First up, here’s something you may find interesting. Julia Keller, a cultural critic at the Chicago Tribune, called me a couple of weeks ago to get a few quotes for a piece she was working on about the irrationality of hate in sports rivalries. Seeing how she’s won one of these thingies, this was the most flattering request I’ve gotten in a while.
Anyhoo, give the piece a read here. In spite of whatever I had to say, it’s strong work. (Registration required, I think)
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Here’s my Tournament prognostication. Those with office pools but no clue what to do, feel free to use my picks. But say not shit if they’re wrong. Shoulda done ’em on your own, cheater.
First-round winners
ATLANTA
Duke
GW
Syracuse
LSU
WVU
Iowa
Cal
Texas
OAKLAND
Memphis
Arkansas
Kent State
Kansas
Indiana
Gonzaga
Marquette
UCLA
WAshington, DC
UConn
UAB
Washington
Illinois
Mich State
UNC
Wichita State
Tennessee
MINNEAPOLIS
Villanova
Arizona
Negada
BC
Wisc-Milwaukee
Florida
G’Town
Ohio State
Second Round
ATLANTA
Duke
LSU
WVU
Texas
OAKLAND
Memphis
Kansas
Indiana
Marquette
WASHINGTON
UConn
Illinois
UNC
Tennessee
MINNEAPOLIS
Villanova
BC
Wisconsin-Milwaukee (this has been added. copied it off my bracket wrong)
Ohio State
Third Round
ATLANTA
LSU
Texas
OAKLAND
Memphis
Marquette
WASHINGTON
UConn
UNC
MINNEAPOLIS
BC
Ohio State
FINAL FOUR
Texas
BC
UConn
Memphis
CHAMPIONSHIP
Texas
Uconn
CHAMPION
UConn