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!

The Final Four Chronicles: The Interregnum

 

Sunday, April 2

No games today, and we are in for the traditional play day.  We will have some more guest appearances, have some food and drink, and we hope a lot of laughs.  Let's see what happened....

7:30 - Pepster arises.

8:18 - Kevin comes downstairs.

8:41 - Tony come downstairs.

8:44 - Starbucks is on the way thanks to Kevin.

8:49 - Sinickal comes donwstairs.

9:03 - Sinickal calls Allison to wish her Happy Anniversary, gets her voicemail.

9:15 - Watch XXX as we mentally prepare for this brunch.

9:25 - Talking about a scene in which drug lords are fighting, Kevin says, "I know you want to kill us because of our profitability stream!"

9:27 - Anticipating having to say, "Sorry we are late for brunch.  We were watching XXX and riffing on it pretty good.  [Ed. Note - we didn't have to say that.]

9:47 - "Ever get punched in the face for talking too much?"  Despite what you might think, this was not said to us, but said by Xander Cage!

10:03 - After sending a pretty funny dad joke on the siblings group text, Pepster's sister Brittany asks, "Will this make it into your blog itinerary?"  Pepster responds, "Maybe."  The final answer - No it won't, but the fact you asked will!!!

10:14 - Kevin is talking to his wife.  Sinickal yells out, "Susie - you can tell me Happy Anniversary!"  She responds, "Happy Anniversary Allison!"

10:43 - The Southwestern Central coaching staff is ready for brunch!

10:46 - Waiting on Lyft for brunch at Bosscat.  Honda Civic pulls up.  Sinickal immediately orders another rideshare.

11:00 - Arrive at Bosscat Kitchen!  Pam and Whitney are waiting for us.  This place LOVES its bourbon selection.  Check out this private dining room:

11:15 - Kevin's gourment cocktail, The Wake Up Call, arrives.  It is made with Tito's vodka, black coffee liquer and irish cream.  Whitney asks, "Is that like a Black Russian?"  Kevin, "Yes, but lighter."  Pepster chimes in, "In the Caucausus they just call it a 'Russian'!"

11:20 - About Whitney's t-shirt, "I think they used the wrong action verb!"

11:22 - Sinickal's ten-minute tangential Galleria Mall story.

11:27 - First mention of Galleria Mall in the story.

11:28 - First carafe ordered.

11:33 - Andrea - Pepster's friend from college arrives!!!!

12:21 - Guy leaves the private room pictured above, which was right in front of our table, to go to the restroom.  He was wearing a t-shirt with a picture of Fred Sanford on it and the words, "You Big Dummy."  Pepster tells him, "Solid shirt!"  Sinickal then says to him, "I was going to say that!"

12:40 - Andrea learns the story of Southwestern Central!

13:02 - Andrea is hired as the Southwestern Central team psychologist!  After Sinickal explains what is expected of the position, Andrea remarks, "At least I will have future job security!"

13:07 - Something about the manager and a romper makes Tony a wee bit uncomfortable!

13:12 - Leaving Bosscat!  Great brunch.  Planning our next stop, Pam and Whitney state that they are "curtzying out!"  Andrea has to go as well.  Always great to see friends when travelling.

13:26 - Say our goodbyes, and Andrea asks where we are going because she could take us.  She has her "Mom Car!"

13:28 - Starts the car, and The Fly channel on SiriusXM immediately pops up!  We compliment her and she says, "I have to teach my son about good music!"

13:31 - 13:39 - Andrea tells us that all of her son's friends are afraid of her.  Sinickal says, "All boys are afraid of moms - except in porn!"  The conversation that ensues spreads to everything that a son should learn before going to college .  When we arrive at Little Woodrow's we all fall out of the "Mom Car" still laughing.

13:40 - So, we go back to Little Woodrow's in midtown (there seem to be about 40 Little Woodrow's around Houston), primarily because Sinickal thinks he left his card there Friday night.  We could have called to see if they had his card, but Sinickal says, "Gotta drink somewhere."

13:45 - Bartender finds Sinickal's card, after thumbing through about 40!  The crazy thing is at Little Woodrow's they run your card to hold open the tab, and return it!!!

