The Curse

It's finally done!!! It took three years to accomplish, but my first novel, The Curse, is published. It took several hours of brainstorming to get the blurb done. Because there is a lot to the story, when it came to the blurb, less was more. Right now, it's available for the Kindle on Amazon and in the Kindle Owners Lending Library. The paperback should be available through Createspace in the next week or so. I'm waiting for the proof now.

  I made the Facebook announcement this past weekend and got sales almost immediately. Thanks to those who downloaded my ebook.

   Here is the blurb:

Patrick Lowery is a graduating senior at Milneburg State University with a bright future ahead of him. That changed one fateful day when his life turned upside down. As Patrick’s luck worsens, he is convinced that he is cursed. Those he trusts the most seem to be hiding something from him and Patrick becomes obsessed with learning the truth no matter what the cost.

You can click the link here (The Curse) to get your copy. Hope you enjoy it.

Some NFL Draft First Round Trivia

Here we are again. Round 1 is in the books and we have the usual gamut of good picks, bad picks, and trades. A few teams didn't have a pick in this round, such as New England and Tampa Bay. Let's have some fun.

1. The Kansas City Chiefs chose OT Eric Fisher from Central Michigan. Fisher is the first ever Chippewa to be selected with the first pick. This is the second time Kansas City had the first overall pick. The Chiefs also had the first pick in the 1963 AFL Draft and they selected future Hall of Famer Buck Buchanan. 
2. The Jacksonville Jaguars chose OT Luke Joeckel from Texas A&M. Joeckel is the fifth Aggie chosen with this pick. Denver picked LB Von Miller with the second overall pick in 2011. A more infamous Aggie at #2, was in 1992, when Indianapolis picked LB Quentin Coryatt. This is the third time the Jaguars had the second pick. They chose OT Tony Boselli in 1995 and LB Kevin Hardy in 1996. Boselli was one of the best players Jacksonville ever had and Hardy had a respectable NFL career. 
3. The Miami Dolphins made a trade with Oakland to get this pick. The Dolphins selected LB Dion Jordan from Oregon. Jordan is the third Oregon player ever chosen with the third pick. The other two were QB Akili Smith by Cincinnati in 1999 and QB Joey Harrington by Detroit in 2002. Both were busts. This is the first time Miami has had the third pick. 
4. The Philadelphia Eagles chose OT Lane Johnson from Oklahoma. For the first time since 1968, three tackles were chosen with the first four picks. Johnson is the fourth Sooner taken with the fourth pick. Washington chose two, FB Leon Heath  in 1951 and OT Trent Williams in 2010, and RB Joe Washington by San Diego in 1976. Only Heath was a bust. The Eagles had the fourth pick, five other times. Every fourth pick Philly had was a good, except one. The exception was QB Davey O'Brien in 1939, who retired after his second season and joined the FBI. This is the same Davey O'Brien the best college quarterback award is named after. The last time Philadelphia had the fourth pick was in 1984, when they chose WR Kenny Jackson.
5. The Detroit Lions chose DE Ezekiel Ansah from BYU. Ansah is the second Cougar chosen with this pick. The other was QB Jim McMahon by Chicago. This is ironically the fifth time the Lions have had this pick. They have not had any luck with this pick. The first three times were busts (WB Jim Thomason 1941, FB Bob Westfall 1942, and C Joe Watson 1950), one chose to play in the AFL (QB Pete Beathard 1964), but their last #5 pick actually more than a couple of years for the team, DB Bryant Westbrook in 1997. To be fair, Thomason and Westfall fought in WWII before they played. Although Beathard never played a down for the Lions, he played from 1964-73. 
6. The Cleveland Browns chose DE Barkevious Mingo from LSU.  Mingo is the fourth LSU Tiger to be chosen with the #6 pick and LSU picks have fared well here. Two are still playing (DB LaRon Landry in 2007 by Washington and DB Morris Claiborne last year by Dallas) and one is in the Hall of Fame (QB Y.A. Tittle by Detroit in 1948). This is the third time Cleveland had the #6 pick. They first used this pick in 1956 to pick Hall of Fame RB Jim Brown from Syracuse. The other #6 was used in 2004 for TE Kellen Winslow, Jr. from Miami (FL).
7. The Arizona Cardinals chose G Jonathan Cooper from North Carolina. Cooper is the first Tarheel chosen at #7. This is the fifth time the Cardinals had the #7 pick.  Every pick was productive at some level. The last time Arizona had this pick was in 2000, when they picked RB Thomas Jones. He also had the longest playing career of the #7's, playing form 2000-11.
