iPopCulture.NET

By now you’ve probably heard the new darling of pop culture, “Friday” by Rebecca Black. If you haven’t, just wait until tomorrow. Facebook and Twitter will be filled with clever statuses and tweets signifying that it truly is Friday. The song, which was uploaded February 10, has already garnered over 43 million views on YouTube. To let you know how viral this thing has gone: the video has added nearly a million views in just the last 4 hours. I’d be shocked if the video isn’t over 50 million views by tomorrow…which of course, is Friday.

What’s ironic about the song is that despite having over 43 million views and being stuck in the head of people across the globe, the song isn’t what you would call “popular.” In fact, most are calling it “annoying,” “the worst song I’ve ever heard,” and “completely awful,” signifying their “hate” for the song.

Those are some very strong words (and once you read the comments on the YouTube you’ll realize they escalate to things much, much worse!) targeted at a 13 year old girl whose parents paid money to allow their daughter to record a song. Taking into account what people are saying, I’ll be the first to admit that the song is no Grammy award winner. In fact, when looking at the scale of excellence, it’s probably closer to Antoine Dodson’s “Bed Intruder Song” than it is to U2′s “Where the Streets Have No Name.” But yet there’s something about it that keeps making people go back for seconds, thirds, and fourths. There’s something about it that has caused people to create parody videos, fill out their statuses with lyrics, and even caused Tim Tebow to quote the lyrics on Twitter.

What is that “something?” I think that “something” is that many of us secretly like it.

If we’re being objective, we’d admit that it’s no masterpiece and it makes us laugh more than anything. But we keep talking about it, we keep singing it, and we keep falling in love with it over and over head.

Our culture has an affinity for things that are “awesomely bad.” We claim those things are annoying and that we hate them, but there’s something inside of us that just can’t get enough of them (i.e. see 80s music).

The truth is we avoid things we hate. I hate onions, so I don’t put them on my pizza or hamburgers. I hate turtlenecks, so I never wear them. I hate country music, so I don’t blast it in my car or on my computer.

We avoid things we truly hate. We go back to the things we secretly love.

So while Rebecca Black may never be the next Celine Dion and “Friday” may never take home “Song of the Year,” we’ll keep going back to the well for more because there’s something about it we just can’t get enough.

Maybe mockery really is the highest form of flattering.

Either way, prepare yourself…because tomorrow is Friday.

After garnering attention from around the globe, your 4 favorite morons are back with the 2^nd Annual Musings on March Madness by 4 Morons! Before we get into the picks for this year, let’s take a look at how we faired last year. The Final Four consisted of #5 Michigan State, #5 Butler, #2 West Virginia, and #1 Duke. Butler and Duke met in the National Championship with Duke taking home the title.

Unfortunately, our picks were just a little bit off. Ryan Lewis and Ben Wheeler picked Duke to make the Final Four, and that’s as close as any of us got. In fact, David picked #12 UTEP to upset #5 Butler in the 1^st round. Whoops!!! So, our picks were way off…but let’s be honest—so were yours!

So, we’re back this year and we guarantee to do better! If we don’t, we’ll give you next year’s picks for free! Without further ado, here are the Musings on March Madness by 4 Morons:

Biggest 2^nd Round Upset

Ben Wheeler:

#12 Richmond over #5 Vanderbilt (trendy)

A very talented Richmond team has a great chance over Vanderbilt.

#14 Wofford over #3 BYU (non trendy)…just a hunch

Ryan Akers:

#12 Utah St. over #5 Kansas St.

Forget Jacob Pullen. This team has been the biggest disappointment of the year. They better bring their “A” game vs. Utah State, who is holding opponents to 58 ppg.

Ryan Lewis:

#14 Wofford over #3 BYU

Jimmer Fredette is the best player in the nation. Period. However, even the strongest shoulders get tired of carrying a heavy load. Although they were once fighting for a #1 seed, the Cougars have not been the same since the loss of Brandon Davies, and the load on Fredette has gotten even heavier in his absence. Wofford’s perimeter defense is just strong enough to contain Jimmer. Coming off a tournament appearance last year when they nearly upset Wisconsin as a #14 seed, don’t expect them to miss out on a second chance to pull a monumental upset.

