Jason Haskins's Blog, page 24

2021 NCAA men's basketball tourney: The field shapes up

 

The field is set for the 2021 NCAA men's tournament.

One year ago, the uniforms were packed away, the basketball courts were silent, and no one needed to find where truTV was at in their channel guide. 

Here in 2021, while the world is still in process from recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, March Madness has returned. Protocols may be different, game days are altered, and the tournament will be played in one (mostly) central location across several venues. But these facts remain: 68 teams will be vying over the next month to be crowned the top team in men's Division I college basketball.

It remains to be seen, however, if the same 68 teams announced on Sunday will be the same ones that begin tournament play on Thursday.

Positive coronavirus tests in programs like Virginia (no. 4 seed, West region) and Kansas (no. 3 seed, West region) ended their conference tournament runs. Most of Virginia's roster is still in quarantine and there are already procedures in place to replace any team(s) that can't continue on prior to the start of the tournament. 

are on standby if a team is forced to bow out due to COVID-19 prior to the 6 pm ET deadline on Tuesday.

A positive coronavirus test also halted the season of the Duke Blue Devils. Duke had won their first two games of the ACC tournament before having to bow out. The Blue Devils likely needed to win the ACC tournament to make the NCAA tournament in 2021.

Duke's absence is the first time since the 1994-95 season in which the Blue Devils will not be in the Big Dance. Joining them on the sideline is perennial power Kentucky, making for the first time since the 1976 season neither Duke or Kentucky is in the NCAA tournament.

The ACC will be represented by seven teams, tied for second-most among conferences with the Big 12. The Big 10 Ten placed nine teams in the tournament, including two no. 1 seeds and two no. 2 seeds.

The SEC has six teams in this year's tournament. 

2021 was also year that saw top-seeds fall in conference tournaments across the land. Many expected winners fell in the semis or quarterfinals. For some, it didn't affect berths in the Big Dance. And for others, it was March madness turned March sadness, has excellent regular seasons were gone in a flash.

That, however, is the pain and glory involved this time of year. With or without fans in attendance, it's good to have it back.

The no. 1 seedsThe West region top seed and tournament's overall no. 1 belongs to the Gonzaga Bulldogs (26-0). Not only has Gonzaga won all of their games so far, they've done so in convincing fashion. Gonzaga averages 92.1 points per game while making 55.1 percent of their field goal attempts. Opponents have lost by single digits to the 'Zags only once this season. Even a 10-point victory over BYU in the WCC final saw Gonzaga come back from a 12-point halftime deficit. 
Gonzaga is led by a trio of players who are among the finalists for the Wooden Award, given to the nation's top men's player. Corey Kispert is the leading scorer at 19.2 ppg, followed by Drew Timme, who averages 18.7 points and 17.1 rebounds per game. 
Freshman guard Jalen Suggs might be the most well-rounded of the bunch. Suggs averages 14.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game.
The Baylor Bears (22-2) hold the no. 1 seed in the South region, marking the first time in program history they've held the top line. Baylor's two losses came late in the season, falling to the Kansas Jayhawks in the regular season and to Oklahoma State in the Big 12 Conference tourney semis.
This team is heavy on the guard rotation, led by a trio of players. Jared Butler is the top scorer, dropping 17.1 per game. MaCio Teague is next at 16.1 ppg and Davion Mitchell contributes 14.1 per contest. Mitchell also tallies 5.4 assists and is shooting 51.5 percent from the field.
Baylor loves to shoot the three and the trio of players above have this season connected a combined 167 times from deep.
In the Midwest region, the Illinois Fighting Illini (23-6) and Big Ten champions earned the no. 1 seed. With 13 Quad 1 wins, the Fighting Illini have the experience to make a Final Four run, but they also have a region filled with teams that could easily do the same. Oklahoma State is playing at a high level and both the Houston Cougars and West Virginia Mountaineers could make some trouble. Even a possible Second Round game with either Loyola Chicago or Georgia Tech could give Illinois fits.
The Illini have a good inside/outside combo, led by guard Ayo Dosunmu. Dosunmu averages 20.7 points and 5.3 assists per game. His partner on the post is Kofi Cockburn, who averages 17.6 ppg and pulls down an average of 9.6 rebounds.
Rounding out the no. 1 seeds, the Michigan Wolverines are limping into the NCAA tournament. The Wolverines have lost three of their last five games and also saw one of their top players in Isaiah Livers sidelined. Livers, who is averaging 13.1 points and 6 rebounds per game, re-aggravated a foot injury in Big Ten quarterfinal action against Maryland. 
Michigan, much like Illinois, has some decent inside/outside action, though they don't like to shoot the three as much as other teams do. Center Hunter Dickinson puts up 14.2 points and pulls down 7.6 rebounds per game. Franz Wagner is great rebounding guard (6.2 per game) and is scoring 12.8 ppg.

4 teams to watchThough they have dropped five of their last eight games, the Buckeyes of Ohio State (21-9) have a chance in a favorable South region. The Buckeyes reached the final of the Big Ten tournament and have a dynamic scorer in Duane Washington Jr. Washington averages 16.3 points per game and scored 32 against Illinois in the conference tournament final.
Ohio State opens NCAA tournament play on Friday (3/19) with a first-round matchup against Oral Roberts (16-10), winners of the Summit League tournament. 
San Diego State (23-4) had a little lull at the start of Mountain West conference play in dropping three of their first five games. The Aztecs, however, were missing Mountain West Player of the Year Matt Mitchell in two losses to Utah State. Since then, San Diego State, the no. 6 seed in the Midwest, has rattled off 14-straight victories and has a deep, talented roster. 
The Aztecs open play against 11-seed Syracuse (16-9) on Friday (3/19).
In a bid-stealing run, the Georgetown Hoyas (13-12) emerged as surprising champions of the Big East tournament. Sitting as the 12-seed in the East region, the Hoyas hope to continue their magic when they open play on Saturday (3/20) against 5-seed Colorado (22-8).
Before winning four games in the Big East tournament, Georgetown finished out the regular season winning four of six. 
BYU (20-6) gave Gonzaga all they could handle in the WCC tournament finals, leading by as many as 14 and ultimately losing by ten. Three of BYU's losses were to Gonzaga this season and two other losses were by a combined seven points. The Cougars have range and size, a nice mix for this time of year.
Their first game will be on Saturday (3/20).
The Oklahoma State Cowboys (20-8) are also a team playing at a high-level right now and could make some noise out in the Midwest region. 

