The Unlikely Final Four

Do you think there is anyone in the country with a NCAA bracket that has a Final 4 of Kentucky, Connecticut, Butler, and VCU?  I don't think so and I am glad.  I am tired of basketball snobs, such as Jay Bilas (CBS) raining on everyone's parade.  If you don't come form ACC or Big East, you really don't have a chance, or so goes his conventional wisdom.  This is only the third time that a number one team has failed to make in to the semi-finals.

Personally I am pulling for the winner between Butler and VCU - since conventional wisdom says they don't belong.  When I am King, I'll let everyone into the tournament. How you like that Jay?

Pro Sport Labor Relations

There's a lot of talk recently about labor relations in professional sports.  The NFL is planning a lockout if they don't get some concessions from the union.  MLB is worried that Albert Pujols will get a new contract that will make A-Rods' look puny. And last, but not least, the NBA is trying to speculate what impact the LeBron James fiasco will have on the future of their league.

It's hard to feel sorry for either side, management or labor.  Basically you have millionaires fighting billionaires. Labor relations are a concern of most working people.  But labor relationships in professional sports is a little bit different.  In professional sports the owners are all socialists and the workers are all capitalists.  The owners demand salary caps to keep rich owners from buying up all the good talent. They have an inverse draft system in order to share the wealth of talent.   If they should lose a good player to another team they demand compensation.  Conversely, the players want the market to set their value.  If someone is dumb enough to give a player Fort Knox because he can get a hit 3 out of every 10 at bats -- so be it.

When I am King, I'll encourage the fans to stay away from the games until the owners and the players once again realize it's just a kid's game.  If fans stop attending, there won't be so many millions to throw around.
 

Giving Back

In my first life, I was a basketball coach.  I loved basketball.  It's a great game that requires a lot of strength, quickness, agility and determination.  Coaching the sport is quite demanding.  Especially learning how to coach in the first place.

Most people think the jump from playing basketball to coaching basketball is easy.  Trust me, it's just the opposite.  Most great basketball players make really lousy coaches.  That's because there's a big difference between playing and teaching.  Things that came easy for a gifted athlete are difficult to teach to an average athlete.  That's why early in my career I went to every basketball clinic I could find.  I listened to some of the greatest coaches talk on a multitude of basketball topics.  I also developed the knack of picking the brain of every coach I met at those clinics.  Over time, I learned how to coach.

Yesterday, I served as a guest lecturer at a coaching class at Lewis University.  The class is taught by my good friend Dr. Ralph Miller.  Ralph and I coached together at South Suburban Community College for a few years.  We had great success, finishing 3rd and 4th in the nation on two occasions.  Dr. Miller is now retired from coaching but still teaches at Lewis University.  He asks me, as well as other coaches, to lecture his class every year.  Each year it's a pleasure to give back some of the knowledge that I stole from others along the way.  Giving back is also selfish -- It makes me feel good. When I am King, I'll encourage everyone to give back.

King and Queen Golf

Today is our annual King and Queen golf tournament.  Sometimes referred to as the "The soon to be divorced tourney".  For you not into golf, let me explain.  My wife and I will both hit our drives from our respective tees, pick out the best ball, and hit alternates shots until the hole is finished.  Once you start alternating shots, the fun really begins. For example, if I hit our second shot into a sand trap, my wife will hit the next shot.  I am sure you can imagine all sorts of scenarios that would require a lot of "I am sorry" comments.

The trick is to get to the end and still be talking to each other.  There will be times when I make a suggestion and my wife will think I am nuts, and vice versa.  There is a great urge to say "I told you so", but we'll both do our best to stifle that comment.  The hard part is for me to keep my mouth shut.  As you know, I pretty much have an opinion about everything.  But, today I am going to do my best to keep my opinions to myself.  As much as I want to win, I also want my wife and I to be on speaking terms when we finish.

Believe it or not, we have won this event before.  But back then, you had to play with your spouse. Now, you just need a partner. Trust me, it's a lot harder to play with your spouse, than just another person.  Your spouse will tell you in a heart beat where you can shove your golf ball.  When I am King,  you'll play with your spouse or not play at all. In the mean time, wish us luck.

 Update: We finished 2nd and we're still talking to each other.

Dustin Johnson Grounded By The PGA

Dustin Johnson thought he was on his way to winning the PGA Championship when a strange thing happened.  He grounded his club in a sand trap and receiving a two stroke penalty.  Now I can hear some of you right now, how could this happen.  Is the man stupid?  Doesn't he know the rules?  

Before you're two hard on him, check out the whole story at CBS.  The man had so many fans around him he had no idea he was in a bunker.  He thought his ball was on a piece of bare land that was trampled down by the gallery.

After completing the 18th hole, thinking he was headed to a playoff, he was greeted by a rules official and informed that he was indeed in a bunker and therefore he was penalized and knocked out of the playoff.  Where the hell was that rules official when he was hitting the ball.  If the PGA had done a better job of crowd control he would have known he was in the bunker.  When fans are standing two feet from you, it doesn't dawn on you they're in the bunker.  

What a sad ending to a great tournament.

How To Fix Tiger Woods

I just finished watching Tiger Woods play the third round of the PGA Tournament.  He's just not on his game.  In fact, he really looks like every other mediocre journeyman.  I always wished I could play like Tiger.  I am afraid my dream might be coming true.  Only problem is Tiger is getting worse, instead of me getting better.

I think Tiger can get back on track if he follows my easy two step plan. First step, get laid -- a lot.  Face it, your marriage is over.  You need some stress release.  Sex seemed to work in the past. Second, start playing a lot more golf.  Tiger should play every week through the rest of the year.  His game has too much rust.  I suggest he plays every tournament for the rest of the season.  After the season ends, go play the Asian Tour. But play, play, and play some more.

Follow my plan Tiger.  I guarantee you'll start winning again and you'll have a smile on your face.

Kill Instant Replay

"Kill the ump!"  "Come on ref, how can you sleep with all the lights on!" "We would have won if the refs hadn't screwed us!"

Just a sample of some classic statements that  might disappear  from sports some day. With all the instant replays, some genius will figure out how to do away with officials all together. Hating a machine is just not the same. Fear not, When I am King, there will be no instant replays.

Besides, it's a horrible waste of time. With all the commercials nowadays, the average NFL game lasts almost four hours. Throw in a few instant replays and the game could last longer than most brain surgeries.
Now I know some announcers will say "at least the refs will get the call right".  Who gives a shit.  I'll tell you who, GAMBLERS.  Anyone who's dumb enough to bet on professional sports should lose his ass from time to time.

The vast majority of the time the refs get the call right in real time.  Let them call the game.  If they get the call wrong, bitch your ass off the next day.  You'll feel better.