David Jones:

#11 Marquette over #6 Xavier

Everything is stacked against Marquette in this matchup. They lost their last game to Louisville. They’ve lost 3 out of their last 5. They’re playing in the same state as Xavier University. However, I am a big believer in the Big East and I believe the 11^th best team in the Big East is better than the top ranked team in the Atlantic 10. Marquette can score, pass, and shoot, and I think they’ll be too much for Holloway and Xavier.

Cinderella Team Most Likely to Make It to the Sweet 16

Ben Wheeler:

#12 Richmond

They have a great shot to make it past Vanderbilt and then Louisville in the second round.

Ryan Akers:

#13 Oakland

Keith Benson is big and they average around 85 ppg. They can score and score big. They’ve played a tough schedule all year long. I could see a Sweet 16 appearance in their future.

Ryan Lewis:

#13 Belmont

This may be the “trendy” Cinderella pick, but for good reason. Belmont was No. 1 in the nation this year in scoring margin. They lost a total of 4 games this year, 3 losses coming to tournament teams. They are the “favored” underdog against a Wisconsin team who scored less field goals in their game against Penn State than their football kicker can kick during the two-minute drill. Proving against Duke in 2008 that they shouldn’t be overlooked, the Bruins will prove to be the mid-major to watch this year.

David Jones:

#6 St. John’s

No, they’re not a Cinderella team and no, they’re not even a low seed. But I don’t believe we will see many, if any, Cinderellas in this tournament. St. John’s is the lowest seeded team that I see making the Sweet 16. In a tournament that may be chalk, they may be the closest thing to a glass slipper that we see.

However, I do want to put something out there that no one is talking about. While I fully expect Syracuse to make the Sweet 16, if Marquette beats Xavier and meets Syracuse in the 3^rd round, we could have an upset in the making. These 2 Big East teams met January 29 and Marquette defeated Syracuse 76-70. No one is talking about the Golden Eagles making the Sweet 16, but if they get past Xavier, there’s a chance Cinderella does dance after all.

Trendy 2nd Round Upset Pick that WON’T Happen

Ben Wheeler:

#13 Belmont over #4 Wisconsin.

Not happening!

Ryan Akers:

#12 Memphis over #5 Arizona.

Don’t get me wrong—Pastner is a phenomenal coach. But Memphis is simply not that great this year.

Ryan Lewis:

#12 Richmond over #5 Vanderbilt

Yes, I know, there have been only 3 years in the past 26 that a No. 12 seed has failed to win their first game, but it won’t be Richmond this year. Although Vanderbilt’s offense has a tendency to sputter at times, look for John Jenkins, Jeffrey Taylor, and Festus Ezeli to turn it up come tournament time. The ‘Dores have been upset in their last 2 NCAA appearances, but this is the year Kevin Stallings will guide them over the hump.

David Jones:

#13 Oakland over #4 Texas

It’s preposterous that people are even giving this game a second look. Texas is a very good team and the Longhorns were 15-4 in their last 19 games. They have wins over Kansas, Texas A&M (3), Missouri, and North Carolina. Oakland has some incredible scorers, but Jordan Hamilton can play! Expect to see this team drop out no earlier than the Sweet 16.

Star Player You Need to Know

Ben Wheeler:

Nolan Smith, Duke.

The ACC player of the year looks as if he is ready to dominate the tournament field again this year. He was really impressive in the ACC tournament and I think he is ready to lead Duke to yet another Final Four.

Ryan Akers:

Kemba Walker, UConn.

The dude scores. You can take your Jimmer Fredette. I’m pretty sure I could drop 100 points versus Southern Arizona State College of Sewing, too. Kemba plays a tough conference and plays big.

Ryan Lewis:

JaJuan Johnson, Purdue.

In the absence of Robbie Hummel, Johnson has become the MVP for Purdue, leading them to a 2^nd place regular season finish in the Big Ten. Averaging 20+ points, 8+ rebounds, and 2+ blocks per game, he has carried a team whose outlook became bleak after losing Robbie Hummel in October to another ACL injury. With a favorable draw in the tournament, Purdue looks to make their second-straight Sweet 16 appearance on the back of their senior leader.

David Jones:

Jimmer Fredette, BYU.

