Instant Classic

So Syracuse and UConn played the night away last night, yes six overtimes. The game did not end to approximately 1:22 a.m., which made it impossible to get the result in both of schools local newspapers, but have no fear the New York Daily is here to safe the day.

The Daily News sums it up best

UConn vs. North Carolina in the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament?

With Selection Sunday only a couple of days aways and last weekend being the quarterfinals of the FA Cup, it got me to thinking. How fun would the NCAA Tournament be if it was held in a blind draw like the FA Cup.

For almost a decade, the selection show has been a national institution everyone goes around talking about the last four teams in and the last four teams out, now we could extend that process for a couple of hours.

The format is easy for the draw is easy, each team is given a number that is then put on the ping pong ball and put in a pot, a presenter then picks the ball out of pot and reads the number and then you find out the team.

"The draw for each round, performed by drawing numbered balls from a bag, is a source of great interest to clubs and their supporters, and is broadcast live on television. Sometimes two top clubs may be drawn against each other in the early rounds, removing the possibility of them meeting in the final. Lower-ranked clubs with reputations as 'giant-killers' look forward to meeting a top team at home, although in some cases the expense of providing policing for a game can outweigh any financial windfall from larger crowds. Mid-ranked teams hope for a draw against a peer to improve their chances of reaching future rounds. Top-ranked teams look for easy opposition, but have to be on their guard against a lower team with ambitions. The draw was once broadcast from a television studio, and was done by officials of the Football Association. By 2007 it had become a public event.,'' according to Wikipedia.

So say North Carolina has ball number one and UConn has number two, they could be draw in the first round, second round, or even the regional semi-finals. After each round of completed games the ping pong ball draw would then be completed.

I know what people are saying wow that is not fair, but lets go back to last year's FA Cup when Arsenal were drawn against Manchester United in the fourth round of the Cup. Sure sometimes it could be bad deal and give you a Cardiff vs. Portsmouth final, but the drama of the draw might be something to behold. I'm not saying that would should change anything about the tournament but with all of the talking heads talking about how to change the dance let's just make it a little more interesting.

Where have you gone Real Madrid?

For year, Los Merengues dominated the European Cup, but lately the all whites have showed that they are closer to being a second tear side in Europe's Premier Club Tournamen. This was best show with their 4-0 beating at the hands of Liverpool Tuesday afternoon.

A couple of things are clear in their performance at Anfield, they lack a central midfielder that has the ability to control play, similar to Michael Carrick at Manchester United. During the game, Gago and Lassa were unable to control anything and made Real nothing more then a one trick pony. The answer to that part of the question might have been wearing red during the game, Xabi Alonso. Alonso, who has been in Rafa doghouse at times, would allow the great Real wingers to the get the ball in the good positions instead of having to do all of the work themselves.

The second thing that Real's board must do is get a manager that will be there for sometimes. It's becoming clearer and clearer that changing managers every year is not the way to be success full, just look at the Manchester United. Maybe the board should go look at Arsenal and back up a truck filled to the top with the money to get the Wenger to Spain.

Until they change these couple of aspects of the team, Real will continue to go out in the Round of 16 and not be considered one of the elite teams in Europe.