WWRD? Eliminate the Super Conference

TSBE is a not so-flattering acronym for The Super Big East.  It's not so-flattering in that it is meant to convey a picture that the powers that be who created TSBE were only in it for the size and money.  After all, any conference that has to employ a "double-bye" in their conference tournament to appease the larger, more talented members so that all conference members can be included in the conference tournament, despite the fact that the size of the conference (16) is a perfect "tournament number," is not exactly an organization steeped in logic.

WWRD? Part II: BracketBusters

Another thing that will not be surprising to many (if anyone) readers of previous blogs is my stance on the treatment of the mid-majors by the NCAA.  Pure and simple, it sucks.  If you have an affiliation with an organization, you should be treated equally under the rule of law for that organization.

WWRD? Part I

As much as I have criticized things lately (just lately?) you would think I would have some constructive suggestions for college basketball.  I hinted at a couple of these in my post about a possible expansion to 96 teams but I think, in fairness to the inept NCAA powers that be, there are a couple things they could do that would improve the product.

Raap's Winning Formula

*Because of the fact that I am once again down to needing a tiebreaker in the championship game to break the stranglehold that my Assistant Tournament Director, Raap Elleinad, seems to have on me when it comes to the March Madness pool, I am allowing her a guest blogger spot so she can walk those who care through her winning formula for picking March Madness games.  Consider it a gift of my pain--from me to you, with love
Reg*

When Artie first asked me to do this guest blog spot, I wasn't sure what a blog was, much less how to contribute to one.  Seriously, how do I convey how easy it is to beat him in the March Madness pool every year?  And don't bring up his tiebreaker win in 2008--it was a fluke.  Seriously, do you think if I thought he had a chance, I would have only guessed 85 points for the tiebreaker score?  To me, it was like throwing the first two darts away when all you need is a bullseye to win.

VIva Las Vegas

I'm back but not sure that I'm fully functional yet after five days and nights in Sin City.  Beer, cigars, shots, cognac, more cigars, double cheeseburgers and fries at McDonald's (at least one a day), more beer and some of the worst bar food (when you economize) I will ever eat have taken their toll on me.  Couple that with sleepless nights there (seriously, my body never adjusted to the two-hour time change) and when I returned (both kids got the flu while I was gone) and this has already been a long week.

As for the main purpose of the trip, I would never qualify myself as an expert.  However, after 13 trips to Vegas for various gambling and sports betting experiences and eight of those for March Madness, I can honestly say there are a few things I should pass along to those that go someday.  Learn from my mistakes.

Factor in alcohol content into every bet
Because the beers are usually very cheap if you are gambling, you need to be in touch with your intake.  Note that I didn't say you should drink less or not as much as you want.  I said you should be in touch with your intake.  That is, when considering a bet, subtract one from your confidence level in the bet for every beer you have consumed prior to that bet and then reassess.