13:54 - Discussion turns to the movie Bachelor Party when Pepster asks, "How was this NOT Tom Cruise's first Academy Award nomination?"  Without missing a beat Sinickal responds, "Because it was not Tom Cruise!"

13:55-14:15 - Watching the pre-game for the women's championship.  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Redacted to protect the innocent.)

14:05 - Elle Duncan from ESPN putting on a pre-game SHOW!

14:13 - So, Little Woodrow's does not serve food.  They have a food truck parked out front - which is where Sinickal ordered his cheesesteak from Friday evening - and a guy that walks around with a tray full of wrapped tamales for sale from Pepe's Tamales.  Yes, my reach is that strong.  His shirt says, "If you want be happy - Pepe's Tamales".  This is not a typo.

14:21 - Kevin returns, hears the last sentence of a conversation with the remaining three of us just doubled over laughing, and says, "I've been gone 4 minutes!"

14:27 - We ordered our first couple of rounds of drinks from the bar before migrating to a table.  Our new waitress walks by.  Silas brings her into our soccer discussion.  He queries, "Do  you like English Premier League soccer?"  Her response, "That is a lot of words for 9 in the morning!"

14:32 - Kevin is talking about a strip club outside of Waco at which he and his wife had a - let's say interesting - experience one time.  Club was named "Buddy's BYOB."  Tony exclaims, "That's a farm!" [Ed. Note - Tony was correct.]  Kevin texts his wife to confirm the name of the place.  She responds immediately with, "It's is Sunny's BYOB!"  No questions asked.  Kevin notes that SHE wants the story to be accurate.

14:45 - Kim Mulkey - LSU's coach - shows up on court looking like Joe Exotic.

14:52 - Waitress tells us her name is Christina.  Sinickal asks her if it is the traditional Ukranian spelling or Russian.  She doesn't know how to respond.

14:53 - Tip-off!!!  This bar has become PACKED!

15:00 - Mike, Kevin's friend that lives in Houston, arrives.

15:07 - Someone remarks that Kim Mulkey will use a loss to Iowa as an excuse to recruit 12 5'7" white girls.

15:47 - We are pretty sure we found Jimmy Hoffa.  Tried to get a picture but couldn't.

16:08 - Woman wearing a denim jacket with a UCONN 1999 championship patch on the back.  Tony says, "That patch is old enough to drink."

16:10 - Prediction that if LSU blows this lead Kim Mulkey might say at the presser that black women don't have the mental fortitude to hold a lead.

16:11 - We notice that a whole lot of white people rooting for white women!

16:13 - Ke$ha comes on over the sound system and it made me remember a story from last night's dinner at Mai's.  Sinickal was telling a story that started, "I wake up in the morning" and Pepster immediately says, "Feelin' like P Diddy."  Pam decides that she is going to sing that song for the rest of the evening.  After the third time she starts - and every subsequent time - Pepster apologizes to the group.

16:16 - Shannon, Kevin's sister-in-law arrives.

16:48 - "If Kim Mulkey starts to cry, does her face melt?"

16:52 - While looking at Mulkey, Kevin says "That Tiger King/Tales from the Crypt" crossover is going to be awesome.

17:07 - We see Kemba Walker with Lady Gaga (or at least a reasonable facsimile!)

17:26 - Sinickal and Pepe get Tony in the door with some LSU fans!

17:30 - We explain Southwestern Central to these two women.  They love it and immediately inquire how long we keep up the charade.  We tell her that we always ultimately tell people because, "If you got got, it's no good if you don't know you got got!"

17:41 - Women say they are going to start their own school for next year!

17:45 - Same women decide they are going to start telling people that they graduated from Southwestern Central!  Stick 'em Scorpions!

17:49 - Sinickal:  "I have so much beer and water in me that I am peeing as a hobby!"

17:54 - Mike leaves.

18:12 - Sinickal goes to pay his tab and there are 3 cucumber peaches on the tab!  He has them removed.

18:26 - The ladies that loved our Southwestern Central story say to us as we leave, "We hope you win next year!"

18:27 - As Pepster and Sinickal are in the bathroom on the way to exit Little Woodrow's, a guy in the stall just yells out, "This feels good!"  We leave!

