Site search
sponsored by
News
I've been waiting a while now, but Stanley's Final Opening Masters Bracket is upon us yet again.
SFOMB, in case you don't know, quite possibly may be the single-greatest acronym out there, if you're a sports fan. Well, a "real" sports fan, anyway.
And I'm calling dibs on it right away, so any other sports writers or networks out there, beware. This is my beast.
Let's take a closer look at SFOMB, in reverse order, to dissect its glorious meaning.
In my acronym, "B" is for Bracket (not burglar - sorry Sue Grafton!), and bracket stands for the 2008 NCAA Basketball Tournament, the single-greatest elimination tournament in the world of sports (although the World Cup is a close second), which kicked off Thursday and continues its epic four-day beginning through Sunday.
The tournament has truly become an apple-pie slice of Americana, an event in which just about everyone, sports fans or no, can participate. Whether it's cool nicknames, pretty uniforms or the more conventional who's-the-best-team approach, filling out a bracket(s) is enjoyed by many.
Of course, the problem I always have is picking them correctly, although I did win a smaller contest three years ago, when North Carolina's Sean May and Ray Felton were too much for the near-perfect Fighting Illini of Illinois.
But nowhere can you find more drama and excitement in a sporting event than the NCAA tournament, an venue where no-names such as Tyus Edney, Bryce Drew and Lorenzo Charles become household names, their famous clips never getting old as they're shown countless time as March Madness approaches.
My prediction - well, those of you who read my Super Bowl column shouldn't take too much stock into this - but I have Kansas over UCLA in the final.
"M" is for Masters, as in The Masters, the best of the four major PGA events. This year's pro tournament takes place April 10-13 at Augusta Country Club in Georgia, perfect timing to kick off once the tournament is over after the April 7 championship.
The Masters just has that extra something that makes it better than the PGA Championship and the U.S. and British opens. Something of a combination of a beautiful course, that signature 18th hole, where you tee off down the narrowest of corridors and the fact that your prize isn't a trophy, but a piece of clothing. It's just great to watch.
And if we're lucky, we'll get to see history continue to unfold if Tiger Woods wins and continues his absolutely insane-crazy-bonkers undefeated start to the '08 season. Did you see that putt he made Sunday? Wow.
"O" is for Opening, as in Opening Day 2008 for Major League Baseball. America's pastime (although I would argue that football has overtaken that title) is on the verge of starting again, as Boston and Oakland kick it off Tuesday in Japan, although as a Michigan native, I will be following the full opening day schedule on March 31, when the Detroit Tigers kick off the '08 season against Kansas City.
Detroit arguably boasts the best lineup and one of the top 10 pitching staffs in baseball this year, so I'm very excited. But I'm also exciting to renew my interests in the classic Red Sox/Yankees and Cubs/Cardinals rivalries, the home run chases, the batting title contenders and the occasional no hitter.
While the baseball season almost is under way, "F" has me excited because it stands for "Final" as in the NBA Finals. With the basketball season slowly winding down, the playoffs are almost upon us, and I again have a great deal of interest in the outcome.
The Detroit Pistons look poised to make another Eastern Conference Finals run, and I think I'm not alone here in hoping they play the Boston Celtics in the East Finals. They are by far the two best teams in the East (and the NBA?), so I'm looking forward to a vintage 1980's slugfest. And the best part for me? Dennis Johnson and Larry Bird are retired.
In the West, who knows, although I would love to see a Spurs/Lakers Western Conference Finals. They are the two best teams in the West, in my opinion. And while I would love to see my Pistons in the Finals to defeat the Lakers again like it's 2004, I wouldn't be lying if I said I'd enjoy another 1980's redux in Celtics vs. Lakers.
And finally, "S" stands for Stanley, as in Stanley Cup. As some of you may know, and probably a lot don't, the artist formerly known as the NHL is commencing its playoffs, with the Stanley Cup Finals to follow.
America, especially the West, generally is not a hockey fan, but I am, coming from a hockey-rich state. And, in case you didn't know, my Detroit Red Wings have dominated all season long, so hopefully that will turn into a Stanley Cup title come May. Recent history suggests the Wings will tank in the playoffs, as the have done ever since their last title in 2001, but this year, hopefully, is different.
SFSMB officially began Thursday, and it won't be over until October, when hopefully my Tigers are hoisting a World Series trophy, to join the Red Wings and Pistons trophies in the Detroit dominance category.
Of course, by then we'll be in football season, the greatest season of all, where the Detroit Lions will firmly jettison me back to sports reality.
Then I'll be shouting out a whole different acronym.
Kevin MacMillan is the sports editor and a reporter for the North Lake Tahoe Bonanza. He can be reached at kmacmillan@tahoebonanza.com.
