21:07 - Vinny:  I figured at least one trade by now.

21:07 - Pepster:  That is disappointing.

21:10 - Prez:  Who's going to be the first one to cry when their name gets called?

21:10 - Pepster:  Cedric Benson.  Oh, sorry - flashback.

21:11 - WITH THE SEVENTH PICK THE CAROLINA PANTHERS SELECT DERICK BROWN, DT, AUBURN

21:11 - Hopps: Was Drew Rosenhaus in the room with Derrick Brown?

21:11 - Pepster:  Nothing against Brown, but the Panthers lose Kuechly and Simmons is just sitting right there ...

21:14 - Pepster:  Brown is the first player drafted with a kid clearly visible on camera.

21:14 - Sinickal:  Doesn't Brown's house exceed social distancing requirements?

21:14 - Hopps:  I'm just trying to figure out who the background randoms are in some of the houses.

21:15 - Sinickal:  Kliff Kingsbury, Winner!

21:15 - WITH THE EIGHTH PICK THE ARIZONA CARDINALS SELECT ISAIAH SIMMONS, LB, CLEMSON

21:16 - Sinickal:  Look at that F'N house!!!

21:16 - Hopps:  He's not wearing socks.

21:16 - Vinny:  Best player in the draft just went.

21:17 - Sinickal:  Some of these player's houses are laid out!  This virtual draft will lead to some NCAA sanctions.

21:17 - Vinny: I can count the money in Simmons' pants!

21:17 - Hopps:  That's a lot of ass!

21:18 - Vinny:  Who wears them tight ass pants?

21:18 - Racecar (popping in again):  Simmons' mom needs Spanx!

21:18 - Prez:  Sinickal said he would spanx dat ass!

21:20 - Sinickal:  Not yet, but I would have said it.

21:21 - Dr. Pepper:  Christmas ham ass.

21:22 - Vinny:  Jags are up  Does it matter who they draft?  They are tanking for Lawrence next year.  If I was a Jags fan I would want covid to ruin the entire season.

21:23 - Sinickal:  Was with Marrone in Syracuse.  Want him to do well here.

21:23 - WITH THE NINTH PICK THE JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS SELECT C.J. HENDERSON, CB, FLORIDA

21:24 - Pepster:  Henderson does NOT look happy.

21:24 - Hopps:  Who wants to play there?

21:24 - Sinickal:  Henderson's crib looks like there may be drug money involved.

21:24:39 - Sinickal:  Or, since it's Miami, we'll just call it "Tuesday".

21:25 - Prez:  Whole family just said, "Gyadd Damn Gina!"

21:26 - Hopps:  Really?  Rolling out St. Jude's just to get pity for the Browns?

21:26 - WITH THE TENTH PICK THE CLEVELAND BROWN SELECT JEDRICK WILLS, JR., T, ALABAMA

21:27 - Hopps:  Due on the left was asleep with his hands in his pants.  They are ready for Cleveland!

21:29 - Pepster:  Willis' brother is definitely not an athlete.

21:30 - Vinny:  Here come the Jets; that fan base is deserving of another bust!

21:32 - Sinickal:  Pepster, it is almost time to celebrate our draft again. The Bears acquire Khalil Mack.

21:33 - Pepster:  Best pick of this draft.

21:34 - Vinny:  Bears paid Quinn a 40 year old DE.  Good job giving him a 5 year deal.

21:34 - Pepster:  Yes, Vinny, and he will have 10 1/2 sacks this year.

21:35 - Pepster:  Apparently Jeudy can give the old "Stanky leg" as per Michael Irvin.

21:35 - Vinny:  I coached against Jeudy when he was at Deerfield.

21:35 - WITH THE ELEVENTH PICK THE NEW YORK JETS SELECT MEKHI BECTO, T, LOUISVILLE

21:35 - Hopps:  Wow.  His dad is 600 pounds!

21:35 - Sinickal:  I will own that Michael Irvin outfit before the end of the draft.

21:36 - Vinny:  Becton is the first girl to cry.

21:36 - Pepster:  He gets it from his daddy - the weight that is.

21:36 - Sinickal:  Who's the other dude?

21:37 - Racecar pops back in:  The pastor?

21:37 - Sinickal:  This may be our best highlight reel.

21:38:  Hopps:  It has to be.

21:38 - Pepster:  Great video!

21:38 - Hopps:  That's a big dude, though.

21:38 - Sinickal:  How tall is the girl in the background?

21:39 - Pepster:  6'8".

21:39 - Hopps - Speaking of tall, Mel Kiper's hair is getting bigger but his head is shrinking.

21:39:  Dr. Pepper:  Tony, are you awake?  [Ed. Note:  He isn't.]

21:40 - WITH THE TWELFTH PICK THE LAS VEGAS RAIDERS SELECT HENRY RUGGS, WR, ALABAMA

21:40 - Hopps:  Now Ruggs will not be investigated by the NCAA.  And, Mrs. Gruden is a spinner.

21:41 - Hopps:  Ruggs is wearing a bathrobe!

21:43 - Dr. Pepper:  That hat ya'll!

21:44 - Sinickal:  An Old Spice hotel robe!

21:45 - Vinny:  WOW!  Hope Old Spice is paying him for that.  That watch was 10gs.

21:45 - Hopps:  Have to compliment the hotel bathrobe with something.

21:46 - Sinickal:  His mom apparently ran a 4.2 40.  I LOVE a good folk lore.

21:47 - Pepster:  Our first trade.

