Wow, I didn't know you were serious about the Dodger tickets. Of course, the best I can do now is second place and it would have been a long drive for me from Alabama to Chavez Ravine anyway. What about those steak knives for second place?

There were alternate prizes for people from out of the LA area.

You could have won a book!

But I confirmed with ToyCannon that he is indeed willing to give out the tickets.

For second place, I could send a butter knife.

I've heard of Mendy Rudolph. Didn't he do one of those Lite Beer (Tastes great! Less filling!) commercials back in the day?

Indeed, Mendy Rudolph kicked Tom Heinsohn out of a bar.

Rudolph worked for CBS as announcer back in the day when the NBA Finals were shown on tape delay at 11:30 pm.

2 Yeah, a butter knife would actually be better for me. If Florida wins, I probably don't need more sharp objects around the house...

It is probably a good thing that I got eliminated with that UNC loss the other day. I am not sure that I could face having to pull for the Gators to help me win the contest. Although it might have been worth it to get my name on the sidebar for a year (and the book, of course).

BTW, thanks for having the NCAA contest this year. I really enjoyed it. I usually hang out over at the Bronx Banter blog, but during the tournament I have been reading your blog. You do a nice job and the people posting over here are very funny. I'll try to stop by more often.

Comment #6. This thread is now closed.

Thanks.

I hope you don't mind our West Coast Bias when it comes to basketball. Even though we're all off getting manicures like Mike Freeman thinks.

Bob, it may be just based on circumstantial evidence but my guess is that Bronx Banter and Dodger Thoughts get pretty much the same amount of comments on their Game Threads but DT gets more whimsical comments during non-game times and the off-season.

Mendy Rudolph and Arnold "Red" Auerbach are now both members of the Basketball Hall of Fame and the Jewish American Sports Hall of Fame.

That would be "Suffering Bruin" without the plural. :)

And I, too, did not know about the Dodger tix. My wife and kid now have a serious rooting interest in Florida. As I said from the beginning, I'm in it for the sidebar.

Seriously, Bob, this has been fun. And lest people think I'm some kind of prognasticator extraordinnaire, check the archives for the World Cup pool Bob had going on. That was something I took far more seriously and I think I finished above someone who pulled team names out of a hat.

I'm off to a Bakersfield dog park but I'll be back by gametime. Again, this has been very, very fun.

8
I don't wish to rank blogs on WORP (whimsy over replacement poster).

Trojan Ron is going for the Griddle double as he won the Pac-10 tournament contest.

If you're looking for an omen, Trojan Ron won the Pac-10 tournament by picking against USC.

Suffering Bruin would win by picking against UCLA, although a round earlier.

"and the 1966 Texas Western (UTEP) national championship team."

These guys deserve a shout out by name: David Lattin, Willie Worsley, Harry Flournoy, Orsten Artis, Nevil Shed, Willie Cager, Dave Palacio, Jerry Armstrong, Louis Baudoin, Dick Myers, Togo Railey, and the late, great Bobby Joe Hill.

I will leave it up to the reader to decide whether it's impressive or pathetic that I can recite all 12 names from memory.

Anthony Atkinson update:
"So far, he and his parents have been driven by limousine to Raleigh for a Monday appearance on ESPN's "Cold Pizza." Sports Illustrated has called. At least one NBA scout has phoned his coach, and agents are contacting him -- fueling his professional dreams.

There's a possible team invitation to the White House in the works and hope that he might be on Montel or Letterman."

http://www.newsobserver.com/122/story/559444.html

13 That's pretty cool.

For those not plugged in so to speak, here is what is messageboarded out in UCLA land.

1. According to an NBA draft site (maintained by people probably as close to the NBA as you and I), Darren Collison and Josh Shipp will explore their NBA potential but not hire an agent.
2. According to Sonny Vaccaro, Arron is a "sure first round pick" after talks with several NBA front office people and scouts, while Darren is sure fire NBA point guard.
3. Sonny also added that UCLA is in the hunt for a very good addition to their recruits, look for something in the next 2 weeks. It is unknown if Sonny was referring to this year or next year. If this year, Alex Legion is the favorite (if Michigan lets him out of his LOI), if next year than Jrue Holiday would be the one.
4. UCLA's strategy of doubling the post was ill-conceived (Bruce Pearl, most ESPN folks) or that was there only choice (Tom Izzo).
5. Finally for those who say opposites attract, Kevin Love and O.J. Mayo are roommates in Chicago for tomorrow's Roundball Classic (according to Sonny, the promoter of the event).

I thought if teams were the same number seed, the team with the better record got to wear the white unis.

I am not correct in this assumption.

I sixteen was the limit, not six.