8. Buffalo traded down to get more picks and the St. Louis Rams chose WR Tavon Austin from West Virginia. Austin is the first Mountaineer chosen with this pick. This is also only the second time the Rams had this pick. They last had it in 1969, when the Los Angeles Rams chose RB Larry Smith from Florida. Smith played from 1969-74.
9. The New York Jets chose DB Dee Milliner from Alabama. Milliner is the fourth Crimson Tide player to be chosen with this pick. Only FB Butch Avinger, drafter #9 by Pittsburgh in 1953, was a bust. He played for one year. The last time an Alabama player was chosen with this pick was DB Antonio Langham by Cleveland. This the third time the Jets had this pick. Both of their previous #9's were tight ends who had productive NFL careers (Jerome Barkum in 1972 and Kyle Brady in 1995). 
10. The Tennessee Titans chose OG Chance Warmack from Alabama. Warmack is the first Crimson Tide player taken with this pick. This is also the Titans' first time with this pick, even as the Houston Oilers.
11. To round off the trio of Alabama players, the San Diego Chargers chose OT D.J. Fluker. As with Warmack, Fluker is the first Crimson Tide player ever taken with this pick. This is also San Diego's first time with the #11 pick.
12. From that trade with Miami, the Oakland Raiders picked DB DJ Hayden from Houston. Hayden is the first Cougar player picked 12th. To round out this trio of first timers, this is the Raiders' first time with this pick.
13. In a trade with Tampa Bay, the New York Jets chose DT Sheldon Richardson from Missouri. Richardson is the second Missouri Tiger chosen with this pick. Hall of Fame TE Kellen Winslow was chosen at #13 by San Diego. Richardson is the second player taken at #13 by the Jets. The last time New York had this pick, they chose DB Burgess Owens from Miami (FL). Owens played from 1973-82. 
14. The Carolina Panthers chose DT Star Lotulelei from Utah. Lotulelei is the first Ute chosen at #14. This is Carolina's second time with this pick. In 1997, they chose DE Jason Peter, who only played for a few years.
15. The New Orleans Saints selected S Kenny Vaccaro from Texas. Vaccaro is the second Longhorn choses at #15. The other was LB Derrick Johnson by Kansas City in 2005, who still plays for them. This is the Saints' first time with the 15th pick.
16. From the trade with St. Louis, the Buffalo Bills chose QB E.J. Manuel from Florida State. Manuel is the second Seminole taken with this pick. DT Travis Johnson was taken #16 by the Houston Texans in 2005. This is the fourth time Buffalo had this pick. The previous three had respectable NFL careers, most notably G Jim Ritcher (1980-95) and RB Ronnie Harmon (1986-97). The last time the Bills had this pick was in 1990, when they chose RB James E. Williams from Fresno State.
17. The Pittsburgh Steelers selected LB Jarvis Jones from Georgia. Jones is the second Bulldog chosen with this pick. Cincinnati chose LB David Pollack in 2005, who only played for a couple of seasons.This is Pittsburgh's fifth time with the #17 pick. They last picked DE Keith Gary from Oklahoma in 1981 and WR Charles Johnson from Colorado in 1994, neither one a bust. The only bust was QB/RB Billy Patterson from Baylor, chosen with this pick (in the third round) in 1939. 
18. In a trade with Dallas, the San Francisco 49ers selected S Eric Reid from LSU. Reid is the second LSU Tiger chosen with this pick. St. Louis picked WR Eddie Kennison in 1996, who played for 13 seasons in the league. This is the third time the 49ers had this pick. They chose DB Mike Holmes from Texas Southern in 1973 and DB Dana Hall from Washington in 1992. 
19. The New York Giants chose OT Justin Pugh from Syracuse. Pugh is the second Orange player chosen at #19. Indianapolis chose WR Marvin Harrison in 1996. This is New York's sixth time with this pick. The last one, DB Prince Amukamura, chosen in 2011, is still with the team. Outside of Amukamura and draft bust DB Henry Moore (1956 - Arkansas), the average career span with this group is seven seasons. 
20. The Chicago Bears selected G Kyle Long from Oregon. Kyle, the son of Hall of Fame DE Howie Long and brother of St. Louis DE Chris Long, is the first Duck chosen at #20. This is Chicago's second time at #20 in the first round. They picked DE Dave Gallagher from Michigan, who played in the league until 1979. However, they had the #20 pick five times in the second round, from 1949-63. Only two were busts, both in consecutive years and both OT's: Clyde Brock from Utah State in 1962 and Steve Barnett from Oregon in 1963.
21. The Cincinnati Bengals picked TE Tyler Eifert from Notre Dame. Eifert is the third Fighting Irish player taken with this pick. In 1997, Jacksonville chose DE Renaldo Wynn and in 2003, Cleveland picked C Jeff Faine. Both had respectable NFL careers and Faine still plays in the league and is now a teammate of Eifert with the Bengals.
