Must See Sports - Fourth Weekend of October 2013

Last week's advantage/disadvantage record, excluding series: 2-6 
Last week's advantage/disadvantage record in series: 0-2
2013 Advantage/Disadvantage Record, excluding series: 67-56

2013 Advantage/Disadvantage Record (series only): 21-13-4

Wednesday, October 23

Major League Baseball

2013 World Series - Game 1
St. Louis Cardinals at Boston Red Sox
Adam Wainwright (2-1, 1.57 ERA, 20 Ks in postseason) - Cardinals vs Jon Lester (2-1, 2.33 ERA in postseason) - Red Sox

The Cards and Red Sox have been their best in the National and American Leagues, respectively. It is fitting that they are in the 2013 World Series. These teams are as equal, on paper, as two MLB teams could possibly be. When that is the case, the difference between winning and losing comes down to starting pitching, as it has throughout the playoffs.

When the chips are down, my money is always going to be on Adam Wainwright. He pitches with more power, manages pivotal games situations, and has been more clutch all year relative to Jon Lester. Boston's starters are very good, but they often rely on the bullpen to help them out of jams and finish games. Lester is no exception. In Game 1, that plays into the hands of Wainwright and the Cardinals.

Advantages: Game - Cardinals, Series - Red Sox

This could be epic! 1

Thursday, October 24

Major League Baseball

2013 World Series - Game 2
St. Louis Cardinals at Boston Red Sox
Michael Wacha (3-0, 0.43 ERA, 22 Ks in postseason) - Cardinals vs John Lackey (2-0, 3.00 ERA in postseason) - Red Sox

John Lackey has been very good in October. Michael Wacha, the rookie, has been lights out. At some point the moment of the World Series and the pressure of pitching on the road is bound to show when Wacha pitches. The Red Sox lineup, especially from a power standpoint, is a step up from the Dodgers, whom Wacha dominated. I expect Wacha and the Cards to be brought a little closer to Earth in Game 2.

Advantage: Red Sox

2013 NLCS Most Valuable Player Michael Wacha swam well in the deep end of the pool against the Dodgers. 2

Saturday, October 26


Major League Baseball

2013 World Series - Game 3
Boston Red Sox at St. Louis Cardinals
Clay Buchholz (0-0, 5.40 ERA in postseason) - Red Sox vs Joe Kelly (0-1, 4.41 ERA in postseason) - Cardinals

Both pitchers put up very impressive numbers in the regular season. Both showed cracks in the postseason. I like Kelly's chances better at home in this game.

Advantage: Cardinals

Buchholz's strength has not been in his hair this postseason. 3

NCAA Football

#10 Texas Tech Red Raiders at #15 Oklahoma Sooners

With all of the focus on Alabama, Oregon, and Florida State, the continued presence of Texas Tech among the ranks of the unbeaten has flown quietly under the radar. The 7-0 Red Raiders will be put to the test in Norman, Oklahoma this weekend against the Big XII rival Sooners.

Tech has only put the screws to one conference opponent this season and only has one win against a ranked team. This contest, along with the following week's game against #19 Oklahoma State and a November matchup with #8 Baylor, also currently unbeaten, should be more telling.

Tech's offense is one dimensional, averaging over 400 yards per game in the air, but it is a dimension nobody has solved. The Red Raiders have a problem that any team would like to have: two capable, producing freshman quarterbacks. Baker Mayfield (1,488 yds., 8 TD, 5 INT, 66% comp.) was the opening day starter. He has a knee injury and is expected to sit behind Davis Webb (1,427 yds., 11 TD, 5 INT, 61% comp.) this weekend. Both can light up the stat sheet.

Oklahoma is going to try to pound the ball with senior running backs Brennan Clay (496 yds., 3 TD, 6.3 avg.) and Damien Williams (315 yds., 3 TD, 4.0 avg.) and out-physical Texas Tech with their defense. It has worked every week, save for their stunning upset loss to Texas two weeks ago. This game is in Oklahoma. Texas Tech has yet to face a true road test this year. I am not suggesting the Red Raiders have been smoke and mirrors, but I do think their unbeaten record gets smoked out on Saturday.