Upset alertUpsets by lower-seeded teams are part of the reason so many enjoy this time of year. Here are a handful of teams I think could win their opening-round game and perhaps even make a Sweet 16 appearance.
Winthrop (23-1) suffered a two-point loss, their only blemish in the 2020-21 season. The Eagles have an experienced team that won their second Big South title in a row. A 12-seed in the South region, Winthrop has a good-chance at defeating a Villanova (16-6) squad who will be playing without their best player and has lost three of their last four games.
A feel-good story this time of year is always a plus and that's exactly what the Rutgers Scarlet Knights (15-11) have going for them. Rutgers, a 10-seed in the Midwest region, is appearing in the NCAA tournament for the . The program would have likely been selected last year if not for the tournament's cancelation, so this year's edition is extra sweet.
Rutgers opens play against no. 7 seed Clemson (16-7).
Two other teams have more difficult matchups in the First Round, but both have the ability to pull off the upset. The Cleveland State Vikings (19-7) are champions out of the Horizon League and have a roster of junior college transfers who have developed quite the chemistry this season. And UNC Greensboro (21-8), winners of the Southern Conference, have won eight of their last ten.
Cleveland State is a no. 15 seed and opens against Houston (24-3) in the Midwest region. If victorious, we could very well see a Cleveland State - Rutgers matchup in the round of 32. UNCG is a 13-seed in the East region and opens play against Florida State (16-6).
Also be sure to keep an eye on the Big West champion UC Santa Barbara Gauchos (22-4), who are a 12-seed out West and have only lost once in the new year. The Gauchos face 5-seed Creighton (20-8) out of the Big East.

The First FourTwo historically elite programs from power conferences will be squaring off in a match-up that normally one might see in a Final Four game.
Though neither the Michigan State Spartans (15-12) or UCLA Bruins (17-9) should be complaining.
The Spartans might have the bigger gripe, having knocked off Illinois, Michigan, and Ohio State in recent weeks. UCLA, on the other hand, enters the tournament on a four-game losing streak, falling in the Pac-12 conference tournament to eventual champion Oregon State (17-12).
Selected for this battle for 11-seed supremacy (in the East region), the winner between the Spartans and Bruins will face BYU.
Another enticing match-up, also on the 11-seed line, is out West, where the Wichita State Shockers (16-5) take on the Drake Bulldogs (25-4). Wichita State had an eight-game winning streak snapped when they lost to Cincinnati in the American Conference tournament. The Shockers also own a win over Houston, which is the no. 2 seed in the Midwest Region.
Drake, meanwhile, raced out to an 18-0 start to the season before slightly falling back to Earth. The Bulldogs lost to Loyola Chicago in the Missouri Valley Conference tourney and have been without point guard Roman Penn, who broke his foot in a game in February. 
The winner of Wichita State and Drake will face no. 6 seed USC. 
The other two First Four games focus on the 16-seeds in the West and the East regions. These games involve smaller conference champions playing against each other in hopes of advancing to play a top-seed.
Out West, the Norfolk State Spartans (16-7), champions out of the MEAC, will play the Appalachian State Mountaineers (17-11). The Mountaineers won the Sun Belt Conference tourney and the winner of this game will face Gonzaga.
In the East, it's a matchup between the Northeast Conference and SWAC champions. The Mount St. Mary's Mountaineers (12-10) take the court against the Texas Southern Tigers (16-8) as they square off for the right to play Michigan.Interesting opening gamesAfter the First Four on Thursday, things really kick into gear on Friday and Saturday. Aside from the teams mentioned above, here are four games I'm looking forward to watching: South Region: (8) UNC vs (9) Wisconsin (3/19)Midwest Region: (8) Loyola Chicago vs (9) Georgia Tech (3/19)West Region: (7) Oregon vs (10) VCU (3/20)East Region: (2) Alabama vs (15) Iona (3/20)Be sure to follow along for all the action on this blog, plus over on Twitter via @jasonrh_78 and @lookinsporty1
Full schedule picture credit: Wikimedia Commons

A return to March Madness, one year later

 

Selection Sunday is on the horizon for the 2021 NCAA men's tournament, with four teams having already punched their ticket to the Big Dance and action across the nation heating up.

A year removed from the world coming to a halt, resulting in the cancelation of sporting events, live performances, and so much more, March Madness is back on the radar. There was no shining moment for college basketball in 2020, but teams are again gearing up to claim the throne as college basketball's top men's team.

The landscape contains a familiarity yet much is different, too. Most teams played their games without fans in attendance, at least until late in the season, while others had varied amounts of fans at home games all year long.

The Ivy League chose to cancel their winter sports season. There were some teams that played nearly 30 games while others barely scraped together 16.

And then we have teams, the dynasty college programs normally fighting for no. 1 seeds this time of year, who have struggled throughout this COVID-19 season. Teams like the Duke Blue Devils (11-11) and Kentucky Wildcats (9-15), both who will need to win their respective conference tournaments to go dancing. Or teams like the Michigan State Spartans (15-11) and North Carolina Tar Heels (16-9), each who might need to win a few conference tourney games to move safely off the bubble. (Though the Tar Heels might be safe either way and the Spartans helped themselves with a victory over Michigan, their third victory over a top-5 team.)

This means new teams will enter the arena, even as stalwarts of recent years continue to thrive, including 2019 champion Virginia. 

Changing, too, will be the locale of the 2021 tournament. Instead of games being played across the nation, the entire tournament will take place at various venues in Indianapolis. Game days will look slightly different as well. The First Four games will be played on Thursday March 18, with the opening rounds being played Saturday (3/20) thru Tuesday (3/23) (rather than the Thursday thru Sunday format). 

With no Ivy League representative, 31 automatic bids will be awarded. Four teams have already secured their spot and will be joined throughout the next week as the field begins to take shape. Selection Sunday will be on 3/14 at 6 pm (EDT). 

Tournament coverage will continue throughout the next month on this blog. For a look at the possible no. 1 seeds, let's send it to Jason, who's reporting from the kitchen.

Possible no. 1 seeds

One team stands out above the rest and that team is the Gonzaga Bulldogs (24-0).

Barring a meltdown in the West Coast Conference tournament, Gonzaga is well on their way to earning the tournament's top seed. The Bulldogs have breezed through the season, winning all but one of their games by double-digits and scoring less than 82 points in a game only once.

This time of year, focus always seems to turn to Gonzaga playing in a weak conference and not being worthy of all the hype. While the first part is true, the Bulldogs are worthy. They defeated non-conference opponents in West Virginia, Kansas, Iowa, and Virginia, all ranked in the top-25. 

Gonzaga in 2021 reminds me of Gonzaga in 2017, when they were also labeled as not worthy despite their excellent record. All that Bulldogs team did was reach the championship game, where they lost to North Carolina. 

The Big Ten has proven to be one of the top conferences the last few seasons and this season is no different. That's exactly why teams from this conference will likely earn two no. 1 seeds (and could possibly place seven or eight teams in the NCAA tournament).

