Bracket Busted

Well, like every year, my NCAA Tournament bracket was utterly destroyed by the end of the first round and second round. Wake Forest let me down big time, as they lost their second game. I had them going all the way to the finals. My champion, North Carolina, did, however, make it to the Final Four, so I reserve hope that they'll still win the whole thing -- I've got a few bets riding on it.

There has been a lot of complaining this year about how the tournament hasn't lived up to all the hype as in years past. I can partially agree, but I still think it's been a great tournament to take in. I wrote an editorial this week on why it's still been a good tournament. There have been some blowouts and their haven't been any great Cinderella stories, but most of the games have been contested and well worth watching. I know that I've been glued to my TV set for most of the games -- especially because Michigan States is once again, alive and well in the tourney.

This weekend should be fun. Pagel is coming into town to hang with Corey and I. Should be just like the old days -- kicking back, playing videogames, shooting the breeze.

Baseball season is upon us again. The Tigers first game is Monday at 7:05 p.m. against the Blue Jays in Toronto. The team just released Gary Sheffield and has made a couple other moves, but a lot of uncertainty still surrounds the team. It'll be interesting to see how the season goes in the first couple of weeks for the Tigers.

I'm sure I'll be blogging a lot more once Tigers games begin. I also have some neat story assignments, so I'll post those up once I finish doing them.

With every loss, there is a gain

I just recently lost both of my grandparents (my last two) in a span of three days. It really blindsided me. My grandpa was expected to go and I'm glad he did (he was in so much pain), but my grandma passing was a hard pill to swallow. I can still feel the emotion waiting to burst like a balloon behind my eyelids. What kills me is that I didn't get to say goodbye to her and I talked to her just one day before her passing. I'm going to miss her egging me on ("beetle-bom!") while playing cards and our chats during the summer about the Braves and baseball. I'll definitely miss those long trips to Tennessee and seeing her waiting in the doorway as we pull in the driveway.

My mother has been down there for awhile and was there for both the passing's. She was holding my grandma's hand as she took her last breath and I really think that helped give her some closure. Those were her parents and she got to see them both go. Everyone down there has been pretty supportive for my mom and that always helps.

Although it's hard to see them gone, what is comforting is that I know they are together once again. They knew each other for practically their whole lives and they can continue that on in a better place. My grandpa was so sick for the past few years that I'm glad his ailments are over with. I wouldn't want to live like he did in the final years of his life.

I do feel fortunate that they were around for so long. My other grandma died when I was just one and my dad's father died when I was a teenager. To have them all the way through college and through my sister getting married is a blessing.

Now that my family is smaller, it makes me appreciate the family members that are left. Our family has always been tight knit, but I can see it being ever more so from now on.

Ten years ago, even five, this would have been something that would have torn me apart completely. I am dealing with it pretty well considering, I think, and know that both my grandma and grandpa are in a better place, with each other and that I'll see them again someday.

As my grandma was a big Atlanta Braves fan and baseball season is just over the horizon, it's going to be weird watching this season and thinking that she isn't watching the games. Check that. She will be watching, just not in her robe and slippers and from the recliner. Personally, I hope they do well this year in honor of her - I know I'll be rooting for them (as well as the Tigers, of course).

Thanks everyone for the support that you have provided during the past couple of weeks.

Optimism for Bronco hockey squad

I wrote a column yesterday about what direction I think the hockey team is headed. You can check it out here.

Weather's mind-boggling today. I wore shorts and sandals to class and I think we're firing up the grill tonight. Woohoo!

Above is a picture for the Tiger's winter caravan when they were in Kalamazoo.

Broncos' season ends at Yost

It's been a whirlwind couple of days this past weekend. I finally made it out of Kalamazoo for a couple days (I've been there for at least a couple months straight) and headed over to Ann Arbor/Detroit to cover the WMU-Michigan hockey series. The Wolverines were ranked No. 3 in the nation before the game and it looked as if the Broncos had their hands full against a well-rested team.

Well, they did. The Broncos dropped two straight to the Wolverines, 5-2 and 6-1 on Friday and Saturday night, respectively. The U-M sweep abruptly ended WMU's season. The Broncos fought valiantly, but Michigan just overwhelmed them. The Broncos were in the game Friday night up until the last few minutes, but Michigan pulled away at the end. Big starts killed the Brown and Gold both nights. U-M jumped out to 3-0 leads after the first period each night.

While in Detroit, I went with Drew to Joe Louis Arena Saturday morning. They ran a blood drive and people wishing to donate their blood received free tickets to a future Red Wings' game this season. It was the first time that I've ever been to the Joe and hopefully it won't be the last. It's a shame that I still have never witnessed a game in person. I certainly have seen many college hockey games, but still no NHL games.

We also took the chance to travel past what's left of Tiger Stadium. As you can see from the picture above, most of the stadium is completely gone. What remains is a small portion of the stadium behind home plate and the lonely foul poll, still standing upright in it's spot in center field. It had been a long time since I had seen the stadium and first since they started tearing it down, so it was very eerie to see the stadium in that state. Hopefully, the city of Detroit will make all the right decisions in deciding what to do when it comes to the property.