By now, you probably know his name. Jimmer leads the nation in scoring with 28.5 ppg and can hit a shot from anywhere on the court. As soon as you take a split second to relax on defense, he either drives by you with an acrobatic move or knocks down a 3 from NBA-range over your tired arms. He shoots over 40% from behind the arc and recently put up 52 points against New Mexico. By the way, this kid isn’t built like LeBron; he’s 6’2 and 195 lbs. BYU may not stick around too long, but enjoy watching Jimmer while you can!

Unknown Player You Need to Know

Ryan Akers:

Chris Singleton, Florida State.

I have watched two FSU games this year, and this kid is by far one of the best I have seen. I don’t know if it is raw skill to be able to play anywhere on the floor that impresses me, or just the hustle I saw, but if he is clicking and playing well, I think FSU could surprise a few people.

I also have to play the homer card and say Josh Harrellson with Kentucky. He is the most improved player in the nation in my opinion. After sitting patiently through struggles and problems, Harrellson has been the glue to hold together a young UK team. When Enes Kanter was declared ineligible, Jorts, for his ridiculous jean shorts he enjoys to wear, stepped up. He doesn’t throw down a lot of points, but he is like a vacuum on the boards. If Jorts continues his play of solid rebounding and can contribute with points, brackets could be busted going into weekend three.

Ryan Lewis:

Tobias Harris, Tennessee.

Unless you follow SEC basketball closely, you’ve likely not heard of the freshman forward. A consistent player for the Vols, Harris has come on especially strong as of late, averaging 20.8 points in his last 5 games. When team scoring leader Scotty Hopson (aka Kid ‘N Play) has had some inconsistencies in his game this season, Harris has stepped up to carry the load. His 15+ points and 7+ rebounds per game have helped him become a young leader on this conflict-ridden team. As they have proven in years past, Tennessee is not a team to be underestimated in the tournament, and Tobias Harris may find it to be a proving ground for his talent.

David Jones:

Derrick Williams, Arizona.

Die-hard college basketball fans and PAC-10 fans know Derrick Williams, but he has flown under the radar when it comes to the national media. As a 6’8 sophomore, Williams is putting up 19 ppg and 8 rbg. He scored over 20 points each of the three times Arizona played Washington this year. Be ready to hear Williams’ name during the tournament, and also as a lottery pick in next year’s NBA Draft.

Final Four Picks

Ben Wheeler:

East: #1 Ohio State

The only team in their region that could pose a threat to them is Syracuse. I see the Buckeyes rolling through their region on the way to Houston.

West: #1 Duke

Nolan Smith and Kyle Singler are ready to go out as champs again and Coach K is simply the best in the business. The potential return of Kyrie Irving could make them even more of a force. They don’t seem to have suffered from a championship hangover, especially after watching them dominate in the ACC tournament. They have a great shot to repeat as champs.

Southwest: #2 Notre Dame

They have been playing great basketball over the last month and seem to be ready to take their game to Houston. Kansas seems to be every expert’s pick to win it all; but wasn’t that the case last year?

Southeast: #10 Michigan State

This region is by far the hardest to pick, with maybe 10 teams with a chance to advance; and this pick may end up losing in the first round. I just can’t pick against Tom Izzo in the tournament. He is a master at getting the most out of his players come tournament time. I was tempted to make them my Cinderella pick, but can any MSU team really be considered a Cinderella?

Ryan Akers:

East: #1 Ohio State

Too big inside. Too skilled outside. They don’t go deep, but they click well together. I hate this pick, especially since it’s in the same bracket as my UK Wildcats, but they’ve sat atop the polls for the majority of the year and there is a reason for that.

West: #3 UConn

Why? Because they win. UConn is the only Big East team who had a very impressive non-conference performance in my opinion. While Tennessee beat Nova and Pitt, and UK beat ND and Louisville, UConn beat both of them and Texas, while rolling to a Maui Invitational Championship. They’ve only gotten better and they’re hot at the right time.

Southwest: #1 Kansas

Nothing pains me more than to have to put Kansas as a Final Four Contender. They have faltered down the stretch at times. Thanks to their friends in stripes, they escaped UCLA. They have played really bad basketball at times. But, it’s tourney time and I expect their best. The Morris boys are HUGE and exciting to watch. They can shoot outside with that white kid, while on the inside, they pass, shoot, and throw it down. I don’t see another team in the region who can match up with them.