18:28 - Literally.  We leave Little Woodrow's.

18:33 - Enter Guy-Kaku for Japanese barbecue!

18:40 - When looking over the buffet-stye menu, Shannon remarks, "Where are we, in Kissimmee, Florida?"

18:54 - Waitress refers to Tony as "Sir."  Pepster tells her she doens't have to be so formal.  She asks what she should call us.  Tony says, "Asshole."  Pepster says, "Well, I am called that about three times a day - just at home!"  [Ed. Note - he isn't!]  She immediately asks, "Are we roommates?"

19:02 - Sinickal gets into a discussion chastising Kevin about his phone choice because Sinickal only believes in iPhones.  Turns into a big discussion regarding Samsungs and iPhones.  Kevin says, "I really want to argue with you, but I don't care!"

19:05 - Discussion about Kevin's wife for a bit when Shannon exclaims, "You are talking about her like she's not my sister!"

Lots of time just cooking and eating.  For those that are unfamiliar with Japanese barbecue, you pick from a number of items (in our case 37) some pre-cooked, like spring rolls and gyoza, some sides, mushrooms, edamame, white rice, and lots of versions of seasoned meats.  They just keep bringing little plates of different items to cook anywhere from 1 to 5 minutes each.

20:21 - Shannon starts talking about Neils Bahr, which we actually love and which she is surprised that we know, and pulls out tickets from a concert on Saturday featuring The Dan Band.  This immediately starts a conversation about the two main movies in which they appear, Old School and The Hangover.  We find out for the first time that Tony has never seen either.  Pepster calls him a Communist.

20:24 - Sinickal says, "We don't have to cook it just 'cause we have it."  Tony responds, "Yes we do.  These animals died for our sins!"

20:56 - Conversation about Shannon's suitcase.  She reminds us we are not talking about her baggage.

21:09 - Enter Coaches' Pub.

21:11 - Pepster tells the bartender that he can't drink anymore.  So he has a Lone Star.  He turns to Bulleit later.

21:12 - Shannon orders a Jameson.  They are out.  She orders a Bushmills.  They are out.  "How 'bout a Tully?"  "Out of that too."  "Just give me a whiskey!"

21:13 - Sign in the bathroom says, "Least drunk doesn't mean sober!"

22:01 - Six older guys just start singing Love Potion #9.  The song is not playing on the jukebox.

22:11 - Clown wearing a Texas Rangers polo going up and down the bar complaining about "Classless Angel Reese!"  Sinickal and Pepster immediately shut him down.  He slinks back to the other side of the bar as we gloss him "Walker".

So, to set the scene, there are 3, and only 3, sets of people in this bar.  We are one set, the older guys singing random songs is a second.  The third, which includes Walker, and about 6 other people that all either work at the pub, or are dating those that work there.  This becomes important later.

22:13 - Sinickal swears he is going to leave this tourney and turn to bulimia.

22:39 - Guy at the end of the bar just said, "Tumor, it's not a tumor" loud enough for everyone to hear.  Pepster tells the group, "He actually said that 21 years ago and it just echoed in the bar right now!"

22:47 - Somebody mentions the word Catholicism in a conversation between Kevin and Shannon.  Pepster, Sinickal, and Tony all immediately turn.  Shannon, noticing us, says, "It's a metaphor!"  Tony asks, "what's a metaphor?"  Shannon:  "Wouldn't you like to know?"

22:47:30 - Pepster says that there are a whole lot of Facebook shareholders that would like to know what is a Meta for!

23:18 - We decide we have to leave because Tony has an early work call in the morning.  We decide to just order 1 more while paying the tab.  Tony orders a Guinness!

23:38 - So, the jukebox has played a couple of different Disney songs, and one of the ones from Hamilton all in a row.  Pepster and Sinickal attempt to take control through their TouchTunes apps, but it is an AMI machine.  Too much effort to download the app and sign up the account to our cards, so we just try to bear it.  Next song is I Just Can't Wait to be King.  Kevin has to go to the bathroom, or so we thought.  He walks up to the AMI machine, and UNPLUGS IT!!!!