Today was freakishly warm. Corey and I even went outside today and tossed the frisbee around for a few minutes. Tomorrow's weather is even supposed to be better -- 72 degrees! I didn't wear a jacket today and it doesn't sound like I'll need one tomorrow too. I know it'll probably get chilly again, but spring seems to be fighting it's way into our lives. Hooray!

The Tigers are on TV Monday (today). They play the Cardinals at 1 p.m., so be sure to check it out. This is one of three (I think) games that are being televised during spring training. It'll be good to hear the voices of Rod Allen and Mario Impemba once again.

Two Overtimes, Two Wins

Well, it was another weekend of hockey for me. After a 6-3 loss Friday night, the Broncos won a thriller of a game Saturday in double overtime and came out Sunday and finished off the Lakers 3-1. It was exciting to watch the comeback even though I was probably one of the only ones. The stands were pretty empty all three games of the weekend for some reason. It's too bad because it's the first time in 15 years that WMU has won a home playoff series. But, who cares that nobody showed up? They won and they're heading to Yost Ice Arena next weekend to face the Michigan Wolverines. WMU actually won there this season (I think it was 2-1) and Riley Gill has played very well there in his career, so they aren't exactly the underdogs. Michigan did have a powerful win over the Broncos here in Kalamazoo though this season.

I'll be at the Friday and Saturday games next weekend at Yost. Does anyone want to go?

Embarrassing

Not what I expected last night. Lake Superior State scored five goals to open the game and scored six overall to cruise to a 6-3 victory. What made it worse was that hardly anyone was there to see it. The crowd was announced at a little over 600... To my knowledge, we haven't had a crowd under 1,000 all season and we've been closer to 2,000 most games. Pathetic. Spring break is still in full swing, however you would think that the students and fans in the area would come out in support for this one. It was like a crowd for a high school hockey game last night. Sadly too, the LSSU fans seemed louder and more represented than the Bronco fans. Just all and all, a bad night.

We lost badly to the Lakers too weeks ago in the first game and came back the next night and nearly shut them out. So maybe tonight will be similar and Gill and the Broncos can tussle away a victory away at home. Not holding my breath though...

More interestingly, I doubt any fuss will be made if the Broncos get swept or lose this series. Culhane probably has a safe job just because of the end stretch run to get into home ice position. I saw Athletic Director Kathy Beauregard walking down the stands after the game and she was all smiles. It's like she didn't even notice they lost. She fires the women's basketball coach after a superb season last year and Culhane's team finishes the season dead last and he gets a pat on the back and a, "You'll do better next year."

I have nothing against Culhane. He's been great to deal with all season and had been very gracious to deal with in my tenure at the Herald. Just a little more mystified as to Beauregard's position and why Culhane's job seems so safe. Should be interesting to see what happens in the next couple of seasons, especially as the super freshman the hockey team possesses continue to grow.

Drew and Emily are coming in town for the game tonight. Making a pit stop on their way to Chicago. Hope they don't have to witness the brutal mess of last night. It'll be good to see some familiar faces from the east side of the state. Haven't seen many of those folks in a good long time.

Playoff Hockey in Kalamazoo

First photo: The puck drops to begin the decisive third period. WMU tallied two goals in the third to win 5-3 and clinch a home ice spot for the first round of the CCHA playoffs.

Second photo: Bronco senior captain Chris Frank and a Bowling Green player discuss a penalty with a referee during Saturday's contest.

---

When I first took on the Bronco hockey beat after football season, the hockey team seemed headed to another long season and perhaps a slot at the bottom of the standings. However, after a superb second half of the season highlighted by CCHA scoring champion and senior Patrick Galivan, WMU captured the seventh spot (out of 12) in the standings to finish the season. The first four seeds get byes in the playoffs and the Broncos (seven seed) are hosting the 10 seed (Lake Superior State) in the first round this weekend. The series is best out of three with games coming Friday, Saturday and, in necessary, Sunday night. All games are set to begin at 7:35 p.m. and tonight's game is on Fox Sports Net Detroit Plus.

It was exciting to watch the scene unfold last weekend here in Kalamazoo. The Broncos needed to win both games to get home ice and the playoffs and that's exactly what they did. They scored ten goals in two games to overwhelm Bowling Green and sweep the Falcons and earn a spot hosting the first round of the playoffs.

Behing goaltender Riley Gill, Galivan and several young freshman, the Broncos have made quite an improvement in the second half this year. Hopefully that trend will continue this weekend as they try and make strides as they head into next season. While getting to the CCHA Championship isn't likely, if there is one thing I learned from this season it's that anything is possible in college hockey.

---

On a more somber note, both of my grandparents are very sick. My grandpa is nearing the end and according to his doctor should pass within the next couple of weeks. He's been sick for years now and I'm just hoping that he drifts into another world one of these nights in his sleep. Nobody wants to go out experiencing the kind of pain I'm sure he is dealing with.

My grandma is also sick and has a kidney and head infection (scary). She was fine until just a couple days ago when she started feeling weak and sick. We thought it was the flu but, when checked out at the hospital, it was found to be more serious. My sister and mom are down there right now and hopefully their presence will help ease the stress in my grandma. Praying hard for her recovery right now.

Just waiting for the call that puts me on a plane down to Tennessee...

Don't think too many people that live in Kalamazoo are reading this, but if there are, come out to the games at Lawson this weekend. It would be excellent to have some support as the Broncos try to win a home playoff series for the first time in several years.