Southeast: #2 Florida

So what if I’m an SEC homer? Florida is a good team. I think the SEC has flown under the radar all year long (see UT and UK vs. the Big East). Florida has experience, and we all know that experience goes a long way in March. Chandler Parsons, in addition to having the whitest name in college basketball, is a great outside player, but at 6’9, he can move inside and still play a role. Experience will definitely play a factor.

Ryan Lewis:

East: #1 Ohio State

Every time I’ve expected Ohio State to stumble this year, they’ve proven they are the superior team. Their balanced scoring attack from inside and out will prove to be too much for any team in their region, and I expect them to have a fairly smooth path to Houston. Thad Matta may be the best coach in the nation, and I expect him to prove it to 6 other teams over the next 3 weekends.

West: #1 Duke

I’m not a Duke hater, but I’m not a big fan either. However, I can’t not pick them. Look at their region. They have the shortest distance to travel for the first two rounds, and there is not a team in the West region that can match their combination of athleticism and coaching. Their toughest opponent in the entire region may lie in their 2^nd round matchup against the team who always seems to surprise us come tourney time: the big, sweaty, orange jacket and the Volunteers. Still, the Blue Devils will emerge from the region unscathed.

Southwest: #2 Notre Dame

It was a toss-up between Notre Dame and Kansas, but since at least two teams from the same conference have made the Final Four 18 of the last 26 years, I had to go with the Irish. Kansas began the year as one of the most dominant teams in the nation, but then tapered off, as has become their habit. I’m not even sure the Jayhawks will be able to overcome Rick Pitino and his pesky male cheerleaders.  Notre Dame has the talent to cover the advantage the Morrises create, and Ben Hansbrough has just enough of his brother’s grittiness to lead them to Houston.

Southeast: #1 Pittsburgh

Have you seen their region? The 2 and 3 seeds got man-handled in their conference championships, and I don’t see #4 Wisconsin advancing past the 1^st round. That leaves Kansas State and St. John’s as the only threats standing in Pitt’s way. Kansas State has been far less than consistent this season, and Pitt has watched St. John’s upset enough teams (including the Panthers) to make them a little on edge. This is the year Jamie Dixon finally makes his 1^st Final Four appearance.

David Jones:

East: #1 Ohio St.

The Buckeyes are playing like the best team in the nation right now. Although they have the toughest bracket, they match up well in all our their games. Sullinger doesn’t play like a freshman in the middle; he plays like a veteran with great footwork and a great passing ability. If teams decide to double Sullinger, there are plenty of guys for OSU who can knock down the outside shot. Watch for Ohio St. to roll.

West: #1 Duke

I hate Duke with a passion. As a UNC fan it makes me sick to see them advance in the tournament. In fact, I wouldn’t mind seeing my entire bracket blown to pieces in the 2^nd round if that means Duke gets beat by Hampton. Nonetheless, with the leadership and defense of Nolan Smith, the Blue Devils are poised to make a run at another Final Four. If Irving can contribute in the least bit, they should easily find themselves in Houston on April 2.

Southwest: #1 Kansas

As if it wasn’t bad enough picking Duke, I have the Jayhawks making it to the Final Four as well. Although Kansas is susceptible to turning the ball over, it will be difficult for any team in the Southwest to play with the Morris brothers down low. Kansas is a tricky team when it comes to the tournament. They could go all the way, or they could lose one of their first games (see Bucknell and Northern Iowa). However, I think this team is ready to make a run.

Southeast: #1 Pittsburgh

I hate picking all #1 seeds and never do it! I was determined to pick against Pittsburgh in this bracket until I saw their competition. #2 Florida is overseeded. #3 BYU is without Davies. #4 Wisconsin struggled to even make a basket in the Big 10 Tournament. #5 Kansas St. has been inconsistent all year. #6 St. John’s is missing one of their starting players. This is the region of “misfit teams.” Because of Pittsburgh’s difficult schedule and experience in the Big East, I see them being stronger and more experienced than the rest of their region. I also must mention that Brad Wanamaker is like a wizard at the guard position. He can score, pass, and rebound. With the ball in his hands, he should lead Pitt all the way to Houston.

National Championship

Ben Wheeler:

#1 Duke vs. #2 Notre Dame.