23:38:12 - Girl who played the song, follows Kevin back to us just livid that he unplugged her song.  She was from the group of employees.  Only person from that group that follows her up, is Walker.  [Ed. Note - Upon later conversation with a really huge dude that worked there, he told us he was concerned at first, but then saw how calm we all were that he realized he didn't have to intervene.

23:39 - She tells Kevin that she was going to pay our tab and we could go.  We tell her thank you for the offer, but we could pay our own tab and preferred to stay.  We figure out she is an actual manager of the place - but off duty and drinking this night.

23:41 - Kevin apologizes.

23:43 - She offers to buy Sinickal and Tony a shot.  They say, "Fireball.  What are you having?"  She says, "Vodka.  I can't drink Fireball - I have to drive home!"

23:46 - Hakuna Matata comes on the plugged-back-in and rebooted AMI machine.  Tony immediately says, "Who has a monkey?"  We don't actually know what Kim Mulkey would answer.

23:49 - Sinickal just asks them to please put on something good, like Earth, Wind & Fire.  Walker says, "Earth, Wind & Fire is fine.  I like them."  Pepster stands up, tells him not to ever call EW&F "fine" ever again, as they are the greatest band of all time!  Walker slinks back to his bar stool.

00:20 - Backstreet Boys come on.  We start a discussion of the best boy bands of all time.  Pepster initially says "New Edition."  Then, changes his mind as it is probably really the Beatles.  Sinickal first agrees, but then says, "Or Kriss Kross!"

00:31 - On the way home.

So, the most important part of the whole Coaches' Pub jukebox incident is that nobody, and we mean nobody, came to support the manager try to get us to leave.  And, her group consisted of employees and employee-adjacent people.  So that means, without actually doing anything except unplugging a jukebox, we immediately exerted control over a bar that none of us have ever set foot inside before.  But seriously, this was so funny.  Even some of the regulars understood exactly what happened for what it was, and were outwardly happy that the manager was stopped from playing constant Disney songs.

00:38 - Kevin tells us that after he unplugged the jukebox, Shannon asked him, "What the fuck did you do?"

00:41 - Tony goes upstairs to go to sleep.  Pepster says, "Peace up A-Town!"  Sinickal says, he is from Queens, it should be "Q-Town."  Kevin asks Sinickal, "Why do you think that was something you needed to correct?"

00:42 - Pepster ask if Sinickal felt Tony has lost a bit of himself since he moved from Brooklyn to Queens.

00:43 - Some brief tv to unwind, and then back to bed.

Final Four Chronicles - The Interregnum

April 7

Sunday between the games is always play day.  Usually this day is reserved for golf, except, it's Minneapolis.  And while the weather actually isn't that bad in terms of temperature, none of us brought our sticks this year expecting the worst.  We are pretty sure that we can make the most of it.  Let's see what adventures await.  There is some strong language today, but as journalists we have to report exact quotations as they occur.

11:20 - Ubering to Jax's for brunch.  Sinickal asks the driver why uptown is south of downtown?  Driver responds "Why is America west?"  Curtis asks the driver, "Why are your windshield wipers on?"

11:43 - Windshield wipers are still on.  You can probably surmise from the context, but it is not raining.

11:53 - Jax!  Much brunching will be done.  There is a wait for a table, so we sidle up to the bar.  Aaron the bartender is not ready for what is about to hit him.

12:41 - Amanda and Amber stop by for brunch on their way out of town.

13:15 - Sinickal remarks that he is tired.  Dr. Pepper tells him, "Go stand in the corner and take a nap like a man, instead of showing pictures of sleeping motherfuckers."  We don't know to what Dr. Pepper is referring. [Ed. Note - we do.  It is him].

13:21 - In response to a story told by Pepster, Dr. Pepper exclaims, "That's 7 minutes of my life I won't get back."

13:26 - In describing what they had for dinner at Mercury the night before and what so good, Amber says, "Food was good.  We had some fries and some bullshit!"

13:27 - After continuing her very non-descriptive talk about the food, Tony tells her that if one of her friends ever disappears, that Amber should not be the one to give descriptions to the police.

13:29 - We find out that the piano player takes requests.  Sinickal asks, "Do you know any DMX?"