Advantage: Oklahoma

Expect heavy doses of Brennan Clay if the
Red Raiders don't score early and often. 3

#21 South Carolina Gamecocks at #5 Missouri Tigers

Missouri is making believers out of doubters. When starting quarterback James Franklin went down with a shoulder injury, freshman Maty Mauk (336 yds., 1 TD, 1 INT, 55%) did enough to get the Tigers a win against the fierce Florida Gators' defense. The Gamecocks are reeling after an upset loss at Tennessee.

Connor Shaw (1,307, 11 TD, 1 INT, 63% comp.) is out for South Carolina with a knee sprain. They will miss his legs as much as his arm. Dylan Thompson (421 yds., 2 TD, 2 INT, 57% comp.) will get the ball for the Cocks, and he'll likely be giving the ball to Mike Davis (879 yds., 10 TD, 6.7 avg.) often.

I think Mizzou can key in on Davis, knowing that he is coming. Considering that the Tigers are at home and that their Plan B at quarterback fills in more of the holes left by the injured starter than S.C.'s Plan B, I'm taking the Tigers in this one.

Advantage: Missouri



#12 UCLA Bruins at #3 Oregon Ducks

Expect a whole lotta offense in this game as Brent Hundley (1,661 yds., 13 TD, 6 INT, 67% comp.) of the Bruins will match wits against Oregon's Marcus Mariota (2,051 yds., 19 TD, 0 INT, 62% comp.). Stanford demonstrated, last week, that Hundley could be stifled with the right defensive plan (and personnel). Oregon, unlike years past, plays a little D this year. Meanwhile, nobody has stifled Mariota yet. UCLA has the talent, but I am not picking against Oregon in Eugene until someone actually beats them there. Don't hold your breath.

Advantage: Oregon 

There should be a lot of cheering on both sides as I expect a lot of touchdowns. 4

Sunday, October 27

Major League Baseball

2013 World Series - Game 4
Boston Red Sox at St. Louis Cardinals
Jake Peavy (0-1, 8.31 ERA in postseason) - Red Sox vs Lance Lynn (2-1, 5.40 ERA in postseason) - Cardinals

Peavy's ERA is wildly inflated from a three inning shelling at the hands of the Detroit Tigers. Lynn's win count is boosted from a relief appearance in the NLCS. I like Peavy and his experience against Lynn and his occasional inconsistency.

Advantage: Red Sox


NFL


New York Jets at Cincinnati Bengals

The Cincinnati Bengals continue to be part of Must See Sports matchups because they keep winning. I can't say I expected the same for the New York Jets when the season started. The Jets are not only alive and well, they have a winning record entering the eighth week of the season. Rumors of their imminent demise, and that of Head Coach Rex Ryan, were greatly exaggerated.

Expect this to be a low scoring affair. Neither team throws the ball more than necessary. Both teams play smothering defense. There are two difference makers that I see in this game. First, the Bengals are at home. Second, I don't think the Jets have found their true identity on offense yet, though rookie QB Geno Smith (1,723, 8 TD, 11 INT, 58% comp.) continues to come up big in big situations.

Advantage: Bengals


Dallas Cowboys at Detroit Lions

The Cowboys have won two games in a row. One more, and that's called a "winning streak". Quotes from the movie "Major League" aside the Cowboys face yet another test to demonstrate whether they have the ability to be a serious contender in the NFC, or just be the best team in a bad division.

The Lions were nipped on the last play of the game by the Bengals. Expect the Lions to continue their one-dimensional passing attack against the Cowboys. Expect the same from the Cowboys as running back DeMarco Murray (428 yds., 3 TD, 6.8 avg.) is listed as "questionable" with a knee injury.