Ryan Akers:

#1 Ohio State vs. #1 Kansas

Ryan Lewis:

#1 Ohio State vs. #1 Pittsburgh

David Jones:

#1 Ohio State vs. #1 Kansas

National Champion

Ben Wheeler:

Duke

The Duke-OSU game serves as a de facto National Championship as the winner of that game will win against either of the other teams. I predict Duke will cut down the nets again as National Champs.

Ryan Akers:

Ohio State

Jared Sullinger can’t sing, but OSU will ride his back all the way to cutting down the nets. With the raw, youthful talent of he and Craft, and with the experience of Lighty, Diebler, and Buford, it’s going to be a tough road for whatever team plays them. Ohio State and Kansas would easily be the most exciting championship game I could think of watching, unless of course I could see my UK Wildcats beat the Tennessee “Volunteers To Clean Up The Highway Because Of Parole” one more time this year…

Ryan Lewis:

Ohio State

In a matchup of the two regular season champions of the two strongest conferences in college basketball, the Big Ten will prevail. My Big Ten bias and Ohio State loathing aside, no team in the tournament has the weapons that the Buckeyes have. Jared Sullinger has spent the season dominating the post while his guards, led by John “3-bler” (Diebler) have owned the arc. With four starters that average in double figures, OSU will be too much for Jamie Dixon’s Panthers to handle.  Congratulations to the 2011 National Champions, the Ohio State University. (It leaves a nasty aftertaste, doesn’t it?)

David Jones:

Ohio State

The combo of Sullinger, Dieber, Craft, and Lighty will be too much for the Kansas Jayhawks. When time runs out, they’ll be celebrating in Ohio and singing “Party in the OSU.” The Buckeyes will be cutting down the nets in Houston.

Ben Wheeler (@bw_wheeler) is a play-calling aficionado who is rumored to be in line for the head coaching job at NC State. He played at NC State during the Valvano era and is actually the guy Jimmy V was looking to hug in 1983. Ryan Akers (@RyanAkers) played at the University of Kentucky for two years before getting drafted by the Vancouver Grizzlies. When the Grizzlies moved to Memphis, Ryan decided to take his talents to South Beach…in Haiti. Ryan Lewis (@Ryan_Lewis) played college basketball at a small NCCAA Division II school that has yet to finalize its name. He is now Commissioner of a much bigger conference that refuses to recognize the “Big Dance” because it uses the word “dance.” David Jones (@iPopEditor) earned his Ph.D. from ESPN U under the guidance of Dr. Joe Lunardi. His dissertation was entitled, “One Shining Moment: How Jennifer Hudson’s Version Nearly Ruined the 2009-2010 Season.” And if you believe any of this, you probably also trust our picks, and I am deeply sorry for that.

[Photo source: http://bit.ly/gBVNFY]

This is a great post from Katie Peterson (@katiepeterson). She titled it “This Girl’s Guide to March Madness” but I think guys may learn a little something from it as well. So check out her opinions, quips, analysis, and breakdown of the tournament:

So what is the NCAA tournament and how does it work? It is a single elimination tournament comprised of 68 top teams in the nation. Eight teams will play and four will be eliminated by Wednesday night through play-in games or known this year as first round games. This leaves 64 teams to play the second round Thursday and Friday with the 32 winning teams advancing to play the third round Saturday and Sunday. The winners will then advance to the Sweet 16, Elite 8, Final Four, and finally, the Championship.

Before I get to my picks, here are some thought’s from a girl’s perspective:

If you’re watching Ohio St. play and you think you hear the name Bieber, it’s not. It’s Diebler.
Alley-oop is not a flavor in the Ben and Jerry’s collection.

Why do I think Syracuse is awesome this year? They are a team of even scoring with big man Jackson down low. Also, they have a smothering 2-3 zone defense.

UConn is a one man team under the name of Kemba (not Simba) Walker.

Duke makes me want to puke. Seriously. The majority of their players look like death and are just plain mean. However, they are a force to be reckoned with. Kyle Singler leads this aggressive team possibly to another National Championship.

My favorite mascot is the Syracuse orange, Otto. My least favorite is the Richmond Spider. I cringe just typing the word.

Tennessee is a hit and miss team. They could play Duke in the second round and knock them out or they could get booted in the first themselves. Either way daddy’s girl Steven Pearl will probably cry.

Vanderbilt is one of my favorites. Jeffrey Taylor is one of the best players in the nation, but if his confidence is down, his game is off.  Brad Tinsley knows how to protect the ball and get it down low to his man Festus Ezeli to make a shot. John Jenkins is the key to this team’s success though. His three pointers can get his team fired up and moving. However, his recent toe injury could hinder his shots and cause the Dores some trouble against teams like Louisville in the third round (Saturday/Sunday). So far the streak has continued!!! 794 games with a three pointer-I had season tickets.

Some advice for filling out your bracket: keep the Big East in mind. Teams like Syracuse, Louisville, Notre Dame and the #1 seed Pittsburgh play tough. They are a dominant conference with 11 teams in all in the tournament.

Your first and second round picks should be the easiest. Besides the occasional upsets (#12 seed beating a #5 seed) the higher seed usually wins. Never pick a #16 seed to beat a #1. No matter how much you like the 16 seed team mascot, a #16 has never beaten a #1. Never.

UNC started the season slow but somehow came out of nowhere to fight and claim a #2 seed. UNC cannot do what they did in the ACC tourney though. They are a second half team that has a history of coming back to win after double digit deficits. They proved in the ACC title game against Duke that this doesn’t always work. Somehow Zeller has to get the ball. He can make floaters and layups with ease while drawing the foul. Henson can’t rely on his threes. Drive to the basket if you have to, you still get 2 points with a layup. Player to watch is Harrison Barnes who scored 40 points against Clemson. If they can’t do this, they could be knocked out in the third round.

ESPN Bracket Bound-best app for keeping up with your bracket on the go and it’s free!

Now on to my picks:

My upset pick: (12) Utah St. beats (5) Kansas St.
My Final Four picks: Syracuse, Pittsburgh, Duke, and Kansas.
Who I WANT to win it all: Syracuse.
Who I PICKED to win it all: Pittsburgh.

[Photo source: http://bit.ly/dG1Yc3]

It’s Friday and it has been a heavy day, so my mind can’t handle anything too serious. So instead of forcing out something people will never read, I decided to share some of my thoughts on the NCAA and NFL…that will probably never be read.

NCAA:

I truly believe March Madness represents the greatest sporting spectacle in the world. From conference tournaments to the NCAA Tournament, I find myself tuning in to local access stations to watch Middle Tennessee St. play University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff just to see who might make it to the Big Dance. I catch myself staying up past midnight watching Washington play Washington St. just so I can scout the Huskies and see if they might pull another upset this year. I find myself analyzing every nugget of Bracketology from Joe Lunardi in hopes that I will achieve bracket perfection.

And as I watch all of this unfold, I’m thankful not only for the constant games, HD, and ESPN3, but also that college basketball is not run by the BCS. Can you imagine if conference tournaments were turned into conference championships, and the Selection Show’s only purpose was to tell us the National Championship game would feature Ohio St. vs Kansas? There would be no Cinderella. There would be no replay of Bryce Drew. There would be no legendary run of George Mason. The name “Jimmer” would quickly be replaced by “Jimmy” on your phone. We would still think Gonzaga was the guy with the big nose from The Muppets. Thank goodness college basketball has things right!

The tournament represents what is actually working in sports. Everyone fills out a bracket, even if you don’t know a thing about basketball. Whether you’re picking by knowledge, skill, or the color of jerseys, by the time 11:00 AM on Thursday hits, you’ll have your bracket…and by the time 11:00 PM hits you’ll be ready to tear it up. Thus, the beauty of March Madness!

Once the brackets are announced, I’ll have a full analysis on here of the tournament. But before we find out who is playing who or where, let me offer you a few nuggets. Feel free to call me out on them if I’m wrong:

- Watch out for Notre Dame in the tournament. If Ben Hansbrough plays smart, they are a VERY dangerous team. Don’t be surprised to see this team in the Elite 8 or Final 4. They have all the makings of a great team. They have great guard play. They have great inside play. Even though they may secure a #1 seed, they are still flying under the radar.

- Keep an eye on the late season hot streaks. Teams like Kansas St. and Michigan St. struggled early in the season. But now they’re playing better basketball and have the capability to beat any team in the tournament if they play to their potential. Unfortunately, you never know when they will.

- Missouri is awful. Just keep that in mind.

- Pay attention to senior leadership. Young, flashy teams may look good on paper, but who knows how they will respond once the tournament starts. Go with teams that have been there and know what they’re doing. A team led by freshman probably won’t go so far. Just look at the Kentucky team from last year.

- As I mentioned with Notre Dame, I love teams that can play outside and inside. Usually I hate the Big 10, but I love Ohio St. and Purdue this year. For OSU, Sullinger, Lighty, and Deibler will be tough to stop. Purdue has the incredible forces of Johnson and Moore. If only Hummel was healthy…

- I love the top of Big East! Not as a fan of the teams, but as a fan of basketball. I think the top teams in the Big East will go far. Pittsburgh, Syracuse, UConn, Georgetown all have the potential to go far. I get a little more skeptical when you start looking at teams like West Virginia, Villanova, and Marquette. Although they’re tough teams, they’re susceptible to first round losses.

- Belmont will give some 1st round team lots of trouble! They’re scrappy and they know how to play and shoot. With all of their screens and back-door cuts, someone will have their hands full.

NFL:

I’m really tired of reading about the NFL labor negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement. I really don’t understand why they can’t get a deal done. Now before anyone starts saying, “Who cares? Those players are selfish millionaires who have plenty of money!” let me put the brakes on. Remember that we’re not facing a potential strike; we’re facing a potential lockout. These means the owners will be preventing the players from playing. The players want to play. The players are fine with the way things are. It’s the owners who are cutting the current deal short and slapping new restrictions on the players.

Let’s look at it from this scenario:

Imagine you come into work on Monday and your boss says, “We’re changing things up because I’m not happy with the way things are. Instead of working 8 hours a day, you’ll now be working 9 hours a day. We’re also cutting your salary by 25%. Oh yeah…and your retirement benefits…well they don’t exist.”

If you were in that situation, you’d probably be pretty upset. Now imagine you asked your boss if it was because of the poor economy and you got this response: “Oh no. We’re doing great. Had our best year ever last year. Revenue is fine.”

Would you be confused? Absolutely. Now imagine you asked your boss why you were being asked to work extra hours at small pay with horrible benefits and you got this response: “Yeah…umm…I’m not going to tell you. It has to do with money, but I won’t show you or tell you why.”

This is essential what the owners are trying to do to the players. They want to make the NFL schedule into 18 games, make the players take a 25% cut in pay, and do very little for retirement benefits.

Now this may not seem like a big deal for the mega-millionaires like Drew Brees and Peyton Manning. But it is a big deal for the guys at the bottom of the totem pole. Consider the practice squad player who makes about $85,000. A 25% cut moves his salary from $85,000 to $63,700. That’s a big cut! And also consider that NFL players don’t play until they’re 65. No players even make it into their 40s. While $63,000 may sound like a lot now, it’s very little security when you’re not even guaranteed a paycheck one week later.

You also have to consider the physical aspect of the game. Football is dangerous. The league took major strides this year to crack down on helmet to helmet hits, even fining James Harrison a total of $125,000. If the league is worried about the safety of players, why would they want to add 2 more games? If the league is worried about the safety of players, why would they have a horrible health and retirement package in place?

If the career of a football player is 12 years at the most, the player needs a good package in place to sustain him after football. Sure, he can go out into the world and find a different job, but what if his injuries prevent him from finding other work?

Yes, I know that’s the chance you take when you play football, but let’s remember the NFL is a business with real people who have real jobs and real families. It makes no sense for the owners to randomly shortchange the players. The NFL is the most popular sport in America right now and brings in tons of revenue this year. Why fix something that isn’t broken?

Remember, this isn’t a strike. It’s the owners locking out the players. I’m not a fan of overpaid whiners in any sport, but in this case, the players have a legitimate argument. I’m siding with the players on this one.

–

On a brighter note, the NFL Draft is coming up on April 28-30. As a Rams fan, this has always been an exciting time, because usually this is the highlight of the season. However, with Sam Bradford at QB, I’m very interested to see how things play out for my Rams. Here are a few of my thoughts on this year’s draft:

- I’m not overly impressed with the talent this year. Last year, guys like Bradford, Suh, Berry, and Bryant were the big names before the draft, and delivered in their rookie years. This year, I don’t see too many of the studs that I saw last year. I think there’s good depth within the top 15 picks, but I don’t too many Pro Bowl caliber athletes.

