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Final Four Day

By Big Tent Democrat, Section Off Topic
Posted on Sat Apr 04, 2009 at 07:59:00 AM EST
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Today is Final Four day in the NCAA Men's Basketball tournament. One of the stories being discussed is NC guard Ty Lawson's successful venture at a Detroit casino (he won $250 playing craps.) A lot of outraged folks around, notwithstanding that neither the law nor NCAA rules prohibit athletes from legal gambling.

But hypocrisy abounds. In any event, Steve M.'s Spartans are the home team. With all the bad news coming to Michigan, they deserve a little bit of good news. So here's hoping the Spartans can pull off the upset. The other 3 teams are UConn, Villanova and North Carolina.

This is an Open Thread.

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    Final Four Day | 36 comments (36 topical)
    Not to mention... (5.00 / 1) (#1)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Sat Apr 04, 2009 at 09:05:47 AM EST
    ...that Ty Lawson is of legal age (21) to be in a casino and gamble.  I guess he was supposed to sit in his hotel room 24/7 during his stay in the Motor City.

    Go Sparty!

    I can't believe people are making a stink... (5.00 / 1) (#3)
    by kdog on Sat Apr 04, 2009 at 09:13:38 AM EST
    about the kid shooting a little craps.

    The real scandal is the uber-millions being made and all the talent gets is free tuition.  The NCAA better thing long and hard about paying these kids before all the top prospects go to Europe to tune up for the NBA....they're getting hosed and starting to figure it out.

    Amen (none / 0) (#6)
    by DFLer on Sat Apr 04, 2009 at 09:32:32 AM EST
    they should be paid a salary, like the farm team of the majors that they are.

    The mythical student/athlete, at least in college basketball and f-ball, exist only in Division Two schools.

    Parent

    Free tution... (none / 0) (#7)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Sat Apr 04, 2009 at 09:36:14 AM EST
    ...and forced poverty.  Some would call it indentured servitude.  On the other side, million dollar salaries for coach's, new stadiums and other facilities for the schools paid for by the labor of teen-agers.

    At the very least, these kids should get a stipend.  Consider athletes the same as any other student holding a work/study job.  

    How's your morning going?  Off to play any hoops today--or is it softball season?  

    Parent

    It's also an opportunity (none / 0) (#20)
    by cal1942 on Sat Apr 04, 2009 at 12:41:23 PM EST
    for the kids to benefit from first class coaching, to hone their skills, to fully develop their potential and to receive an opportunity for an education at no cost to their families.

    Some of those kids come out polished and improved as people whether or not they become pro athletes.

    It's not all one sided.

    Parent

    Coulds been better brother... (none / 0) (#32)
    by kdog on Sun Apr 05, 2009 at 10:24:15 AM EST
    went to OTB to lose money on the Derby preps, though fun none the less...I Want Revenge ran some race in the Wood Memorial, caught flat-hooved at the start, fought through traffic all down the stretch and still beat 'em...we have a favorite for the Derby.

    Parent
    Ah... (none / 0) (#33)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Sun Apr 05, 2009 at 10:50:41 AM EST
    ...a day watching the Races.  I take it you didn't win enough to be a "master of the universe".

    I saw a clip on EPSN the other day of a race at Aquaduct where the fog was so thick you couldn't see the horses, but the announcers tried thier best to call the race anyway.  Real sloppy track too.

    Parent

    Nope... (none / 0) (#34)
    by kdog on Sun Apr 05, 2009 at 10:56:42 AM EST
    and didn't lose enough for a bailout either...I'll never learn how this game works:)

    My buddy had a good day though, hit 2 Pick-3's.  He bought lunch and a post-races sack...you're always a winner when you have good friends!

    Parent

    Yep... (none / 0) (#35)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Sun Apr 05, 2009 at 11:19:53 AM EST
    ...we're destined to be stuck in the middle, I guess.  

    Good friends are indeed a wonderful thing.  Especially when they share their bounty!

    Parent

    Well (none / 0) (#8)
    by TeresaInSnow2 on Sat Apr 04, 2009 at 09:37:02 AM EST
    They get room and board too ;-)...although they have to pay taxes on that part.

    But yes, it's true.  It's exploitation.  

    ...while the coaches make a ridiculous sum of money....millions.

    Parent

    Of Course (none / 0) (#12)
    by CoralGables on Sat Apr 04, 2009 at 09:57:38 AM EST
    at any one time there are upwards to 4368 individuals playing men's college basketball. With only 60 drafted into the NBA each year, about 40 of which come from the college ranks, and a third of those not making the team, I don't think there will be all that many 18 year olds jumping from a US high school to Europe to chase a dream that is usually dead on the vine by the time they leave high school.

    I look forward to the first one that accomplishes that feat but expect all that try to come from a pool of those that can't qualify to get into any college, and who will soon fade off into anonymity leading to the age old question in their hometown of...what ever happened to???


    Parent

    Did I actually hear the new (none / 0) (#29)
    by oculus on Sat Apr 04, 2009 at 08:55:39 PM EST
    Kentucky basketball coach will make $32 mil.?

