Some thoughts as March Madness has taken "One Step Beyond". Remember when CBS actually played that as an intro for the tournament, lo, those many years ago.





















Pool Winners (Afternoon): Virginia, Tennessee, Memphis, Wisconsin, Oregon. Missed: Notre Dame, Creighton, Georgia Tech.

Pool Winners (Evening): Texas, Purdue, Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, Southern Illinois. Missed: Arkansas, Illinois.

First round total: 26 of 32.

To start, if you played it safe on your brackets, this was the year for you. Yesterday, the games were a bit more competitive, but only two of the lower seeds (Winthrop and Purdue) won. For the first time in memory, no #12 beat a #5. I had a solid #12 in Illinois over VaTech. Illinois played a perfect first half, dictating pace and extended for about 12 minutes into the second half. For a defensive-oriented team like the Illini, I was shocked when out of desperation, VaTech went to a press and they appeared to have never seen one. "Tell me, this press of yours, what's it like?" And, of course, the Illini folded, giving up the last 12 points to lose 54-52. I sat there stunned.

Other thoughts, Georgia Tech was another awful pick in a really badly played UNLV win. Disorganized was the keyword there. I thought the Winthrop pick was a little trendy and all, and I went with the Irish on Saint Paddy's weekend. That was my Marge from Accounting "I like the colors." pick of the year.



















The Hogs? Better left unsaid.



















I was reduced to watching the Miami-Oregon game on MMOD on my home PC. Strangely, CSTV picked up the Thursday at 5:00 game (Vandy-GW), but not the Friday at 5:00 game. Making the Miami-Oregon game the only one to have no chance of any national coverage. The boys did an alum proud, by not getting whipped and actually had a shot in this one. Oregon played at Miami's pace all day, which is slower than a snail. Odd first half as Miami leads 9-0. Oregon socres the next 20, but Miami comes back to a two-point deficit at the half. Late in the game, the score is 56-53, Oregon. With seconds remaining, Miami misses a three by inches off the front rim. They foul an Oregon guy and he hits two for 58-53. Miami tosses one in from midcourt for a 58-56 final. OK, it put everyone to sleep, but they almost pulled it off.



















I thought the two funniest things yesterday were The Sports Guy insisting that broadcaster Ian Eagle has to have a son. And name him "Ian Eagle II". Second, was CBS ran a promo for "Old Christine". Mike Gminski says, "I hope she doesn't dance like the old Elaine." The G-Man coming through with the funny.

Meal of Links

"Jeopardy!" had a three-way tie yesterday. Somewhere, Ken Jennings clucks to himself.

An "Idol" contestant is using his hair as a hypnotic tool. Vote early, vote often.

The "Da Vinci Code" killed someone. No, not me in the viewing audience, some obsessed artist/scholar.

Exercise Yard

After a round with basketball and the bottle today, don't forget that Formula One starts tonight. It comes from a land down under, where women glow and men plunder.

Visitor

5 Down: ESPN football analyst Jaworski (3 letters) Answer: Ron