The Michigan Wolverines (19-3), Illinois Fighting Illini (20-6), Iowa Hawkeyes (20-7), and Ohio State Buckeyes (18-8) are all currently ranked in the top-10 and all have cases for a no. 1 seed. At the moment, Michigan and Illinois appear to have the inside track, but we all know results this time of year can change things in a flash. 

Rounding out the top line is the Baylor Bears (20-1). Baylor's only blemish is a loss to the Kansas Jayhawks. Barring an early exit from the Big-12 tourney, Baylor should retain a no. 1 seed. But the Big 12 is also having another stellar year, with seven teams ranked in the top-25. 

Right now, the top overall seed is Gonzaga's to lose. For more out west, we go to Jason, who is standing by live from the living room.

NCAA teams: a glimpse out west

The WCC might only see one other team besides Gonzaga make the NCAA tournament in 2021: the BYU Cougars.

But a resurgence of the PAC-12 should help the west coast hold their own. 

A season after the conference struggled and was looking at possibly only placing two teams in the tournament, 2021 has seen better play. The Oregon Ducks (18-5) won the regular season, while the Colorado Buffaloes (20-7) are currently ranked 24th in the Associated Press poll. USC crossed the 20-win threshold, with 21, and it's an entirely possibly five or more teams from this conference end up in the field.

Over in the Mountain West, as little as two teams and as many as four could end up dancing. The San Diego Aztecs (20-4) are a lock, no matter has they fare in the MW tourney. Meanwhile, the Boise State Broncos (18-7), Colorado State Rams (17-5), and Utah State Aggies (18-7) are all vying to get in. Currently, in many projections, the Broncos and Rams are in while the Aggies are among the first four out. As with many of the bubble projections, the situation is fluid and only one of these three could end up alongside the Aztecs in representing the Mountain West.

Mountain West teams, or the representatives from the Big Sky or the WAC, have proven to be upset-minded when it comes to the NCAA tourney. For information on other sneaky good teams, we go to Jason on the back porch.

Cinderella stories

Predicting upsets are part of the joy of March Madness and there are three teams who have already punched their tickets who can make some noise in the 2021 NCAA tournament.

Out of the Big South, the Winthrop Eagles (23-1) won their second consecutive title and will be making their 11th appearance in the NCAA tournament. 

Over in the Ohio Valley Conference, it is another set of Eagles that could make some noise in the tourney. Morehead State (23-7) defeated Belmont to earn their first trip to the NCAA tourney since 2011.

And we don't have to travel too far back in time to witness what the Loyola Chicago Ramblers (24-4). It was in 2018 this program reached the Final Four and this year's roster is deep, experienced, and talented.

The Ramblers defeated Drake to win the Missouri Valley Conference tournament. 

These are just a couple of teams to keep an eye on as the tournament unfolds. Be sure to check back over the coming weeks as we go from 68 teams to 1.

photo credit: Flickr

The Muppet Show: Muppet power, after all these years

 

The original episodes of The Muppet Show arrived February 19 on Disney Plus with all five seasons now streaming. But it's not as if this motley crew ever really disappeared.

It's clear from the very first episode that Jim Henson's The Muppet Show was aimed at much more than providing entertainment for only children.

The uber-talented Rita Moreno was the first special guest and was immediately dropped into a barroom brawl, kicking off the show with action and comedy. This was followed up by a second episode in which Sandy Duncan joyfully sang about gulping down a whiskey sour and being a nice girl in what could be considered a dive bar.

They certainly played the music, all right, and they certainly lit the light and, in the process, created characters we have loved and embraced for years.

This cabaret of puppets has been delivering laughs for ages now and, 45 years later, Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, and company are still bringing joy to audiences, young and old alike. Henson began his work with puppets back in the 1950s and early 1960s, making commercials for a company called Wilkins coffee (even then we should have known Henson wasn't going to make a show simply for children). And while Kermit had been in the spotlight prior, it was with The Muppet Show in which the Muppets really took off. 
In re-watching the first two episodes, I found I could not stop smiling throughout as I experienced the right mix of nostalgia, creativity, and jokes that (mostly) have stood the test of time. The familiar faces danced across the screen, delivering sketches and breaking the fourth wall on occasion.
The not-so-familiar faces were there, too. Muppets that have been long forgotten, at least in this writer's mind. Sweetums, the long-legged Muppet, was not one of them but there was a collection of other human-sized Muppets that graced the screen in these early episodes.
All told, these first few episodes I regaled in provided an amazing reminder of how much love I used to carry for The Muppet Show.  
According to tales from my mother, the opening theme song had me running towards the television, no matter where in the apartment I was. The rumors will let one know that I danced along right there with the Muppets. I was there for them and they were there for me, at least in youth.The Muppets in film and televisionEveryone who has been beholden to Muppet lore has a favorite character. Fozzie Bear, the great comedian, and Rowlf the Dog were two who topped my list. Years later, vainly attempting to recollect as to why, the reasons escape me. Those are the two, however, that stuck with me through the years.
There were plenty of films during and after the show's run to keep fans busy, beginning with The Muppet Movie in 1979. While The Muppets Take Manhattan, The Muppet Christmas Carol, and Muppet Treasure Island all hold special places in my heart, it is The Great Muppet Caper that I am hopelessly devoted to. Somewhere buried in a collection of VHS tapes sits this film, one I watched on repeat once upon a time. A jewel heist and Charles Grodin falling in love with Miss Piggy is enough to keep anyone entertained. Set the action overseas and one is definitely in for a treat. 
After 1999's Muppets from Space, the Muppets took a break from the big screen. It was in 2011 when they made their triumphant return to cinemas as The Muppets . And what a return it was. Led by actor/writer Jason Segel, the Muppets were back to save their legendary theater and used the help of Jack Black, Amy Adams, and Zach Galifianakis, to name a few, to do so. And of course, the film produced this pleasing moment with Rowlf.

A sequel was released in 2014, bringing the total of eight films featuring our beloved Muppets to grace the big screen. The television show was also relaunched briefly in 2015 on ABC, lasting only one season.
For 90s kids, there was also the Saturday morning staple Muppet Babies. This cartoon re-imagined the Muppets, as the title indicates, as babies, where they got up to their trademark antics. (I also just learned this show made a comeback on Disney Junior in 2018.)
No matter when or where you first enjoyed something from the Muppets universe, it's likely you have a story to go along with it. It could be jamming out with Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem or scheming with Gonzo or simply baking in the kitchen with The Swedish Chef. No matter the case, there's no doubt you have favorite characters to love and admire. Even if it's the original grumpy old men, Statler and Waldorf (with all due respect to Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon).
The Muppets are proving to be a timeless creation, thanks to the likes of Henson, Frank Oz, and many, many more. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the show. 
Now, about that banana sketch...
photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

Super Bowl history: The good, the bad, and the yawners

 

Super Bowl LV has been decided, failing to live up to the hype with a rout by one team, an occurrence that has happened more often than not in 55 years of Super Bowl history.

