HRC Wants to Bowl Against Obama

http://video.on.nytimes.com/?fr_story=865c05efa09d24cd3235ef937af596a63a55fff2 (I'm somewhere between Piers and Clarkson in blogging. I'm not sure how to put the video in here.)

"This isn't Nam. This is bowling."

Piers, could it be that you are posting in an attempt to move this photo lower and lower on the blog?

The best bowlers ever, in my book:

No Piers, *this* is the best bowler ever:

Where is everybody?

How do you say "no respect" in Sri Lanka?

Poor Muttiah Muralitharan. Not a single vote as best cricketer despite being the greatest bowler ever. Actually, this is the greatest bowler ever:

But the main thing is that Imran Khan has been confirmed as cricket's best. Time for a new poll.

Bam-Bam Obama

He's got such a big head, what an easy target! (See picture below in Todd's post.) I think I can take him . (And people think he's a black militant, sheesh! Just look at the guy!)

I am coming around again on the basketball. I like Calipari's slicked hair. If I can't root for Pitino's hair, I might as well root for the next best thing.




Also, a Memphis win offers me some respectability (I picked them to win). I know respectability doesn't count for much amongst McDows (though at least Dodie made an effort to "marry up").

The fan and the know-nothing

Jeff will win it all as long as UCLA takes the championship. However, in order to avoid a tie with me, he needs Kansas to beat UNC. If the championship game is UNC vs. UCLA, and UCLA wins, then we tie for first.

Meanwhile, even Piers is beating Obama and Clinton. Obama scores up at 780, while Clinton's at 630.



P.S. Who the heck is the namesake of Jeff's bracket, Frank Maguire?

P.P.S. After a bit of web research, is it Frank McGuire, who recruited Jewish and Catholic players from New York to come down and whip some butt in the Carolinas?

P.P.P.S. Todd's photoshop grade: D

Piers Has a Good Point

But I wonder, was McDow Hoops ever based on an interest in basketball? -Mook

A Nice Surprise

Wow, what a nice feeling to walk in from a long evening of work at the coffee shop to find that I've jumped all the other Jenkins, and of course, the mysterious el Crawdad.

Piers, I hope your not going to let those net-heads get away with running down to Texas just because the Heels keep winning.  And some one told me that Chapel Hill was academically rigorous.  Of course, I'd probably be inclined to skip class to if my Professor kept pausing his lecture to blog about his loosing bracket.

PT News Wire: Fans Across America Lose Interest

Blogsville, USA. With the four #1 seeds in the Final Four for the first time ever, and with three perennial favorites among them, the climax to this year's college basketball season is promising to annoy the heck out of everybody who doesn't already root for those four stinking teams. Captain 'Cuse, a Blogsville resident, said, "For those of us with no money on these games, do we really give a rat's bottom if the mighty UNC beats the all-time winningest UCLA in the final, or vice versa?" He then added, speaking for many, "What we need is some good off-court shenanigans to make this interesting again. I mean, I'd root for the team that arrived in San Antonio underhanded because half their team was suspended for being caught in a strip club." Reminded that Memphis has not experienced the same level of success as the other programs, Captain 'Cuse recalled why he was for them in the first place. "But," he added, "half their players getting caught in a strip club would seal the deal."

Heartbroken for Davidson

They played well but just couldn't pull it through. Now I'm back to my bracket and hopefully in the running for some money at work with Memphis, UNC and Kansas still in it. Keep up the talkin guys! Leslie

I prefer my Curry hot

What happened on that last play??? I was *sure* that Davidson was the kind of team to have a nice play to run to get a good last shot. But Curry held the ball like he had no idea what to do. Argh!

What a heart breaker

Wow, now that was a great game. Leslie, you should be proud. I'm hoping that the lack of blog traffic is because everyone was so riveted to their televisions because that was quite a game.

Go Davidson!

I'm with Dodie, who wouldn't pull for Davidson at this point? I'm looking to Memphis for my only way to the top. I think I'm the only one towards the top of the heap that picked them to win it all. So, go Memphis!

