My 10-Minute Vent
April 15, 2010 by danny · Leave a Comment
I’ve got an extra 10-minutes here, and I feel like getting a few things off my chest. And I thank you for being here when I need you most. I love you all. Well, except you Randy. I’m still mad at you for putting that that “kick me” sign on my butt at the school assembly in 7th grade. All the girls laughed at me and it still keeps me up at night. Damn you Randy! Everyone else, thanks for the love, and for listening…
Lucky Charms, Trix, etc. etc. etc. etc.
It ticks me off that there are so many commercials (everywhere in the media, really) that push a food as a health food, when it is far from it. Obesity is a huge problem in our country, and this deceit is not helping. For example, cereals that get the “Whole Grain Guaranteed” seal of approval from General Mills. The majority of these cereals are nothing more than sugar in a box with low fiber and a list of ingredients that I wouldn’t want me worst enemy to eat (except for you Randy. Man you’re an a-hole!). Part of the problem? The consumer needs to be more savvy. And I’m here to help “savvy you up.” So, if your cereal (or basically any food), has a bunch of carbs, very little fiber, and sugar is one of the first ingredients in the ingredients list, then it is NOT healthy.
Don’t get me wrong, I get my cheat on from time to time. But at least I know when I am cheating and when I’m being a good boy. And that is the message here; educate yourself so you know good from bad. Then, you can make adjustments in your food plan to get to your goals. For a good place to start as far as educating yourself, check this out. End vent.
Finishing on a positive note; the sun is out and I’m about to give a basketball lesson before heading to the gym to train clients for the day. Plus, the Cubs have won 2 in a row, the Bulls are in the playoffs, and the Bears haven’t lost in 2010. Life is good. Good bye.
Exercise of the Week
April 12, 2010 by danny · Leave a Comment
The exercise of the week is the chin-up. The chin-up is a great compound movement that works many muscles simultaneously. The latissimus dorsi is the prime mover. But other muscles of the back also come into play – the rhomboids, teres major, lower traps, etc. The biceps get a good amount of work with chins as well. Also, whenever I go a couple training blocks without doing chin-ups, my first day back at them, my abs get very sore the next day – especially when adding a lot of weight and going with lower reps. This happens because our abdominals fire like crazy to help stabilize us. As you can see, chin-ups (and pull-ups, which are done with the palms facing away from the body) are a BIG bang for-your-buck movement!
Proper Form
Start each rep from the full hang position. To initiate the movement activate the lats and picture pulling with your elbows (this helps you to pull with the proper muscles). Keep your chest high, and shoulder blades down and back. I tell me clients to, “go get the bar with your chest.” In other words, if the chest leads the way up, it will help you keep your shoulder blades down and back. As soon as you lose range of motion (you can’t get your chin above the bar), or you start shrugging your traps, stop the set. Make sure you do NOT look up and hyper-extend your neck up over the bar. You cheater you! Keep your head/neck neutral throughout (look straight forward).
The first video is a video of me doing chins with weight added. You’ll notice I pause between each rep because I am performing “classic clusters.” If interested in what a classic cluster is, you can read more about it here.
Modifications
Strength-wise, if you aren’t ready for chin-ups on your own, you can always have a partner push up on your feet on the way up, and you do all the work on the way down. Or, what we usually do is use bands for assistance. The thicker the band, the easier it is. We use bands from performbetter.com. You can see the link up and to the right of your screen. Just search for “superbands.”
Basketball Strength Training for Newbies
April 7, 2010 by danny · Leave a Comment
Take a look around. What are you seeing more and more in basketball? Guys on the court that are as big and wide as a barn-yard door. I was watching a NBA game last night and there happened to be a game playing on that ESPN classic channel at the same time. I found myself flipping back and fourth between commercials.
