Monday Morning Mehta March Madness 3/12/07
Edition # 197
March 12, 2007
www.mondaymorningmehta.com
March 19th - March Madness Opening Rounds review
March 26th - AL Preview
April 2nd - NL Preview and Playoff Predictions. WOW
As every single person in the US begins to fill out their brackets today, we here at the offices on MMM just want to give you our brackets to help you win your office pool. Don't let the fact that I've never won an office pool stop you. My patented BRACKET BREAKERS have won at an incredible 77% rate (completely made up stat). So without further ado...
West Bracket aka Nova's Bracket
This is a bracket with Kentucky, Villanova, Indiana, Pitt, Illinois and Duke. And they aren't even either of the top 2 seeds. This should be called the "All bark no bite" region. The previously mentioned teams really have no chance to win this region (well, Pitt has a legit chance but that's it).
Villanova could not have gotten a better first round matchup. Kentucky is just not good this year and Nova has played well the last two months. On the flip side, they couldn't have gotten a worse 2nd round matchup. They're in serious trouble there. But Jay Wright should be very happy with the play of his team coming off a tremendous season last year. If they win a round it'll only go to show what a job Wright has done with recruiting.
I think this conference is all about a Kansas/UCLA matchup. And UCLA gets the nod. Yes, it's about Ben Howland. I just think he's one of the best coaches in the NCAA and this is his year to get the respect he deserves.
East Bracket (By the way, THANK GOD they stopped the ridiculous Albuquerque Bracket, Chicago Bracket, etc and went back to the traditional East, South, etc.)
North Carolina and Georgetown give this bracket some serious muscle. Texas and Wash St. add star power and stability to this strong bracket. UNC is once again stacked with NBA level talent but they have a lot of freshman. Georgetown has the inside outside game of Jeff Green and Roy Hibbert. I don't generally like teams that win their conference tournaments as an underdog, but Georgetown was the favorite to win the Big East and they proved they can handle the pressure. I think Georgetown continues their hot play and makes it to Atlanta.
BRACKET BREAKER # 1 - Arkansas over USC. A 5 vs. 12 game and Las Vegas has USC as a 1 point favorite. Tells you all you need to know. This is going to be a doozy.
Midwest Bracket
I think they've given Florida the easiest path of all the 1 seeds to the Elite 8. Just last year, everyone was complaining about how Billy Donovan continually comes up short in the Big Dance. As a surprise 3 seed last year, Florida took the crown. This year, the pressure's on. They're the reigning National Champs and the No. 1 seed. No matter what Joakim Noah says, every one's giving Florida respect and everyone wants to knock them off.
BRACKET BREAKER # 2 - Arizona over Florida. Someone's knocking Florida out early this year. I think Arizona's got a great shot to be the one.
So who wins this bracket? I absolute hate doing this, but by process of elimination, it's gotta be Wisconsin. Their slow dull style of defense makes them a tough play by all these teams that haven't seen them much.
BRACKET BREAKER # 3 - Notre Dame over Oregon. Oregon has 2 things going against them as far as I'm concerned. Winning their conference tourney as an underdog mean they got hot at the wrong time, and they rely too much on the outside shot. If they ever came across Wisconsin they'd be in serious trouble, but I doubt they even make it that far. Sorry Morgan. And yes, I am just bitter that Drexel is OUT!!
South Bracket aka Penn's Bracket...
BRACKET BREAKER # 4 - A&M over Memphis. No reason. Just like the name Acie Law.
Actually, I've been very impressed with Texas A&M the times I've seen them this year. They've beaten a one seed (Kansas), taken a 2 seed down to the wire on the road (UCLA) and beaten a 4 seed (Texas). I think they're tournament tested and will be a force. I like their bracket too. And I just can't get myself to pick two Big 10 teams in the final four. Gotta spread it out some.
As for Penn, they got a nice team but I think they're in a whole host of trouble with A&M.
Note: I reserve the right to change these picks until noon on Thursday (March 29th that is).
Final Four - Consists of a number 1 seed, 2 number 2 seeds, and a number 3 seed. Sounds good to me. I'll say UCLA cuts down the nets in Atlanta.