22. In a trade with St. Louis, the Atlanta Falcons chose DB Desmond Trufant from Washington. Trufant is the first Huskie picked at #22. This is also the first time the Falcons had this pick.
23. The Minnesota Vikings selected DT Sharrif Floyd from Florida. He is the third Gator chosen with this pick. The Houston Oilers chose OT David W. Williams in 1989 and Oakland chose G Mo Collins in 1998. Both played for several years in the NFL. This is Minnesota's second time with #23. They last had it in 1965 and chose WR Lance Rentzel from Oklahoma, who played for nine seasons. 
24. The Indianapolis Colts, fresh of a successful first overall pick last year, chose DE Bjoern Werner from Florida State. Werner is the second Seminole selected with this pick. Pittsburgh drafted DB J.T. Thomas in 1973, who won four Super Bowls with the team. This is Indy's eighth time with the #24 pick. Their last pick, from 2003, is still playing in the league, TE Dallas Clark from Iowa. Between 1958-63, The Baltimore Colts had this pick in the second round. None of those players selected played past 1969.
25. In a trade with Seattle, the Minnesota Vikings returned to the first round and picked CB Xavier Rhodes from Florida State. Rhodes is the third Seminole player chosen at #25. Atlanta picked DB Bobby Butler in 1981 and San Francisco picked RB Dexter Carter in 1990. Both had respectable NFL careers. This is Minnesota's sixth time with this pick, the last three being on defense. They last chose DT Chris Hovan from Boston College in 2000 with this pick. All of Minnesota's #25 picks played for at least seven years.
26. The Green Bay Packers selected DE Datone Jones from UCLA. This is the first time a Bruin was picked at #26. This is Green Bay's sixth time at #26. They last chose LB Clay Matthews from USC with this pick in 2009. In fact, the last three times the Packers had this pick, they chose linebackers (Matthews, John Anderson from Michigan in 1978 and George Cumby from Oklahoma in 1980). Outside of Matthews, the average career span of Green Bay's #26 picks is eight seasons.
27. The Houston Texans chose WR DeAndre Hopkins from Clemson. Hopkins is the second player from Clemson  to be selected with this pick. Green Bay chose FB/K Fred Cone in 1951. He played for nine seasons. This is Houston's second time with this pick. They last chose LB Jason Babin from Western Michigan. Hopkins could be yet another good pick at #27 for the Texans.
28. The Denver Broncos picked DT Sylvester Williams from North Carolina. Williams is the fourth Tarheel to be chosen at #28. The last Tarheel chosen was DB Thomas Smith by Buffalo in 1993. The other two were T Brian Blados by Cincinnati in 1984 and T Glen Szafaryn by Washington in 1949. All had respectable careers. This is Denver's second time with this pick, last selecting DT Trevor Pryce from Clemson in 1997. He played from 1997-2010.
29. In a trade with New England, the Minnesota Vikings once again returned to the first round and selected WR Cordarrelle Patterson from Tennessee. Patterson is the second Volunteer to be chosen with this pick. The Chicago Cardinals chose E Al Hust in 1943. He served in WWII and played one season with the team in 1946. His career stat is one reception for nine yards. This is Minnesota's fifth time with this pick and except for two, they haven't fared very well. Their lone good pick was their first one, Hall of Fame QB Fran Tarkenton from Georgia in 1961. The other was drafted last year out of Notre Dame, FS Harrison Smith.
30. From that trade with Atlanta, the St. Louis Rams chose LB Alec Ogletree from Georgia. Ogletree is the first Georgia Bulldog ever taken with this pick.  This is St. Louis' first time with this pick in Round 1, but it's their tenth time with this pick in other rounds. They last had this pick in 1992 and the Los Angeles Rams chose DB Steve Israel. Historically, the Rams have not fared very well with this pick. Most of the players were busts and two (a 3rd rounder in 1937 and a 5th rounder in 1948) were cut before the season started. Only Israel played for more than just a few seasons, from 1992-2001.
31. In a trade with San Francisco, the Dallas Cowboys picked C Travis Frederick from Wisconsin. Frederick is Wisconsin's first ever pick at #31. This is also Dallas' first time with this pick.
32. The Baltimore Ravens finished off Round 1 by selecting S Matt Elam from Florida. Elam is the first Gator chosen with the 32nd pick. It is also Baltimore's first time with this pick. When the Ravens won Super Bowl XXXV in 2001, they had the 31st pick in 2001. The Houston Texans started drafting players in 2002.

