March Madness Final Four Picks

Here it is, the night before the dance begins. And I thought it was fitting that if I am going to be sharing my opinions on this blog, I would stick my neck out on the line and put up my final four picks. I also welcome each of you to do the same. Just click on the comment section below.
I have Tennessee, Kansas, Texas, and UCLA making it to the final four and Kansas beating UCLA in the championship game. Let the games begin!!!

March Madness and the KU Jayhawks

I am a die hard baseball fan and if I had to choose one sport over another, I would definitely, take baseball over all the others. Having said that, the first week of March Madness is one the best weeks in all of sports. From “Selection Sunday” when everyone is glued to their TV sets to see where their favorite teams will end up or in some cases if their team will be chosen, through the play in game, now officially called “the opening round game” through the final buzzer on Sunday, when the field has been whittled down from 65 teams to the “Sweet 16”, it doesn’t get much better.

For the casual fan to the die hard fan, it’s all about filling out your bracket to win the office pool. Each has their own method to predict the winners. Some by the color of the uniforms, some by the team mascot, and others use more scientific ways.

Every fan and every team has a dream at this time of the year. The slate has been wiped clean. It’s a new season. The big story that everyone is looking for is which team will be the next Cinderella. It’s all about who will have the biggest upset in the tournament. Being from Wichita, Kansas what an exciting tournament it was two years ago when our beloved Wichita State Shockers made it to the Sweet 16 only to get beat by another team on a Cinderella run, George Mason. The only problem was that there was just one slipper. The Shockers went home and George Mason went on to the final four.

Last year the tournament wasn’t quite as exciting. Seems the selection committee did too good of a job in seeding the teams and there were only three upsets. The average is 8.5 upsets per year.

Being a KU fan, we have been on the other side of the fence all too often. What other team in America has that much talent but can’t make it to the final four. Last year, the Jayhawks made it to the Elite Eight before bowing out to UCLA 68-55. The two seasons before that, they lost in the first round. KU fans do, you remember Bucknell and Bradley? Which KU team will show up this year? This team is loaded with talent, and Bill Self has them playing at their best. Yesterdays’ game vs. Texas in the Big 12 Championship will be one to remember. This team, if they show up, has the talent to beat anyone in the nation. Sometime it takes them a while to get it going. Sometime they don’t get it going. Most KU fans would tell you that anything less than a final four appearance would be a failure. Which KU team will show up? Let the Madness begin!

Why I Blog

When growing up, I always enjoyed sports (In fact, some might call me a sports fanatic.) and thought that I might enjoy being a sports journalist. I didn’t do much writing as a child or a teenager, and got my first chance to write while in high school. During my senior year, I had an elective to fill and the opportunity arose to join the staff of our school newspaper “The Oracle”, as the sports writer. I gladly accepted, typing my articles on a typewriter. Thank God for computers and word processing software. I even competed in the Kansas Scholastic Press Association Contest, winning third place in sports writing.

I went on to college the next year and graduated with a BA in Business Administration. Three years later, I had a job as a clerk with the U S Postal Service. Twenty-four years later, I still work as a distribution clerk for the Postal Service. During that time the only other writing that I’ve done was as editor of the newsletter, and as president for our local Catholic singles group where I had my own column.

I have always wondered what if instead, I had gone on the study journalism? What if I had followed that dream? This blog is my opportunity. I have no idea where it will take me. Chances are, it will just end up being a hobby, but I owe it to myself to try something that I have always enjoyed doing.

I am not sure where this blog will go. Since my childhood, my interests have expanded and so I will be writing on more than just sports. Topics will include sports, religion, politics, and anything else that I find interesting.

What might I gain from this experience?

• It will give me a record of my thoughts and a place to share and save them.
• It will force me to learn and read in order to gather input for my output.
• It will give me the opportunity to learn and play with new technology.
  
  So Welcome to "Terry’s Tidbits". Please come in, stay for a while, and feel free to comment is you wish.

Why am I Catholic?

I really liked this video and think that it explains a lot about my faith. The video was made by Katerina Mare. It was made for a Confirmation Retreat to accompany a "Why am I Catholic?" talk. The slideshow gives six reasons for being Catholic: 1) the Eucharist, 2) the Church, 3) the Sacraments, 4) Mary, 5) Marriage (actual and spiritual), and 6) Communion of Saints. Eventually, as time allows, I hope to do a post on each of these reasons. The video is filled with images and quotes from saints, popes, and theologians associated with each point. This can be a good resource for talks, RCIA, youth groups, adult study groups and more! The song for the video, which I also really liked is "Jesus Christ You are my Life," the theme song from the 2005 World Youth Day. The song was composed by Marco Frisina, an Italian from Rome. He wrote the Italian refrain, and a verse for Spanish, Italian, and French soloists. Marco's brother wrote the English refrain. Bro. Rufino Zaragoza, is a co-composer and translator of the song. https://youtu.be/2QliM7ApyiA