F@#@# Buddy Love

Don't really know him. Played cards with him. Taken his chips. But don't think anyone who picked Michigan St. to make the final game should take in money in the Pool's Bracket Challenge.

Ok, I feel better now.

Actually, a free pool I was in on FB there were two folks out of 100+ who had Mich. St. and UNC in the final game, so I don't feel so bad. My bad for underestimating a Big 10 team. Or, overestimating the Big East.

Yet, I was right about North Carolina. Too bad UConn didn't have any balls, or I would have won The Pool.

Meet Callie

Today a break from the sports world for a Marley and Me moment.

Callie is a 3-year-old Fox Terrier mix and the new member of our family. I saw her at the Humane Society Thursday, spent time with her, and adopted her about two hours later.

She is a lap dog but has enough spunk to drag you around the block when she is on a leash. Callie's former owners were older and couldn't keep up with her because she would dart through their fence and take off sprinting any time there was an opening.

I learned this story was not made up today after she discovered a rabbit in our backyard. Not only did she jet thru a small opening behind our shed, but also snuck through a small opening in our side yard fence trying to track down the critter.

Luckily the neighbor's yard was fenced in and she couldn't go any further, but we definitely need to fix the opening soon.

The last couple of days have been a learning experience for me, Stephanie, the dog and cats.

For instance, this morning Callie was chased by the wimpiest of our cats after she went near his food bowl. Stephanie found her whimpering underneath the bed after the incident, terrified she was chased by anything.

Yet she is also very protective of her new parents, threatening to attack one of my friends when he came over yesterday. Later on she warmed up to him like nothing ever happened.

Callie brings a refreshing energy to our home. While she won't replace Smarty, who died last October, it makes me feel good to know I saved a animal. I would suggest anyone who loves animals and can provide a loving home to adopt from the Vanderburgh Humane Society or any other animal shelter.

I know I will not let her down.

Cutler destined for failure

Jay Cutler may have grown up in Santa Claus, Ind., but his attitude over the last two weeks is reminiscent of a disgruntled Keebler elf. Now he has a reputation of a troubled player for a team with no offensive weapons. Will he demand a trade once he realizes his best receiver is a punt returner?

Was Cutler looking for a reason to get out of Denver? His best receiver, Brandon Marshall, is looking at a possible NFL suspension, which left him with a average second-year receiver to throw to. Maybe he was afraid Josh McDaniel would make him look too much like Tom Brady, meaning he would be a success on the field and get laid by supermodels off it.

Bottom line is Cutler hasn't proved anything in the NFL yet, and had no right to demand anything from a team he was under contract with. Here's to hoping his diabetic ass enjoys 10-degree Sundays with 30-mph winds, throwing to below average receivers.

Calipari is scary for UK

Congrats UK fan. You wanted him and you got him. Now let me tell you why you'll never view Coach Cal as a success after he leaves the program in about 5 years. I will try to speak Kentuckian while explaining to help Big Blue Nation understand.

1) This ain't no Conference USA or Atlantic 10-- Calipari's records at Memphis and UMASS were gaudy, but he had SEC-type recruits playing at his school playing against lower level D-1 players, leading to a 25-game Conferernce USA winning streak. Playing SEC games on the road are no easy test, even if you have the most talent on the floor. Winning in the SEC on the road can be a 50-50 proposition on many nights, meaning UK is looking at at least 5 SEC road losses per season. UK generally plays a decent non-conference schedule, so pencil in a couple more losses there. Tie it in with a one to two occasional home losses and you're looking at a 8-10 loss season. That's something Calipari isn't used to and Kentucky fans never accept unless they win the National Championship. In other words, this boy ain't goin' be winnin' as much as you think he be winnin'.

2) Is Calipari really that good a coach? Lets face it, his recruiting is unmatched. Which leads me to this point: Why can't he win the big ones? He led UMASS to the Final Four and lost in the semifinal to UK, then clearly had the better team last year and blew it against Kansas. All Memphis had to do was hit free throws to win. The team was plagued with the problem throughout the season yet Calipari laughed it off and said it wasn't an issue. It was only an issue when it counted most, and Calipari's stubbornness cost his team the title. While he won't carry bad free throw shooting with him to UK, there will most likely be coaching issues where he refuses to change strategies, resulting in unnecessary losses. And all out of stubbornness. And let's not forget Memphis was mounting a comeback against Missouri this year when he was T'd up. In other words, this boy might be to awful smart for his on good.

3) Calipari is quite emotional, and a long SEC season can take its toll on even the best coaches. I'm sure he didn't have as much to stress about during his 25-game conference winning streak. When you know you have the best talent on the floor every night the only thing there is to worry about is focus. Now he will be in conference games where matchups are even on many nights. How will he respond when he is upset at home by Vanderbilt when his team just had a off-night? My guess is he won't be able to handle it, especially after you Big Blue crazies get a hold of him. He will be gray by the end of next season, even if he gets to 30 wins. In other words, that boy be crazy and been gettin' crazier by the second.