A lot of this game will depend or whether or not Murray plays. Detroit has had trouble stopping the run, though they contained the Bengals well last week. This game is in Detroit and the
Lions got a real test and a near miss against one of the best teams in the AFC. I expect to see the same old "okay" Cowboys on Sunday. The score may be close, but I think the Lions rebound this week.

Advantage: Lions

If the Bengals couldn't stop Megatron, I don't see how the Cowboys are going to do much better. 5

Monday, October 28


Major League Baseball

2013 World Series - Game 5 (if necessary)
Boston Red Sox at St. Louis Cardinals

The probable starters have not been named yet, but I expect Wainwright to get the ball in St. Louis should a fifth game be necessary. I'll take the Cards in spite of not knowing the Red Sox starter for Game 5. John Lackey would be up in the rotation, but given that the game would be at St. Louis and not knowing what the status of the series will be by then, it is just a guess.

Advantage: Cardinals


Tuesday, October 29

NBA

Chicago Bulls at Miami Heat

The NBA is back, baby! So is Bulls point guard Derrick Rose (22 PPG, 8 APG in 2012) after missing all of last season with a knee injury sustained during the 2012 NBA playoffs.

Still, give me LeBron James (27 PPG, 7 APG, 8 RPG in 2013) and the two-time defending champion Heatles at home, charged up on opening night.

Advantage: Heat

It's about time! 6

Wednesday, October 30

Major League Baseball

2013 World Series - Game 6 (if necessary)
St. Louis Cardinals at Boston Red Sox

If this series goes to a sixth and/or seventh game, I expect the Red Sox to take both games at Fenway, especially if Wainwright starts in a Game 5.

Advantage: Red Sox

Can the Red Sox make this smiling girl a little happier? 7

Don't forget to vote in the fan polls! 

To advertise with The Daily Hat Trick, or to submit a guest column, please contact the editor at eric@thedailyhattrick.info. 

The Daily Hat Trick is sponsored by Sports N Stuff. For great deals on jerseys, shirts, cologne, and other guy stuff, visit http://www.sportsnstuff.biz/.

1) Image from www.stevetheump.com
2) Image from USA Today via www.rantsports.com
3) Image from www.soonersports.com
4) Image from www.bleacherreport.com
5) Image from www.cbssports.com
6) Image from www.thesportsfanjournal.com
7) Image from www.handicapperspicks.com

A regular contributor to the Hat Trick, Jasmine Hall of Online Colleges sent me the following for your perusal. With March Madness right around the corner, we can expect to see all varieties of collegiate traditions. The following discusses funny college traditions, some of which you may see later this month. Special thanks to Jasmine. The original article can be found at the news section at http://www.onlinecolleges.net/.

25 Funniest College Sports Traditions

It was Mark Twain who said, “The less there is to justify a tradition, the harder it is to get rid of.” Although some college traditions grew out of perfectly sensible circumstances, some exist simply because they have always existed. And some are simply the natural result of combining 18-year-olds with beer, competition, and school spirit. Of all the hallowed college sports traditions, we picked out 25 that are not so much steeped in heritage as they are hilarity.

1. The Stanford Tree
   After the school’s team was dubbed Cardinal (like the color) in 1981, the Stanford band thought the name was lame and decided to create its own mascot. The result is the ridiculous Stanford Tree, a guy in a 40-pound Christmas tree costume, complete with giant goofy grin and top hat.
   
2. UCLA Frisbee Cheer
   In 1978, a UCLA student nicknamed “Frisbee” borrowed a cheer from Pepperdine and started busting it out at Bruins basketball games with his friends. One student calls out questions and the crowd answers him: “Is this a basketball? Is that the court? Is that the llllooooosing team? Is that the winning team?”
   
3. Michigan hockey taunts
   At Michigan hockey games, the home crowd has a tradition of taunting the opposing goalie, like so: “You’re not a goalie, you’re a sieve! You’re not a sieve, you’re a funnel! You’re not a funnel, you’re a vacuum! You’re not a vacuum, you’re a black hole! You’re not a black hole, you just suck!”
   