The Super Bowl. The crowning achievement of every NFL season, pitting the NFC champion versus the AFC champion vying for the top prize of them all. It's a celebration for the diehard and casual fans alike, with weeklong festivities and celebrations leading to the big game itself. 

The officially sanctioned festivities and Super Bowl crowd itself were much different as COVID-19 regulations continued to be rightfully in place (though 25,000 fans were granted the right to see the game, pandemic be damned). Parties and gatherings were likely still had, alcohol consumed and way too much pizza and wings devoured. And high-budget commercials and extravagant halftime shows were still on full display. 

Hype is a key word centered around the Super Bowl and all its events. More often than not, hype is the better result in all of these areas, with the memories of Super Bowl Sunday usually better than they actually were.

Hangovers, disappointment, food comas, and heartache are usually experienced in the moment, with only the heartache over a favorite team's loss hanging in the air for years to come.

This year's big game had all the makings of a classic. Patrick Mahomes vs Tom Brady. Andy Reid vs Bruce Arians. The offensive-minded teams firing on all cylinders. 

It's too bad that February 7, 2021 can be added to the yawners of Super Bowl past.

A 31-9 victory by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers over the Kansas City Chiefs gave head coach Arians his first title and Brady his seventh. The score reveals a blowout and, while the Kansas City hung around, it just never felt like it was going to be their day. There were definitely big plays, some noteworthy moments, and a streaker but unless you're an excited fan of Tampa Bay and/or Brady or a disappointed Kansas City fan, the game was, well, a ho-hum affair.

Turns out, the majority of Super Bowl don't live up to the hype. We're supposed to see the best each conference has to offer and witness classic duels. The fact is, final margins by two scores or more are what we end up with the majority of the time.

2000s

Take Tampa Bay, for example. Their two Super Bowl victories are by a combined 49 points, thanks to a 2003 48-21 victory over the Oakland (now Las Vegas) Raiders.

This revenge game in 2003 for then Tampa Bay head coach Jon Gruden was actually one of the rare occasions between 2000-2009 in which the Super Bowl was a blowout. The other was a defensive masterpiece from the Baltimore Ravens in 34-7 Super Bowl XXXV victory over the New York Giants.

The games were so fantastic during the first decade of the 21st-century that there was a run between '04 and '09 in which every game was decent and three games were decided by three points.

Kings of the three-point victory were the Brady-led New England Patriots, beginning with a 20-17 victory over the St. Louis (now Los Angeles) Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI. All told in the 2000's, the Patriots have gone 3-1 in the Super Bowl in three-point games and 1-1 in four-point games. Love them or hate them, the Patriots have provided fans with some of the most exciting Super Bowl games to date.

The Patriots have won six Super Bowls in this span, going 6-3 and their largest point spread, win or lose, was a 10-point victory over the Rams in 2019. (This defensive battle is one that many fans have buried far away from their memories). 

Fans of the Super Bowl have been spoiled with great games during the last 20 years. But for every 41-33 Philadelphia Eagles victory or 34-31 Ravens comeback, there is a 43-8 Seattle Seahawks/Denver Broncos affair or Broncos/Carolina Panthers yawner. 

1990s: Super Bowl blowouts the norm

Young fans of this current generation can be thankful for a higher percentage of close games in the Super Bowl because the 1990s had a slate of absolute blowouts. Eight of the Super Bowls played between 1990-99 weren't even close, with 18 points being the average margin of victory. The San Francisco 49ers still hold the record for biggest victory, a 55-10 victory over the Broncos in 1990.

It was the era where offense began to really take hold, with the 49ers following up their showing in '90 by dropping 49 points on the San Diego (now Los Angeles) Chargers in Super Bowl XXIX. 

The '90's were dominated by the NFC and the likes of the 49ers, Dallas Cowboys, Green Bay Packers, Washington, and Giants. It wasn't until the Broncos won back-to-back Super Bowls in '98 and '99 that the AFC broke the NFC's stranglehold on the Lombardi Trophy. The Broncos victory over Green Bay in Super Bowl XXXII marked the first time an AFC team had won the Super Bowl since 1984.

Hard luck Buffalo Bills fans suffered the most in the early 1990s as their team lost four straight Super Bowls, something it is hoped Josh Allen will remedy soon for the current Bills. 

1980s and prior

The Raiders, then in Los Angeles, were those 1984 champions thanks to a 38-9 victory over Washington. Super Bowl blowouts were a theme in the '80's as well, with only two games being settled by less than two scores. Prior to the '84 game, the AFC and NFC split the four Super Bowls.

The two games settled by less than seven points involved the 49ers and the Cincinnati Bengals. San Francisco won by five in the 1982 game and won by four in '89. These were the closest of San Francisco's five Super Bowl victories in the 80s and 90s, where they won by an average margin of nearly 20 points.

Traveling back to the 1970s, there was about a 50/50 split of close games and the not-so-close games. And even the first two Super Bowl games, both Green Bay victories, weren't close, with the Packers winning by an average margin of 22. It wasn't until Super Bowl III that the game was close, a 16-7 win by "Broadway" Joe Namath and New York Jets over Baltimore.

Scoring margin breakdowns (number of games):

3 or less: 74-7: 128-9: 210-19: 2120-29: 830-39: 440+: 1

Games have certainly been better viewing over the last 20 years. While we have to occasionally deal with games like this year, it's hoped that next year's Super Bowl will be better. There seems to be a trend as of late alternating between good and bad. Even last year's 11-point victory by Kansas City was thanks to the 49ers losing a 10-point lead.

In the end, it's definitely moments of each game that we remember, blowouts or not. It might be a thrilling finish, a classic commercial (Bud Bowl, anyone?), events surrounding the game (a pandemic. Donovan McNabb throwing up in the huddle), or even who you spent the day with. 

But it's never too much to at least ask for a good game.

photo credit: Commons Wikimedia

Cobra Kai: Get your kick(s) on

 

Cobra Kai recently premiered its third season on Netflix and there are plenty of lessons to be learned from this series. The following contains possible spoilers. Obviously.If I'm to glean anything from the third season of Cobra Kai, it's that one always needs to be wary of karate fights breaking out at any time. 

Teenagers, am I right?

I'm simply not speaking of one versus one action. Yes, there are still plenty of these occurrences. But in building off the second season's finale "all-out-brawl" at the high school, Cobra Kai only ups the ante in season three. We have fights at chop shops. Fights in dojos. A laser tag fracas between rivals. A rumble in the LaRusso family home.

The only thing really missing is a character yelling "Warriors!" and an epic fight with baseball bats.