21:48 - Vinny:  Tampa's gonna take the tackle I wanted.

21:49 - Sinickal:  Wirfs got him a corn fed woman next to him.

21:50 - Prez:  With the number 1 pick, I select Bethany from Air Force!

21:50 - WITH THE THIRTEENTH PICK THE TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS SELECT TRISTEN WIRFS, T, IOWA

21:52 - Hopps:  How are you a dark shark in effing Iowa?

21:54 - Pepster:  And now Emmanuel Sanders' replacement falls to SF

21:58 - Pepster:  Who was the random white girl at Jeudy's house?

21:58 - Hopps:  I was thinking the same thing.

21:58 - Sinickal:  Who is that filthy woman with CeeDee?

21:59 - WITH THE FOURTEENTH PICK THE SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS SELECT JAVON KINLAW, DT, SOUTH CAROLINA

21:59 - Hopps:  Dude is dead on the couch.

22:00 - Pepster:  Grandpa was the only one ready to be picked.

22:00 - Dr. Pepper:  CeeDee to the Broncos.

22:02 - Hopps:  This might be the way this draft should go from now on.

22:04 - WITH THE FIFTEENTH THE DENVER BRONCOS SELECT JERRY JEUDY, WR, ALABAMA

22:04 - Sinickal:  My man was ready for ANYBODY to be drafted.

22:05 - Dr. Pepper:  Wow.  Love this.

22:06 - Pepster:  I know Atlanta wanted C.J. Henderson, might see a trade here.

22:06 - Vinny:  Jeudy is so pissed Ruggs went before him.  Atlanta will go pass rush, I would think.

22:07 - Sinickal:  Will Jeudy be faster in the thin air?

22:07 - Racecar:  Who names their kid Jerry when you last name is Jeudy?  And Jeudy got that booty!

22:08 - Vinny:  Jeudy with the Star of David on.

22:09 - Sinickal:  One of the all time great combine stories.

22:12 - Pepster:  Four Alabama players taken in first round already.  Record is 6, Miami 2004.

22:12 - Hopps:  Did Arthur Blank get his cabinets from The Home Depot?

22:13 - WITH THE SIXTEENTH PICK THE ATLANTA FALCONS SELECT A.J. TERRELL, CB, CLEMSON

22:14 - Pepster:  Cowboys up next.  Who do you want Hopps?

22:14 - Hopps:  Jerry better to Jefferson.

22:14 - Vinny:  McKinne to Phins, I hope.

22:15 - Vinny:  Cowboys need McKinney.  Heath is garbage.

22:15 - Pepster:  Prez, your thoughts on Miami's pick?

22:16 - Hopps:  McCarthy is till figuring out the interwebs.

22:16 - Sinickal:  Jerry's wife practicing good social distancing.  Or, just distancing.

22:17 - Vinny:  Irvin knocked down an 8-ball about 30 minutes ago.

22:18 - Pepster:  Girl next to Lamb is MONEY!

22:18 - Hopps:  Who is the smokeshow next to Lamb?  [Ed. Note:  Her name is Crymson Rose.]

22:18 - Sinickal:  Yeah!  You late to this party.  I already had my "private time" on that.

22:19 - WITH THE SEVENTEENTH PICK THE DALLAS COWBOYS SELECT CEEDEE LAMB, WR, OKLAHOMA

22:19 - Hopps:  Okay!!!

22:20 - Hopps:  That MF is country!

22:20 - Hopps:  Can we just get back to girl on the couch?

22:20 - Pepster:  Got damn!

22:20 - Dr. Pepper:  Them thighs.

22:20 - Sinickal:  She may be hired help.

22:21 - Dr. Pepper:  Claude Geezus!

22:22 - Dr. Pepper: I need help!

22:27:  Hopps:  The Patriots draft a camera man!

22:28 - WITH THE EIGHTEENTH PICK THE MIAMI DOLPHINS SELECT AUSTIN JACKSON, T, USC

22:28 - Vinny:  Holy packed couch!

22:29:  Hopps:  That couch is not afraid of a fork!

22:29 - Vinny:  Goodell is the stiffest white man alive.  What a f'n dork.  He got swirlies in high school.

22:31 - Sinickal:  This Vegas pick is THE MACK!

22:31 - Hopps:  Flores has a land line.

22:31 - Vinny: Flores - sweet empty trophy case behind you brah!

22:32 - Sinickal:  Roger changed clothes.

22:32 - Hopps:  He's a tool.

22:33 - Dr. Pepper:  Draft next year in Vegas!  He flubbed the year, though.

22:33 - Hopps:  Yes he did.  Kiper's head is so shiny.

22:33 - WITH THE NINETEENTH PICK THE LAS VEGAS RAIDERS SELECT DAMONE ARNETTE, CB, OHIO STATE

22:34 - Vinny:  Who is the midget in the Gruden fam?

22:35 - Hopps:  WTF is the whiteboard behind Chucky?  [Ed. Note:  It was the Raiders draft board.]

22:36 - Pepster:  Goodell must have spooged on himself watching CeeDee Lamb's girlfriend!

22:37 - Pepster:  Raiders with the first really big reach of the night.

22:37 - Sinickal:  So to recap, Gruden took the other Bama receiver, then took a 2nd team All Big 10 corner

22:37 - Sinickal:  That guy probably finished behind a dude from Minnesota.  [Ed. Note:  He did.]

22:37 - Hopps:  Ok gents.  I have a call with India at 4.  Can't wait to read the rest of this tomorrow.

