IT'S ALMOST OVER

Or is it? Years ago (I know, here we go again), the normal Sunday pro football pre-game show was an hour long. Playoff games - and Superbowl games - were two hours long. Then the network got smart (?) and extended the pre-game to five and six hours. Who actually stuck with all of that? The sponsors? Yes, until their spot aired. The network execs? They were too busy hosting their press parties. The players families? They were AT the parties. Not even the announcers and analysts who weren't part of the show. Both of them were languishing in a bar someplace.

I suppose I can understand the six-hour pre-game show, they want to delve deeply into the two teams. But now the Pre-Game Show started 10 days ago and peaked this past Monday. "Everything you ever wanted to know..." - sounds like a Johnny Carson Great Carnac routine, doesn't it?
The worst part is that they talk and talk and talk...then everybody picks Carolina. My bookie knew that two weeks ago...and he didn't need to get a report from the teams practice facilities.

Anyway, whether you're rooting for Carolina or exercising the nostalgia button and praying for Peyton, Enjoy the game. I'll be hoping my home-made nachos are tasty.

Omaha - Omaha!

College basketball
I told Annie-O this morning that the March Madness Brackets were going to be brutal this year. There is no clear-cut, dominant team to lead the field. Being labeled #1 in the country has been a kiss of death so far this year.  Is it parity or mediocrity?  Both. All the teams are equally mediocre.

If you want to succeed this year, you better be able to shoot free throws. Notre Dane beat #2 North Carolina yesterday, 80 - 76. ND was 31 for 38 (81.5%) from the free throw line. 38 free throws? That's outrageous.  Plus, NO ONE from N. Carolina fouled out.  Better than 38% of ND's points came from the charity stripe.
More free throw madness? Duke guard Grayson Allen is averaging 20.9 points/game, 2nd in the ACC. He scored 28 in Duke's win over NC State, and was 12-12 from the free throw line.

Speaking of fouls, I STILL don't know what constitutes a charge from a blocking foul. I suspect the refs don't either.

Baseball
Okay, you can relax now, Yankee fans. The Yanks have signed 23-year old infielder Pete Kozma as utility infield depth. He has a career average of .222 with 3 homers in about 700 ABs. so...very deep depth.

Don't forget to tune in tomorrow for the first pre-game show for Super Bowl #51 on ESPN starting at 1:00 pm.

***THEY SAID IT***
"The Broncos, encountered a bus mishap and a player getting nabbed in a prostitution sting less than 48 hours after arriving for the Super Bowl. Apparently their tour guide is Charlie Sheen."  -- Alex Kaseberg
"Super Bowl media night featured hand puppets, a leprechaun and a reporter in an “orange skinsuit.” I’m just glad this thing didn’t turn into a circus."  -- Brad Dickson
"There has been a  58% percent increase in NFL concussions in 2015 compared to 2014, due mostly to Seahawks fans after February’s Super Bowl slapping themselves on their foreheads."  -- TC Chong
" Brett Favre said he “would never bet against Peyton Manning”‘ in a Super Bowl. Well, until Brett changes his mind tomorrow."  -- Janice Hough
"Bad news: groundhog Punxsutawney Phil did not see his shadow. That’s right — six more weeks hearing about Peyton Manning’s Super Bowl legacy."  -- RJ Currie


"A Belgian cyclist was disqualified after getting caught with a concealed motor in her bike at the cyclocross world championships. Jeez, I hate it when officials nitpick. Other competitors got suspicious when she pulled into Jiffy Lube during a race."  -- Brad Dickson
"Today, the Dow ended down 249 points. I’m sorry, did I say the Dow? I meant the Lakers."  -- Conan O'Brien
"The Raiders are checking out a possible move to Las Vegas. In addition, they are looking into the towns of Sodom and Gomorrah."  -- Alex Kaseberg
"Clete Blakeman, this year’s Super Bowl referee, hails from Omaha, Neb. So he’ll be the one who keeps saying “Huh?” every time Peyton Manning barks his signals."  -- Dwight Perry

"Last week, Cam Newton was spotted in gold zebra print pants. He looked like he had just come from a garage sale at Johnny Weir’s home."  -- Brad Dickson
"The Lakers announced plans for a sculpture of Shaquille O’Neal outside Staples Center. If Kobe Bryant is ever honoured in bronze, Shaq’s statue will have its back turned to Kobe’s."  -- RJ Currie

CP-