Honestly, I'm here for every second of it.

Cobra Kai began in earnest, diving into the present-day life of one Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka). The villain from the original Karate Kid, we first see Lawrence exactly where we might have expected him to be: a deadbeat father with still no real direction in his life. From there, the bricks are laid for a fantastic redemption angle.

Lawrence slowly earned our respect. He became our anti-hero and – in something viewers have been constantly reminded of in the course of three seasons – gave us a lens in which to view that there are two sides to every story. (Seriously. This has been harped upon with Thor's hammer, over and over again.)

While this angle continues to thread the stories of Cobra Kai, including Lawrence's rivalry with Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio), the show has morphed into an action-packed series that has pulled into focus the next generation of karate masters. This includes the offspring of Lawrence and LaRusso, plus the students of Cobra Kai, Miyagi-Do, and the newly-formed Eagle Fang.  

A triad of dojos, all prepped for a season four showdown of possibly epic proportions. 

Wax on, wax offClassic lines and familiar faces were destined to show up in Cobra Kai, much like many others in this reboot heavy generation of media. All were meant to strike nostalgia, and some have certainly been more welcome than others.
What struck me is the direct nod to the street fights and battle sequences that can be traced to films from the late 1970s and 80s. Movies like The Warriors and The Outsiders are just two examples. (The very same organized chaos of these fights scenes gave way to spontaneous, choreographed dance sequences in teen movies during the 90s.)
Along the way, the focus on Lawrence deviated slightly. Storylines became slightly bloated, including a backstory involving John Kreese (Martin Krove) that wasn't really needed. It is understandable that depth was wanted for Kreese. Except here's the thing: Kreese is evil, pure and simple. Like Cal Hockley (Billy Zane) in Titanic. He's evil for the sake of being evil. End of story. (Okay. I understand attempting to give depth to a character, but I was not going to care for Kreese, no matter the situation.)
Thankfully, the last few episodes of season three brought focus again to Lawrence. Storylines converged and focus began anew. Cobra Kai is a series with good fun and it's been nice to see an extension of this world, one I was wary of jumping into at first. 
A battle like no other is seemingly on the horizon for season four. The glimpses we've seen of Lawrence and LaRusso leaving their past rivalry behind could finally be settled. Friendship may not be on the horizon, but here's to hoping Lawrence's redemption can be fully realized. The steps have been taken to get there. Now it's time to finish the job.
Lessons have been learned. Grievances have been set aside. And karate is back where it belongs: running rampant in the streets of the valley. 
Or something like that.
photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

NFL QB's taken in 1st-round of 2018 draft: A wrap on season three

 

