You'll have to excuse me for my two week absence in the Cheap Seats. Dave Z and I just got back from our spring tour through the country God forgot (Illinois mostly)
I still live in 1999 (no IPhone) and the NCAA thinks that everyone should give them a small country, your first born child, or $7 million to use the internet. I used my limited time online to check my fantasy Cricket stats not write about the awesomeness of Tom Izzo. ( He is awesome)
A quick report from each of our stops along the way.
St. Louis: Great support for the Panthers and a great first half showing by UNI. Ben Jacobson got Izzoed coming out of the break. No worries Jake, you are not the first and won't be the last. The man may be the best NCAA Tournament coach of all-time.
Dayton: The real story is our adventure on the way to D-Town. Remember this kiddos, we in the communication biz often times have trouble communicating. This is how Dave Z and I ended up in Cincinatti INSTEAD of Dayton when trying to track down the Iowa State women. I thought they were staying at the Fairfield Inn in Dayton. We were told, no, they are staying in the Holiday Inn in Fairfield. A quick check of the GPS tells us Fairfield is a suburb of Cincy. We are quick thinkers so naturally we thought the superstitious Bill Fennelly was up to his old tricks. His team was staying in the same hotel as they did in 1999 when they upset the almighty UConn Huskies. ( also this seasons Sweet 16 opponent) Imagine our horror when we arrived at the Holiday Inn Express in Fairfield only to find out they've never heard of Iowa, let alone an Iowa State Cyclone. (I'm no doctor and no I did not stay in the Holiday Inn Express in Fairfield last night) After checking in again with the ISU Sports Information Director we were set straight. They stayed in FairBORN, not FairFIELD.Only 50 miles out of our way. Thankfully coach Fennelly has a great sense of humor and waited for us to arrive rattled and relieved.Also, this just in. UConn is really good.
Iowa City: Next stop, the hiring of Fran McCaffery. This was the 7th coaching change I have covered since coming to Iowa four years ago. I don't get too hyped about these events because we have yet to see the man actually coach a game in Carver Hawkeye Arena. That said, Fran did win the press conference by saying all the right things and actually showing a pulse. Then again, sitting through 10 lectures on the state of post depression trade in the Northwest Territories would be more exciting than a press conference with Todd Lickliter (too soon?)I ran into McCaffery's mother-in-law on my way out. They've been season ticket holders at Williams Arena in Minneapolis for 35 years. Fran said they will now give up their seats at the barn. I asked his MIL if that was true. "No way!" was her response.
Home Sweet West Des Moines: March Madness is over for us. That means it's time for baseball and Drake Relay's. Right up my ally because a) I can throw really hard and run really fast or b) I don't like to move and really like the sun. Come see me in my hammock for the answer.