22:41 - Vinny:  Whoever the Jags take, put that guy on suicide watch.

22:41 - WITH THE TWENTIETH PICK THE JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS SELECT K'LAVON CHIASSON, DE, LSU

22:43 - Sinickal:  Elite get off!!!

22:43 - Found on Twitter:  The NFL Draft takes way too long.  If I really wanted to watch 32 picks in 3 hours I'd just watch Jameis Winston play.

22:46 - Pepster:  This has to be Justin Jefferson, right?

22:46 - Sinickal:  This hast to be the equivalent of MTV Cribs.  No way these players live in these spaces ... yet.

22:47 - WITH THE TWENTY-FIRST PICK THE PHILADELPHIA EAGLES SELECT JALEN RAEGOR, WR, TCU

22:48 - Sinickal:  Finally a house that makes sense.

22:49 - Pepster:  And his dad was in the NFL.

22:50 - Sinickal:  Nothing on those walls.

22:51 - Vinny:  Please take notice of the NFL attempt to keep people out of camera view in an attempt to promote social distance.  You know damn well there are 100 people tucked behind all them walls.

22:52 - Vinny:  And how did the kid with the dad who played 10 years in the NFL get the smallest house on here?

22:55 - WITH THE TWENTY-SECOND PICK THE MINNESOTA VIKINGS SELECT JUSTIN JEFFERSON, WR, LSU

22:56 - Sinickal:  Zimmer's spot!

22:59 - Sinickal:  My hot take.  This draft happened a couple of days ago.  Goodell has cards to read.  Not a single video glitch.  From some 100 cameras on WiFi in some ridiculous places?  The only thing real here is the reactions from the kids.

23:00 - WITH THE TWENTY-THIRD PICK THE LOS ANGELES CHARGERS SELECT KENNETH MURRAY, LB, OKLAHOMA

23:01 - Pepster:  Murray is a beast.

23:02 - Sinickal:  Ooh!  Goth White Girl!

23:03 - Pepster:  She must be adopted.

23:02 - Sinickal:  nah, she fucking somebody in that room.

23:04 - Sinickal:  Aye, must be Murray.

23:05 - Pepster:  She's 16 - so, probably Murray's sister.

23:05 - Sinickal:  Younger brother?

23:06 - Pepster:  Perhaps ...

23:07 - Vinny:  Thank God there were no cameras at my draft party.

23:07 - Pepster:  What were you trying to hide?

23:08 - Vinny:  Lots.

23:08 - WITH THE TWENTY-FOURTH PICK THE NEW ORLEANS SAINTS SELECT CESAR RUIZ, C, MICHIGAN

23:10 - Pepster:  Major crier!

23:12 - Pepster:  Breaking football news:  Dak Prescott's brother just passed away.

23:15 - WITH THE TWENTY-FIFTH PICK THE SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS SELECT BRANDON AIYUK, WR, ARIZONA STATE

23:25 - WITH THE TWENTY-SIXTH PICK THE GREEN BAY PACKERS SELECT JORDAN LOVE, QB, UTAH STATE

23:29 - Sinickal:  DAMN!

23:32 - Sinickal:  Aaron Rodgers is going to treat Jordan Love like a little brother.  Or like a parent.  Or like everyone else in his immediate family.

23:35 - WITH THE TWENTY-SEVENTH PICK THE SEATTLE SEAHAWKS SELECT JORDYN BROOKS, LB, TEXAS TECH

23:35 - Pepster:  Consecutive Jordans!

23:35 - WITH THE TWENTY-EIGHTH PICK THE BALTIMORE RAVENS SELECT PATRICK QUEEN, LB, LSU

23:42:  Sinickal:  Packers have not selected an RB or WR in the 1st round during the Aarond Rodgers tenure.

23:45 - Pepster:  The have wasted his career.

23:43 - Vinny:  Kiper's forehead is gleaming.  Easy on the halogens in that room, please.

23:46 - Sinickal:  Bad lighting is THE rookie teleworking mistake.  You can get around everything else.

23:47 - Sinickal - Okay, WTF is going on at Mike Vrabel's house?

23:48 - [Ed. Note.:  This was happening at Mike Vrabel's house.]

23:48 - Vinny: Holy bad mullet!

23:49 - WITH THE TWENTY-NINTH PICK THE TENNESSEE TITANS SELECT ISAIAH WILSON, T, GEORGIA

23:50 - Pepster:  We just went biblical; Second Isaiah!

23:53 - Vinny:  Vrabel keeping it real with a mouth full or worm dirt.  Way to keep it classy.

23:58 - WITH THE THIRTIETH PICK THE MIAMIDOLPHINS SELECT NOAH IGBINOGHENE, CB, AUBURN

00:00 - Pepster: Between Tagovailoa and Igbinoghene, the Dolphins better give their equipment guy a raise.

00:01 - Pepster:  Both parents Olympians is a pretty good story.

00:02 - Vinny:  Jesus I hope our RB is there in the second round.

00:02 - WITH THE THIRTY-FIRST PICK THE MINNESOTA VIKINGS SELECT JEFF GLADNEY, CB, TCU

00:03 - Pepster:  Who is Gladney?

00:04 - Pepster:  Vinny - Jordan Howard is damn good, though.

00:10 - WITH THE THIRTY-SECOND PICK THE KANSAS CITY CHIEFS SELECT CLYDE EDWARDS-HELAIRE, RB, LSU

00:17 - Vinny:  The Dolphins picked three guys that won't start next year.  Why do I bother?

As the 1st round comes to a close, there is one clear winner on the evening!