Five quarterbacks were taken in the first-round of the 2018 NFL draft. The regular season of their third season is now in the books.By and large, the third season for the five quarterbacks taken in the first-round of the 2018 NFL draft saw two of them take significant leaps in their progress. A third played near the level of his MVP season, while the other two could very well be headed to an NFL career mired in mediocrity.
Josh Allen. Baker Mayfield. Lamar Jackson. Three players who are primed to be in the NFL for the long haul. Three players who will be appearing on your screens this coming weekend as the playoffs for the 2020 season begin play.
Allen was the leader of this pack of quarterbacks throughout much of the 2020 season. His stellar play has found him in the race for MVP, alongside the likes of Aaron Rodgers, Patrick Mahomes, and Derrick Henry. 
Individual accolades are nice, but Allen also led the Buffalo Bills (13-3) to their first AFC East title since 1995 with a victory over Denver in week 15. Two weeks later, the Allen and the Bills locked down the second-seed in the AFC with their 56-26 victory over the Miami Dolphins.
Due to the expanded playoffs this season, the Bills will not get a first-round bye, which is normally awarded the number two seed. Instead, Buffalo will actually kick off the playoffs when the play host to the seventh-seed Indianapolis Colts on January 16.
While Allen made his first playoff appearance last season, Mayfield will be making his playoff debut this coming weekend. Mayfield and the Cleveland Browns (11-5) will be in the NFL playoffs for the first time since 2002. Cleveland enters as the sixth-seed, facing the Pittsburgh Steelers in the marquee matchup on Sunday (1/17) evening.
Over in Baltimore, Jackson is making his third-straight appearance in the playoffs, hoping to take that next step and lead the Ravens (11-5) to the Super Bowl. Baltimore travels to Tennessee to take on the AFC North champion Titans on Saturday (1/16).
A regular season in the books, Allen, Mayfield and Jackson will carry the torch of these five former first-round picks into the playoffs. The battle will be uphill for one of them to secure a Super Bowl title this year, but it's a good bet to not count a single one of them out.Josh AllenAfter a very small lull just after the midpoint of the season, Allen again turned his play up a notch and has the Bills firing on all cylinders entering the playoffs. Over the course of their last three games, the Bills averaged 47.3 points per game. 
Allen, during that same span, threw for nine touchdown passes and 903 yards. He did this while sitting out the second-half in last Sunday's victory over the Dolphins. 
All told, it was a monumental season for the third-year quarterback out of Wyoming. Allen had eight games of 300+ yards, the first such games of his career. He twice also passed for 415 yards, once in a victory over Miami (week 2) and again in a week 9 victory over the Seattle Seahawks. 
Allen's connection with Buffalo newcomer Stefon Diggs was something to behold. Diggs was impressive all season, but really found his footing in the last five games, hauling in 47 receptions for 590 yards and four scores.
Diggs finished with 127 receptions, 1535 yards, and eight touchdown receptions.
His play helped Allen finish with a single-season franchise record 4,544 yards. Allen completed 69.2 percent of his passes – putting those naysayers to bed, myself included – and threw for 37 touchdowns, also a single-season record. Allen conversely only tossed 10 interceptions, though fumbling problems did seem to plague him throughout the season. (Nine fumbles, six lost.)
Allen carried the ball for 421 yards, the lowest of his young career. A lot of that can be attributed to his rise in the passing game and an improved ground game of the Bills. He did score eight touchdowns on the ground, bringing his career total to 25.
MVP numbers. A division title. A chance at a playoff victory. Allen made moves all season and it appears he is here to stay.Lamar JacksonMuch like Allen and Mayfield, Jackson will be looking for his first career playoff win. The only difference is he will be getting his third attempt at doing so.
The Ravens and Jackson had their fair of struggles in 2020. But like Allen and the Bills, Jackson has the Ravens rolling at the moment. Baltimore enters the playoffs on a five-game winning streak, with four of those five wins coming by 10 points or more.
Baltimore capped off the regular season with a 38-3 victory over Cincinnati, in which the Ravens ran for 404 yards.
Jackson missed a game in the 2020 regular season, going 11-4 as a starter, and still finished as the leading rusher for the Baltimore Ravens. He finished with 1,005 yards on the ground, becoming the first quarterback in the NFL to have two 1,000-yard seasons.
Jackson added seven rushing touchdowns to his career total and averaged 6.3 yards per carry.
The passing game wasn't quite as exciting for the Ravens in 2020 but was still (mostly) serviceable. Jackson didn't quite reach the numbers from his MVP season, playing in the same amount of games. He completed 64.4 percent of his passes while throwing for 2,757 yards. He had 26 touchdown passes and 9 interceptions. Respectable, but down from the 36/6 he posted in 2019.
Along with playing well, Baltimore is also getting healthy at the right time. Jackson has waited a year for his third shot at a playoff victory. This weekend, he could deliver on that and more.Baker MayfieldNothing is ever easy for the Cleveland Browns, including nailing down a playoff spot. 
Mayfield and the Browns dealt with a fair amount of adversity in 2020. The season-ending injury to Odell Beckham Jr. on Oct. 26. Horrible weather conditions in multiple games. An injury to star running back Nick Chubb. Their top four wide receivers out due to COVID-19 in a week 16 loss to the New York Jets.
The list could probably go on, but the bottom line is this: through it all, the Browns are once again in the playoffs. And Mayfield's steadier hand in 2020 is a huge reason for that. 
Mayfield didn't put up gaudy numbers or career-highs in many categories. Instead, Mayfield's third season was consistent and workmanlike, leaving the eye-popping numbers to others. 
He passed for 3,563 yards while throwing for 300 or more yards only twice. Mayfield completed 62.8 percent of his passes, better than in year two and only one percent lower than his rookie year. And his touchdown passes stood at 26, one short of tying his career-high.
The eye-popping stat in Mayfield's case? Interception total, of which he only threw eight. This coming a year after throwing 21. Smarter decisions with the football helped, as did an improved offensive line that allowed only 26 sacks (as opposed to 41 the season before). 
Mayfield did have eight fumbles, losing four. Three of the lost fumbles came in the last five games. He also rushed for the most yards in his career, finishing with 165.
Adversity is following the Browns into the playoffs, as head coach Kevin Stefanski and four other offensive coaches will miss the game due to COVID-19 protocols. If there's is one thing we've learned, however, is in this crazy, mixed-up season, it's never a good thing to count Mayfield and the Browns out.Sam DarnoldThe good news for Darnold is he will have a new coach next season. Deeper down, I bet he wonders if he'll even be the starting quarterback for the New York Jets.
Adam Gase has been fired as head coach of the Jets, who own the second pick in the 2021 draft. There will be plenty of quarterback options available, but if the Jets (2-14) work on developing talent around Darnold, better results might be in the cards for the quarterback out of USC.
After last season's strong finish, hopes were teetering on high for the team. It was fairly apparent from the early weeks, however, that this season was not going to be a good one. They were threatening futility and responded with a 2-1 finish to the season.
Darnold again faced an injury-plagued season, playing in only 12 games. A starter since week 1 of his rookie year, Darnold has now missed ten games in his career.
The numbers in 2020 were also some of the worst in Darnold's career. He threw for only 200+ yards only four times in 2020, with the highest being 266 in week 17. The 266 yards were the most Darnold thrown in a game since a week 14 victory against Miami in 2019. 
Darnold only tossed nine touchdown passes, though four of those did come in the last three games. And prior to the two interceptions Darnold threw against New England in the season finale, he had gone three games without throwing one and totaled 11 on the season.
On the ground, Darnold ran for 217 yards and two touchdowns.
A change of scenery might be best for Darnold in 2021. If he does find himself still in New York in season four, it might be his final chance to make his mark in a Jets uniform. A marked improvement can still happen, as Darnold has shown brief flashes in his career. One just wonders if he can harness the consistency to remain a starter for much longer in the NFL.Josh RosenSelected with the tenth pick in the 2018 draft, Josh Rosen ended his third season wearing the uniform of his fourth team.
Rosen did not accrue any stats in his third season in the NFL. He spent the majority of the season the practice squad of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In week 16, Rosen was picked up by the quarterback depleted San Francisco 49ers and served as the backup quarterback for the season's final two weeks.
It's likely Rosen will be fighting for a roster spot in 2021. A good crop of quarterbacks are set to be drafted this spring. It will be an uphill battle for sure, but there will be opportunities for Rosen to continue on in the NFL.
That does it for season three of this ongoing series. Be sure to check back in late summer of 2021 to see how life is shaping up for these quarterbacks in season four.
picture credit: Wikimedia Commons
Season 3 Outlook Season 3: Thru Week 4 Season 3: Thru Week 9 Season 3: Thru Week 13

Christmas letter 2020

 

 
I have been staring at this screen for going on 31 minutes now. Occasionally I stand, proceed to walk around the house to jumpstart the mind. Return to the couch. Tap my fingers. Tap. Tap. Tap.
Afternoon turns into evening. 
It's time for the annual Christmas letter and I struggle to reach a starting point. To begin with a first step usually starts the journey and propels it forward. I deleted about five different sentences over the course of 31 minutes...
...make that 34 minutes. Where does one even begin this year?
The year 2020. Am I right?
ornament by Kathy Kiefer
It's hard to believe we are already in December. Life was already going to be an adjustment in 2020, but – like for many around the world – the last nine months have been a lesson in "now, more than ever", a phrase I do believe I've heard over 14,000 times since March and one that probably never needs to be uttered again.
But I understand.
It was the weekend of March 13 when things began to truly change in the Boise area due to the pandemic. Days later, on March 16, my job sent people home, instructing us to leave by noon to work from home from what we initially thought would be two weeks. Two weeks extended to the end of April. And then to June. And once more until October, when it was finally decided to move our company fully remote. This meant no more going to an office and no more grabbing free drinks from the drink fridge. I am grateful to have a job still, but I do miss the social interactions that going to an office provides.
And to think, it was only a week prior this March 16 date that myself and two close friends got to meet the Beatles:

The same weekend of the 13th, the theater company I work with, Alley Repertory Theater, opened and closed a show all in a three-day span. Normally, a production with our company lasts 7 to 12 performances so there was much sadness about only getting three performances in. The stage has been dark since, though we are working hard behind-the-scenes to get the company ready for production whenever it is safe to bring crowds together in large groups again.
Being in theater usually takes up a lot of my free time. At first, I thought this time of social distancing would lead to a lot more time to write. However, I found creativity was kind of sparse in those early months. It also did not help that I love to write about sports and the sports world had also come to a screeching halt.
Admittedly, I would have rather seen the sports world stay on pause until things regarding the pandemic had been more sorted out. The leagues slowly returned, however, and I began to write again for two websites: Chowder and Champions and Bronco Nation News (Boise State. Not Denver).
Slowly, the creative juices began to flow again and I got back to a steady diet of writing every night. There is nothing new out at the moment, but I hope to have my third fantasy novel published sometime in 2021. Also began work on a new play while editing others, along with some edits on screenplays so I do have plenty of projects on the burner at the moment. 
In related news, it is wonderful to hear from so many of you regarding Of Snow Forts and Santa. The kind words you sent, the positive reviews you've posted, and to hear you're enjoying the book not only for yourself but sharing it with the kids in your life is heart-warming. I am so grateful for all of it.
Before the writing really kicked in again, I was mostly catching up on a lot of television and films. Holed up in my apartment, I also began to do puzzles again and even bought a model car to put together. There was a certain aspect I enjoyed about reconnecting with hobbies from my youth. However, things may have went too far on this evening pictured below: 