There you have it. Again, the draft is one big crapshoot. Although this is not considered one of the more talent laden drafts, only time will tell. The NFL Draft is a time of hope and let's hope it produces some great players.

Have a great day!!!

Last Place Update - April 18

We have a winner! Congrats to the 2013 Kings of the Cellar Champions, the 20-62 Orlando Magic. All of the beer in the cellar is yours. They edged the 21-61 Charlotte Bobcats by a game. The Cleveland Cavaliers lost their sixth game and secured third place at 24-58.

   The Magic overtook the Bobcats, who once led by 4.5 games on March 11, by going 2-16 since March 12. Orlando also ended the season with a three game losing streak.

   So what  happened to the defending champs? Charlotte did some winning and went 8-11 since March 12. Cleveland made a move of their own and went 3-16 during that same stretch.

   The 2013 Honorable Mention goes to the 33-49 Portland Trailblazers, who just ended their season with a 13 game losing streak. The Trailblazers actually had a winning  record on February 4, at 25-23. Then they went downhill, going 8-26 the rest of the way. It was almost as bad as the 6-28 record Orlando posted during that same stretch.

The Last Place Updates are a tongue-in-cheek look, from a fan's perspective, at the worst teams in whatever professional sport is featured. However it's important to remember that only a tiny percent of our population is even good enough to play for a professional sports team. It doesn't matter if that team wins it all or dwells in the cellar, the vast majority of us, myself included, could never make the first cut for a professional sports team, including those in last place. These players on their worst day could easily beat a team of fans on their best day. It's also important to remember and appreciate that it takes a special kind of athlete to earn the privilege to play for a professional sports team, whether it's for only a season or a long, Hall of Fame career.

Other Stuff...

Congrats to the Los Angeles Lakers for winning their last game in overtime against the Houston Rockets, 99-95. That win not only clinched the Lakers a playoff berth, it propelled them into the 7th seed. They will play the San  Antonio Spurs on Sunday. If they continue to play well, the Lakers can do some damage in the playoffs.

   The 8th seeded Houston Rockets will also play the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday. It will be interesting to see James Harden play his former team.

   Except for the blurb, my ebook, The Curse, is ready. It is also ready for Createspace. Once I write a satisfactory blurb, the novel will be published on Amazon for the Kindle and paperback.

Congrats to all for another successful NBA season. Good  luck to all the teams in the playoffs. May my New Orleans Pelicans contend next year.

Have a great day!!!

Last Place Update - April 16

Welcome to this week's Last Place Update. First of all, thoughts and prayers go out to those affected by the tragedy at the Boston Marathon.

   Time to share the beer! That's right. We have a tie. The 20-61 Charlotte Bobcats and Orlando Magic are having a beerfest before the deciding game to see who is this year's Kings of the Cellar. The 24-57 Cleveland Cavaliers returned to the radar and are only a game ahead of the 25-56 Phoenix Suns for the vaunted third place.