Back in the Game

Dodie has provided me the blog by e-mail and on the way back from Smith Mountain Lake I will try to get back in the game though this may be dated.
      Piers, the vote here is to flunck all Heels fans who miss a class. Anybody unwilling to take an F for the team is unworthy of going. Give them something that will make them remember.  Nobody remembers the B's but who can forget an F. While talking about grades, there was some talk about avoiding D's.   Well, there is a good way to avoid a D and another method that I tried in high school. I don't recommend it.
      Dodie' percentage may be a bit low and that is OK so long as Silas is hitting 100 %.  Keep it up Silas.
       I am slightly hurt that no one sent a sympathy card for my bracket. I trust my team Memphis State is still alive though I have no access to the score. Mary Ann promises to have me in front of a TV when Davidson plays.  They are a wonderful story. Let's hope it gets even better.
                          Clarkson
--------------------------
Sent from my BlackBerry Wireless Handheld

Tigers Maul 'Horns, but will Wildcats raid the 'Hawk House?

In the past members of this blog have not gone out of their way
enough to sufficiently praise those in the lead. We have had,
looking over the course of this tournament, some excellent pickers,
even those who had percentages in the high nineties. So that we
don't overlook excellence in our midst, I would like to praise Jeff.
He was smart to marry Maggie, not just for the cute kids, but to have
a bunch of chumps that he could kick around in no-stakes sports
gambling. And though Mary Croom tried to hang with him, we all
know about the relative strength of the Big East. Jeff, I salute
your wisdom and foresight and hope that you enjoy your time at the
top of the heap.

For today's action, look for Memphis to beat Texas's feet in the
Mississippi mud, as Clarkson once famously tried to say. Once that
happens, the thicket will clear a bit and three super G's (Gumbinner,
Goff, and Goff McDow) and one other person will be first, second, and
tied for third, all separated by a mere twenty points.

In the second game, all the leaders have picked Kansas to win, so the
effect on our contest is pretty flat, regardless of what happens.
(Except for Jeff, who's asking, "What's the Matter with Kansas," cuz
he picked them to win the whole thing.) With a relatively neutral
result on our pool, we are all free to root for Leslie's alma mater.
I mean, who doesn't pull for an underdog from a Charlotte suburb?

Louisville's demise

Louisville's play last night brought to mind a different line by John Milton: "Whence and what are thou, execrable shape?" They really crapped up the joint during a crucial stretch! Now, I have to deal with emails like these from my students: "Dear Piers: As you know, the Heels just won, so they will proceed to the Final Four in San Antonio! As a member of the band, I have been invited to travel with the team to the game. This means that I will be out of town as early as Wednesday, April 2 and will not return as late as Tuesday, April 8. I realize this means I will miss up to 2 classes. I will continue to keep up with class readings and notes. If there are any make-up assignments you wish me to complete, please let me know. Also, our papers will be due the day/night I get back on Tuesday. If we go all the way to the final game, I will not return until after it is due. We will have Internet at the hotel, so I will email a copy of my paper to you before 8am on Tuesday. I will get a hardcopy to you as soon as I return to campus. I will also be able to email you throughout the week with paper questions should they arise. I hope this is okay. If there is anything else I need to do, please let me know. Thank you for your understanding and for allowing me this amazing once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. GO HEELS! Thank you, [Name deleted to protect the excited]" I would like to mention to her that taking my class is also an amazing once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, but I'm not sure I believe it.

Not Really Perched Any More...

With Louisville's loss, looks like I should start boning up on my Cricket... (At least I'm still sitting next to Todd.) -Mook

Precariously Perched

It's an odd place to be - no one has MORE points than me (Jeff has the same number) and only two people have LESS potential points than me (though two people have the same potential points as me). What does this mean? I think I won't be enjoying this first class seat for long...

We have a new leader

I may not have the trash talk crown, but I now have the lead. MC and I (Jeff) move into first as Mr. 97% is unjustly punished for his faith in the A-10. In the late game, I have UNC and Mary Croom has Louiville, so by the end of the night one of us will be in sole possession of first place. I suppose it might not be me in first by the end of the night, but as Frank Maguire knew, and this pool is confirming, South Carolina should always defer to native New Yorkers when it comes to basketball. --Jeff

Hey Mr. 97%, How are you feeling about that Xavier pick now? I'm pulling for them because they're an A-10 team, but even at 61%, I knew enough to know that UCLA is going to take this one.