4. Duke’s Cameron Crazies’ taunts
   Duke is the school everyone loves to hate, and the Cameron Crazies give them plenty of reason to. This student group is credited with originating the “air ball” chant, but their funniest stab is “You let the whole team down,” what the entire crowd chants when an opposing player makes a costly error.
   
5. Wisconsin “Jump Around”
   On October 10, 1998, a Wisconsin football tradition was born when this House of Pain song blasted through the stadium speakers and 80,000 people shook the place by jumping up and down to the song. After an uproar over an administration attempt to nix the song, the chancellor reversed the decision and it continues still.
   
6. Arkansas “woo pig sooie”
   Did you know there is a proper way to call a hog? Razorback students have been perfecting the hog call at sporting events for years. Raise your arms over your head and say “woo” for eight seconds, swing them down with clenched fists for the “pig,” and shoot the right arm up and yell “sooie!”
   
7. Alabama Rammer Jammer
   This cheer was originally performed by the Alabama crowd before football games. Today the chant is done towards the end of regulation when victory is certain, and students scream (for example), “Hey Florida! Hey Florida! Hey Florida! We just beat the hell out of you! Rammer Jammer, Yellowhammer, gave ‘em hell, Alabama!”
   
8. Cornell hockey taunts
   Cornell is serious about their tradition of taunting. For example, when the other team is announced, fans yell “Boring!” and shake newspapers, which they then crumple and throw on the ice. Fans are also fond of shouting “safety school!” during games as a way of belittling opposing teams’ alma maters.
   
9. Taylor University Silent Night
   At one basketball game each year, no Taylor fans speak until the 10th point the team scores, when they erupt. Students try to outdo each other’s crazy costumes, and at the end of the game everyone sings “Silent Night.”
   
10. Wisconsin Homecoming Cane Toss
    Believed to have been tradition for nearly 100 years, third-year law students at the University of Wisconsin run onto the field before the homecoming game wearing bowler hats and throw a cane through the goalposts. Legend has it if they catch the cane on the other side, they’ll win their first case.
    
11. Clemson’s Howard’s Rock
    When a Clemson alum gave the football coach a rock from Death Valley in the early ’60s, the coach first used it as a doorstop. But in 1966, after the coach order the rock “thrown in a ditch,” it was instead mounted atop a hill over the end zone and players have been rubbing it for luck before games ever since.
    
12. UNH fish tossing
    Traditions of throwing things on hockey rinks during games abound, but only at the U of New Hampshire do fans throw a fish every single game. A massive fish is chucked after UNH’s first goal, occasionally landing where it shouldn’t.
    
13. Penn toast throwing
    At the close of the third quarter, Penn football fans sing “Drink a Highball,” that ends with the line, “Here’s a toast to dear old Penn.” At that point, students fling thousands of pieces of toast onto the field.
    
14. Boise State’s blue turf
    Boise State’s Bronco Stadium has been adding a dash of color to ESPN highlight reels since 1986 when it installed the world’s only blue Astro Turf. That’s really all there is to this tradition: a funky blue football field.
    
15. Wyoming beer song
    Trombone players in this school’s band make their way around the stadium during the third quarter of football games, leading the crowd in choruses of the song “In Heaven There Is No Beer.” However, tradition dictates that students have to call out requests for the song before it is played.
    
16. Texas A&M yells
    Texas A&M yells are famous at the school but somewhat comical to outsiders. Before every yell, the yell leaders instruct everyone to “hump it,” and everyone bends over. Members of the Corps of Cadets take it one step further though, squeezing their testicles during important plays.
    
17. Rolling Auburn’s Toomer’s Corner
    TP-ing is a time-honored teenage tradition, and Auburn has been honoring it since 1963. Once reserved for away football game wins, today the intersection of College and Magnolia Avenue is rolled after every Tiger football win and big wins in other sports.
    
18. Rolling the Quad at Wake Forest
    TP-ing goes back even farther at Wake Forest, to 1961. After a campus move robbed students of a bell to ring in celebration, TP-ing Hearn Plaza became the victory dance of choice for everything from football wins to presidential elections.
    
19. Rolling the court at John Brown University
    John Brown University is probably the only place they start throwing the toilet paper before the game ends. At the basketball season opener, when the team makes its first bucket, everyone hurls TP onto the court. It’s a funny, technical foul tradition.
    
20. USC wrapping Tommy Trojan
    Tampering with another school’s campus landmark is a common practice, but wrapping your own statue? In the week leading up to the football matchup with UCLA, USC students now wrap their Tommy Trojan statue in duct tape and stand guard to protect it from being painted by Bruins.
    
21. Ohio State Mirror Lake Jump
    In 1990, 100 OSU students jumped in the lake at the end of a march around campus two nights before the Ohio State-Michigan game. Today thousands of students jump into the freezing waters of Mirror Lake in November, an activity roundly discouraged by school administrators.
    
22. Stanford Bearial
    Before the rivalry game against UC-Berkeley, Stanford holds a mock-somber “bearial” of UC’s mascot Oski the Bear. At the end of the procession, an effigy of the bear is impaled on top of White Memorial Fountain, or Claw Fountain as it is more appropriately called.
    
23. Berkeley’s Tightwad Hill
    In 1924, broke college kids at Berkeley found a way to watch Cal football games without paying for tickets. By climbing the hills next to the stadium they got a clear, free view of the field. Some students still forgo the stadium for the open air of Tightwad Hill.
    
24. UCSC’s banana slug mascot
    Students at University of California-Santa Cruz went the other way with their mascot selection. Since 1986, they have been known as the UCSC Banana Slugs. Sammy the Slug has been delighting students on campus ever since and inspiring slogans like “Banana Slugs: No Known Predators.”
    
25. Washington basketball game singing
    While waiting for basketball games to tip off, Washington fans are known to spontaneously break out into rousing renditions of Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” or Bonnie Tyler’s “Total Eclipse of the Heart.”
    

10 College Football Head Coaches on the Hot Seat in 2011

Today The Daily Hat Trick would like to introduce the first of what I hope are many guest columns submitted for posting. Tim Handorf of Bestcollegesonline.net was kind enough to share an article about some college coaches on the hot seat this season. One of the more fun and intriguing aspects of college football is the never ending rumor mill, so why not get it cranking in August! Follow the hyperlink to see the original article.




TIM HANDORF, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN....

College football fans have an insatiable thirst for information year-round, whether you're rooting on campus or a student from one of many online colleges — it's how we compensate for a season that lasts just four months. The morning after the national championship game, experts and analysts publish their projections for next season's top 25, and almost as quickly, speculation ensues about which coaches will be on the hot seat. This time last year, the names bandied about included Rich Rodriguez, Dan Hawkins, Ralph Friedgen and Tim Brewster, all of whom lost their jobs during or after the 2010 season. So who will it be in 2011? Here are a few guys who are already sweating it out.


1.Mark Richt — Georgia: Just three years ago, Richt was considered one of the SEC's elite head coaches. The Dawgs finished the 2007 season ranked second in the AP poll and third in the coaches' poll, and headed into the 2008 season ranked first in both polls. Led by the Matt Stafford, Knowshon Moreno and AJ Green, the Dawgs were poised to win the SEC and national championships, but settled on a 10-win season and a Capital One Bowl victory. In the two seasons since, Richt has overseen a rapid decline that culminated with a loss to C-USA's UCF in the Liberty Bowl and record of 6-7 in 2010. With the decline of rival Florida, the overall weakening of the SEC East, and Georgia's inability to win a national championship like Florida, LSU, Alabama and Auburn, Georgia supporters will be demanding nothing short of a 2011 season in contention.



