An Offer You Can't Refuse

        I have returned from our nation's capital where in less than one week I demolished all thoughts of March Madness turning into March Gladness by  bringing with me the only curse longer lived and more dangerous than the previous curse known as "The Curse of the Bambino."  Of course I refer to that most infamous of curses, the one known to South Carolinians as "The Chicken Curse."  In my week of basketball in DC I witnessed the mighty Gamecocks go up by 18 points in the second half only to blow the game to the Alabama Crimson Tide.  I attended a live game in which GW lost to VCU in a tournament for those who don't get in the NIT.  It was worth the price of admission to hear Jeff yell at the Ref that he would never get a chance to referee the real tourney with calls like that. My final humiliation was to go home from the GW game to watch Winthrop (the school that brought my mother to Rock Hill and started all of this), our beloved Eagles who produced in my brain visions of being the first 16 to beat a number one seed.  We had Duke in our sights, but instead got blown out in the play in game.  Some students were heard partying after the game and chanting, "We are number 65."  My only consolation is that Winthrop was the first of the 65 teams to learn its fate.  Being in the Big Dance is great even if one is asked to leave while the band is still tuning their instruments. By the way The Citadel had a winning record this year and won their opening game in the Southern Conference Tournament, but they may have the record for most years in the NCAA without a tournament appearance.  Their record and their honor are intact. 

 

        The above is just a long winded way of saying, "The Chicken Curse lives."  It not only lives but it follows me whenever I pull for a team. Now that Gamecock fans do not have a team playing even in the NIT, we have started a new business. For a slight fee that can be negotiated, I will agree to place your teams opponent as the winner in my bracket entitled "The Chicken Curse Lives" and cheer for that team avidly, thereby guaranteeing victory to your team.  I have discovered that I have the rare power to transfer the Chicken Curse to other teams.  I can not let such power go to waste.  If you want to help your bracket contact me before noon. Due to the fact that some people have real money bet on these games, (unlike McDow Hoops in which the loss of pride is sufficient incentive) I am only permitted by federal authorities to accept one game per customer.  I will be open for business until noon today. Check my bracket the Chicken Curse Lives. 

 

        Once the business end of this is concluded I plan on joining Randolph in raising my smack talking to a new level. 

 

        I have enticed a new entrant, my old roommate Bo Bo who now goes by the much more dignified Beaux Beaux.  Watch for his entry. 

 

                                                                                                                                                Clarkson