Exercise of the Week
April 6, 2010 by danny · Leave a Comment
In previous weeks, I focused on lifting for the exercise of the week. Today, I’m going to put the focus on improving mobility. Getting leaning, stronger, and more muscular is great. But if you don’t work on your mobility, it will lead to problems down the line. These problems could be; injury – if you don’t spend time getting the proper joints mobile, your body will go to another joint to get this motion. Quite often this ends up being a joint that is designed for stability, NOT mobility. So basically, you’re getting mobility at the wrong joint. Another problem is a drop in performance. This drop could show up on the athletic field, or in the weight room. If you are trying to get the most out of each training session, this is not a good thing. You want each training session to be as efficient as possible.
Exercise of the Week: Walking Spiderman
I picked up this exercise from a great product called Access & Correct. This is an exercise me and my clients use pre-workout to improve the length of our hip flexors (which are tight for just about everyone out there…from all the sitting we do, day-in-day-out), and the adductors. As described in Access & Correct;
-Take a long stride forward into a lunge position.
-Keeping the chest up and out, lower the same-side elbow to the heel of the your forward leg.
-In the bottom position, squeeze the glute of the trailing leg and drive the hip towards the ground.
-Stand up and return to the starting position.
- Maintain a neutral spine and do not allow your back to round.
-Keep the chest up and out.
-Make sure to take long strides to lengthen the adductors.
MLB Roundtable, 2010
March 30, 2010 by danny · 2 Comments
First pitch of opening day is just about here. Every fan of every team can lie to themselves and say they have a chance. Yes, even the Washington National. But really, who am I to make fun of the Nationals? My team hasn’t won the World Series since 1908. But before I start to cry, let me tell you what I have in store for you today; three people that are going to give you their expert opinion on all things MLB, 2010.
On the panel, we have Brad McLarty. You know he’s an expert, because us McLarty boys haven’t been wrong in over 5 years…just ask our wives. 
We also have McKenna. This is a guy that is so famous that he only needs one name. You know, kind of like Cher (yeah, I just put him in the same category as Cher), Gandi, and Jordan (there you go McKenna, I worked you in there with MJ, so you can feel better again). And finally, we have Eric Cressey. Eric and his crew at “Cressey Performance” are literally changing the way that strength coaches train baseball players. You can read more about Eric at ericcessey.com. If you work with baseball players, do yourself a favor and check out his website – a GREAT baseball resource! Now, lets get to it…
Play Ball!
Danny McLarty: Before we get to the entire league, lets start off with what is truly important to us. For Brad and I, that is the Cubs. For Eric and McKenna, that is the Red Sox. Starting it off with Brad, briefly tell me why we are not going to be saying, “there’s always next year,” by the time July rolls around.
Brad McLarty: We are not going to be saying that because hopefully the Cubs will stay healthy this year. Last year the Cubs had key players injured time after time. Theses are the same key players that led them to 97 wins the year before. If they can stay healthy they are very capable of a 90+ win season again. Carlos Zambrano spent the off-season working out in Chicago for the first time in his career. He has lost a lot of weight and it’s time to stop saying he could be great if…. He’s got a lot to prove and this has to be the year he gets it done. Geovany Soto has also lost 40lbs in the off-season and is hungry to prove his abilities after a bad sophomore season.
DM: Back in college McKenna lived a life with as much heartbreak as us Cubs fans. But that all changed in the summer of 2004 when Boston got their first World Series ring since 1918. Don’t worry, we’ll get to your stupid Red Sox in a moment. Before doing that, tell me McKenna, do the 2010 Cubs have a chance?
McKenna: I hate to say it but I would bet on Piniella dropping dead arguing a bang-bang play at first before I take the Cubs to win it. They need a real number one starter and I’m not sure they have enough offense to make up for a questionable bullpen. I keep hoping we can get our dream World Series and watch the Red Sox versus the Cubs at Fenway and Wrigley but I don’t see it happening this year.
DM: We are no longer friends McKenna.
Eric, care to add anything in regards to this year’s Cubs team? Or dont you care about us?
Eric Cressey: Cubs? Who are they?
Just kidding, of course…at least sort of.
DM: Switching gears to a less important topic – the Red Sox. Tell me Eric, how do you like the Red Sox chances against the “Evil Empire” in the AL East this year?
