Bracketology Part 1

Hi There. As promised its time to look at the brackets and today its the East and Midwest regions.
In the East the top seeds are North Carolina, Tennessee and Louisville and Washington State. My only question is Washington State. They play solid defense but do they have enough offense to match up. I don't see them making the sweet 16. The middle seeds are very intriguing and one of them could go deep in the region. Notre Dame, Butler, Indiana, and St Joe's. I'm not sold on either Arkansas or Oklahoma, and my sleeper could be St Joe's. They lost in the A-10 finals to Temple but has knocked off Xavier twice in the last 2 weeks. Phil Martelli is one of those coaches you like.
In the Midwest the top seeds are Kansas, Georgetown, Wisconsin,and Vanderbilt. Hopefully the Leccese curse won't rear its ugly head, because I'm picking Siena to knock off the Commodores in the first round. Vandy is a tough home team. Away from Nashville, that's another story and I really like the Badgers. Gonzaga, Clemson and Kent State could win a couple of games. Sleeper might be Davidson. I'm not crazy about Villanova or UNLV. Remember USC vs Kansas State; great first round game. Tommorow a look at the South and West regions...Leccese out.

Weekend Observations

Hi There and Happy Saint Patty's Day. Now for some good old observations from the weekend. Lets start with Bristol Tech. 3 good things about them. 1. Eric Kuselias on Saturday mornings. 2. Sunday morning from 9:30 to 10:30 Outside the Lines followed by the Sports Reporters, and 3. The current documentary they're airing "Black Magic." Now for a Bristol I can't stand. Bristol Motor Speedway. The end of the race was a joke. 43 cars do not belong on an banked oval track that is .533 miles. If the France family had any sense they would blow the place up and use the dates for a second race at Las Vegas and a return to Rockingham NC. Also take away that second date from Pocono and add another road course race. Its too early in the season to starting looking ahead to the Chase. On to the Association. Has anybody noticed but the Houston Rockets have won 22 straight games? You would have if Kobe or LeBron played for them. There are very few things I like about the NBA, and I'm liking the Rockets. Also the Denver Nuggets put up 168 points last night. Nice defense Seattle. Kevin Durant must be thinking, "I should have stayed at Texas one more year." I'll start breaking down brackets tomorrow. So just to tease you, Siena got placed where I though they would as a 13 seed. First round match up must watch: USC versus Kansas State. OJ Mayo takes on Michael Beasley, but the best freshman this year has been UCLA's Kevin Love. One more hoop thing. Congrats to Chateguay for being the first Section 10 team to win a state title. I've finally given up and surrendered to the fact that there is Tiger Woods, and then there is everybody else on the PGA Tour. I watched the end of Bay Hill and you just knew he was going to make that putt on 18. 20 years ago I had one of those days I would put in my top 5 best of all time. I was a senior in college and got featured in an article in the Kansas City Evening Star newspaper. I was manager on the basketball team and I had to broadcast the teams games on the campus radio station. Lets just say it was the first game I'd ever done and it was also a first round NAIA national tournament game. I'm still waiting for that feature in the Post Star, so Dave Blow if you're reading this right now hint hint. Bracket breakdowns starting tomorrow...Leccese out.

Midweek Musings

Hi There. Time for another edition of the, "Midweek Musings." My Momma always told me never to discuss politics or religion in the workplace, so in light of what has come down in the last 48 hours at the Governors Mansion; I'm invoking the fifth and keeping my big mouth shut. Now for the real fun. Some of the funniest things I enjoy reading can be found on the subject lines on the ridiculous amount of junk e-mails I receive. I know there are many of you who get the same ones I seem to get. Canadian pharmacy, replica Rolex watches and number one on the list: Male enhancement products. Natural products to make men more well endowed and attractive to women. I hope to compile a list of the more humorous clean ones and post them on a future blog. Just once I would like to see a product that advertises "Bigger isn't always better." Siena did it, made the field of 65 and now the Uber Conferences will play in their tournaments to see who will join them. I don't want to put the Leccese curse on them, but I want Notre Dame to win the Big East tournament at MSG. Is it just me or are you also sick of the so called NFL draft "experts." The draft isn't for another 6 weeks. Enough already. Finally, I read where Brittany Spears will be appearing on, "How I met your Mother." Maybe she'll play someone stalking Ted or worse an ex of Barney who has a score to settle. This just in, Dan told me she is going to be stalking Ted...Leccese out