SFOMB, in case you don't know, quite possibly may be the single-greatest acronym out there, if you're a sports fan. Well, a "real" sports fan, anyway.
And I'm calling dibs on it right away, so any other sports writers or networks out there, beware. This is my beast.
Let's take a closer look at SFOMB, in reverse order, to dissect its glorious meaning.
In my acronym, "B" is for Bracket (not burglar - sorry Sue Grafton!), and bracket stands for the 2008 NCAA Basketball Tournament, the single-greatest elimination tournament in the world of sports (although the World Cup is a close second), which kicked off Thursday and continues its epic four-day beginning through Sunday.
The tournament has truly become an apple-pie slice of Americana, an event in which just about everyone, sports fans or no, can participate. Whether it's cool nicknames, pretty uniforms or the more conventional who's-the-best-team approach, filling out a bracket(s) is enjoyed by many.
Of course, the problem I always have is picking them correctly, although I did win a smaller contest three years ago, when North Carolina's Sean May and Ray Felton were too much for the near-perfect Fighting Illini of Illinois.
But nowhere can you find more drama and excitement in a sporting event than the NCAA tournament, an venue where no-names such as Tyus Edney, Bryce Drew and Lorenzo Charles become household names, their famous clips never getting old as they're shown countless time as March Madness approaches.
My prediction - well, those of you who read my Super Bowl column shouldn't take too much stock into this - but I have Kansas over UCLA in the final.
"M" is for Masters, as in The Masters, the best of the four major PGA events. This year's pro tournament takes place April 10-13 at Augusta Country Club in Georgia, perfect timing to kick off once the tournament is over after the April 7 championship.
The Masters just has that extra something that makes it better than the PGA Championship and the U.S. and British opens. Something of a combination of a beautiful course, that signature 18th hole, where you tee off down the narrowest of corridors and the fact that your prize isn't a trophy, but a piece of clothing. It's just great to watch.
And if we're lucky, we'll get to see history continue to unfold if Tiger Woods wins and continues his absolutely insane-crazy-bonkers undefeated start to the '08 season. Did you see that putt he made Sunday? Wow.
"O" is for Opening, as in Opening Day 2008 for Major League Baseball. America's pastime (although I would argue that football has overtaken that title) is on the verge of starting again, as Boston and Oakland kick it off Tuesday in Japan, although as a Michigan native, I will be following the full opening day schedule on March 31, when the Detroit Tigers kick off the '08 season against Kansas City.
Detroit arguably boasts the best lineup and one of the top 10 pitching staffs in baseball this year, so I'm very excited. But I'm also exciting to renew my interests in the classic Red Sox/Yankees and Cubs/Cardinals rivalries, the home run chases, the batting title contenders and the occasional no hitter.
While the baseball season almost is under way, "F" has me excited because it stands for "Final" as in the NBA Finals. With the basketball season slowly winding down, the playoffs are almost upon us, and I again have a great deal of interest in the outcome.
The Detroit Pistons look poised to make another Eastern Conference Finals run, and I think I'm not alone here in hoping they play the Boston Celtics in the East Finals. They are by far the two best teams in the East (and the NBA?), so I'm looking forward to a vintage 1980's slugfest. And the best part for me? Dennis Johnson and Larry Bird are retired.
In the West, who knows, although I would love to see a Spurs/Lakers Western Conference Finals. They are the two best teams in the West, in my opinion. And while I would love to see my Pistons in the Finals to defeat the Lakers again like it's 2004, I wouldn't be lying if I said I'd enjoy another 1980's redux in Celtics vs. Lakers.
And finally, "S" stands for Stanley, as in Stanley Cup. As some of you may know, and probably a lot don't, the artist formerly known as the NHL is commencing its playoffs, with the Stanley Cup Finals to follow.
America, especially the West, generally is not a hockey fan, but I am, coming from a hockey-rich state. And, in case you didn't know, my Detroit Red Wings have dominated all season long, so hopefully that will turn into a Stanley Cup title come May. Recent history suggests the Wings will tank in the playoffs, as the have done ever since their last title in 2001, but this year, hopefully, is different.
SFSMB officially began Thursday, and it won't be over until October, when hopefully my Tigers are hoisting a World Series trophy, to join the Red Wings and Pistons trophies in the Detroit dominance category.
Of course, by then we'll be in football season, the greatest season of all, where the Detroit Lions will firmly jettison me back to sports reality.
Then I'll be shouting out a whole different acronym.
Kevin MacMillan is the sports editor and a reporter for the North Lake Tahoe Bonanza. He can be reached at kmacmillan@tahoebonanza.com.
