Jay Kersting's Blog

First off, Happy St. Patrick's Day to all.  For those who do not know the legend of St. Patrick, well, in short, he is the one credited for removing the snakes from Ireland.

Why couldn't he make a trip to Washington, DC?

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OK, the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament brackets have been set.  Now we will hear from all of the armchair experts as to who will do what.  We will hear from the non-sports media how much this will cost workplace productivity.  Non-sports fans, or non-basketball fans at least, will be SICK of this by the time we get to April 7th.  Oh well, sucks to be you.

So, here is how I see it.  Am I upset that Tennessee is not a number one seed?  No.  They didn't earn it.  Losses to Arkansas in the SEC Tournament and to the Vanderbilt Commode Doors late in the regular season put them in that position. 

Now, that said, I like their draw.  And I do not mean American University.  I know nothing about them.  But I like that Tennessee is in the same region as North Carolina (with head coach Huckleberry Hound), Indiana, Louisville, Notre Dame and Oklahoma.  WOW!!  What a region!!  Should be some exciting games played in the East.

Now, back to North Carolina and head coach Huckleberry Hound. 

I have made no secret of my distaste of programs like ucla and FU (aka Flori-DUH University).  But North Carolina holds a special place for me.  First, I have had the misfortune of knowing some obnoxious and ignorant Tar Heels fans.  But mainly, I do not have any use for their coach.

I know, many in this part of the country hate him because he coached at Kansas.  Well, I liked him then.  Sure, he couldn't win a championship while at the most storied program in college basketball history.  But, he got them to the Final Four several times.

No, I don't care for hime because of two main reasons.  First, how he left when he left Kansas.  But second, and mainly, how he opened his fat jowls when my alma mater fired Buzz Peterson. 

I liked Buzz.  Buzz and I had several great conversations about basketball while he was at Tennessee.  He is an incredibly personable guy.  But he couldn't get the Vols to the NCAA Tournament.  So, when Buzz got fired after the 2005 season, Huckleberry opens his mouth and makes comments about how Tennessee wants the coach to be able to sell popcorn.  Well, this followed his comments about Tennessee when he coached against them with Buzz at the helm.

You know what Coach Hound, it is the job of a coach to put butts in the seats.  It is the job of a coach to sell popcorn.  It is called the ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESS.  It is the financial reality of big time college athletics.  I believe that Huckleberry Hound has his job because his two predecessors couldn't do that.

I hated to see Buzz go on a personal level.  But, I am glad that Bruce Pearl is the coach in Knoxville and I hope he is there a long time.  I also like Bruce on a personal level, but I have more respect for what he has done on the court.  Especially at Tennessee in a very short time.

I hope he gets to show the Tar Heels that.

Unless the Indiana Hoosiers beat the Vols to it.  I would not shed a tear over that.

If Mount Saint Marys or Coppin State beat the Hoosiers to it, I will enjoy the belly laugh.

Boy will I enjoy that.

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More on hoops tomorrow.  And maybe some other topics.  Back on the air at 6am CDT!!!!