EC: I like them. Everybody knocks the “defense approach” the Sox have taken this year, but to be honest, I don’t think offensive production will drop off at all. And, guys like Adrian Beltre, Mike Cameron, and Marco Scutaro make the pitching staff better – particularly when you take a great defensive center fielder like Ellsbury and put him in left. You’ve upgraded at four positions defensively, and that makes an already good pitching staff better. Pitching wins games (and, more specifically, healthy starting pitching), and I’d take Beckett-Lester-Lackey against any three pitchers in baseball in a playoff series. The Sox crunch the numbers more than any other team in MLB; they know what they’re doing with these moves.
Oh, and some guy named Youkilis had a great new strength coach this off-season…so he’ll be just fine at first base (especially since he’s already won a Gold Glove there)
DM: And McKenna, your thoughts?
McKenna: I agree with Eric completely but I will add that the Sox also still have Wakefield, Matsuzaka and Buchholz which gives the Red Sox depth and flexibility that the Yankees don’t have with their starting rotation. I could argue that potentially Lackey is the Red Sox number four starter because Buchholz stuff is that good. The kid has already thrown a no hitter and has filthy stuff. I do have some concerns with the Red Sox offensive fire power but if they need a bat the Red Sox have the ability to go get someone in July once some of the fire sales begin. The proverbial nail in the coffin for the Yankees is that it’s a contract year for Josh Beckett, case closed.
DM: Lets move around the league a bit. We haven’t won since 1908, so the odds are stacked in our favor to get it done. This is most likely, “our year,” but injuries could take over, another goat could cross our path, or something else crazy, you really never know. If something like that takes place, and the Cubs don’t win it, what other teams out there do you like to be playing deep into the post-season?
BM: Its easy to pick the two teams that were in the World Series last year, but that’s exactly what I’m going to do. I think the Phillies offensive line-up is the scariest line-up in the National league and their pitching isn’t too shabby either. You add Roy Halladay into the mix and they are my preseason pick to make it back to the World Series. My sleeper is the San Fransico Giants. Love their #1 and #2 starters Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain. They’ve also added some nice pieces with Mark DeRosa and Freddy Sanchez. Yankees of course are tough to pick against with the cast of All-Stars they have. Not a surprise when your team salary is pushing 210 million while the Tampa Bay Rays are around 68 million. I think they will be battling the same teams as always with the Red Sox and Angels. The Mariners and White Sox added some nice players but the Twins losing their closer Nathan and moving outdoors is going to hurt them.
DM: Brad, please don’t ever say anything nice about the White Sox again. McKenna, what say you?
McKenna: Obviously the Red Sox will win the AL East. The AL Central will be the Twins, I don’t care if Nathan is out or not. In the AL West I like Seattle to finally break through and keep the Angels home this fall. The AL wild card will be the Rays coming out of the brutal AL East. I know, I know, I didn’t pick the Yankees to even make the playoffs but here are my reasons; 1. I hate them! 2. I think they will have issues with injuries this year and it will derail them. 3. How long can Rivera still be a lights-out closer? I mean the dude is what, fifty? He still plays Enter Sandman when he enters the game. Lame! In the NL East it has to be the Phillies as they added Halladay and that is plenty. In the NL Central I have the Cardinals. La Russa is a genius, he has the best player in the game, and a decent pitching staff barring any injuries. In the NL West I like the Rockies. I am going to the inter-league series when they play the Red Sox and look forward to watching two possible playoff teams. My NL wild card pick is the Braves. Watch out for Jason Heyward, if they keep him in the bigs he is going to be a beast!
DM: Eric, with all of the professional baseball players that you work with on a weekly basis, I’m sure the readers would love to get your thoughts. Which teams do you think have the best chance to be playing in October?
EC: Hard to argue with the Yankees and Red Sox coming out of the AL East. I like Detroit in the AL Central and Seattle in the AL West (gotta love Lee and Hernandez as a 1-2). Philadelphia and St. Louis will go from the NL East and Central, and LA from the NL West. Wild card to SF…sorry, Cubs fans.