Ladies and Gentlemen - Crymson Rose!  (Yes, I know there are more and better pics of Ms. Rose, but we thought we should just include the picture from the draft.)

Divisional Roundtable

Both the American League and National League have started their respective divisional series, so it is officially playoff time!  Enough with this stupid one game wildcard stuff.  Real series, where the depth of the pitching staff is tested, rather than hoping your one ace can win a game for you.  We gathered the entire WeMakeItRain staff, plus our friend Tony to discuss our predictions for this round.  Our gathering took place last week, but I am just now getting around to putting our collective thoughts on screen.  Here are the predictions from WeMakeItRain to you ...


Pepster:  OK fellas.  It's playoff baseball time, a glorious time of year to be a sports fan.  Let's jump right into the series.  The marquis series features 100 win teams but since both of the historic rivals Boston and New York play in the same division, one - the Yankees - ended up the Wild Card.  Thus, they travel to Boston to start the series.  This is interesting here because Hopps is a lifelong Sox fan and Tony is a lifelong Yankees fan.  We will go with home-field advantage first, so Hopps?


Hopps:  Red Sox.  Best team in baseball. HARD STOP.


Tony:  Are you kidding me?  Yankees.  They may not have won 108 games, but they are better than the Red Sox, and I will rejoice when Fenway collapses on them.


Hopps:  I have glaucoma, and even I can see that isn't the case.  If we played just our "B" guys - Betts, Benintendi, Bogaerts and Bradley we win.


Tony:  Until we start a fight, and then Judge and Stanton pummel the entire Sox nation.


Pepster:  Woah, woah, woah, guys.  Let's not make this too personal. 


Hopps:  Red Sox/Yankees IS personal.

Tony:  Don't you mean Yankees/Red Sox.


Pepster:  Ok, moving along.  Sinickal?


Sinickal:  F'in Cubs. 


Pepster:  Great analysis there.  I guess that leaves me.  The Sox are thin in starting rotation, and even thinner in the bullpen.  If there "star"ters - Sale and Price - can get into the 7th or 8th innings, the Sox will win.  Only needs to happen twice, as the Sox can win one slugfest as they have bats all up and down the order.  As does New York.    I will go with Boston as 108 wins is 108 wins.  What did Bill Parcells use to say?  "You are what your record says you are".  So - Boston.  Next up - Houston and Cleveland.


Tony:  Indians. After Houston won the World Series last year, Cleveland just wants it more.


Hopps:  That is exactly why I am picking the Astros.  They are defending champs, and they defended their title with quite possibly the quietest 103 win team ever.  They keep rolling. 


Pepster:  I am with  you Hopps.  The pitching is phenomenal and Alex Bregman has joined Altuve, Correa and Springer as a top bat.  Tough to pitch to this lineup.


Sinickal:  (Mumbling) Up four, end up tied for the division.  Lose the play-in, then lose the wildcard.


Pepster:  Huh?


Sinickal:  F'in Cubs.


Pepster:  Speaking of the Cubs, let us turn to the National League where the surprising Milwaukee Brewers won the NL Central to earn the home-field advantage against the Rockies.


Sinickal:  I hate you.


Pepster:  Hopps?


Hopps:  I hate you too!  Ha.  So I am going with Milwaukee.  Just a guess.

Tony:  Leave it to the Sox fan to "take a guess".  Take a stand you idiot.  I am picking Milwaukee because they are a great team and are hungry.


Pepster:  I get the hungry part.  Milwaukee was supposed to be a year away, from being a year away.Then, they go out and pick up Lorenzo Cain, Mike Moustakas and likely NL MVP Christian Yelich - man I wish the Marlins could get a player like Yelich.  So, I am taking Milwaukee.  F'in Marlins.


Sinickal:  Are the Marlins even a team?


Pepster:  Fair question.  Last series.  Dodgers hosting Atlanta.  Really good young talent in Acuna and Albies, and another team that is supposed to be a year away from being a year away.  But that Dodgers lineup - Wow.  They have guys on the bench that would be stars, not just starters, on any other club. Plus, they have two Cubans.  Dodgers in a walk.


Tony:  I also am picking the Dodgers; great team and they are hungry.


Hopps:  Are you sure it isn't YOU that is hungry?  Dodgers.  Atlanta still can't win in the post season.


Sinickal:  F'in Cubs.


Pepster:  And there you have it.  Our divisional series round-up.  Be back shortly for the ALCS and NLCS.

Final Four Chronicles - The Finals

The Finals are here, and we all expect Villanova to run right through Michigan.  Michigan just doesn't have enough people that can score for them, and Villanova has those players, everywhere, even on the bench.  Here is our the route we took to the final game.

8:55 - Everyone is awake.

9:28 - Hopps and Pepster head to the store/coffee shop for well, coffee and breakfast.  Three doors down there is a gentlemen outside his house (decrepit with a weed-ridden yard) pointing at things and discussing with a woman who looked like she was a neighbor walking down the sidewalk before he stopped her.  Hopps says, "Is he trying to convince her that his house is nice?"  We were pretty sure that he was hitting on her.

10:07 - Hopps pulls into the Church's Fried Chicken parking lot as the sign on the door says they open at 10.  (Yes, there was a Church's in our neighborhood).  Hopps goes to the door, but it is locked.  Waits for several minutes until he sees someone inside and goes back to the door.  It turns out the sign says open at 10:30.  Hopps blames his glaucoma.

Entire morning - We do work.  It is a Monday after all.