One of the many annoying things about Billy Packer and a minor annoyance with Jim Nantz is their reluctance to criticize the officials. The crowd reacts to bad calls, the players react to it, the replay confirms the bad call but Packer and Nantz seem like they take pains to avoid talking about it when everybody in the building can't help but notice.

End of rant.

Like that last play. There was contact and if a foul was called, it's "There it is! Oden with the first foul going for that block" but with no whistle it's "great block by Oden!"

Their perspective is ruled by the whistle.

I should have started a count on how many times Packer says "MOP."

Suffering Bruin starts checking his calendar to see which game he wants to go to.

I wish the Lakers could get Brewer.

Ah, Humphries!

If you're Greg Oden, do you come back for more? He'll be the number one pick in the draft if he comes out. If he doesn't, he risks injury and getting beat up on a nightly basis for nothing.

If he were a swingman like a player down in Austin, I'd say sure, come back and play. But Oden is going to be punished physically next season and he's gotta be thinking he should get paid for it.

The category for "Best supporting performance by an Ohio State player" has no eligible nominees.

And Bob? You're right. Oden looks 35 years of age.

And Thad Matta is two years younger than Billy Donovan.

I learn a lot from Billy Packer. Joakim Noah has "the eyes of a competitor that really wants a challenge" when he guards Greg Oden. Noah can't guard Oden but you look at those eyes and you just have shout out "competitor!"

I hate Billy Packer.

24 should be read by anybody who's just showing up. It's the story of the game.

Yes, Oden is outplaying the Florida guy he's matched up with. However, Florida has a lot of guys.

Brewer is heading for a MOP.

Ah, Humphries!

Why did Donovan call a timeout to give Oden a longer break?

I thought Donovan was the smartest coach in the business.

I'm assuming that's a TV timeout?

Yes, Donovan called a timeout with 15:16 left I believe and then the next dead ball would be a TV timeout.

Although Donovan signaled for a 30-second timeout, the first timeout called in any half is always a long timeout.

I'm wondering what UCLA with Oden does against Florida. Yes, I'm dreaming...

UCLA would still have the problem of not having any outside shooting, just as Ohio State is having tonight.

Just got back from class.

14- if Collison leaves, UCLA is screwed. I would love to see Collison on the Clippers, but not next year. He needs to stay in college one more year.

Looks like Ohio State is making a comeback.

I predict that no one of consequence will foul out for Florida.

Florida is playing well tonight, but how could the a--hole who writes for Sportsline think that they could keep up with an NBA team?

Greg Oden looks older than his own mother.

ok, Odem's mom looks ten years younger than him...

This has the makings of a turning point, no?

39--Cursed slow dialup!

Ah, Humphries!

Or is it Humphrey? Did I make a factual mistake? I know, it's a shock...

I called you Suffering Bruins, so I'm in no position to criticize, but it's Lee Humphrey.

And I don't know if he's the greatest three-pointer shooter in NCAA tournament history as much as he is the most prolific.

In the 1993 Final Four, Donald Williams hit 14 of 20 3s in two games.

Humphrey is presently 8 of 15 for 3s in the 2 games.

45 Make 35 more of those and you'll catch up to me this week.

Nobody ever talks about Donald Williams anymore. He was unconscious.

40- Oden looks old enough to be his mom's father.

These announcers are so biased in favor of Florida.

It's been a pretty mundane game. It's Oden vs. Florida and the sunshine state is winning.

Why is Packer so intent on Oden having to get a rest? He's their entire offensive attack!

He can rest tomorrow.

Ridiculous...the refs call the foul on Richard instead of Horford. They did the same thing with Noah earlier in the game.

That might be the game...

Dagger...

Horford is amazing

let's see, 10/18 vs 2/18 on 3s--I think I hate the stat of the game...

50 Richard hacked him on the arm.

2 for 18 on threes matches Oklahoma's mark against Indiana in 2002. There are teams that were worse in the Final Four.

Is it me or has Noah spent an inordinate time on the bench? I know he's got four fouls and all but, man...

Actually the record for worst 3-point shooting can't be broken since it's held by LSU which missed all 6 three-pointers last year against UCLA.

The NCAA record book has LSU playing UNLV in that game.

55 Trivia time! Okay... a few minutes to check the memory banks.

Not only has Noah had foul trouble, but he was pretty bad out on the court. Oden is a lot better than him.

57 Okay, but you had two other teams in mind, right? I'm assuming the teams made at least one three...

I think Noah cost himself plenty wampum by staying in school this season. He would've been the number one pick in the last draft. If Oden and Durant come out, he will be no better than third overall.

Okay, you're the Florida kids. Do you stay?

Three straight titles. That's plenty rare.

I feel sick right now and I just won 3 or 4 brackets.

Noah's going to do his little dance even though he did absolutely nothing in this game.

Two teams went 1 for 11 on 3s in a championship game loss.