    Parent
    New York budget passes: (5.00 / 2) (#4)
    by andgarden on Sat Apr 04, 2009 at 09:23:25 AM EST
    Rush Limbaugh has sworn to leave New York because of the budget's tax increases on top earners, leading Gov. David A. Paterson to remark on Thursday: "If I knew that would be the result, I would've thought about the taxes earlier."

    I believe the state Senate also repealed the Rockefeller drug laws last night.

    Hero of Thursday 04/02/2009 Award (none / 0) (#19)
    by cal1942 on Sat Apr 04, 2009 at 12:23:23 PM EST
    goes to Governor David A. Patterson.

    Parent
    Ha Ha Ha... (none / 0) (#37)
    by kdog on Mon Apr 06, 2009 at 01:22:51 PM EST
    high taxes, piss-poor services are a real knee-slapper.

    Parent
    I've got MSU and UNC in the Final (5.00 / 1) (#10)
    by talesoftwokitties on Sat Apr 04, 2009 at 09:44:35 AM EST
    If MSU can win today, then I've got the lab pool locked up!

    Hope (none / 0) (#17)
    by cal1942 on Sat Apr 04, 2009 at 12:05:02 PM EST
    at least that the Michigan State part is right.

    Parent
    I am not sure (5.00 / 1) (#15)
    by Steve M on Sat Apr 04, 2009 at 10:56:57 AM EST
    whether I would rather MSU win to make me happy, or Villanova win so little Desmond can win the office pool!  You know, the one he entered before he was actually born.  Let no one claim that I am not a fierce defender of the rights of the unborn - in this case, the right to gamble.

    And by the way, I love my hometown, but there's really not a lot for a kid to do there except hit those casinos.  So good for the little guy.

    Michigan State is my (none / 0) (#22)
    by caseyOR on Sat Apr 04, 2009 at 01:50:11 PM EST
    sentimental favorite (Big 10 childhood). A Villanova win, however, could portend a life of good luck for baby Desmond. And it would put him on an even footing in the world of sports betting with his big sis Audrey.

    Go, Villanova! Win for the children.

    Parent

    Yeah! (none / 0) (#23)
    by Steve M on Sat Apr 04, 2009 at 02:03:26 PM EST
    I like the way you think :)

    Parent
    Anything for the children, Steve (none / 0) (#24)
    by caseyOR on Sat Apr 04, 2009 at 02:07:13 PM EST
    i stand ready to sacrifice as necessary for the next generation. :)

    Parent
    A personal aside, Steve M (none / 0) (#25)
    by caseyOR on Sat Apr 04, 2009 at 02:11:38 PM EST
    Desmond is an old family name on my mother's side. And, if I"d had a son, it would have been his name. So, I ma pleased to see the name live on.

    Parent
    Steve, I listened to the game (none / 0) (#30)
    by oculus on Sat Apr 04, 2009 at 08:59:49 PM EST
    on the car radio, until the ESPN station cut away after what I presume was the final timeout to the pre-game Clippers/Denver show.  I thought:  man--that is one long time out.

    Anyhow, congratulations.  I was especially pleased to hear the guys calling the game on radio repeatedly refer to "Michigan."

    Parent

    Now that was a game! (5.00 / 2) (#26)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Sat Apr 04, 2009 at 07:35:32 PM EST
    UConn goes down.  Way to go Big Ten Champion Michigan State!

    It's your turn 'Nova.

    I like (none / 0) (#2)
    by Ga6thDem on Sat Apr 04, 2009 at 09:13:13 AM EST
    the ad on the left there that talks about being your own bailout. Perhaps Obama and Geither could save us trillions of dollars and simply send a copy of that book to all the bankers and let them figure a way out of this mess by themselves.

    Get a load of this one (none / 0) (#5)
    by SOS on Sat Apr 04, 2009 at 09:28:31 AM EST
    http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1889512,00.html

    Maybe the conspiracy (none / 0) (#9)
    by SOS on Sat Apr 04, 2009 at 09:37:25 AM EST
    theorists are right.

    "Great Charismatic Leader"

    Parent

    The day after in Iowa... (none / 0) (#11)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Sat Apr 04, 2009 at 09:55:35 AM EST
    ...finds the state's largest newpaper fully in support of yesterday's ruling.

    This protection of liberty, even in the face of contrary popular opinion, is an Iowa tradition. The very first reported decision in the territorial era protected the liberty of a former slave, and the court has built upon that foundation over the past 170 years. On Friday, the court added another historic decision to the body of Iowa constitutional law.

    The decision is both courageous and reassuring. It shows that justices of the Iowa Supreme Court care deeply about protecting the ideals articulated in the Iowa Constitution, a principled application of the law and the reputation of the court.

    As for the future...

    Because this decision is based on the Iowa Constitution, the Iowa Supreme Court has the final word in this case. The only option left for opponents of same-sex marriage is in the court of public opinion, to persuade the Legislature and Iowa voters to change the constitution.

