Slight Detour: From Craic to Madness

Bill and I thoroughly enjoyed St. Patrick's celebration overload this weekend.

Two parties on two nights and extra helpings of Irish tradition at each.

Last night's version involved some family "outlaws," all of whom have visited Ireland.

We both appreciated our first visit to Tom and Kirsten's beautiful new home.

The menu included corned beef and cabbage, soda bread and delicious desserts.

It was great fun sitting around the dining room table sharing stories with Bob, Sig, Tom and Kirsten while enjoying dinner.

Plus, we also shared with each other our own samples of meaningful and poignant poetry.

It was a lovely evening and a perfect way to celebrate the last hours of St. Patrick's Day.

Thanks so much, Tom and Kirsten.

Today we move on from the upbeat craic of Irish celebrating to the near insanity of the NCAA men's and women's basketball tournaments aka March Madness.

I told Bill yesterday that, with the men's division this season, it's been like all the teams were thrown into a container, shaken up and then left to fall wherever.

Rhyme and reason with the 2023-24 teams has hardly existed with so many upsets all along the road.

That said, it seems like an even playing field for anyone who wants to try their luck at bracketology in this year's March Madness.

Even the pros who determined the brackets said it was one of the most difficult challenges ever to try to get it right.

Before the pairings were announced yesterday afternoon, Bill had two scenarios on his mind.

1. That the Gonzaga women's team would get to host the first two games in Spokane.

2. After learning that his alma mater team, the McNeese Cowboys from Lake Charles, Louisiana, had made it to the tournament, he wished that they would play in one of the Spokane men's games.

He would then contact McNeese, as an alum, and see about getting tickets to their games.

Well, Bill's wishes definitely ended up with a totally unpredicted twist.

Who does McNeese play in the opening round in Salt Lake City on Friday?

Gonzaga!

Bill's definitely got a problem with that situation.

I reminded him that he's been cheering for Gonzaga a lot longer than he's even paid attention to how McNeese is doing in basketball.

That problem aside, he's thrilled that the Gonzaga women fulfilled the wish. They will be playing in Spokane, and, as a season ticket holder, he'll be on the phone at 10 a.m. this morning to purchase some tournament tickets.

We have also enjoyed the stories of the Gonzaga-related coaching brotherhood: Mark Few, Tommy Lloyd (Arizona), Billy Grier (Colorado), Leon Rice (Boise State and Mark Few's Gonzaga predecessor Dan Monson (Long Beach State).

All have teams competing in the tournament. Kinda says a LOT about the ZAGS program.

Lots of fun for all of us fans, and we are, indeed, looking forward to the craziness, which will include filling out some brackets.

I do the high school pool and our Friday Night dinner group, which my sister administrates.

Lots of work to do to figure out match-ups that make sense and then match-ups with the right result.

I've included the brackets this morning as well as the TV times for the men's games.

Gonzaga women play the Anteaters from UC Irvine Saturday afternoon at 4:25 p.m.

A fun week lies ahead for basketball junkies.

Happy Monday to all.