Will Richt kiss UGA goodbye after this year? 1


2.Rick Neuheisel — UCLA: Thanks to the NCAA, USC's "football monopoly" in LA and the Pac-10 has ended. But UCLA has failed to capitalize on the decline of their arch rival, posting a 4-8 record in 2010. Neuheisel's third season at the helm ended with the same record as his first, and the lack of progress has resulted in dwindling support. Most discouraging has been the futility of the Bruins' offense, which finished the season ranked 104th in the nation in scoring. The firing of defensive coordinator Chuck Bullough and the possible departure of offensive coordinator Norm Chow, previously considered one of the best in the business, indicates that Neuheisel is well-aware that changes must be made — or else.

Maybe Neuheisel has nine lives? 2

3.Jeff Tedford — Cal: Since taking over the previously 1-10 Golden Bears in 2002, Tedford has been responsible for the program's most successful period since Pappy Waldorf roamed the sideline during the 1940s and 1950s. He has won five of seven bowl games and posted a 72-42 overall record, surpassing the venerable Woodruff as Cal's all-time winningest coach. The most glaring blemish on his resume, however, has been his inability to reach the Rose Bowl. His teams have become known for their inconsistent play, causing his critics to question if Cal has reached its pinnacle of success under his leadership. The recent 5-7 finish, Tedford's first losing season at Cal, has made many Golden Bears fans restless.

4.Mike Locksley — New Mexico: Locksley's 2-22 record at New Mexico speaks for itself. His predecessor Rocky Long only once lost more than seven games in a season — his last season — and won nine in his second to last season. In addition to perpetually losing, a couple of non-gameday issues have called Locksley's leadership skills into question. During his first year with the program, he was the subject of an age and sex discrimination complaint by his former administrative assistant. Months later, he was suspended without pay for 10 days for getting into a physical altercation with an assistant coach. Only a hefty buyout has come between Locksley and the pink slip Lobos fans wish he'd receive.

5.Paul Wulff — Washington State: Wulff appeared on similar lists last year after posting a 3-22 record in his first two seasons at Washington State. Fortunately for Wulff, he still has a job following another abysmal double-digit loss season. His supporters — there have to be a few out there given that he hasn't been fired — can boast the late-season win over Oregon State and the narrow losses to Cal and rival Washington as evidence that things are going in the right direction. If he wishes to survive yet another year, the Cougars will need to significantly improve upon their national rankings of 106th in scoring and 110th in points allowed. Certainly not the kind of well-balanced team Wulff envisioned.

6.Greg Schiano — Rutgers: Schiano, like Tedford, is a victim of the expectations he established by transforming a lowly program into a perennial winner. After tallying an underwhelming 12-34 record during his first four seasons at Rutgers, he guided the Scarlet Knights to five consecutive bowl games, four of which they won. In 2006, the high point of the run, they reached the top 25 and won 10 games for the first time in 30 years, ranking sixth in the nation after a 9-0 start. But his loyalty to the program, evidenced by his refusal to strike while the iron was hot when big programs came calling, may prove to be his downfall. Scarlet Knights fans want Big East titles, something Schiano has yet to produce. The program's regression to 4-8 — 1-6 in the beleaguered Big East — in 2010 is a significant setback in its goal to become a consistent conference power, and the coach whose motto is "keep choppin'" could soon find himself on the choppin' block.

Farewll pose? 3

7.Dennis Erickson — Arizona State: Even though Arizona State suffered its first back-to-back losing seasons in several decades after the 2009 season, Erickson managed to keep his job. The result was a two game improvement by the Sun Devils in 2010 and a handful of narrow losses to respectable programs, including top-10 finishers Wisconsin and Stanford. The season ended on a sour note, however, as they lost in double-overtime to arch rival Arizona after a blocked extra point attempt. Erickson will be expected to make further progress in 2011. If he can turn those narrow losses into narrow wins, then he'll experience a season much like his first in the desert, and more importantly, a new lease on life.

8.Dabo Swinney — Clemson: A losing season and two consecutive blowout losses to arch rival South Carolina has landed Dabo in hot water. For perspective, his much-maligned predecessor Tommy Bowden never coached a losing season at Clemson, but was still fired after failing to win a conference title. Clemson is widely regarded as a sleeping giant and program capable of much more than it has achieved over the past couple of decades. It's one thing for the fan base to tolerate underachieving, and it's another for it to put up with losing. In order to keep his job, Dabo, an expert recruiter and former wide receivers coach, will need to revamp an offense that ranked 86th in the nation in scoring in 2010.