   Since the last update, Charlotte went 2-2 and Orlando went 1-2. Cleveland went 0-5 to pull ahead of Phoenix, who went 2-2.

   This week's honorable mention goes to the 37-44 Milwaukee Bucks and the 29-52 Washington Wizards. Each team has a five game losing streak. Milwaukee has a good chance to make it six straight when they finish the season at Oklahoma City to play the Thunder. Washington also finishes their season on the road when they travel to Chicago to take on the Bulls. Again, it could be six straight, but both teams could pull off a win against teams who are resting their starters.

Next Losses...

   Charlotte hosts the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday. If Charlotte loses, then they have at least a tie for a repeat championship. If Cleveland loses, then they clinch third place. The Cavaliers should get their loss.

   Orlando travels to Miami to take on the Heat. The Heat should spank the Magic, even without their starters, but every now and then, the Magic pull a rabbit out of their hat...but not this time. Orlando should lose and get at least a share of the beer in the cellar. Orlando should topple Charlotte outright and be the 2013 Kings of the Cellar.

   Phoenix also ends their season on the road. They hit the rarified air of Denver to take on the Denver Nuggets. This should be an easy loss, because unlike the Eastern Conference, the Western Conference playoff slots are still somewhat fluid and the Nuggets still need to play at their best. Phoenix can clinch a tie for third with a loss and a Cavaliers win.

Other Stuff...

   There is a more deserving team for this week's honorable mention, so why weren't they named? It's because that team earned the 2013 Honorable Mention and I wanted to give a couple of other teams a mention.

   The final Last Place Update of the NBA season will be posted this week after the last game.

   The Los Angeles Lakers finish their season at the Staples Center against the visiting Houston Rockets. The Utah Jazz go to Memphis to take on the Grizzlies. If the Lakers win, they're in. If the Lakers lose and the Jazz win, the Jazz are in.

   Yesterday was Jackie Robinson Day and every major league player wore number 42. It was a fitting tribute to a trailblazer of the game and one of the all-time greats.

   If this entry was for baseball, the 2-11 Miami Marlins would be this week's Kings of the Cellar. MLB's Last Place Updates are coming soon. The defending champion 4-9 Houston Astros are two games behind the Marlins.

   The final readthrough for my upcoming novel, The Curse, is done. It's now time to put in the adjustments and get that blurb finished. Once that's done, then it will finally be time to publish.

Who will win Kings of the Cellar? Will the Lakers clinch a playoff spot? Who is the 2013 Honorable Mention?

Stay tuned. Have a great day!!!

National Champions

Congrats to the Louisville Cardinals for winning the NCAA Championship over a Michigan Wolverines team who were up to the challenge. The game had its share of controversy, but it was still an outstanding game. Also, congrats to new Hall of Famer Rick Pitino. Good run and great season, Michigan!!

   Louisville won its third national championship in three tries and the first since 1986. As everybody knows, Pitino became the first men's college basketball coach to win national championships at two different schools. His other national championship team was the 1996 Kentucky Wildcats.

   My Main Entry bracket finished in a tie for second place in The Virtual Beer Tent at 40-23 and 1,110 points. It is also my best performing bracket. In the First Take bracket, my best performing bracket in that group, Take 3, finished in 29,355th place with 660 points.

  The Louisville Lady Cardinals have a chance to do their part in something that hasn't been done since 2004: to have the men's and women's teams from the same university win the national championship in the same season. Chances are, UConn, the last men's and women's teams to do it, will win tonight. Good luck to both teams.

Have a great day!!!

Last Place Update - April 8

Welcome to this week's Last Place Update. The race for Kings of the Cellar is getting even tighter.

   Although Orlando is thirsting for some cellar beer, the 18-59 Charlotte Bobcats hold a half game lead over the falling 19-59 Orlando Magic in their quest to repeat as and are this week's, Kings of the Cellar. And they are not alone. The 23-54 Phoenix Suns are on a nine game losing streak and knocked the 24-52 Cleveland Cavaliers off the radar. Cleveland's two wins last week officially took them out of contention for the title. Phoenix is five games behind Charlotte, but a Charlotte loss or Phoenix win eliminates the Suns for Kings of the Cellar.