DM: Obviously guys like Alex Rodriguez, Albert Pujols, and Ryan Theriot are easy choices for pre-season MVP talk. Eric, anyone else that you put on your short list that might surprise us?
EC: Pujols is practically a given in the NL. I think that the AL is more wide open, and I certainly have some biases who will remain nameless.
That said, as a baseball fan, I think it will be interesting to see what Evan Longoria does this year. The guy hit 33HR and knocked in 113 runs in his first full MLB season. Traditionally, if you hit .300 with 30+HR and 100+RBI, you are a top three guy in MVP voting, guaranteed. He’s seen all those AL pitchers for 1.5 years now and is more mature.
Oh, that Joe Mauer guy is pretty good, too.
DM: Brad, do you have any surprises?
BM: My pick every year if he is healthy is Jose (his real name so I always call him that) Pujols. But a surprise and I hate to say it, is Ryan Braun of the Brewers. Love his bat and he is improving in left field. Another Brewer to watch is Prince Fielder. In the American league I am going to say Joe Mauer. A number of players after signing a huge contract would coast but I think that is going to drive him even more.
DM: McKenna?
McKenna: It is hard to argue against Theriot who hit a whopping seven bombs last year, but in the NL I’m going with Hanley Ramirez. He has all the tools and was once a Red Sox, which is good enough for me. My dark horse is David Wright. If the Mets have a decent year he will get a strong look. In the AL, Youkilis has to be the pick. Working out with Eric has to make him good for forty bombs and a huge year! I also love Longoria, he just kills the Red Sox and is a super talent. I think the Tigers will stink but Cabrera also has a solid shot at winning the MVP.
DM: Eric works with a ton of pitchers - working his magic to help keep their arms/shoulders healthy, getting them stronger to throw harder, and to help them with recovery between outings. With that said, I can’t have him on this roundtable without talking Cy Young. Eric, who do you like in each league?
EC: Even though he has struggled in spring training, it’s hard to go with anyone but Sabathia in the AL after how dominant he was last year. Greinke deserved it completely, though – especially considering what he did on a team that didn’t score a lot of runs. Still, I’d say Sabathia and Hernandez as 1-2.
I think Jon Lester is ready to be a top of the line starter and it wouldn’t surprise me if he won 20 games this year. I’m not saying Cy Young, but I think he’ll surprise a lot of people. Then again, it wouldn’t surprise me if Lester, Beckett, and Lackey all won 20 games.
In the NL, I like Halladay without a doubt. I’ll put Lincecum as runner-up.
DM: Brad, do you have a Cy Young front-runner or two?
BM: I’m going with Tim Lincecum of the Giants, or Roy Halladay of the Phillies. Halladay not pitching in that division anymore will give him a chance to dominate. In the American League I am going with Justin Verlander. I’m going to give Cliff Lee an outside chance. After dominating in the playoffs, then being traded, he will want to show people they made a mistake.
DM: McKenna, anything to add?
McKenna: In the NL Halladay is almost a certain lock. Going from the AL East with the DH rule and better hitters, to the NL East facing pitchers and weaker competition is a recipe for 25 wins. I also like Wainwright and Lincecum but they are looking up at Halladay. In the AL it’s two of my beloved Red Sox battling for the pitching honors. Lester and Beckett are both going to have huge years and have the defense behind them to post huge numbers. I know you are all rolling your eyes saying, here we go with more Red Sox bias, but I am giving my most professional and honest opinion so take it for what it’s worth. GO SOX!
DM: Man, it sounds like this Red Sox team does it all! Hey McKenna, do you think your boys can help America find a solution to this health care crisis? Can you get them to use their super powers to pass a law, making it illegal for guys to ever do a curl in the squat rack again? You’re such a homer!
But seriously, thank you very much for taking the time to do this roundtable. Each one of you gave the readers some really good thoughts heading into opening day. If anyone has any surprises that you think these guys left out, post them in the comments section below. I hope you all enjoy the season!
