Good morning, all and happy Monday!
I am afraid the newly-employed ABS system in MLB is turning out to be more of a hinderance than a positive, putting the umpires in an almost untenable position. I explain it in the video and podcast.
Here are some other thoughts on the last Monday in March:
Just when you think the legendary UConn men’s basketball program cannot top itself, bang! A freshman from basketball-steeped Indiana, in fact “Indiana Mr. Basketball” last season, Braylon Mullins, buries a three-point basket from about 31 feet away with 0.4 seconds left, and number two seed Connecticut rallies to beat number one seed Duke, 73-72, to advance to the Final Four in, where else? Indiana. Duke becomes the first number one seed, leading by 15 or more points at halftime, to lose in tournament history. It was a historic comeback - down 19 points - by the Huskies, the second largest in Elite Eight history. Only Louisville trailed by more (20) in 2005. And chew on these numbers. UConn was 1-for-18 from three-point range, until making 4-of-their-last-5 three-point shots. And Mullins? He was 0-for-4 from beyond the arc, until bagging the shot that was heard around Connecticut and beyond.
UConn will play Illinois in the first game of Saturday night’s Final Four at 6:09, followed by Arizona vs. Michigan. Fasten your seatbelts.
Congratulations to the UConn women’s basketball team, whose victory over Notre Dame yesterday, sent the top seeded Huskies to their 25th Final Four in program history. The defending national champs are 38-0 on the season and have won 53 straight, dating back to last season. UConn will play the winner of tonight’s TCU-South Carolina contest in the semi-final game on Friday.
Speaking of which, it is supposed to be made official today that the WNBA’s Connecticut Sun will be sold to the owners of the NBA’s Houston Rockets, with the franchise shifting to Houston next season. The timing could not be worse. With both UConn basketball programs once again commanding national attention, the NBA and its surrogate WNBA, are going to announce they are leaving the basketball center of the universe. What fools!
So, as we enter the NCAA men’s basketball Final Four, two of my four teams are still alive, including Michigan, the team I picked to win it all. I had Duke, Arizona, Michigan and Florida going to the Final Four. UConn stunned Duke last night (See above) and Florida, the defending national champs, were bumped off, getting upset by Iowa in the second round, 73-72, the same result as the Duke ouster. My overall record for the tournament, including the First Four round, is 46-18. I will take it.
When do the Dan Hurley to North Carolina rumors start?
Kudos to Gary Woodland for winning the Texas Children’s Houston Open yesterday. He finished with a record-low 259 total score for four rounds. Woodland, the 2019 U.S. Open champion, underwent an operation for a brain lesion in September of 2023. Recently, he opened up to the world about his diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder. And his friendship with Amy Bockerstette, who has Down syndrome, is inspirational. After sinking the putt to clinch the tournament, an emotional Woodland hugged his wife, tears streaming down. The victory qualified him for The Masters in a couple of weeks. Here’s to more victories for Woodland, on and off the course.
That is going to do it for today’s newsletter. As always, thank you for subscribing and have a marvelous Monday!
DAN
