A New Kind of Maddness
12:00 - I've decided to do a 'live' blog today. I've seen all kinds of things liveblogged before, from the oscars, to that one hit wonder show, to the NHL trade deadline. I always wanted to do one, but anything that I cared enough about I was always too into watching it to bother writing anything. Today I'm sitting in my room randomly working on peer evaluations and stats assignments and all kinds of fun stuff. But I'm really paying more attention to the Maddness on TV right now, and since I know you care what I do all day, I'm gonna fill you in. Sportsnet started their coverage with Jack Armstrong wearing a gigantic leprecaun hat, ahh good times already. So stay tuned, or check back tonight to see when I actually lose interest and quit this thing.

12:13 - One of my buddies just messaged me to make sure I knew I was a clown for picking Syracuse. After one day of games I'm sitting tied for 2nd place in my pool. Or tied for deadlast depending on how you look at it. Yeah there wasn't much of a turnout, Steve is currently winning though. So thats cool, I guess.

12:17 - The Ohio State (2) vs. Davidson (15) game just started, I've got Ohio winning because I don't bet against 1 or 2 seeds in the first round.

12:22 - The score is 10-8 for Davidson, and one guy has all their points (Ian Johnson). The announcers have already proclaimed that Davidson "really plays more like a #2 seed". Just a hunch, but it might still be a little early to make that call. I'd wait till the 2nd highest scorer on a team had more than 0 points.

12:27 - Iowa (3) vs. Northwestern State (14) just started, I've got Iowa, and blogger appears to be having some issues. This might be the shortest liveblog ever.

12:31 - Arizona (8) vs. Wisconsin (9) and Arkansas (8) vs Bucknell (9) both just got underway. I took the two 9 seeds to win, because thats what I do. Speaking of things that I do I just opened a bag of Ruffles Baked Cheddar and Sour Cream chips, you could mix anything with sour cream, throw in on a chip and have a winner on your hands I bet.

1:37 - Okay, blogger kicked me out for a while and some crazy stuff happened in the last hour. Iowa went from being up 18-4 to being tied at 18 after not scoring for over 10 minutes! I didn't think that was possible. Arizona is killing Wisconsin, Bucknell is up by a few points and Davidson is playing Ohio State pretty tough with just under 10 minutes to go in the 2nd half.

1:42 - If someone from Northwestern and someone from Iowa ran full speed into each other I think a Lakers jersey would be formed.

1:47 - I don't even know what to day about this, but if you can watch it all without laughing and/or swearing you're a champ. Seriously, just try to watch it all I dare you.

2:01 - Jack Armstrong just made a 'shout out' to Coors Light, because he shouldn't be drinking water on St. Patrick's Day.

2:03 - Ohio is up 9 with just under 3 minutes to play, unless I curse them right here they should be okay.

2:12 - Ohio just won, Iowa looks like they should make it, Arizona hasn't been worried about anything all game and Bucknell has a 7 point lead with 8 minutes to go. I'd be happy to go 3/4 on the early games.

2:26 - This is why the NCAA tourny is so much fun, Iowa, who looked safe a few minutes ago are doing their best implosion routine and are now up by just 5 with 3 minutes to go.

2:30 - Iowa is up by 1 in the final minute and now they're playing the foul game. Arkansas/Bucknell is a crazy game right now too, they're flipping back and forth more then I do. Its great!

2:37 - WOW! Northwestern just hit a crazy 3-pointer with 0.5 seconds left on a scrambled second attempt to win by 1 and upset the #3 seed Iowa. Damn that was maddness indeed. Now Bucknell is up by 2 with 30 seconds to go and are in a timeout.

2:40 - Bucknell just missed 3 consecutive freethrows, Arkansas took the ball down the court and they kicked it around for about 20 seconds with everyone on the court tipping it at least once. Another timeout.