Two for the price of one

Hello again. With no local high school basketball teams playing at the Civic Center this weekend, and since we don't broadcast any spring sports like baseball, softball or lacrosse; I want to take the time say thanks to a bunch of people for helping with another successful High School Sports season. First and foremost I have to start with the Athletic Directors and Coaches who allow us to come to their schools to do a broadcast as well as getting me the schedules and rosters. During basketball season it can be sometimes difficult, since we occasionally have to run a phone line from offices down hallways and under bleachers. Just ask Cathy Stanilka or Jason Humiston. Also I have to thank the janitors at the schools. If there was another way other than duct tape to keep that phone cord in place, trust me I would use it. I also have to thank Greg Brownell and his staff at the Post Star as well as the Times Union. The stories they write make my job preparing for a game easier. I also want to say thanks the Sales Staff here at the Radio Station and the sponsors who get these games on the air. It's not as easy as you think and its a team effort. We've got a good team and I don't say it enough. Finally, I have to say thank you to the fans who listen. Well another football season is only 5 1/2 months away. Till next time...Leccese out.

Weekend Observations

Hi There. Hope you survived the weekend. Spent a majority of it in Utica covering HS Hockey. It was tough to see Queensbury lose. F.Y.I. If there is any consolation Webster Thomas ended up winning the Division 2 title over Thousand Islands. If you've ever been to the Aud, its a building that's in need of a serious renovation. Very late 1950's early 60's decor. Utica itself could use an economic rebirth and a good cleaning. This winter has been the absolute worst I've experienced since I moved here full-time in 1988. Mud season can't come fast enough for me. Two more things. Number 1: Who was the genius who moved daylight savings time three weeks earlier; and Number 2: Good luck to Siena tonight. If they beat Rider in the MAAC Championship Game they're headed to the Big Dance. You're getting two for the price of one today. Have another blog coming up shortly.

Midweek Musings

Hi There. Time for another gut wrenching edition of the "Midweek Musings." The way the NFL Network and Bristol Tech reacted yesterday, I thought Brett Favre had died and not just retired. It was non-stop beginning with the announcement around 10am. The presidential primaries didn't get that kind of coverage until at least 8. One more thing. I was reading an article on Jack Nicholson and for some reason it got me thinking about my own "bucket list." 10 years ago it would have been my list of five women from an episode of the TV show "Friends." Well here goes five things I would like to do before I pass on in no particular order. Attend the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Voice a character in an animated cartoon. Learn to play the saxophone. Attend a baseball fantasy camp, and travel to Scotland and play a round of golf on one of the courses on the British Open rotation and it doesn't have to be the Old Course at St Andrews. Any one will do. Love to hear back with your own so called "bucket list." Leccese out.

Weekend Observations

Hi There. Hope you had a good weekend. There's nothing better than welcoming in a new month with 6 inches of snow! Checked out "Semi-Pro" Friday night. If you like Wil Ferrell, you will like this movie. I've got to give the movie's writers credit. They were very accurate in the portrayal and look of the ABA in the 70's and how teams would attract fans. Now for some other observations: Isn't "Black Friday" suppose to be the day after Thanksgiving, and not the beginning of the NFL free agent signing period? The way some teams were spending money, you have to wonder if there really is a hard salary cap. As a Mets fan I'm still picking the Phillies to win the NL East. Johan or no Johan as long as Rick Peterson is the Mets pitching coach, they'll finish second or third. March Madness is coming up in two weeks, and I don't see a clear favorite yet. Finally, last Wednesday one of those legendary local broadcasters who are such a part of the fabric of a city past away. Myron Cope did the radio broadcasts for the Pittsburgh Steelers and was the creator of the "Terrible Towel." If you ever watched NFL Films, and seen Steeler highlights, you've heard Myron Cope's voice on more than one occasion. My brother-in-law is from the Steel City and I asked him Saturday if the they were flying "Terrible Towels" at half mast in his hometown. They were...Leccese out.