Hint: they were part of all-around bad performances.

Ohio State is now 2 of 20 on 3s. That's the worst of any team in the Final Four except for LSU's Ofer against UCLA last year.

Wait, 2 of 20 is not worse than 1 of 11.

Somebody on Ohio State, go miss a 3!

OSU could still mangage, say, 2 of 23...

Yea! 2 for 21!

64 A wild guess here because I'm not getting it... Duke when they got blown out by UNLV and Michigan when they got blown out by Duke.

Just two more misses!

That shouldn't be hard.

Okay, speech time...

69
Everything is coming up Suffering Bruin tonight! You got both right.

Why would Oden be the MOP? He didn't do all that much against Georgetown.

First of all, I want to thank Bob for putting on a wonderfully enjoyable contest. Secondly, I want to thank the Griddle readers for their eloquent commentary which unfortunately I could only view rather than be a part of because of my job. Mostly, I want thank my job as a teacher. It has made me intensely cynical, coldly factualy and on a particularly tough day, I filled out my bracket. That is the only reason why I chose Florida to win it instead of UCLA. Next year, I promise to be more emotionally attached.

Seriously, a great contest by Bob who should, on our behalf, take a bow and we should all provide him with a standing ovation. Terrific job by a terrific writer on a terrific blog.

69 LOL!! I'm equally proud of that as I am of the winning this contest. I just pulled that from air. Thanks again... this was fun.

Thank you very much, SB. Do you have ToyCannon's email address to claim your prize? If not send me an email, I will send it on to you.

Ken is rearranging my sidebar and when that's done, your name will be duly enshrined.

Thanks also to bhsportsguy for setting things up.

74 And most definitely, thanks to Toy Cannon! No greater prize can be given and you provided it. I don't know who you are but thanks is all I have. My wife and kid are beaming right now and it's more because of the tix you've provided than my ability as a prognosticator.

And this is for Greg Brock. My final thanks go to the four keys to my victory:

1. Luck

2. Dumb Luck

3. Pure Luck

4. Sheer Luck

I couldn't have done it without them.

I'll send you that e-mail, Bob, hopefully after I put the kid to bed. If not, I'll get it to you tomorrow. Best to all...

Suffering Bruin wins with 174 points.
Bama Yankee was second with 165.
Uncle Miltie was third with 156.

I finished in a tie for 63rd.

Monterey Chris finished tied for 42nd.

Suffering Bruin picked 53 of 63 games correctly.

He missed on:
Purdue beating Arizona
Kentucky beating Villanova
VCU beating Duke
Indiana beating Gonzaga
Michigan State beating Marquette
Boston College beating Texas Tech
USC beating Texas
North Carolina making it to the Elite Eight
UNLV beating Wisconsin
Oregon making the Elite Eight

Hey I finished 6th in the Griddle pool...not bad.

Anyone know where we can find the score we predicted? I know I came pretty close.

80
You finished third, not sixth.

81- are you sure? I see myself in 6th place. I really want to see the score I predicted. I think it was 83-78, so I came pretty close.

76. Bob Timmermann
Thank you very much, SB.

Good thing Suffering Bruin doesn't use Oliver as a middle name...

82
The standings weren't updated yet on the website.

If you use the "scenario generator" you get the final standings.

Nevermind the pools hadn't updated.

I was in the top 10 at my entire school and won all three of my facebook pools.

It almost feels like I'm the valedictorian.

Hey, I tied for 55th. Yay me.

I'm really glad Suffering Bruin took the Gold.

And screw Florida. That is all.

Florida goes off to take on the Memphis Grizzlies and wins in the deluded mind of Mike Freeman.

Mike Freeman to me = Frank Robinson X Russ Ortiz X Billy Packer

Now that Billy Donovan has 2 titles in a row, does he take them and run to Kentucky?

Is Kentucky that much of an upgrade over Florida? Granted, basketball is always going to be second fiddle to football to the Gator faithful, but is the Kentucky job that much better?

Weird coincidences.

The UCLA women's gymnastics team is in the NCAA tournament. It starts with six regionals.

UCLA will travel to ... Morgantown, WV.

The #1 ranked women's gymnastics team is ... Florida.

89
Both Kentucky and Florida have an unlimited supply of wealthy boosters to assist you with cheating, so Donovan should be in good shape regardless.

91 I guess you made my point for me better than I did...

I just don't see the upside of going to Kentucky, unless the younger guys stink at Florida. The perception is that Kentucky is a better program, but I'm not sure about that.

I would understand him leaving for the NBA and a boatload of money rather than leaving for Kentucky.

>>>Mike Freeman to me = Frank Robinson X Russ Ortiz X Billy Packer

My God that is Johnnie LeMaster/Karl Malden territory!

I will not rest until all of Freeman's dreams go unfulfilled.