2:44 - Bucknell wins, not very exciting after that Northwestern 3-pointer. I gotta go walk the dog now. Jack Armstrong just said the word "balls" about 65 times in his last 3 sentences.

3:06 - Gerogetown (7) and Northern Iowa (10) is the only game going right now, hopefully Northern Iowa does better than regular Iowa beacuse I've picked them to upset.

3:10 - West Virginia (6) vs. Southern Illinois (11) and Villanova (1) vs. some 16th seed just started. I've got 'nova going to the Final Four and I've got S. Illinois making it out of this round.

3:16 - Shit! I forgot West Virginia had Kevin Pittsnogle. Man, that is an entertaining name. I should go find out who Killingsworth plays for, cause thats my favorite name in the tourny.

3:18 - Marco Killingsworth plays for Indiana, who won yesterday (and I picked), now they get Gonzaga in the 2nd round.

3:20 - Memphis (1) and Oral Roberts (16) just got underway, according to some bald guy if a #1 seed is going to be upset this is the game to see it in. The Colbert Report had something about Oral Roberts starting a 900 foot Jesus on the show the other night, but I forget what it was all about. You'll just have to trust me that it was funny.

3:52 - I've been looking for a clip of the 900 foot Jesus, but the best I can do is some Threat Downs. On an actual basketball note Oral Roberts is up by 3 points with just over 5 minutes to go in the first half.

4:14 - Can someone please explain to me the Mr. Sub commercial where the guy gets into the drawer?

4:25 - About 5 minutes into the 2nd half and Villanova only has 32 points, that seems kinda low for a #1 seed. Gerogetown is up 6 with 4 to play, Memphis is pulling away from the 900 foot Jesus, and West Virginia is up 13 on Southern Illinois. Also, I'm hungry.

4:40 - Georgetown is about to win...unless some maddness happens. Considering I picked Northern Iowa, I'm hopeing for some maddness. The favorites in the other 3 games appear pretty safe at this point.

4:44 - Stupid Georgetown...thats the last time I bet on teams from Iowa. Whats in Iowa anyway?

4:58 - To answer my own question here are some of the things in Iowa: The world's largest bull, tiniest church, oldest Dairy Queen, an "axe murder house", the field of dreams and a pink elephant. Road trip?

5:19 - The ends of those other 3 games wern't very exciting, in fact the anouncers were giving history lessons while I was playing Funky Truck. The next games don't start til 7:10 so I'm going to go clean the bathroom. Jealous of my Saint Patrick's Day yet?

6:31 - Cleanest bathroom in town! I think I'm a little high on cleaning solution now though. Current Pool Standings: Maine - 18, Steve - 17, Me - 15. With 8 games to go tonight even if I go 8 for 8 I'll still be sitting in the basement.

7:29 - UConn (1) vs. Alabama (16), Michigan State (6) vs. George Mason (11), Pittsburgh (5) vs. Kent State (12) and California (7) vs. North Carolina State (10) are all underway now. I took all the favorites except N.C. State.

7:32 - The Guelph Storm is playing the Owen Sound Attack tonight, so I'm probably not going to watch much of these basketball matchups. Plus Las Vegas and Ghost Whisperer are on later too.

7:35 - The 'Irish Count' is up to 3 now, I've seen Jack Armstrong and Chuck Swirsky with the leprecaun hats. I just flipped over to PTI and Tony Kornheiser is in FULL leprecaun gear. I'm talking hat, bow tie and jacket, I can't see his belt but I'm willing to assume its a big gold buckle.

7:42 - PTI came back from commercial and the other guy (Its not Wilbon) has a big green hat on now too (Irish Count: 4)

9:52 - The Guelph Storm played a good game and won 3-1, I flipped over to to the basketball a couple times and UConn had a bit of a scare thrown into them right up until about 5 minutes to go in the game. This is probably a good spot to end this for the night. My heartfelt congratulations to anyone that actually read this whole thing.
- posted by Mike @ 12:01 PM