Fake Crossover Series
March 29, 2010 by danny · 2 Comments
I love using the fake crossover (aka “inside-out” dribble) to create space – either for a pull up jumper, or to get all the way to the basket. It can also be used to go around a defender in the open court. The fake crossover can be used as a “single move” to get the job done. Or it can be used with a second (and third) move, known as a “combination move.” As I have mentioned previously, you always want to keep it as simple as possible. So, if the fake crossover frees you up, there is no need to go into a second move (the combination part of the move). BUT, it is great to have the combination move in your back pocket in case the defender cuts you off when you do the fake cross. If this happens, you can go into a number of different moves to go around your defender. In the videos below, you’ll see some examples…
Fake Crossover “Warm-Up” Series
As I mentioned in this post, I always make sure to get to the gym a few minutes early to get my dribbling warm-ups in. The first video is me using a series of moves, all beginning with the fake crossover. The purpose of the warm-up is to prepare me for full speed drills going to the basket; to improve the control I have with the basketball; and to work on the speed in which I dribble the ball.
In the above video you saw;
-3 fake crossovers with each hand
-1 fake crossover-crossover combination move, each way
-1 fake crossover-between the legs combination move, each way
-1 fake crossover-behind the back combination move, each way
-2 “freestyle moves” – here, I start with a fake crossover and go into whatever comes to mind on the fly
Note: Be sure to do the same amount with each hand. Better yet, spend more time working on your weaker hand.
The next video is me using a series of fake crossovers (single and combination moves) going to the basket for pull up jumpers.
The Template
If you remember from the “Handle It” post, the template is as follows;
-Stationary dribbling first
-”Semi-Stationary” is next – this is the verbiage that I use with my clients. If you can think of anything cooler, or more appropriate than “semi-stationary,” let me know. 
-Full speed dribbling – either moves up and down the court, or moves to the basket.
A Few More Videos
And for fun, I thought I’d share with you a few other cool videos. This first video is my 8 year old client showing off his fake crossover-crossover combination move. I love the fact that he is skilled enough to perform this at such as young age. But I’m even more thrilled at the fact that he finished with his left hand like a 13 year old!
The next video is my 13 year old client working on his dribbling in one of our sessions. Here, he uses the fake crossover-crossover in the open court, en route to a pull up jumper.
And finally, one of my favorite players in the NBA, Dwyane Wade shows us what a fake crossover-crossover looks like at the NBA level. The floor is yours D. Wade…
If you aren’t already doing so, make sure to incorporate the fake crossover, and the combo moves that go with it, into your game. Let me know in the comments section below, if you have any other move, or series of moves that you would like me to cover. Please make sure not to ask for hook shots, or dunks…never been my specialty.
This post has been brought to you by Sears Fit Club.
New Service…
March 24, 2010 by danny · Leave a Comment
Beach Season Is Right Around The Corner!
I want to make everyone aware of the new service I just added. I’m calling it , “The Cook Training Program.” One of the reasons I started this website, was to be able to help as many people as possible reach their health and physique goals. I designed The Cook Training Program with the intention of reaching the masses. It is very affordable for just about anyone.
You choose your main goal. With beach season right around the corner, maybe you are looking to lean out a bit. If so, go with the fat loss program.
If you are one of the “lucky ones,” and are already lean, maybe you are looking to add a little size. If that is the case, go with the muscle gaining program.
To get all of the details, check out this link.
From Them, To Me, To You…
March 22, 2010 by danny · 3 Comments
Everyday I make sure I do some reading in order to keep learning. Today I have a couple of great posts for you to check out.
This is a post from Brian St. Pierre. Over the last couple of years I’ve heard a number of people refer to the “China Study” when talking about the evils of animal meat, and casein protein. This study seemed to be their, “game-set-match” reference, as to why a vegetarian diet is the ideal diet. Not so fast. As Brian explains, there are some definite holes is this study. Within this post, Brian also links a post he made last week about the China Study. (be sure to check out that post as well, if you want to get a better overall view on Brian’s thoughts on the China Study) Very logical stuff here. At least in my opinion.
Boost Calories with Olive Oil Shots?!
My good friend, Dr. Clay Hyght, gives a quick tip on how to use olive oil (and fish/flax oil) to help “hardgainers” add a little size.