    That would be a mistake. Instead, the opponents of gay marriage should recognize the danger in seeking to marginalize any group of people, and celebrate the fundamental fairness that the Iowa Constitution demands and the job the courts have done to give meaning to its words.

    It's going to be an up-hill battle for the hate peddlers.

    The (corn)field of dreams (none / 0) (#14)
    by Cream City on Sat Apr 04, 2009 at 10:43:58 AM EST
    has been built, and they will come . . . across the state border to get married in Iowa, so it appears in my newspaper in a nearby state.  We are reminded that we have an archaic law, but still in state statutes, allowing our state to refuse to recognize marriages made outside the state.  Dontcha just wish the crazies would try to use that here?  Such fun it would be to invalidate all such marriages . . . including those of leggies and other pols.

    Anyway, with tourism down so much, maybe gays from across the heartland will come to help the Iowa economy -- another reason why the haters may find little support for their hope for change, huh?  

    Parent

    Looks like there are... (none / 0) (#36)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Sun Apr 05, 2009 at 04:24:32 PM EST
    ...others who see this as a potential boon to the economy for the Hawkeye State.  

    The Register and bloggers among them.

    $160 million over 3 years is certainly nothing to sneeze at in these times.  

    Parent

    No dog in this hunt, (none / 0) (#16)
    by brodie on Sat Apr 04, 2009 at 11:36:35 AM EST
    and I've managed to miss all the action so far this year so don't have a clear read, but generally I'm an underdog guy.  And for heightened interest and drama for the final game, especially in a huge arena like Ford Field, it would be preferable if MSU advanced to Monday night.  And for all the unemployed of that state, Jennifer Granholm, my favorite gov, and Michael Moore.

    UConn:  After such a long tournament, you want a clear-cut winner to emerge.  Not likely with the recruiting allegations surrounding their coach.  Plus the entire state still needs to be punished for returning that weasel Joe Lieberman to the senate.

    Villanova:  Small school status a plus.  Though they're probably short at least one player on offense.  Otoh, they're from a city which once booed Santy Claus, and Chris Matthews is also from Philly.

    UNC:  In college hoops terms, it's like rooting for the Yankees.  And there's still some karmic debt to be paid by the school for alum Michael Jordan's failure, on two occasions, to endorse Harvey Gantt.  Dean Smith was a true good guy though, and Chapel Hill seems like one of those rare civilized places in the South, so we won't be that unhappy if they take the title.

    MSU:  We like coach Izzo and his funny name.  We still associate their hoops program with Magic Johnson, a good guy in our estimation, who properly prevailed against Larry Bird 30 yrs ago.  Their gridiron squad in 1966 played in a memorable "Game of the Century" against overdog #1 Notre Dame, in which State acquitted themselves honorably while the Irish sat on the ball in the final two minutes in order to secure a tie and a lock on #1 for the season.

    Other considerations for MSU as I decide who to root for:  their academic/administrative squad was called out in the 60s by liberal Ramparts magazine for its providing cover for the CIA in propping up and supplying the brutal Diem dictatorship in Nam.  Of course that was half a century ago, and it's probably not fair to taint Izzo and his team with ancient crimes committed by the higher ups.

    Michigan State (none / 0) (#18)
    by cal1942 on Sat Apr 04, 2009 at 12:17:32 PM EST
    also hired a professor who had been savaged, blacklisted by the Joe McCarthy crowd.

    Any thought of tainting Tom Izzo, his team or any other student, alum, supporter or employee in any capacity of Michigan State for the activities you cite is not just unfair it's absolutely ridiculous.

    Parent

    Of course it would be, cal, (none / 0) (#21)
    by brodie on Sat Apr 04, 2009 at 01:10:52 PM EST
    just as it would be unfair to taint the Huskies by some stretch of the imagination with Holy Joe or to disfavor Villanova on account of they represent Tweety's home town or to take UNC to task for what MJ failed to do 15 yrs ago in the political realm.

    I thought my playfulness was clear without the need to so designate, but, for the record, it was meant as a mostly unserious tongue in cheek evaluation of the finalists where I basically was tossing out whatever came to mind as I thought about a given school.

    However I am serious in wanting MSU to make the championship game ...

    Parent

    Michigan State (none / 0) (#27)
    by cal1942 on Sat Apr 04, 2009 at 07:52:58 PM EST
    beats UConn 82-73 to advance to the finals.

    To everyone on this site who pulled for Michigan State, many, many thanks from this old Spartan.

    Beat them... (none / 0) (#28)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Sat Apr 04, 2009 at 08:07:41 PM EST
    ...on the boards, beat them on fast-break points, beat them on bench scoring.  

    Maybe most importantly, beat them on emotion.

    /Hi Teresa!  Hope you're well.

    SPARTANS WIN! (none / 0) (#31)
    by Alegre on Sat Apr 04, 2009 at 09:50:23 PM EST
    Thanks for the good wishes BTD - from this member of the class of 1985 ;o)

    Final Four Day | 36 comments (36 topical)