Dragons Den
Drexel was squarely on the bubble all week last week and Bruiser Flint has nobody to blame except himself and his best player. Losing twice to Old Dominion sealed the deal for the Dragons. Why blame the players? Drexel's best player Frank Elegar missed the home game vs. ODU after being suspended for violating a team policy.
Next year could be a down year for the Dragons as they lose 3 starters but they'll keep Frank Elegar who could be the best player in the conference. Bruisers "best" recruiting class will also be juniors next year so the future is still bright for the Dragons. OUT!!!!!!!!!!!
The Dragons will continue to play in the NIT as they face red hot NC State. Drexel is not a program that should take the NIT lightly and I would expect them to play well. If they don't, shame on you Bruiser.
NHL Week in Review BY : Ed Wasser
- As the spring approaches and the Phillies get ready to begin their march to the World Series of Baseball (It's similar to the World Series of Poker, only exciting) let us start to reflect on the 2006 - 2007 Flyers season. The 2006 - 2007 Philadelphia Flyers season has been a soul pulverizing, mind numbing, non stop hand to hand combat battle with a gorilla type of season that has taken my will to live to the edge of the Grand Canyon, put roller skates on it, and continued to push it toward the Colorado River with each passing game. Ahhh...but there is hope. Here are the top 10 reasons to be happy for the 2007 - 2008 Flyers season.
10.) I'm happy that the Flyers are so bad this year that this list will only be a top 5 list because a top 10 list would an "Anna Nicole Dies!!" level of overkill.
5.) Simon Gagne. The guy truly is a superstar. Plus he likes being here, he keeps his trap shut, if he's running around with loads of bimbos (which I'm sure he is) he's keeping it on the down low and he's not smacking them around a la Brett Myers, and he's here long term. So we have a nice foundation to build on.
4.) The draft. The Flyers are deficient in every area and this is a chance to rectify some of these holes. At first I had little faith in new GM Paul Holmgren because I just assumed he would be Mini Me to Bobby Clarke's Dr. Evil. But his moves thus far have been pretty good. Kyle Calder was the biggest waste of money since that guy on "Cathouse" spent $5000 to get with Air Force Amy. That girl has more teeth then an alligator and she's twice as ugly. At any rate Holmgren getting rid of him was clutch. So I'm starting to have faith that he may be able to navigate the draft and get us some solid young talent.
3.) Scottie Upshall and Ryan Parent. Speaking of Holmgren, I don't know what he or the scouts saw in Scottie Upshall to lead them to believe that the kid would be a stud with some more playing time but that's exactly what's happening. He's as quick as lightning and he has a great shot. But Ryan Parent seems to be the real steal. Guys in "The Hockey News" can't believe that the Predators gave him up so that tells me plenty. You look at his stats and there's nothing that jumps out at all but he was the highest ranking prospect to change teams this trading season and if the Flyers resign Peter Forsberg the Preds gave him up for a rental. Of course if the Preds win the Stanley Cup it would all be worth it to them.
2.) Free agents. Buffalo Sabre Daniel Briere is a free agent after this season and supposedly he let the Sabres know he'd like a contract to which they responded with a "yeah....so what?" So I'm guessing he's history in Buffalo. Goalie Martin Biron is getting ready to resign with the Flyers and Briere is his good friend and ex-roommate so hopefully he can make a pitch for him to join the Flyers. I'm not a gigantic fan of Briere but he's a player that has really come into his own since going to Buffalo and playing on the second line with Gagne playing center on the first could be a great one two punch.
1.) The Flyers will unload a lot of dead weight. I can't stand goalie Robert Esche, he's gone. Seldom have the Flyers had a guy with such limited talent and such a big mouth. Mike Rathje will be gone too thank God. Denis Gautier is probably gone too. And I also think that defenseman Joni Pitkanen may be history. He's -25, having a horrific season, and has completely reversed any progress he made in 2005. He may need a change of scenery. And the Flyers could probably get a nice player in return for him. Mark my words...the Flyers will make the playoffs in 2007 - 2008.