12:20 - Uber downtown.

12:28 - We pass the Texas Liver Institute, conveniently located within blocks of the Riverwalk.

12:31 - Strong opening presence for Villanova.

12:36 - At MadDogs for lunch.

12:45 - 8 ladies in Villanova garb sit down at the table near us and immediately order shots of Jameson's.  We take bets as to whether they will make it to the game or not.

13:13 - This bar serves Coors Lite or water in tins that resemble large solo cups.  The cans are Coors Lite swag given to the bar.  Sinickal asks the bartender if he can have his water in a regular cup and his Bud Light in the tin.  The bartender tells him that it would feel like lying if he did that since the cups were from Coors Lite, and then continues, "I only lie to girls."  The other bartender has no such qualms.

14:10 - Finish lunch and go to the Alamo.  This is the quickest academic trip any of us have ever taken.

15:00 - Some homeless guys on the Riverwalk go to toast us because they also have "energy drinks".  The toast ends with them saying, "And don't forget to, uh ... uh ... well ... just be careful tonight."

15:25 - At Durty Nelly's on Riverwalk.  As we approach the bar a piano player is playing Country Roads.  Pepster remarks that "If he really liked country roads, he wouldn't have flown his own airplane!"

15:32 - See a lady walking wearing a "Michigan Alumna" shirt.  Pepster applaudes her because it says "alumna" where all the rest of the shirts say "alumni", and this annoys admittedly way more than it should.

15:40 - As we sit at the outside patio tables at Durty Nelly's, gusts of wind blow all types of "things" off the trees on the Riverwalk.  Hopps is annoyed (go figure).  Hopps responds that, "In Quincy [MA} the trash is on the streets."  Sinickal reminds  him that "In Quincy, the trash walks the streets!"

15:41 - Pepster just responds to Hopps (about something different from the above statement), "Really Hopps?  We are in public!"

15:43 - After a random discussion, Sinickal mentions that, "We party so hard we brought our lawyer.".  Lady sitting alone at the table next to Hopps and Pepster and across from Tony and Sinickal finally laughs.  It should be noted that she is alone because her husband has been out of the restaurant on the phone for about 20 minutes.  She has been trying to ignore us, but this line brought her into the conversation.

15:45 - Sinickal decides that next year we all share our phones with each other's location finders because "Racsan always turns right".  Racsan in this situation is Hopps, and it is Nascar spelled backwards.  (For those that don't understand, the Nascar races on ovals, or most of the races, only include left turns.  This is not the first nickname for Hopps (See "K-Fed" 2007; See also De Angelo Russell 2016).

15:46 - The husband of the lady at the table next to us returns from phone calls and texts.  It turns out he is just like us, travelling to as many final fours as possible.  This is also his fourth in a row, just as it is for Pepster, Sinickal and Tony.  It's Hopps's third out of four years.  We tentatively make plans to meet in Minneapolis.

15:48 - It is becoming increasingly hot outside.  Sinickal wants to find some air conditioner, at states, "We need some shade."  Hopps responds that "I have been trying to throw shade for 4 days!"

16:00 - We meet Mike and Larissa at The River's Edge.  Mike is a fellow member at Sinickal's golf club in the D.C. area.

16:00 - 18:00 - Mostly radio silence as we try to make Hopps behave in front of Mike and Larissa.

18:22 - While discussing a memorial golf tourney in honor of Dr. Hopps, which will be in D.C. later this year, Sinickal tells Mike that "This is something that you want to be a part of",  Mike, grasping his beer for another sip says, "Thing is, I don't drink."

18:41 - We seea young girl walking on a stone wall on the Riverwalk near her parents but not really paying attention to her surroundings.  She hits a tree, causing her to fall onto the wall and then onto the sidewalk.  We think she is OK.

As an aside, we have no idea how more people don't fall into the river at the Riverwalk.  The walkways are narrow, made mostly of uneven stone, with no guardrails of any kind, with too many people, and lots of beverages.  It is a good thing the river is only about 5 feet wide and 3 feet deep.

19:00 - We notice that at the table next to us is Tubby Smith, Lute Olson, and their respective wives.  Go Cats!

19:02 - Hopps actually takes a picture with Tubby Smith, but Hopps doesn't share.

19:34 - After finally getting our tab (boy is service generally bad here), we head to the Alamodome.

20:01 - In the concourse, see 3 of 8 Villanova girls that had the early Jameson shot at lunch.  I guess some of them were able to make the game.

20:08 - In seats for the championship game.

20:12 - 20:14 - After watching Michigan's dapmaster, we determine that a dapmaster is somebody that everyone should recruit for their team!

20:20 - Tipoff.  Mostly radio silence.

21:47 - Villanova's band plays Carry On My Wayward Son by Kansas.  After destroying Kansas in the semi-finals, this is funny.

22:30 - Villanova Wildcats - YOUR NATIONAL CHAMPIONS!!!

As a side note on the game, despite jumping out to a lead, the Wolverines never had a chance, especially once Mo Wagner caught a personal and a double foul on the same play early in the second half.  He was legitimately the only scoring threat on Michigan's team, and he had to monitor his play in the second half to keep from getting an early fourth.  This is coincidentally when Donte DiVincenzo went on his second run of the game.  We glossed him "Donny Buckets!"

22:45 - Villanova's band plays All I Do Is Win" by DJ Khaled.

22:52 - One Shining Moment!  The pinnacle of the Final Four.

22:57 - Sarah Spain tweats, "Is it better to be on One Shining Moment crying, or not on One Shining Moment.  We all agree the former.