- This seems like a very weak QB class. As a Mizzou fan, I’m a fan of Blaine Gabbert, but I don’t think he has what it takes to be a great NFL quarterback. I think he can be decent, but not a superstar. I’m not sure what to think of Cam Newton. He’s a great athlete. But I don’t think he will be a superstar. He has all the makings of a Heisman Trophy winner, but very few things needed to make him an elite NFL QB. And that’s just from a skill standpoint. I’ll leave his daddy out of it. I do see a lot of potential in Jack Locker, but he needs to improve his accuracy. Ryan Mallett has skill, but his intangibles are lacking.

- The players I’m very impressed with are Patrick Peterson, Marcell Dareus, AJ Green, and Von Miller. If I’m picking in the top 10, I really want one of these guys. I think Peterson will be an elite CB in the NFL. I want him on my team! I’m on the fence with Nick Fairley. The guy is disruptive on the field, but in good ways and bad ways. If he can harness that and play within himself, he can be a force on the defensive line.

- This is a weak RB class and I would not take Mark Ingram in the top 20. Yes, he did win a Heisman, but he was also playing behind an incredible O-line at Alabama in an offense that opened huge holes for him. I’m not impressed with his 40 time, and I don’t think he can be an elite back in the NFL. He lacks the breakaway speed and strength that is now starting to dominate the game.

- I fully expect defensive line to dominate the first night of the draft. That seems to be where the most depth is.

I could share more, but I’ve rambled on enough. Have some thoughts or questions about the Tourney, the NFL CBA, or the Draft, leave me a comment! I love discussing this stuff, especially if we disagree :)

[Image source: http://bit.ly/fBn5O2]

This past weekend I had the opportunity to hear Francis Chan speak at the Youth Pastor’s Summit in Orlando, FL. For those who don’t know, Chan is the author of Crazy Love and Forgotten God and the former pastor of Cornerstone Community Church in California. I say “former” because recently Chan stepped down as pastor of the church. As he explained at YPS, he began to get concerned when he heard the name “Francis Chan” more than he heard the words “Holy Spirit.” So with only God to lead the way, Chan, one of the most known pastors in the country, stepped down.

What Chan explained next blew me away. He sold his house in California, and him and his pregnant wife and four kids journeyed to Asia to meet with believers. Chan mentioned that he wanted to meet with believers in the underground church who were experiencing persecution because of their faith in Christ. He also said that at each stop, they prayed and asked God if that’s where He wanted them to be long-term.

One of the stories that Chan shared hit me at the core. He had to the opportunity to visit with believers in China. While talking with these believers, he asked some of the teenagers to tell about some of the persecution they had faced. He said that as each teen shared their stories of physical violence and mockery, they laughed and smiled. These teens didn’t have a “woe as me” attitude. Instead, they were joyful. They rejoiced in the opportunity to endure persecution for the cause of Christ. They told stories of their friends being imprisoned. They told stories of being shot at by government officials. And they rejoiced together! In fact, they thought it was normal for Christians everywhere to experience this same level of persecution.

Chan explained to these believers that in America we have many churches in one city. If you don’t like the pastor, youth pastor, children’s ministry, or color of carpet, you just move to the church down the street. And no matter what happens, you don’t experience true religious persecution. Chan remarked that the China believers laughed at him. They thought he was joking. That did not make sense to them.

As he closed, Chan said that he asked one of these persecuted believers in Asia if there were any people among them who were only “Christian” in name and didn’t truly live out the faith. The Asian believer looked at him in disbelief and said, “No. Why would anyone do that?”

Ouch.

Conviction.

My faith is so weak. I’m an “American” believer, born in a free country, and born into a family that is richer than 95% of all the world. I can pray whenever I want, read my Bible in public, meet with other believers without secrecy, and I never have to worry about being beaten or imprisoned for my faith.

My “American” faith is so weak. If the Christians who endure persecution every single day looked at my faith, I wonder if they would look at me in disbelief and wonder, “Why would anyone do that?”

[Image Source: http://bit.ly/hj0MK9]