9.Danny Hope — Purdue: During his first season with the Boilermakers in 2009, Hope (appropriately) instilled hope in the program, defeating both Ohio State and Michigan and improving the team's record by one game from the previous season. One year later, Hope has coached as many losing seasons as his predecessor Joe Tiller did during his 12 seasons with the program. The slight decline to 4-8 in 2010 is a cause for concern for Purdue fans, who had become accustomed to watching winning teams under Tiller. Another losing season could make for a tenuous next off-season for Hope.

10.Bob Toledo — Tulane: In 1998, Bob Toledo and Tulane separately experienced perhaps their most memorable seasons. Toledo coached his Bruins to an undefeated record in the Pac-10 and a Rose Bowl appearance, and the Green Wave became the first non-BCS team to finish a season undefeated. The two joined forces eight years later after both had experienced falls from grace. Unfortunately, the tough luck continues as Toledo has posted a 13-35 record in four seasons. The patience he has received while attempting to right the ship will be harder to come by in the future. Although he has overseen modest one game improvements over each of the last two seasons and recently received a contract extension, a regression may draw forth a wave of change.

Is this a flag or a headstone template for the coaching graveyard that is Tulane? 3

Don't forget to vote in the fan polls!


To advertise with The Daily Hat Trick, or to submit a guest clomun, please contact the editor at eric@thedailyhattrick.info.

Special thanks, again, to tim Handorf of bestcollegesonline.net for this article.
 
The Daily Hat Trick is brought to you by Sports N Stuff! Great guy stuff at great prices! Visit http://www.sportsnstuff.biz! 
 
1) Image from dev.chuckoliver.net
2) Image from bleacherreport.com
3) Image from midwestsportsfans.com
4) Image from collegeshade.com

Must See Sports, Third Weekend of March 2011 – Special NCAA Tournament Edition

1

Top o the mornin’ to ya! What better a way to start St. Patty’s Day than with all of the college basketball you can watch? March Madness is here! Each day of the tournament, we will focus on the NCAA Tournament, and only the NCAA Tournament. Here are some games worth watching in the round of 64.


Thursday, March 17

NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament – Second Round

West Region
(6) Cincinnati Bearcats vs (11) Missouri Tigers

Cincinnati is a team that has lost more games against tougher opponents than it has won. However, it has beaten quality teams, such as a 20+ point drubbing of Georgetown (albeit a Chris Wright-less Georgetown) in the regular season finale. The Bearcats are a team that can advance far and pull off some upsets if they catch lightning in a bottle. That will depend on the preparation and performance of Cincy forward Yancy Gates (12 PPG, 7 RPG) and guard Dion Dixon (12 PPG).

Mizzou is a club that can score a TON of points, led by guard Marcus Denmon (17 PPG, 46% 3PT), and that makes them dangerous in any single elimination tournament. They struggled in their conference, going 8-8 in the Big XII. But once a team is in The Dance, everyone is 0-0 and this is a game worth watching.

Advantage: Cincinnati


East Region
(4) Kentucky Wildcats vs (13) Princeton Tigers

This SHOULD be a one sided game, on paper. But I have watched Kentucky look flat, several times, against inferior competition, such as Ole Miss and Arkansas, this season and Princeton is riding a confident high streak, with its dramatic, last second win over Harvard to qualify for the NCAA Tournament. Kentucky’s Terrance Jones and Brandon Knight will decide how far this team goes. Princeton has had good moments against quality opponents, beating Rutgers and making then 21st ranked Central Florida sweat. I expect Kentucky to win, but Princeton is capable of sucker punching the Wildcats if the Cats aren’t prepared.