Dodie's report card

Ability to write a boring poem: A Ability to pick a decent bracket: A Getting Ole and Sarah to blog: F

On Piers Being Arrived at the Age of Thirty-Three

How soon hath Time, the subtle thief of youth, 

Stol'n on his wing Piers' third-and-thirtieth year!

His hasting days fly on with full career, 

But his late spring no bud or blossom shew'th.

Perhaps his bracket might deceive the truth

That he to vict'ry shan't arrive so near;

And all his thoughts doth on this blog appear, 

That some more timely-happy spirits endu'th.

Yet be it less or more, or soon or slow,

It shall be still in strictest measure loose

To that same lot, however mean or high, 

Toward which Time leads him, and the Orange of 'Cuse: 

All is, if he has grace to use it so

As ever in the great Big-Easter's eye.

(with sincere apologies to John Milton)

Stinking it up

I really needed Stanford to win, to knock out all the folks who went with Texas. Then I needed Stanford to beat Memphis. Talk about long shots, but that was my only hope for holding onto a top spot.

Along with stinking it up in the hoops bracket, I am stinking it up in the home free-throw competition. We have a diaper champ, which is where you put dirty diapers so they don't stink up the joint. It's about eight or nine feet away from where we change Silas. (This won't make sense unless you've seen how tiny and cramped our apartment is. You put things where you can.)

After changing Silas, I turn to make a free throw. My current FG percentage is 20%. The more Silas puts into the diaper, the better chance I have of sinking the shot -- the light diapers tend to hit the rim and just bounce across it. Meredith is shooting 100%. She tried it once, sunk it, and declared that she was done with the competition.

Sonnets

Piers-

You really can't come up with a phrase that rhymes with "self-promoting guy who's asking for it".  How about:  "talks a lot of smack, talks a lot of S*%t."  Or "with his taunts to the group, he's asking for it."  Or "often confuses sarcasm with whit."

 

Mook

Mr. 97th Percentile

Good thing Dodie wrote that last post, or I might not have appreciated his commanding lead in the pool. I'd write a sonnet in his honor, except I'm not sure what rhymes with "self-promoting guy who's asking for it".

Grade: he undoubtedly gets an A, but the rest of the class hates him.

Just imagine if Xavier wins the NEXT round!

Oy vey.

Grading on a Curve

I notice that I did not get a blogging grade. I have never known
this group to avoid cheap shots, so I'm waiting for both shoes to
drop. In the meantime, I'll assume that we're grading on a curve so
that my 95-point-some odd percentage next to my score can lob me into
the A range. (I recognize the slip in points remaining--those with G
last (or maiden names) who are related to McDows by marriage seem to
be leading that category.) But its the name that begins with X that
matters.

Tomorrow night, I'm looking to see Xavier oust UCLA. Cheers to the
Musketeers. All for one and one for the Final Four. I am the only
one in our pool who picked them to win through. Even Clarkson, who
backed me up on Davidson, did not have the clarity of vision to get
on the X Train. Of course if they lose, my bracket can sing, M-I-C-
see ya next year-K - E- Y- why because I suck, L-O -U-S-E.

Clarkson McDow and Jim Goff

While they're visiting with each other at the lake, maybe Clarkson can get some pointers from Jim about how to pick basketball games and Jim can get some pointers from Clarkson about how to blog. On a different note: if Davidson kids are so smart, how come it took them this long to figure out how to do well in the tournament?

PPR gone good

Love the PPR! As of right now, I'm leading in PPR with both remaining sweet 16 games and all my final 4 picks still alive. Of course, after Xavier beats UCLA I'll be eliminated so let's just say PPR is the way to go. (from Jeff)

"Mmmmm Spicy Curry"

I saw that sign in the crowd tonight. Davidson wins big-- that's what I'm talking about! A bunch of smart kids handing it to the midwest guys. I'd sacrifice my whole bracket at this point to see Davidson advance to Final Four. I'm obviously psyched! Leslie

PPR gone bad

On Thursday morning, I was feeling pretty good with a high PPR my world was all possibilities. I may not be up with the winners, but oh the possibilities. After the late games yesterday, and Wisconsin putting in a dismal performance, I'm not as optimistic. Although, I have to say, good for Davidson. It's hard to root against them. By the way, you probably won't hear much from my dad this weekend because he is visiting the Goff's at the lake, and I don't think they have very good blackberry reception there.