As an aside, watching a game like this while simultaneously monitoring social media - especially twitter - is AMAZING!!!! (Assuming your follow sports writers and commentators).

23:18 - Off the Alamodome campus.

23:31 - Meet up with Hopps at Durty Nelly's.  (Hopps left before the end of the game to beat the rush).

00:38 - Order Uber home.  The drive that picks us up is the same driver that took us to Riverwalk.

00:40 - We try to calculate the percentage likelihood that this would happen.  Driver reminds us that only 30% of Uber vehicles classify as "Uber XL".

00:56 - Go to sleep.  Pepster has to leave at 5:00 to go to the airport in the morning.

00:57 - Immediately start planning to go to Minneapolis 2019.

Final Four Chronicles - The Interregnum

THE INTERREGNUM

Day 4

Sunday, April 1, 2018

It is Easter Sunday here at the Final Four, which means that we have a play day as we wait for the Finals tomorrow.

7:07 – Pepster rises.

7:12 – Hopps rises.

7:31 – Sinickal rises.

7:45 – Tony rises.

8:17 – Watching E:60 about a high school senior wrestler whose younger brother cannot walk, at least until during a 100 plus mile walkathon.  We are all immediately mad at the owner of our house who apparently forgot to dust properly.

8:27 – While discussing the amount of cybersecurity attacks that municipalities are facing nowadays, Sinickal asks Hopps if he sees the reports from his company on how many actual attacks occur.  Hopps disdainfully responds, “Yeah.”  Sinickal replies, “Don’t answer like I am an idiot; I was just asking a question.”  Hopps, “I am in IT.”  Sinickal, “Yes, but yesterday you couldn’t even put in the ESPN Play password!”

9:15 – Breakfast/Coffee

10:33 – Hopps, Sinickal and Pepster are en route to the golf course.

10:36 – As the song Emotions comes on The Fly, we discuss the cultural significance of Mariah Carey.

10:49 – Arrive at La Cantera Resort Course, the former home of the Valero Texas Open through 2009, immediately prior to its move to TPC, the current location.

11:01 – KT from Austin (and from Day 1) arrives as our fourth.  We reintroduce her to Hopps.  She remembers him; he doesn’t remember her.

11:08 – Go to purchase a couple of beers for the cooler on the golf cart.  We are told that we must purchase a food item on the ticket in order to purchase beer, since it is before noon.

11:08:30 – Pepster exclaims that he, “Forgot he left Florida and went south.”

11:48 – Tee Off.  Radio silence during the round.

This course was great, but incredibly hard.  The elevation changes were ridiculous and the greens were impossible to read.  We are played horribly, especially when compared to Friday.  We still had a great time.

17:03 – We head to dinner and Pepster notices the lack of cars in the plaza’s parking lot.  “I guess Easter closes early in Texas.”

17:05 – Enter Yardhouse.

17:07 – We notice a local beer on the sandwich board out front named Full Tang IPA and order it from the bartender.  He responds that he, “has never heard of it.”

17:08 – Hopps inquires that, “If I order the Alamo beer, will it be the last one I remember?”

17:15 – Sinickal notices that the women’s championship game is starting.  “It must get dark early in Columbus.”

17:25 – Pepster apologizes in advance to the bartender for Hopps, and explains that we will be trash talking each other the entire time, so to be prepared.  The bartender thinks this is funny, but doesn’t quite get the severity with which we will be roasting each other until we explain that “We crucified Hopps on Friday.”

17:28 – Pepster asks if the restrooms are in a specific direction and the bartender, answering a different question from a server, “Yes ma’am.”

17:37 – The boys from WeMakeItRain come up with an absolutely great business idea that may get off the ground in 2018l  KT is torn between thinking it is a great idea and being repulsed at being a part of the conversation.

17:45 – Tony rejoins the crew at Yardhouse.

17:57 – Sinickal relives his best man speech from Hopps’s wedding about the first time Hopps played golf.  Unless you were at the scramble tournament where Hopps played that day, you will never get how funny this is.

17:58 – Sinickal, trying to explain Hopps to KT, just says, “Hopps is a caricature of Hopps.”

18:11  - Onto stories from Pepster’s wedding, which include the Irish Kevin’s stage and Racecar’s “something blue”, which was a Chicago Bears garter.  Sinickal remarks that Pepster’s “something blue” must have been “a Florida Gators garter”.

18:17 – Argument over whether Hopps’s kids are Blasian or Halfapinos.

18:55 – While discussing our favorite baseball teams, Tony, a Yankee fan, notes that the Red Sox haven’t been good since 1776,

19:12 – Ogbunbowale for the win!!!

19:23 – Hopps about the women’s game, “It is because Notre Dame is God’s University.  At least that is what they taught us at Boston College.”

19:29 – KT heads back to Austin.  We love KT.

19:36 – Due to the previous conversation, KT, who we now call Lexi Thompson, walks backward out of the Yardhouse.

19:38 – Hopps switches to Bud Light because albeit the fact that the Alamo beer was good, “he wants to remember it”.

20:22 – Sinickal to Hopps, “Both of you are fixed, right?”

20:24 – New bartender at Yardhouse and we apologize for Hopps and tell her to not even ask him any questions, not even something as innocuous as what is your favorite color.  Hopps yells, “It’s yellow!”

20:54 – The Live song Lightning Crashes comes on at the Yardhouse, Pepster mentions how sad this song is, especially the line, “Her placenta falls to the floor.”