- This why the NHL is having a horrible year. Look at this list of big market teams that are likely to miss the playoffs....the Flyers of course, NY Rangers, Toronto, Boston, Montréal, Colorado, Chicago, and Los Angeles. Couple that with the horrible TV deal and the league is really struggling. I can't stress enough how horrible the NHL deal with Versus is. I constantly forget that there's games on because I never see any promotion. Versus, unlike ESPN, has nothing worth a damn to watch on the network beside hockey save for watching Elk getting shot at, fish getting caught, and bull riding. Plus Versus is channel like 715 on some cable systems. And now the NHL is bitching that ESPN isn't giving them enough time on Sportscenter. Here's a message for NHL commissioner Gary Bettman. Dear Gary, ESPN is what's called a business and businesses exist to make money. And in the pursuit of making money they look out for their best interests. ESPN has deals with the NBA, MLB, and the NFL so for them that's priority number 1, 2, and 3. Why would the ESPN bend over backwards to help out the NHL? Why should they? GROW UP GARY!!!
- The NHL was all over ESPN last week because of Chris Simon trying to decapitate Ryan Hollweg. Hockey, like horse racing, generally never finds itself in the news unless there is bad news to report. The worst part of the hit was when Simon was asked about it he was only sorry that he was assessed a penalty that lead to a Ranger power play and a goal. So Simon got a minimum 25 game suspension, the longest in league history, which will cost him about $80,000 or so and since he has a 1 year deal he'll probably never wear an Islanders sweater again. Actually since he's 35 years old he may never wear another NHL sweater again, just like Marty McSorley after he got suspended after trying to kill Donald Brashear. But here's another disturbing aspect to this. Last off season Islander coach Ted Nolan made it a point to sign Chris Simon, a man who Nolan helped get clean and sober, and this is how he repays him. It reminds me of Donovan McNabb going to bat for Terrell Owens and getting him on the Eagles just so he could get stabbed in the back a year later.
- The Penguins are definitely leaving Pittsburgh. And now there's word that the Predators are thinking of leaving too. Supposedly the the Preds need to average 4000 more fans PER GAME to turn a profit. Good luck Preds, you'll need it. So for 2007 look for either Houston, Portland, Las Vegas, or Seattle to have an NHL franchise. Some have said the NHL should move back to Winnipeg. HAHAHAHAHA!!! That's a good one. There is no way, NONE, that the NHL will move to Canada.
March 12, 2007
www.mondaymorningmehta.com
March 19th - March Madness Opening Rounds review
March 26th - AL Preview
April 2nd - NL Preview and Playoff Predictions. WOW
As every single person in the US begins to fill out their brackets today, we here at the offices on MMM just want to give you our brackets to help you win your office pool. Don't let the fact that I've never won an office pool stop you. My patented BRACKET BREAKERS have won at an incredible 77% rate (completely made up stat). So without further ado...
West Bracket aka Nova's Bracket
This is a bracket with Kentucky, Villanova, Indiana, Pitt, Illinois and Duke. And they aren't even either of the top 2 seeds. This should be called the "All bark no bite" region. The previously mentioned teams really have no chance to win this region (well, Pitt has a legit chance but that's it).
Villanova could not have gotten a better first round matchup. Kentucky is just not good this year and Nova has played well the last two months. On the flip side, they couldn't have gotten a worse 2nd round matchup. They're in serious trouble there. But Jay Wright should be very happy with the play of his team coming off a tremendous season last year. If they win a round it'll only go to show what a job Wright has done with recruiting.
I think this conference is all about a Kansas/UCLA matchup. And UCLA gets the nod. Yes, it's about Ben Howland. I just think he's one of the best coaches in the NCAA and this is his year to get the respect he deserves.
East Bracket (By the way, THANK GOD they stopped the ridiculous Albuquerque Bracket, Chicago Bracket, etc and went back to the traditional East, South, etc.)
North Carolina and Georgetown give this bracket some serious muscle. Texas and Wash St. add star power and stability to this strong bracket. UNC is once again stacked with NBA level talent but they have a lot of freshman. Georgetown has the inside outside game of Jeff Green and Roy Hibbert. I don't generally like teams that win their conference tournaments as an underdog, but Georgetown was the favorite to win the Big East and they proved they can handle the pressure. I think Georgetown continues their hot play and makes it to Atlanta.
BRACKET BREAKER # 1 - Arkansas over USC. A 5 vs. 12 game and Las Vegas has USC as a 1 point favorite. Tells you all you need to know. This is going to be a doozy.