   Since the last update, Charlotte went 1-2, Cleveland went 2-1, and Orlando whiffed, going 0-3. The Magic are 1-13 since March 12. Phoenix got back on  the radar by going 1-9 in their last ten games and 2-15 since March 6.

   This week's honorable mention goes once again to the Portland Trailblazers. Since last week, Portland went 0-3, eliminating them from playoff contention. The Trailblazers are 2-10 since March 18. That's worse than Charlotte, who are 4-7 during the same period. This week, Portland hosts the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday. Then the Oklahoma City Thunder come to town on Friday. On Sunday, the Trailblazers go to Denver to take on the Nuggets. This has all the makings of an 0-fer. If they play well, Portland could surprise the Lakers, but that's it. The Trailblazers will probably strike out against their opponents.

Next Losses...

   Charlotte spends most of the week on the road. They travel to Memphis on Tuesday to play the Grizzlies and then go to Detroit to play the Pistons on Friday. The Bobcats return home for the weekend by hosting the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday. Based on how Charlotte has played in recent weeks, they should easily avoid the 0-fer and win a game. And if they continue to improve, the Bobcats could win two.

   Orlando spends the week at home by playing the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday and the Boston Celtics on Saturday. Although they allowed over 100 points only once in the last six games, the Magic will continue their quest to unseat the Charlotte Bobcats as Kings of the Cellar and pull an 0-fer.

   Phoenix goes on a road trip this week. They travel to Houston to take on the Rockets on Tuesday, Dallas to play the Mavericks on Wednesday, and end the week in the Midwest by going to Minneapolis to take on the Minnesota Timberwolves. As with the Magic, this should be an 0-fer for the Suns. They may surprise everybody with one win, but that's it.

Other Stuff...

   Check out the New York Knicks! Having lost four in a row, they're on a 12 game winning streak.  The two main threats to their streak this week is at Chicago on Thursday and Indiana at home on Sunday.

   Veteran QB Vince Young remains unsigned. Chances are he may not be signed at all before the draft. However, don't be surprised if some team signs him between July and September.

   Every team in MLB has at least one win. The 1988 Baltimore Orioles' 0-21 season start record is safe for another year.

  Will Orlando overtake Charlotte for the beer in the cellar? Will Portland turn things around? Will Phoenix even win a game?

Stay tuned. Have a great day!!!

 

Final Four

And the final Cinderella team goes down, but not without a fight. My lone surviving pick, the Louisville Cardinals move on to the national championship game on Monday by beating a Wichita Shockers team that almost shocked Cardinals fans. Great season and great run, Wichita State!

   Michigan took out Syracuse to advance as Louisville's opponent. This is the Wolverines' fifth trip to the national championship game, which they are 1-3. The last time Michigan was in the national championship game, Bill Clinton was president and they lost to North Carolina in 1993. The last time Michigan won the NCAA Championship was in 1989. In their other trips to the championship game, the Wolverines lost to UCLA in 1965 and to the undefeated Indiana Hoosiers in 1976.

   This is Louisville's third trip to the national championship. They won the NCAA Championship in 1980 against UCLA and 1986 against Duke.

   My Main Entry bracket, the lone surviving bracket, moved up and is tied for 6th place in The Virtual Beer Tent with 790 points. I went 1-1. Of course, the Michigan/Syracuse game was an automatic loss. My total standing is 39-23.

   Regardless of what happens Monday, stumpmstr 1, who is in the lead will win The Virtual Beer Tent championship. Those of us with remaining picks all have Louisville winning. If Louisville wins, then the Main Entry bracket will finish in a tie for 2nd. If not, then the current standings will be the final standings.

  In the First Take group, my Take 3 bracket has just maxed out, finishing in 28,826th place with a total of 660 points.  My best performing bracket overall is the Take 2, but it just maxed out at 800 points. The Main Entry bracket is the only one that has Louisville winning it all.

  Will Michigan upset Louisville and win their first championship since 1989? Will Louisville get it together and finish the job by winning their first championship since 1986?

Stay tuned. Have a great day!!!

