This part of the season has always been my favorite. Why? Well, for a number of reasons. Springtime, for one, and since I have played in many different cities, the seasons change a little quicker in those places. Or they are less harsh... March Madness. Yes, I follow it. Not the regular season, but the tournament for sure. I am in the team pool and I am tied for the lead, with three teams out of four left. C'mon Ohio St.!
The Masters is around the corner, which really gets you in the mood for warmer weather. And, of course, another pool for that tournament. One interesting note worth mentioning. My neighbor here on Cousins Island, Larry Pugh, is a member at Augusta National( if you don't know, it's where they play the Masters) and since members are required to work the tournament in some capacity, he is there every year. I always keep an eye out for him on TV...
How could you forget the Frozen Four, the mens hockey tournament for the NCAA, that has become sort of a tradition here in Maine. My Black Bears are back again, playing Micigan St. I won the bet with Motzko and Hartigan, last weekend, as they went to St. Cloud. Then they beat UMass, where Bruce Crowder's son attends. So, now it is between me and Drew Miller, for lunch. He comes from a long line of Miller's at the home of the Spartans, and they all are from Lansing. What a story it would be for Maine to win it this year, after a less than stellar finish of the regular season. Best of luck to Coach Whitehead and the rest of the team. Keep your eye on twp in particular. Ben Bishop is from St. Louis, who is hosting the tournament , and Ted Purcell, the fresman sensation from Newfoundland, who is highly sought after by NHL teams right now...
I was lucky enough to be part of the Final Four in '88, but my favorite memory was in '93, watching my brother Jason and their tremendous team win the whole thing. I watched both games on TV, unfortunately, but was on the edge of my seat for both. My parents were there with him, and I'm sure it was the proudest moment of our family's hockey adventure. I am proud to say that Jason has the only championship at that high of a level, and he can cherish that forever. I am still chasing the dream...
But the best part of this time of year is playoffs or if you are like our team, fighting to get in. I really believe that when a team battles for a spot and gets in, they can ride a wave through the playoffs. It also doesn't hurt to be in a position where you can rest some guys down the stretch for the playoffs. A few of the teams I have been on in the past have been on the bubble until the last couple games of the year, and it has gone both ways. When you secure a spot in the playoffs, it is a great feeling of accomplishment for everyone. A real group effort.
We are still in it after everything that has gone on. I would love to map out the scenarios for you but they are endless. We still control a little of our destiny and of course need some help. But, when there is hope, and something to play for, that is your motivation. Having played a long time, I can tell you our guys are not leaving anything on the ice. We battled back against Lowell on Friday to get two points and played our hearts out Saturday night and then 1:00 pm Sunday afternoon! I can't say enough about my teammates desire. I'm sure Kevin is proud of their effort as well. So, another 4 games in 5 nights, possible 8 points. Big one against Lowell that could be a 4 point swing, or as it is known , " a four point game". What that means is two we get, and two they don't get. As my old teammate "Broadway" Bernie Nichols would say, "Weino, whatever way you slice it, it is only two points." And he is right, technically speaking. A four point swing, none the less. So, with all that on your plate, a sports fan cannot be board the next couple of weeks. And if you are a cycling fan like me, the spring classics are upon us. But, that is another subject, for another time... Enjoy the "madness"! Weino

E-mail this entry to a friend