Midwest Bracket
I think they've given Florida the easiest path of all the 1 seeds to the Elite 8. Just last year, everyone was complaining about how Billy Donovan continually comes up short in the Big Dance. As a surprise 3 seed last year, Florida took the crown. This year, the pressure's on. They're the reigning National Champs and the No. 1 seed. No matter what Joakim Noah says, every one's giving Florida respect and everyone wants to knock them off.
BRACKET BREAKER # 2 - Arizona over Florida. Someone's knocking Florida out early this year. I think Arizona's got a great shot to be the one.
So who wins this bracket? I absolute hate doing this, but by process of elimination, it's gotta be Wisconsin. Their slow dull style of defense makes them a tough play by all these teams that haven't seen them much.
BRACKET BREAKER # 3 - Notre Dame over Oregon. Oregon has 2 things going against them as far as I'm concerned. Winning their conference tourney as an underdog mean they got hot at the wrong time, and they rely too much on the outside shot. If they ever came across Wisconsin they'd be in serious trouble, but I doubt they even make it that far. Sorry Morgan. And yes, I am just bitter that Drexel is OUT!!
South Bracket aka Penn's Bracket...
BRACKET BREAKER # 4 - A&M over Memphis. No reason. Just like the name Acie Law.
Actually, I've been very impressed with Texas A&M the times I've seen them this year. They've beaten a one seed (Kansas), taken a 2 seed down to the wire on the road (UCLA) and beaten a 4 seed (Texas). I think they're tournament tested and will be a force. I like their bracket too. And I just can't get myself to pick two Big 10 teams in the final four. Gotta spread it out some.
As for Penn, they got a nice team but I think they're in a whole host of trouble with A&M.
Note: I reserve the right to change these picks until noon on Thursday (March 29th that is).
Final Four - Consists of a number 1 seed, 2 number 2 seeds, and a number 3 seed. Sounds good to me. I'll say UCLA cuts down the nets in Atlanta.
Dragons Den
Drexel was squarely on the bubble all week last week and Bruiser Flint has nobody to blame except himself and his best player. Losing twice to Old Dominion sealed the deal for the Dragons. Why blame the players? Drexel's best player Frank Elegar missed the home game vs. ODU after being suspended for violating a team policy.
Next year could be a down year for the Dragons as they lose 3 starters but they'll keep Frank Elegar who could be the best player in the conference. Bruisers "best" recruiting class will also be juniors next year so the future is still bright for the Dragons. OUT!!!!!!!!!!!
The Dragons will continue to play in the NIT as they face red hot NC State. Drexel is not a program that should take the NIT lightly and I would expect them to play well. If they don't, shame on you Bruiser.
NHL Week in Review BY : Ed Wasser
- As the spring approaches and the Phillies get ready to begin their march to the World Series of Baseball (It's similar to the World Series of Poker, only exciting) let us start to reflect on the 2006 - 2007 Flyers season. The 2006 - 2007 Philadelphia Flyers season has been a soul pulverizing, mind numbing, non stop hand to hand combat battle with a gorilla type of season that has taken my will to live to the edge of the Grand Canyon, put roller skates on it, and continued to push it toward the Colorado River with each passing game. Ahhh...but there is hope. Here are the top 10 reasons to be happy for the 2007 - 2008 Flyers season.
10.) I'm happy that the Flyers are so bad this year that this list will only be a top 5 list because a top 10 list would an "Anna Nicole Dies!!" level of overkill.
5.) Simon Gagne. The guy truly is a superstar. Plus he likes being here, he keeps his trap shut, if he's running around with loads of bimbos (which I'm sure he is) he's keeping it on the down low and he's not smacking them around a la Brett Myers, and he's here long term. So we have a nice foundation to build on.
4.) The draft. The Flyers are deficient in every area and this is a chance to rectify some of these holes. At first I had little faith in new GM Paul Holmgren because I just assumed he would be Mini Me to Bobby Clarke's Dr. Evil. But his moves thus far have been pretty good. Kyle Calder was the biggest waste of money since that guy on "Cathouse" spent $5000 to get with Air Force Amy. That girl has more teeth then an alligator and she's twice as ugly. At any rate Holmgren getting rid of him was clutch. So I'm starting to have faith that he may be able to navigate the draft and get us some solid young talent.