See you later on in the week…
Overrated and Underrated Exercises: Part II
March 16, 2010 by danny · Leave a Comment
In the first installment of overrated/underrated exercises, I covered bicep curls, and rows. Just as I did in that article, I’ll start off by explaining what I mean by “overrated” and “underrated,” when it comes to exercise selection… I think Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player of all time. BUT, if the general public was to make this statement; “You give me Michael Jordan with 4 guys off the street, I’d take Jordan’s team in 6 games over the ‘86 Celtics.” Well, IF that was the thinking of the majority of people, then I’d have to say that even Michael Jordan is overrated! So, if one of your favorite exercises gets tossed in the overrated category, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you should never perform that exercise again, and/or call me mean names. It just means that in my opinion, this particular exercise is way overused by the majority of trainees, often times at the expense of an exercise that could be a much better option
Upright Rows
First, let me clarify. I’m speaking about barbellupright rows in particular. If you perform dumbell upright rows, you can adjust the plane of motion and grip, making this movement less risky. Ok, back to barbell upright rows.
When you perform a barbell upright row, you are doing so with your humerus maximally interally rotated. (palms facing towards your body, like the lady’s hands in the picture above) This is especially problematic when you are abducting/flexing the humerus with this hand position, (pronated grip) which is exactly what is happening when you raise the bar towards your sternum. Can upright rows contribute to better looking shoulders and traps? Yes. Does a snickers bar have protein in it? Yes. Do you see where I am going with this? Just because there is some good that comes along with upright rows, (and snickers) there is also a whole lot of bad that could come your way. So, my advice is to pick exercises for your shoulders like push presses, shoulder presses, and lateral raises. Don’t forget, ANY exercise has the potential to be harmful. But when looking at the risk:reward ratio of the barbell upright row, it just doesn’t make much sense to me to include these in my programming.
Conclusion: Barbell Upright Rows = Overrated
Single Leg RDL
The single RDL (Romanian Deadlift) is an exercise with many benefits. It works the often neglected “posterior chain.” (back side of your body) This single leg version obviously has you working one leg at a time. This is important because single leg exercises work your stabilizers way more than a bilateral lower body exercise does. Plus, the majority of sports are spent with one leg on the ground at once. Even if sports aren’t your thing, RDLs do wonders for your butt and hamstrings, from an appearance perspective. So, if you want to look better, perform better, and keep yourself healthy, I highly suggest incorporating the single leg RDL. On the occassions that I go to a commercial gym to train, I rarely if ever, see people performing this exercise. So, the single leg RDL gets a BIG, fat…Underrated.
In conculsion, if have been using the barbell upright row, please give this exercise a second thought. And it’s time to add the single leg RDL into your toolbox. You can’t, or shouldn’t, only perform exercises that work the “mirror muscles.” You do have a backside of your body you know!
Q & A: Let the Madness Begin
The moment all of us college basketball fans have been waiting for, is just a few days away. The NCAA basketball tourney is my favorite event out of any sport, at any level. It has it all – great athletes, buzzer beaters, Cinderella stories, cheerleaders, the thrill of victory, and the agony of defeat. What I have for you today, is an interview with my long-time buddy, Jeff Rinaldi. Jeff and I used to bleed Carolina blue together back in high school. Then he turned on me, and now bleeds a different shade of blue – Kentucky blue. In all honesty, I don’t blame him. He went on to attend the University of Kentucky, so I guess I can cut him some slack.
Back in high school a few of us used to do mock-interviews with the video camera rolling. And let me tell you, an interview with Mr. Rinaldi is the best. His answers were well thought out, intelligent, and best of all, hilarious! Fifteen years later, and once again, Jeff didn’t disappoint!
DM: We go way back my friend. I miss “jam ball” out in the driveway, as well as our basketball conversations, especially during this time of year. So I’m really looking forward to catching up.
Jeff Rinaldi: Danny, let me first say it is a privilege to share my thoughts/picks for the 2010 NCAA tourney. We do go way back and I am glad to offer my thoughts on the bracket this year. Anything for the McLartys! An absolute gem of a family who possess some of the best basketball minds this side of the country!
