Go strong, or don't go at all...

Well, here we are. Almost recovered from Duke's loss, and ready for the Final Four. It's interesting... I would give my left nut for UNC to not be there without us. However, it makes it easier to pick who to root for. I'm on the Illini bandwagon. That's right... the Illini. Here's my personal reasoning...

1. I hate UNC. There really isn't anymore needed here, but let me elaborate. I hate UNC. I hate McCunts. I hate Raymond (note to Dick Vitale: I do NOT love Raymond, therefore everybody does NOT loves Raymond... so by the transistive property of shut the fuck up... SHUT THE FUCK UP about Felton!). Jawad is my sworn enemy having gone to my rival high school and now UNC. And while my respect for May has grown with his spectacular play as of late, I still hate CreamPuff, and would buy him a burrito if it would keep him from St. Louis!

2. Rick Pitino once refused to take a drink that I bought him. 2001, NCAA first round, Dayton, OH. The Kid and I are in Dayton for St. Patty's Day in Flanagan's Pub, where I used to bartend, and in walks Pitino who is doing commentary for CBS at the time. My buddy Ian and I buy him a beer and he refuses. It's the middle of the NCAA tourney, DUMBASS! If you don't want to be bothered, don't go to a bar packed with 20-somethings watching the tourney! Plus Fransico Garcia is a little whiny bitch! (You owe us money, you fouled out dickweed!)

3. Michigan State... it is impossible to root for a man with as much penis envy as Tom Izzo. I think he'd blow Coach K if he got the chance. (Quick... someone post a comment about how I'd blow K if I got the chance... predictable bitches!) I understand wanting to model yourself after a great program, but its starting to border on obsessive. Also, if Izzo wins another title, people will start mentioning him in the same breath as K, Knight, Wooden, et al, and seriously... who thinks that's appropriate?

4. So that leaves us with Illinois... a great, senior laden team that is inferior inside, but, as we saw against Arizona, has great guard play, and guys who won't let them lose. What's really nice is that they can win it, have everyone graduate, and then fade back into oblivion like after thier 1989 FF run. I can live with this.

Essentially, Illinois winning it is the most non-offensive outcome to me. Michigan State winning would make me throw up in my mouth a little.. although, at least I would know that we lost to the eventual Champs. Louisville winning would suck simply because Pitino sucks... on may levels. This would make me toss my cookies a bit as well. UNC winning is the worst possible outcome, and would result in projectile vomiting.

GO ILLINI!

Now... to the betting. We're ahead... which is nice. And we did nicely last weekend with the overs (minus the drunken overs on Friday night) and I enjoyed betting bigger on a few good bets instead of small on tons of shit we couldn't keep track of. That said...

2-team parlay UL/UI over 146, MSU/UNC over 157... big bet. Only bet. Big payout.

Think about it.... BUCKETS!!!!

Devine's... Saturday... Final Four... Buckets. Who's in?