3.) Scottie Upshall and Ryan Parent. Speaking of Holmgren, I don't know what he or the scouts saw in Scottie Upshall to lead them to believe that the kid would be a stud with some more playing time but that's exactly what's happening. He's as quick as lightning and he has a great shot. But Ryan Parent seems to be the real steal. Guys in "The Hockey News" can't believe that the Predators gave him up so that tells me plenty. You look at his stats and there's nothing that jumps out at all but he was the highest ranking prospect to change teams this trading season and if the Flyers resign Peter Forsberg the Preds gave him up for a rental. Of course if the Preds win the Stanley Cup it would all be worth it to them.
2.) Free agents. Buffalo Sabre Daniel Briere is a free agent after this season and supposedly he let the Sabres know he'd like a contract to which they responded with a "yeah....so what?" So I'm guessing he's history in Buffalo. Goalie Martin Biron is getting ready to resign with the Flyers and Briere is his good friend and ex-roommate so hopefully he can make a pitch for him to join the Flyers. I'm not a gigantic fan of Briere but he's a player that has really come into his own since going to Buffalo and playing on the second line with Gagne playing center on the first could be a great one two punch.
1.) The Flyers will unload a lot of dead weight. I can't stand goalie Robert Esche, he's gone. Seldom have the Flyers had a guy with such limited talent and such a big mouth. Mike Rathje will be gone too thank God. Denis Gautier is probably gone too. And I also think that defenseman Joni Pitkanen may be history. He's -25, having a horrific season, and has completely reversed any progress he made in 2005. He may need a change of scenery. And the Flyers could probably get a nice player in return for him. Mark my words...the Flyers will make the playoffs in 2007 - 2008.
- This why the NHL is having a horrible year. Look at this list of big market teams that are likely to miss the playoffs....the Flyers of course, NY Rangers, Toronto, Boston, Montréal, Colorado, Chicago, and Los Angeles. Couple that with the horrible TV deal and the league is really struggling. I can't stress enough how horrible the NHL deal with Versus is. I constantly forget that there's games on because I never see any promotion. Versus, unlike ESPN, has nothing worth a damn to watch on the network beside hockey save for watching Elk getting shot at, fish getting caught, and bull riding. Plus Versus is channel like 715 on some cable systems. And now the NHL is bitching that ESPN isn't giving them enough time on Sportscenter. Here's a message for NHL commissioner Gary Bettman. Dear Gary, ESPN is what's called a business and businesses exist to make money. And in the pursuit of making money they look out for their best interests. ESPN has deals with the NBA, MLB, and the NFL so for them that's priority number 1, 2, and 3. Why would the ESPN bend over backwards to help out the NHL? Why should they? GROW UP GARY!!!
- The NHL was all over ESPN last week because of Chris Simon trying to decapitate Ryan Hollweg. Hockey, like horse racing, generally never finds itself in the news unless there is bad news to report. The worst part of the hit was when Simon was asked about it he was only sorry that he was assessed a penalty that lead to a Ranger power play and a goal. So Simon got a minimum 25 game suspension, the longest in league history, which will cost him about $80,000 or so and since he has a 1 year deal he'll probably never wear an Islanders sweater again. Actually since he's 35 years old he may never wear another NHL sweater again, just like Marty McSorley after he got suspended after trying to kill Donald Brashear. But here's another disturbing aspect to this. Last off season Islander coach Ted Nolan made it a point to sign Chris Simon, a man who Nolan helped get clean and sober, and this is how he repays him. It reminds me of Donovan McNabb going to bat for Terrell Owens and getting him on the Eagles just so he could get stabbed in the back a year later.
- The Penguins are definitely leaving Pittsburgh. And now there's word that the Predators are thinking of leaving too. Supposedly the the Preds need to average 4000 more fans PER GAME to turn a profit. Good luck Preds, you'll need it. So for 2007 look for either Houston, Portland, Las Vegas, or Seattle to have an NHL franchise. Some have said the NHL should move back to Winnipeg. HAHAHAHAHA!!! That's a good one. There is no way, NONE, that the NHL will move to Canada.
posted by Monday Morning Mehta at 2:47 PM
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Good for people to know.
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