The 7:30 games

I'm riveted by the games. Rooting very hard for Stanford and Davidson. I won't be catching the later games... early bedtime around here, courtesy of Silas's wake-up time.

All Quiet on the Blog Front

'Todd' apparently isn't taking Raskin's bait. But everyone else is quiet too. There isn't a very exciting game on right now that might propel a McDowHoops family team to the Elite Eight, is there? Clarkson must have forgotten his Blackberry wherever he is. [As I wrote this, Maggie contributed a post. Yes, Ole and Sarah, who *are* you?]

Ole and Sarah who?

Who are Ole and Sarah? I think they may be more elusive than the Mysterious Crawford.

Thankfully

When I click on the small picture of Todd in the post below, only another small picture of Todd appears.

New Poll!

The key feature of this poll is that you should change your vote once you have become awesome (unless you're among those hopeless individuals in the third category).

Grading Todd

Effort: A- (started slowly, but has come on strong)

Smack: B+ (too easy on Raskin and fawning all over Clarkson)

Blog identity: A ("the boy from Palouse Hills")

Picker: A- (basketball and nose)

Attitude: D (nothing like repeated little cheap shots at good ol' Piers, eh?! Back atcha baby!)

Nickname: F (Unless your real name isn't Todd, in which case you get an A+)

Degree of difficulty: 10 (for a guy who doesn't follow basketball, you blog it well!)

Overall: A (but remember I'm not a math guy)

That should make you smile.

<-- Like that!

Correction

Mook, I'm not sure how I skipped over your bracket! My apologies. In my defense, I was moving fast to get my post up before the judge came in this morning. You did pick Memphis. I'm wrong to call into doubt their likelihood of making the Final Four. (The pool collectively thinks there's a 64% chance Memphis will make it.) You have Georgetown winning it all, which explains your anemic PPR ... so far Lauren hasn't crunched new numbers, but I predict that we won't be tied for long! Anyone else who wants a midterm grade should just let me know. I thought it would be pretty obnoxious to grade everyone, so I just targeted a few of you (which was only mildly obnoxious). Here is another selection of smack grades: Mook: A+ for cricket smack; A for birthday smack; A- for NCAA smack Charles Stuart: A+ for nickname (great "O or D" post!) Ole: F Sarah: F

Hello?

Todd:
I realize that I'm living in a country with ~ 1 billion people, and a city with ~ 20 million people, but I'm a little hurt to be so over-looked.  I'm tied for second place.  WITH YOU.  Not only do I have Memphis in the final game, I feel I've talked my fair share of smack.  About basketball AND cricket.

 

Wondering what it takes to get noticed around here...

Mook

 

PS - Anwar said that Tendulkar was the greatest cricketer of all time.

Lauren: please run the new numbers

Okay, UCLA has not looked particularly dominant in their latest two outings. Nevertheless I have picked them to go all the way. In my office (money) pool, where I'm in the hunt at third, I have UNC going all the way -- I'm not crazy. But in this pool, I wanted both a shot at winning and a chance to talk smack about west coast teams along the way.

So I'm still in this thing, but I wouldn't bet on myself. Lauren, what does your analysis say? Dodie has a lot of PPR, but he's banking on two upsets: Xavier and Wisconsin in the Final Four. Also, he and Lauren are the only ones in the top five who picked Memphis to make it to the final four. Will that happen? (You'll remember that Hillary has them going all the way.)

I second the call for Ole and Sarah to join the blog. Meanwhile I was psyched to see more posts from Margaret and Jeff. Clarkson maintains his A+ status for smack talk, although I'd like to correct the record to say that Piers is the one who avoided the D in Physics. I am the one who avoided a D in Evolutionary Biology. Don't ask Dodie about the courses he avoided D's in.

A brief selection of people's smack-talk grades -- this is just the midterms, so don't worry too much, folks -- might be awarded as follows:

Piers: A (for quantity)
Lauren: A (for quality)
Raskin: B+ (more posts and more insults, please)
Will: C- (narrowly avoiding a D; get with the program)
The Mysterious Crawford: F