We Can Talk Sports Here.....

[Raiyn]

I don’t think you really need our snakes over there. Snake wrangling indeed!

No... I meant send some of the guys to catch them.

 

[nadnitram]

Well THIS post is going to be boring! I don't have any tales of snake-poking, hippo-taunting, scorpion-licking, or other such thrills to regale you with. I'm quite content to follow a few sports at the high school and collegiate levels.

I'm looking forward to the upcoming MAC (Mid-American Conference) basketball tournaments. Kent State, my alma mater, holds the 2nd seed in the men's tourney and the 4th seed in the women's. Conference championships come with a trip to the NCAA tournament.

I really enjoy track and field. It's not on TV very often, but I watch it when I can find it. I attend a few high school meets each year, and my daughter and I are kicking around the idea of attending the MAC Outdoor Championships in May.

I also have a lifelong affinity for a couple of professional Cleveland teams, the Guardians and Cavs. Unfortunately, their television rights are held hostage by the Bally network, so it's radio or nothing for me.

 

[Digger]

Next time I have something about Aussie wildlife, snakes included I’ll start a separate topic about it.

 

[Raiyn]

The 2023 men's Frozen Four begins Thursday, April 6, at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla. The national championship will be held Saturday, April 8.

Automatic qualifiers for this season's tournament will be decided by Saturday, March 18, and the entire field will be set, including seeding and at-large bids, during selections on Sunday, March 19.

Regionals will begin Thursday, March 23 and run through Sunday, March 26.

Here is each date and venue for the 2023 Division I men's ice hockey tournament:

I'm kind of stoked that the Frozen Four will be across the bridge at the Lightning's barn. Hopefully they get some good b-roll showing off the place.

I'm not going to press my luck by posting the women's bracket, but their Frozen Four will be held at AMSOIL Arena in Duluth, MN - which I'm also quite happy about.

 

[Supersonic]

March Madness has begun. The field of 64 will be finalized after the two play-in games on Tuesday and Wednesday.

All I can say is Roll Tide. I watched my dudes dismantle Texas A & M in the SEC Championship game earlier and I'm pretty sure we have the best player in the country.

Prediction: Bama vs. Kansas in the final with Bama cutting the nets down. Did I already say Roll Tide?

 

[Otto99]

If I truly have a tinker’s dam, I’d be over the moon for Memphis to have made it to the Big Dance. As it is, I’m happy for them.

 

[soulman969]

March Madness has begun. The field of 64 will be finalized after the two play-in games on Tuesday and Wednesday.

All I can say is Roll Tide. I watched my dudes dismantle Texas A & M in the SEC Championship game earlier and I'm pretty sure we have the best player in the country.

Prediction: Bama vs. Kansas in the final with Bama cutting the nets down. Did I already say Roll Tide?

Yes......twice.

 

[soulman969]

It's a wild time in the world of sports.

MLB is playing it's spring games and national teams are playing in a world championship tourney.

NCAA March Madness and the NCAA men's and women's hockey tournament is also getting ready to launch.

Both the NBA and the NHL are toiling toward the end of their seasons and their interminable playoffs and championship.

And today the NFL began it's "legal" tampering period where dozens of players swap teams for bigger paychecks.

Quiet time is over and this doesn't even consider auto racing, horse racing, track and field, golf, not to mention time to Narfel the Garthok.

 

[Raiyn]

Eh, the last time I cared about basketball, His Airness was still playing in Chicago.


Back to college hockey:
My U of MN, Duluth (hereafter referred to as UMD) Bulldogs are not... *looks at record* good, but my brother's Minnesota Gophers were top of the heap last I looked, so that's cool.

I keep hoping for a UMD / Gophers / Minnesota State (Mankato) / St. Cloud St. Frozen Four, but the universe might fold in on itself.

Then again, perhaps that'd be a good thing.

 

[soulman969]

Eh, the last time I cared about basketball, His Airness was still playing in Chicago.


Back to college hockey:
My U of MN, Duluth (hereafter referred to as UMD) Bulldogs are not... *looks at record* good, but my brother's Minnesota Gophers were top of the heap last I looked, so that's cool.

I keep hoping for a UMD / Gophers / Minnesota State (Mankato) / St. Cloud St. Frozen Four, but the universe might fold in on itself.

Then again, perhaps that'd be a good thing.

Ya tink? Nothin' like hogging all dat glory for Minnesoda eh?

Yah so U of M is da Golden Gophers, we know dat. UMD is da Bulldogs and Saint Cloud State is da Huskies. So does dat make Minnesoda State da Mosquitos or what? I mean dat bein' da state bird and all.

 

[Digger]

Our AFL season is about to “kick” off for the year and I’m excited!

 

[Raiyn]

So does dat make Minnesoda State da Mosquitos or what?

Ya tink? Nothin' like hogging all dat glory for Minnesoda eh?

Well, it nearly happened back in '21

All 5 Minnesota D-I men's hockey teams to play in NCAA Tournament

The Gophers will be the No. 3 overall seed and will open the tournament against Nebraska-Omaha at 8 p.m. Saturday.

www.kare11.com

Literally "The State of Hockey". I could have also mentioned our other two* D1 programs at Bemidji State (Beavers) and St. Thomas (Tommies)

*St. Thomas won't be eligible for post-season until 26/27

 

[soulman969]

OK but I still think Mosquitoes would be more appropriate.

 

[Raiyn]

OK but I still think Mosquitoes would be more appropriate.

You've never heard of lulling your opponent into a false sense of security?

If we had a team called the Minnesota Mosquitoes they'd go undefeated because nobody'd want that smoke. Win by forfeit is still a W.

 

[Digger]

First AFL game of the season started last night, Carlton and Richmond. They drew at 58 points!

Who woulda thunk!

 

[nadnitram]

Our AFL season is about to “kick” off for the year and I’m excited!

I remember back in the early 80's, when ESPN couldn't yet afford the rights to the major US sports, I got to watch a lot of footy. Honestly, I'd still rather watch it than most of what is on ESPN today.

 

[Digger]

I remember back in the early 80's, when ESPN couldn't yet afford the rights to the major US sports, I got to watch a lot of footy. Honestly, I'd still rather watch it than most of what is on ESPN today.

Thanks thats nice to hear. AFL is a very exciting code for sure and I find myself unable to get interested in any of the others.

 

[Digger]

We, being Collingwood, had our first game last night against last years premiers, Geelong and beat them by 22 points! I can’t believe it! However the game was marred by a terrible incident with one of our key payers being involved in a terrible incident and we may have lost him for the year. Jeremy Howe came flying through the air contesting the ball collided with another player and crashed down breaking an arm. It was a horrible compound break with the bone sticking out poor bugger. His courage was renown!

Most AFL games are intensely physical and players incur a lot of injuries playing at high intensity throughout their careers. Last night's game was one of the most intense we have ever seen.

Now we are down 2 key players.

 

[nadnitram]

My Golden Flashes were ousted from the tournament by Indiana last night. Now I just root for the Cinderella teams -- nobody from a major conference.

 

[soulman969]

Oh yeah......Badgers rule, Gophers drool. Take dat ya' ex-pat Minnesotan.

THE BADGERS ARE HEADED TO THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP!