BUTLER OVER CLEVELAND STATE!!! (I win the bet)

"Cleveland State is destined to win this (Horizon League) tournament", is what Phil said on March 9th, 2008, shortly after CSU's victory over Valpo. Simply put...Phil was wrong. Not only was Phil wrong, I was very very right. The Butler Bulldogs marched into the NCAA Tournament with a dominant effort last night, soundly defeating an under-matched and timid Cleveland State squad, 70-55. Butler won the Horizon League Championship game for the first time since 2001, giving the loyal fans at Hinkle Fieldhouse something to cheer about. Why anyone would have bet against Butler in this tournament is beyond me. Yes...having a black coach does make one's team that much stronger. And yes...one of Butler's 3 losses was to Cleveland State. But then again...Butler had three losses all season! They also have an RPI of 18 and have victories against Virginia Tech, Florida State, and Ohio State. A very strong pick by me. I have now officially won my first March Madness related bet. A cool 5 dollars of Phil's will soon becoming my way. Actually I'll probably just be using it to enter his NCAA pool, but the principle of me being victorious still remains. I'm very glad to have the gambling element of March Madness underway. Thank you Butler for earning me some untaxed income.

Valparaiso over Wright State!!!

I just wanted to keep everyone up to date on my first official March Madness bet. You may remember that I have a 5 dollar bet with my buddy Phil about who will win the Horizon League Tournament. Phil has chosen either Cleveland State or Wright State to become champs. I have Butler and/or Valparaiso winning it all.

Well it is my great pleasure to report to you that last night, Valparaiso defeated a soft Wright State team, 72-67 in the Horizon League Quarterfinals (you can read all about it here). Might I add that Valparaiso is the #6 seed and Wright State was somehow the #3 seed. What a strong upset pick by me. This isn't just good times people...it's GREAT TIMES! Now if Valpo can defeat #2 seed Cleveland State in the semifinals on Saturday, both of Phil's teams will be out of the Tournament and I'll have a very good possibility of both of my teams playing each other in the finals! (assuming that #1 seed Butler takes care of business and beats #4 UIC tomorrow) This is what March Madness is all about: making strong picks and humiliating your friends. I'm really feeling it this year. I believe that this strong bet and eventual victory will propel me into NCAA Tournament pool glory. Or at least, get me 5 of Phil's hard-earned dollars. Go Valparaiso!

First Official March Madness Bet

March Madness has officially started. Last night I made my first wager with regard to the NCAA Tournament and all of the wonder and glory that surrounds this event. The bet is between my friend Phil and I, and goes as follows:

The Stakes: 5 dollars

The Goal: Choose the Horizon Conference Champion

The Picks: Me - Butler or Valparaiso; Phil - Cleveland State or Wright State

Phil made the initial guarantee that Cleveland State would win the Horizon Conference Tournament (mainly on the strength of Cleveland State's black coach). I countered and said that there is no way that anyone else in the league wins this tourney other than Butler. Phil, being weak, wouldn't take a straight up 5 dollar bet of his Cleveland State versus my strong (lock) pick of Butler. I persisted with the wager...and he finally agreed to the bet on the condition that he could win the bet with EITHER Cleveland State or Wright State. And I agreed to his condition on the condition that I could have one other team. I then chose Valpo just to make things interesting. If any other team in the Horizon wins the Conference Championship (isn't going to happen), then the wager is a push and we get our 5 dollars back. The pot of 10 dollars is currently being held by Annie, Phil's lovely wife, who is kindly the keeper of the money until Butler wins the tournament and the cash is mine.

It's good to be making bets again. March Madness bets really get the blood flowing. I plan on betting early and betting often. Go Butler.