Advantage: Kentucky


Southwest Region
(5) Vanderbilt Commodores vs (12) Richmond Spiders

The “12-5” upsets seem to be an annual tradition in the big dance, and Vandy is ripe for the picking. Vanderbilt is simply not consistent and they have trouble putting away opponents. Richmond is a quality mid-major, winners of the Atlantic 10 Tournament, with single-digit losses and wins over #8 Purdue and #25 Temple during the regular season. This could be a problem for the SEC school.

Advantage: Richmond




Southeast Region
(7) UCLA Bruins vs (10) Michigan State Spartans

Can anyone explain to me how UCLA is a seventh seed? Does anyone believe the quality of their Pac-10 schedule is tougher than the Big-10 schedule with which Michigan State had to contend? Would you REALLY bet against Tom Izzo’s Spartans in this matchup? Could you string together more rhetorical questions in a single paragraph?

Advantage: Michigan State

Are you REALLY going to pick UCLA over any team coached by THIS guy? 2

Don't forget to vote in the fan polls!

To advertise with The Daily Hat Trick or to submit a guest column, please contact the editor at eric@thedailyhattrick.info.
1) Image from yourplaceinvermont.com
2) Image from themajors.net

Charlie Sheen Speech to the UCLA Baseball Team

Actor Charlie Sheen, recovering from a recent drug overdose, recently gave a motivational speech to he UCLA baseball team. Video of Sheen advising, "Stay off the crack. Drink chocolate milk. That's all I've got." went viral. However Sheen did draw inspiration for his speech. It turns out that some members of the UCLA team, while hanging out with Sheen, removed some of the actor's precious stash of blow and pills. The Daily Hat Trick has the never before released full transcript of Sheen's inspirational speech to the team, in the locker room before heading to the practice field, inspired heavily by New York Jets coach Rex Ryan. 

Sheen may have borrowed some motivational tactics from coach Ryan. 1

"You guys know me, that I'm about as much of a train wreck of a guy as there is. I believe this team is better than every f-ing team in the Pac-10. I believe our players are better than any players in the league, right? Those are true statements. That's how I believe.

But the team's only going so far if I'm not the only guy on speed. The team is only going so far. I know what it's like to party and do blow off a urinal! I fell off of the wagon right before I drove up here. I can out party everyone myself, this whole group of men. We ain't going to win, guys, if we're using speed. I'm sitting back for us, waiting for us to understand the drug-free team that we said we're going to be, except for me. What the hell are we waiting on? Do you understand that my dope isn't cheap and I could detox at any time? There's a PRICE to PAY!!!

Don't be like me. Now GIVE ME BACK MY DRUGS!!! 2

Can we have fun? You're damn right. I demand that we have fun. Now there's a difference between having fun and being a junkie. Our pitchers were junkies when they "borrowed" some of my stash. That's being a junkie!

You can be a NCAA champion, but not like this! We won't win it. We'll sit back and say 'Why didn't we do it?' We didn't do it because 'Where were Charlie Sheen's Quaaludes?' 

Just play ball and leave the 'Ludes to Sheen. 3

Let's make sure we play like the f-ing UCLA Bruins and not some f-ing slap d__k team! And I want to see my bag of blow back in my hotel room, pronto! That's what I want to see tomorrow. Do we understand what the f___ I want to see tomorrow? Let's stay off the Goddamn crack!"

Sheen wanted to talk about a little more than chocolate milk. 4

Don't forget to vote in the fan polls and "like" The Daily Hat Trick on Facebook!

To advertise with The Daily Hat Trick, or to submit a guest column, please contact the editor at eric@thedailyhattrick.info.

Special thanks to Josh Innes (Rich Lord & Josh Innes) of KILT, CBS Sports Radio 610-AM in Houston, Texas for providing creative inspiration and guidance for this piece. An audio variation of this interview may be heard at a future time, with permission from The Daily Hat Trick, on KILT or its affiliates. 

1) Image from warmingglow.uproxx.com
2) Image from recoveryconnection.org
3) Image from funnys.website.org
4) Image from tmz.com