March 26, 2009

HAVEN’T WE BEEN HERE BEFORE?

For some reason this year feels a lot like last year to me. Sports, like life, (and certain bartenders) tends to repeat itself, a lot. Weren’t we just having the conversation about whether or not it would be in the Bulls’ best interest to make the playoffs? The NBA is about haves and have not’s. Talent rules. By not making the playoffs last year, the Bulls were in a position to get incredibly lucky in the battle of the ping-pong balls and get the opportunity to draft Derrick Rose. This is the kind of good fortune that can make a franchise. So, here we are again. While I’ll admit the recent play of the team has been encouraging, (Salmons looks like a player, and who woke-up Tyrus Thomas?) what benefit does it serve to achieving the ultimate goal? The Bulls will NEVER win a series against Boston or Cleveland. So if they make the playoffs how does that benefit them in the long run? Remember in 2006 when they over-achieved and extended eventual champion Miami to 6 games and they thought (falsely) they were one piece away? Then came Ben Wallace. Need I beat this into the ground? The only reason for this season is to find TALENTED pieces to fit with Rose. (Move over Jordanaires, it’s time for the Rose Petals.) The chances of the big free-agents in 2010 coming here are slim and none. Those players are going to chase the big money and I don’t see that happening here. (I would make every effort to trade for Chris Bosh or Amare Stoudemire this off-season, but that’s another story for another day.) The draft is going to play a huge role in the immediate future of this organization, so wouldn’t you want to have another chance at ping-pong ball glory? Seems to me missing the playoffs last year worked out in the Bulls long-term favor. Maybe history could repeat itself.

Other cases of déjà-vu:
Who will be the Cubs closer? (Marmol’s too valuable as a 6-7-8 guy.)

Who will be the Cubs lead-off hitter? ( NO! I won’t let it go.)

Who will be the Sox 4th and 5th starters? (Last year’s youth vs. this year’s girth.)

Who will be the Sox lead-off hitter? (“Swish” will have to LOOK at 3rd strikes in NYC.)

Will Memphis get any respect? (Smart fouls as opposed to “God’s will” would help.)

Will the Bears draft a…………………….( Insert any dozen “need” questions, just like last year, and the year before, and the year before, and the year ……………………..)

Will Frankie O beat Kap in the NCAA pool? ( Stephon Curry’s missed opportunities against Kansas killed me last year. I’m sure Louisville has something “special” in store for me this year.)

BE A MAN!

Time for a patented Frankie O rant: While my pet peeve forever at this time of year is the penchant for people to play multiple brackets in the NCAA, then, proclaim their brilliance because out of their TWENTY, one had the upset of the year on it, this year I have a new one. It’s called CHALK BOY. (With equal emphasis on chalk and boy.) I think that this years’ tournament has been devoid of its usual excitement due to the lack of upsets. They’re a March staple, like pot-hole dodging and dudes in t-shirts while it’s 39 degrees out. (I get it. You have guns. But dude, it’s not spring yet, even if the calendar says so. In Chicago this is still winter, so put them away!) Since there have been no upsets, it would then reason that ONLY people that have NOT picked ANY upsets would be ahead on NCAA pools. THIS IS NOT SOMETHING TO BRAG ABOUT! My 9 year old could pick the favorites. It’s like giving someone a bad beat in poker, (read: get extremely lucky) you apologize, keep your head down and mouth shut, and move on. This is no year to be doing a bracket dance at the ½ way point. If you have more than 13 of the sweet sixteen, you’ve been revealed for who you are. You are CHALK BOY! So enjoy your status and know that my 3 year old could have made YOUR picks in her pre-school class. While my adherence to the bracket philosophy that upsets will happen early and the favorites will prevail at the end has taken a hit this year, I can still hold my bracket high for all to see. Because I at least had the guts (lack of intelligence) to make picks that to some, didn’t make sense. (It’s called March Madness for a reason.) And another thing I know for sure, the favorites aren’t going to win the rest of the games this year. How do I know this? Because I picked the over-all #1 seed to win it all. That’s not taking the chalk, it’s called a bartenders prerogative. (Or, as it’s known in Louisville, “the curse of Frankie-O”!)