20:55 – Hopps then says about Pepster, “I don’t think he used the word “placenta” correctly.  In fact, he has no kids so he has never used a placenta correctly.

21:14 – Hopps tells Sinickal that he will drive.  Sinickal says, “That is not the best idea you have come up with all weekend!”

21:38 – Head to the Pearl District.

21:46 – Discussion turns to how ridiculous Hopps’s snoring is.  Hopps on the phone with his  wife, “That is why I race you to bed!”

21:46:15 – Hopps to his wife, “I love you!:

22:03 – Down on Grayson is closed.

22:06 – We head to Viva Taco Land.

22:10 – They have a Dougie Contest, or should we say, a Dougie No-Contest.

00:19 – Head for home.

00:33 – Go to bed, as the Finals are tomorrow!

Final Four Chronicles - The Semi-Finals

THE SEMI-FINALS

Day 3

Saturday, March 31, 2018

            We all wake up flummoxed on the events of yesterday, and a little tired as it was a long, long day.  But that is OK because today is all about the basketball.  We have semi-final action between Loyola and Michigan, followed by Kansas versus Villanova.  As much as this trip is about friendship, camaraderie, having fun and good cities – the purpose is basketball, and that starts today.

6:30 – Road to the Final Four 5K registration.

8:00 – Road to the Final Four 5K race begins.

7:30 – 8:40 – We all wake up.  Thus, once again we missed the Road to the Final Four 5K.  Congratulations to all participants who helped to raise money for the Coaches versus Cancer charity and other pediatric oncology servicing organizations.

8:51 – Hopps and Tony make a coffee/breakfast run.  Some days breakfast sandwiches just taste better.

9:41 – Sinickal and Tony just now receive the text that Hopps and Pepster ducked into the Republic of Texas last night.

9:47 – Hopps screams out Oh My God!  Nobody moves, turns around or in any way acknowledges Hopps.  Sinickal notes that we should be worried that nobody even flinches when he does that anymore.

10:13 – SportsCenter showing the Cleveland Cavaliers highlights, specifically about LeBron breaking the consecutive games record for scoring double digit points.  Hopps, at the dining room table behind everyone in the living room, exclaims that LeBron has three people above him.  After a brief pause, Pepster turns his head, rolls his eyes and says, “OK, I’ll bite.  Who are the three?”  Jordan (of course) Russell (Hopps is a Boston homer) and Magic (at least he didn’t say Bird).  [Ed. Note – Not a bad three, but if Chamberlain switches places with Russell, the Celtics probably have 15 or 16 championships in a row, and although Magic is great, he might not even be the best Laker.  See Abdul-Jabbar, Kareem.

11:00 – We turn on Thursdays episode of the Dan BeBatard Show just to hear his live call of Ian Happ’s home run on the first pitch of the entire MLB season against the Marlins.  The call consists of massive laughter, screaming, the phrase “Welcome Derek Jeter” and “That concludes our Marlins coverage for the season.

11:10 – We decide to watch Friday’s episode of the Dan LeBatard Show because he is hilarious.  The highlights, Stugotz’s rant on Sister Jean which concludes by him saying, “If Loyola makes it to the Championship game, I guarantee she makes it into the Basketball Hall of Fame” (then under his breath “Mo Cheeks”) .  For those that don’t know, former Philadelphia Sixer Very Good (I cannot call him great) was just elected into the basketball Hall of Fame, along with such luminaries as Dino Radja and Charlie Scott.  Another highlight of the show is LeBatard’s interview with Ice-T, who admits that growing up he robbed banks.  When LeBatard tells him that he might want to disclaim that and say he was just joking on the air, Ice-T mentions that “We have a wonderful thing is this country called the Statute of Limitations.”

11:13 – In the entrances and exits of the Dan LeBatard Show, the camera pans out from a picture of the beach.  Today – or actually Friday’s show, we clearly see a red and blue flag hanging from the lifeguard tower, which Pepster points out generally means no swimming because of rough, or rip tides (red) and Portuguese Man-O-War (blue).  Tony the exclaims that he hopes President Trump doesn’t find out the Portuguese are getting into the country via the shore.  And this concludes the political portion of the show.

11:30 – Pepster and Sinickal struggle with which 30 for 30 to watch on demand.  Settle on something basketball related, and decide not to watch any of them because we don’t want to get stuck going down that rabbit hole and end up missing the games.

12:40 – Leave for downtown.

13:19 – Lost Hopps already.

13:21 – Strong Michigan entry into the Riverwalk

13:30 – Pop into the Thirsty Aztec.  Young college-aged kid wearing a Villanova Scottie Reynolds jersey exits the establishment saying loudly, “I didn’t realize until I just realized”.

13:42 – Walking down the Riverwalk and see a guy in a powder blue shirt that says simply “Duke sucks”.  Since we virtually have to walk single file on the RiverWalk, Sinickal sees it first and toasts him.  Tony toasts him.  Pepster toasts him.  Hopps toasts him.  Then other people we don’t know behind us toast him.

13:50 – Head into Tex’s Sports Bar for some food because it has a good punny name.  And an available table which is not the norm at the restaurants along the Riverwalk.  In fact, one restaurant even had a sign “We are no longer taking names for our Wait List”.

14:07 – Four guys settle in at the table next to us all wearing Villanova gear.  Start up a conversation with Sinickal since he is wearing his Syracuse shirt and the former Big East rivalry between to two clubs.  Guys assume we all went to Syracuse, not noticing Tony’s Texas shirt and Hopps’s BC pullover.  Sinickal tells them Pepster went to an Ivy-covered school near Boston.  Guys obviously missing Sinickal’s context cluse reply, “Which one?”