Once I moved out of the "staging bobbleheads in football games" portion of the year, I began to take more walks along the Boise River. Initially the gyms were close so finding ways to keep the cardio up was a must. And the greenbelt along the river was the perfect solution. I also found solace in having play discussions over Zoom and using apps like this and other social media platforms to stay in touch and reconnect with old friends. Or, in some cases, talking with my nieces and nephew.
Wanting to be with my sister and her family more so in the last 14 months, it was tough having them on the other side of the country. Thanks to a steady stream of messages throughout the months – and the occasional video call – made life not as lonesome. Plus, it's always fun to receive a voice message with a niece singing "We Wish You a Merry Christmas"... in October.
All in the family are well, including mom and my brother. We are all trucking along, as the old saying goes. That is an old saying, isn't it? Perhaps it should be. It reminds me of a popular cheer from the olden days of the late 1980's:
    "T.     T-R-U.     T-R-U-C-K keep on truckin' all the way.     T. T-R-U..."
Okay. I'll stop. The randomness of what stays packed away in my memory is beyond me. On this day, I'd like to blame it on the spiked eggnog but that's not the case. Yet. 
Wishing everyone near and far a happy Christmas, merry holidays, and healthy 2021. Onward and upward, as they say. 
Be well. Be bold. And be kind.

Holiday song tournament: Have yourself a merry Elite 8

 

Eight songs remain in the 2020 Holiday Favorite Song tournament. And we take a look at some of best holiday songs from movies and television specials.Song selection can impact a story in so many ways. A song can elevate a moment, pull at the heartstrings, excite the brain, and set the mood.
One thing lacking in films – including holiday films – in the last ten years is the movie soundtrack. There have been rare exceptions in all genres – Guardians of the Galaxy for example – it is tough to easily call to find movie soundtracks like those of yesteryear. 
Holiday music is of course a driving force in television shows, specials, and films, with many iconic soundtracks populating the holiday landscape.
Songs from a movie lead into the story itself. Take Love Actually, for example. Popular artists like Kelly Clarkson and Otis Redding are but a few artists on this soundtrack, which also includes Olivia Olson singing Mariah Carey's All I Want for Christmas is You. It is Billy Mack (Bill Nighy), however, who steals the show with his reluctant cover of Love is All Around titled Christmas is All Around in an attempt to revive his career.

It can also be one song that sticks in the memory, like the opening song "Christmas Vacation" in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation or the singing of Deck the Halls in A Christmas Story. 
And who can forget Judy Garland singing Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas in Meet Me in St. Louis or the duet of Baby It's Cold Outside performed by Zooey Deschanel and Will Ferrell in Elf.
The list of single holiday songs so closely associated with a holiday special, television show or film could go on forever.
Memories can also be attached to a complete soundtrack or an entire show. Vince Guaraldi and A Charlie Brown Christmas leave viewers humming the tunes for days. Thurl Ravenscroft's version of You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch is belted out in cars and living rooms across the nation.
To me, one of the most complete soundtracks and scores for a holiday film belongs to Home Alone. And while the ins-and-outs of the movie are often discussed in-depth, it is the music that is sometimes easily forgotten.
Songs like White Christmas by The Drifters and Please Come Home for Christmas by Southside Johnny Lyon are a few songs while Chuck Berry's Run Rudolph Run – the song blaring as the family runs through the airport – according to Wikipedia isn’t even on the official soundtrack.
It is the score by John Williams, however, that truly sets the tone for the film.
That's correct. Academy-Award winner John Williams (who was also nominated for an Oscar for Home Alone and its score). Carol of the Bells and O Holy Night are two that help emphasize scenes plus this one, which was part of this tournament and is a favorite of mine: 

Eight songs remain standing in this favorite holiday song tournament and they, too, have been featured or used in films and television shows throughout the years (or had entire specials built around them). Two number-one seeds remain and while the Silent Night region didn't produce a battle of Silent Night versions, the region will give us a Bing Crosby vs Neil Diamond faceoff. 
Who will advance to the final four? Can Kelly Clarkson and Leona Lewis continue their improbable runs? Will it be Bing vs Bing in the final? Check out the matchups below as we move one step closer to determining a favorite holiday song.

Santa Claus region1) Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer - Gene Autry2) Santa Claus is Comin' to Town - Bruce Springsteen

White Christmas region1) White Christmas - Bing Crosby15) Winter Wonderland - Leona Lewis

Silent Night region1) Silent Night - Bing Crosby6) O Holy Night - Neil Diamond

Candy Cane region25) Underneath the Tree - Kelly Clarkson2) You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch - Thurl RavenscroftVoting will take place on Twitter (@jasonrh_78) for the Elite 8 starting on 12/19 followed by the final 4 on 12/20 and the championship on 12/21.
Do you have a favorite song that didn't make the tournament? Or lost in an earlier round? Feel free to comment and keep the discussion going.
photo credit: Jason Haskins
Part 1: Favorite holiday song tourneyPart 2: Island of misfit (songs)Part 3: Part 4:

Holiday song tournament: Dashing into the sweet 16

 

