A Little Post on my Horrible No-Good Predictions

I didn't watch the Superbowl. I kept an eye on the "GameCast" in one of my 10 or so open windows on my desktop. I grew up watching both the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Dallas Cowboys during dinner (my dad was born in Pittsburgh and grew up in Texas). While I eventually learned how to play football and even played a little in high school (defensive back), tennis and then basketball took up most of my athletic energy. The Rez doesn't have much in the way of tennis courts (we played with our parents' old wood rackets in the street), but basketball is practically a religion in many Native communities. My town was no different. Not only did every barren playground have at least a half-dozen hoops to hone your skills on, my church's gym always had their rims let down to the floor and a fresh net to give that wonderful "shook" sound when the ball grazed through the rim.

That love of basketball kept building after I moved off the Rez. I religiously watched the University of Arizona basketball before Lute Olson was canonized (yes, I saw that magical season when Steve Kerr, the son of the assassinated American-Lebanese Academic, would hear the crowd scream Steeeeeeveeee Kerrrrrrrrr after every made three point shot). Even though the Wildcats were relegated to grainy UHF stations, I was hooked.

Many of my best memories revolve around basketball. I gained a big measure of self confidence in High School arranging and playing pre-class pickup games between the math faculty and my friends (including the Arizona co-player of the year--yes, #12 Lopez). I learned a little street playing park games in Phoenix against teams from LA and even some of the scrubs from the Phoenix Suns. Most important, I got to know sport during March Madness. Sport and I usually trade turns winning the March Madness brackets we enter--you have been warned.

To be honest, I don't really watch professional sports. I cheer for the Steelers and the Bears (mostly because I got to see Brian Urlacher play at my University, but also because I can use the term "Bears" and "old school" in the same sentence without laughing). If I had to be totally honest, I would rank my favorite sports viewing this way:
1. NCAA Basketball (men's and women's)
2. NCAA football
3. Surfing (when I can get it)
4. NFL
5. Tennis

So, if you are inclined to believe random blogs about sports, I would limit that belief to NCAA basketball and football (yes, I picked Florida for both sports the last two championships). My picks for the next two champions? Right now I think Wisconsin has a good shot at both basketball and football.