4) His peers will tire of his antics. For god's sake, John Chaney of Temple wanted to literally kill him after one game when he was at UMASS. Calipari is well-known for being a crybaby to officials on the floor, even though I'll give him credit by saying he also gives hell to his players on the floor as well. But before it's over I can see Tennessee's Bruce Pearl punching him in the face or the much shorter Billy Donovan punching him in the nuts. His antics won't be tolerated in the SEC. In other words, nobody be liken' yo coach cause he cries to much.

The truth is, Calipari is in a losing situation unless he brings a National Championship to UK. And then another. And then another. It's probably why Pitino left for the Celtics, and why Tubby is sitting pretty at Minnesota. You UK fans are just plain nuts and unrealistic.

UK-UT rivalry about to get stronger

Tennesse coach Bruce Pearl made UK and Tennessee a rivalry when he arrived four years ago, and it's going to get crazy if John Calipari takes the vacated UK job.

Calipari is a heated rival of Pearl, and now they could see each other twice a year during the regular season.

If anyone can go John Chaney on Calipari it's Pearl. I remember a local television interview when he was with USI in which he proclaimed "I hate Indianapolis." Not the city itself, but the rival college basketball team that tried to take out his star player's knee the last time they played.

Ironicly that star player -former Division II Player of the Year Stan Gourard- is now the coach at Indianapolis.

Pearl had a serious chip on his shoulder when it came to Memphis. He let it be know he didn't like Calipari's attitude because he didn't recognize Tennessee as a "national program." That chip will now be focused more toward UK, which beat the Vols twice last year.

Stay tuned. Pearl's reaction to a Calipari hiring could be entertaining.

1:56 p.m. I can't believe Calipari hasn't given his official answer yet. If he decided to stay at Memphis it will actually help his recruiting at that school. By staying he'd be showing potential recruits he's commited for the longhaul. And it would leave UK searching for answers as to why it couldnt' lure a coach away from $38 million.

6:31 p.m. Calipari doomed from the start. Why leave a place where you are god for a place you can only be god if you win the National Championship. See Tubby Smith.

And then there were the Final Four

The Pool's Bracketbuster contest has eight different winning scenarios. I can win the pool in two of those scenarios, yet I can only imagine what might have been.

My strategy going in was to keep all my early round picks the same, the only difference was having four different National Champions.

The thought I did this correctly but sent three of the same file to the Powers that Be of The Pool. So right now, while my four brackets are in first through fourth place, I have only 2 in eight chances of winning.

My best chance of winning is UConn beating Michigan St., and North Carolina beating UConn with UNC winning the title. I can also win if UConn beats Michigan State, Villanova beats UNC and Nova wins the title. The glass half full side of this all is the top three spots cash, and I have a chance to cash in 7-of-8 scenarios.

Right now UConn is a 4-point favorite over MSU, a number I believe is deflated with the so-called home court advantage for the Spartans. It's not going to be that big of a deal, and I believe MSU may have shot their wad against Louisville.

Judgement day for brackets

I've made it widely known how good I've been in this year's March Madness pools. Eight-for-eight in the Elite Eight, 2-of-2 so far for the Final Four. Too bad Louisville is trying to put a kink in my armor. If they don't contain Mr. Sutan that see of red in Indy is going to represent nothing but blood.

2:55 p.m. I'm about to move my focus more to Tiger's potential comeback. This Louisville game is driving me nuts.

2:59 p.m. Birds forced to call another TO. Now they can't shoot or defend.

3:08 p.m. I wonder if Tom Crean is at this game telling everyone "It's Indiana." Anyway, right now it looks like Izzo is outcoaching Pitino. Don't get any ideas UK breath. Izzo isn't going anywhere.

3:16 p.m. Why do I have a feeling Bruce Pearl just booked a flight to Bosnia to pick up his next great big man that can shoot the 3? And why has Louisville turned into Memphis East? Hit your free throws!

3:21 p.m. My chance at Final Four perfection is toast, but still plenty alive to win The Pool's Bracket Challenge. It all hinges on UNC.

3:38 p.m. See photo. Louisville was forced to it's knees by the mighty Spartans. Not that I'm bitter or anything.

7:06 p.m. Two observations from the UNC-Oklahoma game. 1) Hansboro and Griffin will be nothing more than average NBA basketball players. They will never live up to where they'll be drafed. 2) UNC will win if they stay focused. They can beat a team in too many ways. Away from basketball, Tiger Woods is amazing, just hitting a pressure filled 16-foot putt to win the Arnold Palmer tournament.