14:26 – Pepster and Sinickal engage in a conversation about the old Big East.  Noting that Villanova has a great history with the league, Pepster queries if anyone from Villanova even makes an All-Time Big East squad.  Without going into much discussion of the bench, Sinickal and Pepster, settle on a starting 5 of:  PG – Pearl Washington (Syracuse); SG – Ray Allen (Connecticut); SF – Chris Mullins (St. John’s); PF – Derrick Coleman (Syracuse); C – Patrick Ewing (Georgetown).  Others on the team would be: C - Alonzo Mourning (Georgetown); PF – Jerome Lane (Pittsburgh); PG – Allen Iverson (Georgetown) (who would start except his college career was only 2 years);  PG – Kemba Walker (Connecticut).  OK, I guess we did discuss the bench.

14:51 – Hopps is astounded at the number of people wearing Loyola gear.  Sinickal explains to him that Chicago is the third largest city in the country, and has no natural college affiliation like places we are used to, and that the City of Chicago is supporting Loyola as a city, regardless of college affiliation.  Hopps is struggling to believe him.  (By the way, if Northwestern ever makes a final four, that city will be inundated with purple).

14:54 – Young, twenty-something wearing Loyola gear asks if he can sit at the table recently vacated by the Villanova guys.  We tell him yes and then start discussing the Final Four.  Guy admits he did not go to Loyola, but knew someone who dated someone that knew someone who did.  Hopps becomes annoyed (well, even more annoyed than usual).

14:57 – We realize that our food has not arrived yet.   Hopps is even more annoyed (as are the rest of us).  This is a bit of foreshadowing on service for the day, only we didn’t know it at the time.

15:26 – Food FINALLY arrives.

15:58 – To the Alamodome.

16:17 – Pass by an NCAA Final Four employee carrying a sign with a question mark on it.  Sinickal asks him, “What does the sign mean?”  Employee answers “Information.”  Sinickal responds, thanks, I just was looking for that information”. 

16:18 – Sinickal to Pepster, “Those guys hate guys like us.  Just asking them purposefully dumb questions every two minutes”.

16:23 – After the off ramp from the walkover to the stadium, Army band is Playing Michael Jackson’s Rock With You.

16:28 – On the Alamodome campus.  The way they are funneling people here and there and splitting up the crowd entering the campus is logistically great.  Makes things a lot easier, and no long lines, even through security (which was set up well outside the perimeter of the stadium.)  Unfortunately the people and the signage that make for great entrance logistics ended up making horrible exit logistics.

16:32 – See a guy wearing a hoodie that says, “I DISAGREE.  But I respect your right to be stupid.”

16:33 – And Loyola takes the lead.

16:38 – Seeing two more Loyola fans, Hopps exclaims, “That’s Chicago”.  This we are sure will not come off anywhere near as funny as it was at the time.

16:47 – Settle into seats for the games.

16:59 – Great rendition of the national anthem as the NCAA did it right this time.  They had one student from each of the four participating institutions.  Each student sang two lines solo, then finished the song together.  Michigan’s grad student clearly studies opera and dominates the end of the song, but it was amazing.

17:09 – Tip-off to Game 1.

Radio Silence (mostly) during the game.

In the first half Michigan shoots 9/31 and Loyola shoots 10/25.  Not good basketball.  Second half is much, much better and played at a faster pace.

18:12 - The spirit teams for Michigan and Loyola are not very strong at all.  Not a whole lot of spirit going on.

19:45 – We head to the concourse for some nourishment between the games.  Concessions are out of almost everything meaningful.

Radio silence (mostly) during game 2.

Entire game:  Villanova is ON FIRE from three.  In fact, we see security running toward the extinguishers.

21:02 – If I ever have to answer the question “Do you remember the worst version of Jungle Boogie that you ever heard”, the answer is “Yes I do.  March 31, 2018 at 21:02 by the University of Kansas Pep Band.”

21:15 – Kansas band now butchers Cameo’s Word Up.  Hopps remarks, “The Kansas band has no soul”.

Villanova shows why they are easily the best team in the NCAA right now, and have been all year long.  They should be a heavy favorite for the championship game.

22:20 – After trying to coordinate a meet-up all afternoon, we run into Christy and her friend Kat to say hello after the game.

22:22 – Say goodbye to Christy and Kat as we go our respective ways for dinner.

22:41 – We have comfortably vacated the Alamodome vicinity and outside of the crowd.  There is NO chance we hit the Riverwalk tonight as it is hard to maneuver down there with just a light crowd.  We can only imagine what it will be like with 77,000 people vacating the game just blocks away.

22:56 – Hit La Gloria for dinner as we hear that San Antonio has pretty good Mexican food, or at least Tex-Mex.  That statement is accurate as our dinner is really good.  In a continuation of today’s lunch problems, service is really SLOW.  Unlike lunch, this place is staffed correctly for a big event as there are employees everywhere; ours is just slow.  Food comes up fairly quickly, so we don’t mind the rest of slowness too much.

00:09 – On the Lyft ride home we end up in a discussion in which Tony recounts some of the weirdest situations that he has ever been in, concluding with “In my past I have had some unsavory friends”.  Sinickal responds with, “I have too”.  Pepster adds that “some of them might be in this car”.   Hopps, “Come on guys, I am sitting right here!”

00:17 – Off to bed.  We have another tee time tomorrow.