13:35 - It seems like Amber has been gone a long time.  We ask if anyone knows where she is.  Tony says he thinks she is "playing with the lobsters".  Pepster replies, "Is that what the kids are calling it nowadays".

13:39 - Aaron the bartender explains the buffet to Amanda and Amber as they finally go get something to eat.  "We even have a nice cold table with fruits and vegetables."  Amanda, "We do like us some kale."

13:44 - While the guys were talking about various perks from different airlines, Amanda returns from getting food, "We all like them perky!"

13:56 - Amber remarks that she is going to the bathroom and get a donut.  Pepster tells her that is a pretty decent to-do list.

13:57 - Amber returns with a slice a cheesecake.  Tony tells her, "That's not a donut!"

14:32 - Dr. Pepper needs a mimosa refill.  Turns to Aaron and says, "When the glass is empty, Pepster's not funny".

14:34 - After receiving a re-fill of what apparently is a good cup of coffee, Amber exclaims to Tony, "you gotta smell my cup!"  Sinickal to Curtis who has a nonplussed look on his face, "She said CUP".  Amanda snorts for the second time.

14:38 - Amanda and Amber exit for their drive back to Madison.

14:52 - While discussing the bottomless mimosas, we ask Aaron if the bottomless ends at 3.  Aaron responds, "Sure". 

15:21 - See how it starts.  It starts at home.

15:45 - Discussing the pay phones in the back of the place.  Aaron tells us that when Jax first opened it was Polish mob owned.  "That's why there is a funeral home next door."

15:48 - Finally leaving brunch.  "It's still daytime?"

15:55 - While in the Uber, we see a woman walking on the street.  Dr. Pepper points out her rather prominent posterior.  Uber driver to Dr. Pepper, "Where are you from, Texas?"

16:03 - Jon from the DC metro area meets up with us. 

16:43 - Hang out with Andrea, one of the promo reps from Orange Vanilla Coke.  She does NOT want to be doing the promo work so she asks if she can stand at our table and talk to us for a while pretending to be doing her promo work. 

17:20 - Jon sends us over car bombs.

17:23 - Derrick, a friend of Sinickal and Tony's, joins the party.

18:33 - The entire table next to us is watching the women's final four and cheering loudly for Notre Dame.  They do not know who Arike Ogunbowale is.

18:53 - Brian, a friend of Pepster's from college, joins us.  We will be heading to Burch Steak for dinner shortly, primarily on the recommendation of Leah, the Inter-Continental bartender from Friday.  Brian, who lives in Minneapolis, concurs that it is a good choice.

19:48 - Uber has been a challenge this week. This time, the Uber is on the interstate going away from us. Uber cancelled.  Sinickal orders a second Uber which appears to be less than a block away. that Uber got lost.

20:00 - Finally at Burch Steak.  Meet up with Alan and Joel, Tony and Dr. Pepper's friends from Providence.  Pepster and Sinickal worry that they are definitely going to pick up a RICO charge.

20:15 - Jay Wright with a Villanova entourage at the next table.

20:33 - An older retired coach starts talking to Jay Wright, one table over from us.  Sinickal tries to get Pepster's attention to figure out who it is.  Pepster waves Sinickal off.

20:36 - Pepster waves Sinickal off again.

20:43 - Pepster flips Sinickal off after Sinickal says, "Hey!  Don't worry about it anymore."  No idea who that coach was.

21:50 - Jay Wright leaves.  Lots of pics.  Wife is the enforcer.

21:51 - Mike Brey sits down right behind us.

21:52 - Tony disputing that it is in fact Mike Brey.

22:05 - Derrick and Brian leave.

22:25 - After several hours, several shots and mixing drinking priorities, Pepster heads back to the house.

23:02 - It is now just Sinickal with the Providence crew somewhere north of downtown Minneapolis.  It has taken us 12 minutes to park.

23:05 - In the spot, and Dr. Pepper refers to it as "snug".  That place where players play.  Yup, got that feel.  Tony just went NYC.

23:54 - Blonde in her 60s keeps trying to get men to dance with her, including all 5 of us.

Time Unknown - Uber home for Sinickal, Tony, and Dr Pepper.

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!