Last Place Update - April 2

Welcome to this week's Last Place Update. Like a good roux, the plot thickens what was a runaway repeat. Let the fun begin!

   The last two teams below 20 wins are duking it out for all the beer in the cellar. This week's Kings of the Cellar, the 17-57 Charlotte Bobcats, hold a game and a half lead over the 19-56 Orlando Magic in their quest to repeat as champions.  Charlotte lost their last three games, but the Magic are 1-9 in their last ten games. The 22-51 Cleveland Cavaliers are at the top of the steps of the cellar with their eyes on the beer, hanging out at 4.5 games behind the Bobcats. The Cavs own the longest active losing streak at nine games. Since the last update, Charlotte went 1-3, Orlando went a whopping 1-6, and Cleveland 0-fered, going 0-4.

   This week's honorable mention goes to the 33-41 Portland Trailblazers. They beat out a 27-47 Toronto Raptors team that are 2-8 in their last ten games, Why? Because the Trailblazers are still in the hunt for that final playoff spot in the Western Conference and lost five straight. Portland's playoff chances are now slim, at best. The Trailblazers spend this week at home. They host the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday, the Houston Rockets on Friday, and the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday. Portland may get one win, but they will get eliminated from playoff contention, if not this week, then definitely next week. Their only hope now is a total collapse by both Dallas and the Los Angeles Lakers.

Next Losses...

   Charlotte starts the week at home against the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday and then host the Miami Heat on Friday. Then the Bobcats visit the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday. This has all the makings of an 0-fer, but Charlotte could pull out one win. They definitely won't get their 20th win this week. They probably won't get their 18th win either.

   Road trip!! Orlando hits the road and visits the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday, the Chicago Bulls on Friday, and the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday. As with the Bobcats, this has all the makings of an 0-fer week. However, Orlando is a decent 4th quarter team and could pull off one win, maybe against Cleveland, but that's it.

   Cleveland spends Wednesday at home against the Brooklyn Nets. On Friday, the Cavaliers go to Boston to play the Celtics. Then they end the week at home against the Orlando Magic on Sunday. To keep with the common theme of the day, this also has all the makings of an 0-fer. The key for both Cleveland and Orlando is this game. The winner gets their lone win of the week and the other has an 0-fer, getting one game closer to the beer in the cellar fridge.

Other Stuff...

   The streaks have ended. The Denver Nuggets and Miami Heat each lost. Brooklyn now has the longest active win streak at eight games.

   The New Orleans Saints signed QB Luke McCown to a one year deal. Really? Is he the best available quarterback out there? He didn't even make the team last year. They would have done better by signing QB Vince Young to a one year deal.  It's the only blemish on some solid free agent signings.

   Baseball season is here! I'm hoping to write more "Today in..." entries soon and get some actual sports trivia out there. However, there is also the novel and novella that I have to publish and I actually get paid for those, so they have priority.

   Who will get to 20 wins first? Who will get to 60 losses first? Who will take the lead as Kings of the Cellar for good and claim the beer in the fridge?

Stay tuned. Have a great day!!!

Elite 8 - Part II

And my lone surviving pick survives to play another day...but at a cost. As everyone already knows, Louisville guard Kevin Ware broke his leg in the Midwest regional final against Duke. Enough has been said about it. I saw enough replays of Joe Theismann's leg break back when it happened to last a lifetime, so it's good that CBS stopped showing the replay.

   The Final Four is now set. Louisville will face the Cinderella team of the tournament, the Wichita State Shockers and Michigan will play Syracuse. I went 1-1 and 80 points, bringing my Main Entry grand total to 38-22 and 630 points.

   In The Virtual  Beer Tent, the Main Entry is still in 8th place and the dead Really? bracket leads with 790 points. This is by no means over and the Really? bracket should drop in the standings this weekend. It is still my best performing bracket overall. In the  First Take group, my now dead Take 3 is the best performing bracket with a score of 660 points. If Louisville wins, then Take 2 will overtake Take 3.

  Can Louisville prevail minus Kevin Ware? Will Wichita State shock the Cardinals and go to the national championship game? Can Syracuse repeat what they did a decade earlier? Will this Michigan team do what the Fab Five couldn't?

Stay tuned.  Have a great day!!!