DM: (I told you he does a great interview. ) I’ve won a few of these March Madness pools over the years, but I’ll be honest with you, I’m way behind on college basketball this year. So I thought it would be best to defer to you for advice as I know you’re passionate about your college hoops. If I have any chance of winning a pool this year, (winning = for entertainment purposes only) it will be from complete luck, and/or the advice you are about to give me and my readers. So, are your ready to get to it?
JR: I am pumped (as always) for the NCAA tourney..even more so with my UK Wildcats looking ferocious. Not to sound too confident but this year’s bracket seems a bit more straightforward than past years. I agree with Jay Bilas on the field being weaker although I won’t over-emphasize it like he does. Nevertheless, we can expect some surprises in this tournament like every year, ala Cleveland State’s magic last year.
DM: Every year it seems like at LEAST one #12 seed upsets a #5. Does it look like that is going to happen again this year?
JR: Yes D. You can count on it. I will put my money were my mouth is and let everyone know that UTEP is going to beat Vanderbilt. Vandy seems to lack a little confidence coming into the NCAA. Derrick Character of UTEP is finally showing what he is capable of after leaving the Louisville program. Can’t blame him on that either. UTEP is a dangerous team. Period.
DM: Any #2 or #3 seeds going down in round one this year?
JR: I really don’t see any #2 or #3 seeds going down this year but I will give you two more lock upsets besides the UTEP two-step. Siena over a confused Purdue team. And Steve Fisher and San Diego State will shock the dirty Vols from Tennessee to advance. Although I don’t have the guts to pick the upset, New Mexico could be vulnerable in that 1st round vs Montana.
DM: Which team is going to be this year’s Cinderella story?
JR: Thankfully, I don’t see a George Mason this year. I tend to like powerhouses in the Final 4. However, as mentioned earlier, I feel UTEP has what it takes to get to the Sweet 16. Chicago’s own Tim Hardaway will be thrilled! I also think Marquette is HOT and has the ingredients to surprise. Another Chicago guy, Dwayne Wade will be “jumpin’ for joy,” as Dicky V would say. For the record, I don’t care much for the VBDI (Vitale Bald Dome Index) he references.
DM: Alright, lets get to the questions that everyone is waiting for. Give the reader’s your Final Four…
JR: I can confidently say Kansas, Kentucky, Villanova and Syracuse in the Final 4. Just so the readers know, I usually pull a #4 or #5 seed out to make the final 4 but I just don’t see it happening this year. I love Georgetown but can’t see them getting past Kansas.
DM: Who is going to play in the championship game? And which team is cutting down the nets?
JR: Although a bit biased, no one can argue that Kentucky is full of talent. I really believe we will cut the nets down this year despite our youth. We all know about Patterson, Wall, and Cousins, who command respect. However, watch out for Eric Bledsoe. This kid is dynamite in a bottle and is crucial to UK’s success. So, Kentucky over Kansas for the 2010 championship.
DM: With all that said, the winner of most office pools will probably go to the lady that picks her teams based on her favorite uniforms. That’s the way it seems to work out quite often. Well, except for the years that I walked away the title!
JR: I understand Danny. When Betty from accounting takes the office pool it can really be discouraging. I like to think I take time to break down each game…really put some thought into it. Then our gutless wonder Betty comes along and picks teams based on a state she likes and wins the dinero. Hey Betty?! I have been watching games all year while you have been knitting and reading. I despise Betty and her endless string of luck. Hope she has a bad lunch.
DM: Wow! Let me take a moment to compose myself while I wipe these tears from my face. Ok, I’m no longer dying from laughter… thanks for taking time for this Jeff. I really appreciate it, and I know the readers do as well!
JR: My pleasure. I hope everyone reading really considers these upsets. However, I will not take blame if they don’t come through. Nothing is better than the NCAA tourney though. Everyone enjoy it because we deserve it. Go Cats!
Anyone out there have any upset specials that you think Jeff left out? How about a surprise champion? Let us know in the comments section below.
