Nothing But Iron: Rainy Days and Fridays March 17, 2006 by Steven R. Lagman, M.D., C.A.S.W. I have said many times that the seeding does not make much difference in the NCAA tournament, but I was wrong. In this case the difference was about 750 miles. If things had been different, I might have be writing this issue from a public jet on its way to Philadelphia. As of late evening on Selection Sunday (the real Selection Sunday, not the pathetic BCS imposter of a few months ago) all was set for my trip to see the No. 9 Badgers play in their first-round game against No. 8 Arizona. Kelly had even reserved the flight with the provision that it could be cancelled within 24 hours. With a little scheduling cooperation from CBS, I would have been on my way. As it turned out, UW-Arizona got the lunchtime slot normally reserved for re-runs of The Joker’s Wild and fascinating soap opera story lines like that of All my Children, Some of Whom are Unknowingly Illegitimate but Luke, Tad and Erica Don’t Know That. Short of quintuple OT or a bomb-and-relish-sniffing canine causing a tip-off delay, I could not have arrived in time to see the game. For a moment I thought of going anyway–for Sunday’s game, but I could not muster that kind of faith. Even Dr. Optimism had to admit that this year’s Badgers were at risk for low tourney viability. No doubt Philadelphia is an interesting city, more so than Syracuse for sure, but the thought of being stuck there for the weekend, with no game to call my own, eating beefcakes or cheesecakes or cheesesteaks or whatever they call ‘em, well past the point of satiety, was just too much to endure. Besides, if the Badgers were to lose in the first round, I would miss Sunday morning old-guys pick-up basketball for no good reason. The result is that I will watch the game from the comfort of my own home on high-definition TV with the volume turned way up. I will sit on a folding chair and spill soda and popcorn on my shoes so I feel like I am really there. Unlike some of you, I will watch this game with optimism, because my brother Bruce, who is perhaps the foremost sports expert in his immediate household said I should: U of A is not good. This may be the only game in the tourney where either team can win. Either team can win by blowout. Either team can win by one point. Either team can score 40 points total. Either team can score 70 points. I think you will watch Hasan Adams. If he has good first half, Cats will do well. I suspect they won't show up and will miss too many free throws and this will cost them as they lose by 8 points, cuz Wisky hits theirs down the stretch. You heard it here first. Wisconsin will win based on its free-throw shooting? That’s original. You’ll have to excuse my brother; he is short. I actually have my own reasons for optimism: 1) Attitude. How many times do you hear teams whining about seed or opponent or venue? Not these Badgers. They are saying all the right things: We are just happy to have this opportunity. I like that. 2) Experience. True the Badgers are young, but only two significant players–Joe Krabbenhoft and Kevin Gullikson lack tournament experience. 3) Coaching. Bo Ryan is an expert in adversity management. 4) Defense. Not ours, but theirs. Unless something has changed, and it might have since the last time Wisconsin played Arizona, defense is not taught, or at least learned in Arizona. What could be better for Kammron Taylor’s shooting slump than a game where nobody guards him? 5) Weather. Wisconsin is undefeated in the Wachovia Center when game time temperatures are less than 49 degrees. It would be nice to see the Badgers shoot better, but at the top of my wish list is defensive improvement, which I see as UW’s biggest need (as exemplified by second-half failure vs. Indiana). If Lute Olson is smart, he will coach the Wildcats to test UW’s on-ball and help defense with drive after penetrating drive to the hoop. (I doubt if he would have to even tell them that.) If Alando Tucker and Brian Butch have solid defensive games (at least one block each and one charge draw between the two of them), Wisconsin advances. Rewind to the Big Ten Tournament. Indianapolis as a tournament venue puts Chicago to shame. Speaking of shame, what a shame the B10T won’t be back there. Turns out, according to rumors that everyone there, including hotel personnel, seemed to believe, there was a misunderstanding with between hoteliers and Big Ten officials, teams and fans. According to one source, there was an agreement that the tourney would be the premier event of the weekend, and hotel space would be allotted accordingly. Try telling that to the scads of high-school volleyball players who had their own agenda. The result was a major shortage of rooms, with some fans having to seek lodging 15 miles away. I overheard this: "The B10T is one of just five major events here this weekend." Translation: Take a number, pal. So much for the premiere event of the weekend. I can almost stomach the competition from volleyball, especially since I was one of the few who did secure a room (well, Kelly did it) just two blocks from Conseco Fieldhouse, but the Antique Bicycle Spokes Convention and the Bathroom Plunger Trade Show really made me feel slighted. This is good news for Chicago and the United Center, which will likely host the event until basketball is studied as an ancient ritual by paleontologists. Chicago has it’s plusses, but Indy was so much more relaxed. Despite rainy skies, we didn’t take a cab the whole time we were there. We tipped our valets just twice, once when they parked the car and once when we checked out of our hotel. It takes almost six hours to reach Indy, but we probably made up the difference in traffic time, given that it takes a minimum of 45 minutes to get from game to hotel or back in Chicago and about the same to reach many of the restaurants. If you do happen to be in Indy, say, for example, to attend Stunt Kite 2007, I recommend St. Elmo Steakhouse, an Indianapolis tradition since 1902, and for good reason. It’s pricey, so bring a couple empty Visa cards. I rate the food at five slam dunks for taste and outlandish portion size. The cakes were succulently massive. We ordered carrot cake (one piece serves 7) because life is about balance and if you intend to consume 8000 calories in one sitting, at least part of that should come from a vegetable. The games, but for one, were enjoyable. Wisconsin played one of its worst halves of the season, but I won’t bore you with old news. I will bore you with some of the pessimism we were subject to by so-called Badgers fans after the game. They teased me a bit, asking how Mr. Cup Half Full might put a positive spin on this one. I had these things to say in reply: 1) You take the bad with the good. In that regard, the cup is not half full, it is mostly full. 2) Joe Krabbenhoft, in a difficult role, performed admirably this season. I went on record as saying he will leave this program with the designation of having been an outstanding player. (How could anyone be critical of Joe?!!) 3) The season’s not over yet. I was impressed by the Hawkeyes, who took home the trophy. They have a nice balance of experience and youth. Brent Feller, a die-hard Iowa guy, picked his team all the way to the Final Four. I did not, but I must admit it’s an intriguing and fairly logical pick. In what seems to be a strong year for the Big Ten, Iowa beat each Big Ten team at least once. The most satisfying game for me was the Illinois-Michigan State game. At first it was hard to cheer for either team, especially the one belonging to Izzo the Whiner, but after a few minutes of enduring an arena full of people dressed in noxious orange, like the lady seated just inches behind my left ear whose 120-decibel screeches may have stolen my ability to hear the piano recitals of my yet-unborn grandchildren, I had to cheer for green, or at least against orange. Though I have the same affection for MSU as I do for phlegm, it was heartwarming to see the Illini defeated in front of a huge crowd of supporters, including the brats seated just behind Brent who had been taunting him during the preceding game between Iowa and Minnesota. Sparty was at his best, flexing his steroid-enhanced muscles during every time out. I created a new cheer for the Illini, whose chant of I-L-L, I-N-I is at least as annoying as Michigan’s single-minded, incessant Hail to the Victors. My version is I-L-L, That Spells Ill. There’s more, but you’ll never know that because the game starts in 20 minutes and I need proof this (in moderation) and upload it to the site in time for you to read it during the first media time out. _______________ Nothing But Iron is an amateur sports and food review column.©2006 DrTM Enterprises. All rights reserved.