Down to the final 16 songs in this tourney of favorite holiday songs. Plus, a few words on the holiday songs of Idaho Ho Ho.The holidays have their own set of traditions built in for many. Putting up Christmas trees. Lighting the menorah. Drinking a gallon of eggnog each week.
Is that last one only me?
One of my favorite traditions, normally occurring after Thanksgiving and before Christmas, is purchasing the most recent copy of the Idaho Ho Ho compilation (or buying albums that were released prior to collector's quest). Proceeds from album sales helped benefit The Women's & Children's Alliance and each year, there would also be a one-night benefit concert where the album's featured musicians performed live.
Unfortunately, like many events and traditions in the last nine months, the 2020 Idaho Ho Ho was canceled due to COVID-19 precautions.
This doesn't mean, however, that we still can't enjoy the holiday songs of years past produced via these albums.
In 2019, this annual offering celebrated its 10th anniversary. I began collecting these albums back in 2014 and have attempted to purchase the albums annually. Subsequently, I was also able to purchase from the years I missed at local establishments like The Record Exchange and Moxie Java.
The albums are recorded at AudioLab, executive produced by FultonHuff Productions and UnCommon Records, and produced by Steve Fulton.
There are original songs and covers of classic holiday songs, like Shon Sanders singing Winter Wonderland or Dusty Leigh & The Claim Jumpers doing their version of Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree.
Numerous artists and bands have added their talents to these albums of the years, such people like Mickey and the Motorcars, Eilen Jewell, The Frim Fram 4, Peggy Jordan, Afrosonic, and so many, many more.
Much like this tournament, narrowing down favorite songs is a difficult task. Among those that get repeated play in my CD player or on iTunes include: Winter Song (Pure Ivy, 2017), Christmas Eve Eve (David Robert King, 2018), This Year (Leta Harris Neustaedter, 2019),  Hobo Holiday (Steve Fulton, 2014), Every Day Will be Like a Holiday (John Laufenburger, 2014), One for the Angels (J. Todd Dunnigan 2012), and Just the Way it Glows (Sun Blood Stories, 2018). 

I ultimately decided against including any of these songs in the favorite holiday song tournament, but I imagine a few might have easily advanced in a round (or three). Advancing to the Sweet 16 may not have happened but they would have held their own.
As it is, trends in this tournament continued to hold strong. The four top seeds in the Santa Claus region all advanced while there was a mix of high and low in the White Christmas region. A battle of Silent Night versions could be shaping up in the Silent Night region while in the Candy Cane region chaos continued to be thy name. The region is powered by a second-seed plus three songs seeded with two digits next to their name.
Without further ado, the Sweet 16 matchups:

Santa Claus region1) Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer - Gene Autry4) Santa Claus is Coming to Town - The Jackson 53) Run Rudolph Run - Chuck Berry2) Santa Claus is Comin' to Town - Bruce Springsteen

White Christmas region1) White Christmas - Bing Crosby13) Merry Christmas Baby - Chuck Berry3) Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas - Judy Garland15) Winter Wonderland - Leona Lewis

Silent Night region1) Silent Night - Bing Crosby12) Christmas Canon - Trans-Siberian Orchestra6) O Holy Night - Neil Diamond2) Silent Night - Frank Sinatra

Candy Cane region25) Underneath the Tree - Kelly Clarkson21) Mele Kalikimaka - Bing Crosby/The Andrews Sisters11) What Christmas Means to Me - Stevie Wonder2) You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch - Thurl RavenscroftVoting will take place on Twitter (@jasonrh_78) and continue throughout the month until there is only one song remaining. Check back here for more posts as the tournament continues.
Do you have a favorite song that didn't make the tournament? Or lost in an earlier round? Feel free to comment and keep the discussion going.
This week's forgotten classic that I was so kindly reminded of is Darlene Love's All Alone on Christmas. While the song is fantastic, it's the video that truly brings the magic: 

photo credit: commons.wikimedia.org
Part 1: A favorite holiday song tournamentPart 2: Island of misfit (songs)Part 3:

Holiday song tournament: Over the river to the round of 32

 

Onto the round of 32 in this tournament of favorite holiday songs as higher seeds fall and upstart versions move on for a chance to reach for the gold.One of the things about creating a ranking system – whether it’s a college football poll, NCAA tournament, or the scads of “Best of” lists on the internet – is that they’ll never be completely agreed upon.

Therein lies the fun.

The same can be said as we head into the round of 32 in this yuletide tournament of favorite holiday songs. Chaos reigned supreme in the round of 64, an effect that began with the domino of Mariah Carey's All I Want for Christmas is You falling in the first round.

Results began orderly enough, with the top eight seeds in the Santa Claus region advancing. Status quo even spilled in to the White Christmas region, where the first to songs to advance were the higher seeds.

Then things unraveled, proving that my rankings were off, I enjoy different songs more than some people, or voters simply respect the underdogs. (Or maybe a combination of all three.)

By the time we reached the Candy Cane region, the lower seeds rued the day, leading to only two of the eight seeds remaining in the region holding a single-digit ranking next to their name.

Gone are such songs like Blue Christmas by Elvis (second seed, White Christmas region), Mistletoe by Justin Bieber (third seed, Candy Cane Region), and Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy by Bing Crosby & David Bowie (fifth seed, Silent Night region). 

All part of the fun.

Fun, too, is learning new versions of songs or simply being reminded of forgotten songs from the past. This version of Jingle Bell Rock by Achille Lauro & Annalisa:

I was also reminded of this great version of Up on the House Top by The Jackson 5. While the group already had two songs in the in the tourney – and one remaining in the round of 32 – they may have very well had a third had I remembered it:

Is your favorite holiday song still holding strong in the tournament? Was it there to begin with? Here is the list of the remaining 32 songs and the matchups:

Santa Claus region

1) Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer - Gene Autry8) Sleigh Ride - Leroy Anderson4) Santa Claus is Coming to Town - The Jackson 55) Santa Baby - Eartha Kitt3) Run Rudolph Run - Chuck Berry6) Jingle Bell Rock - Brenda Lee7) Sleigh Ride - The Ronettes2) Santa Claus is Comin' to Town - Bruce Springsteen

White Christmas region1) White Christmas - Bing Crosby8) Happy Xmas (War is Over) - John Lennon13) Merry Christmas Baby - Chuck Berry5) The Christmas Song - Nat King Cole3) Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas - Judy Garland27) Let it Snow - Boyz II Men/Brian McKnight 10) Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) - Darlene Love15) Winter Wonderland - Leona Lewis

Silent Night region1) Silent Night - Bing Crosby24) First Noel - Andy Williams20) Here We Come A-Caroling - Perry Como12) Christmas Canon - Trans-Siberian Orchestra30) Angels We Have Heard on High - David Archuleta6) O Holy Night - Neil Diamond23) Little Drummer Boy - Anne Murray2) Silent Night - Frank Sinatra

Candy Cane region16) Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer - Elmo & Patsy25) Underneath the Tree - Kelly Clarkson13) Please Come Home for Christmas - The Eagles21) Mele Kalikimaka - Bing Crosby/The Andrews Sisters19) Wintersong - Sarah McLachlan11) What Christmas Means to Me - Stevie Wonder7) Where Are You Christmas? - Faith Hill2) You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch - Thurl RavenscroftVoting will take place on Twitter (@jasonrh_78) and continue throughout the month until there is only one song remaining. Check back here for more posts as the tournament continues.
Do you have a favorite song that didn't make the tournament? Or lost in an earlier round? Feel free to comment and keep the discussion going.
Photo credit: commons.wikimedia.org
Part 1: The tournament bracketPart 2: Island of misfit (songs)