So I figured something must have happened. When I logged in and checked my messages on ESPN.com I saw that the same editor that considered promoting my 1st entry to the front page of ESPN had posted this message

From: MattFriedrichs
Sent: 03/30/2008 at 1:19 PM
Subject: 64, 32 blog

Message: Nice work. It will be featured on the front of ESPN.com until about 2:20 p.m. ET.

The post that follows is what made it to the front page of ESPN.com for about an hour on Sunday March 30th. Click title in bold to link to the entry and comments at ESPN.com

32 & 64 to Boycott 2009 NCAA Tournament – want “Special Names”

Manhattan, New York, NY — Having recently completed their portion of this years Men’s NCAA Tournament the numbers 32 & 64 called a joint press conference this morning @ 10:30, on Sesame Street next to Mr. Hooper’s store announcing their intention to boycott the 2009 tournament season if they were not given “special names” like their counterparts 16, 8 & 4.

Their spokesman, Count Von Count stated that “If the NCAA doesn’t develop nicknames for my clients, they will have to look for other numbers to fill their place next year, ah ah ah ah ah.” After some concluding statements 32 & 64 took questions from the press.

Q. You both seem quite committed to this idea -but as of yet offer no solutions or compromises – why shouldn’t the NCAA simply pick two other numbers divisible by two?

A. 32 – “I’ve been around since 1975, 64 since ’85 (1985), we put in hard work and longer hours than our counterparts 16, 8 & 4. We’ve thought long an hard about the decision to announce our intentions regarding the tournament. We are prepared to walk away if necessary.”

64 – “I would like to add, however, that we are willing to work with the NCAA should they decide to come up with special names for us. We will not, I repeat, we will not make suggestions as to what we should be referred to as. That’s like coming up with a nick-name for yourself and forcing it on others.”

Q. Isn’t that, in fact, what you’re doing by putting the NCAA in this position.

A. 64 – “No it’s quite different. Look – we know we’re not what everybody is coming to see. We know that, but you cannot have 16, 8 & 4 without us. We’re part of the Big Dance too!”

32 – “I’ve got a buddy that is a nutjob about Superman. He’s considering doing a Superman theme bathroom in his basement. He wears Superman t-shirts, watches all the movies, reads the comic book, has a Superman symbol belt buckle – like I said, he’s a nutjob. He claims that people refer to him as Superman, specifically the sushi chef at the Golden Dragon, so he claims that Superman is his nickname. I personally have never heard him referred to as Super-anything. So when he says ‘people call me Superman’ I think – No, people call you ‘juvenile and a bit arrogant.’ Don’t get me wrong, he’s a super guy but he’s no Superman. ”

“What I’m saying is that we can’t be a part of the nick-naming process. It wouldn’t be right.”

Q. What is your deadline for knowing whether you’ll be a part of the tournament next year?

A. 64 – “We don’t want to put a firm deadline on this. But we’d love to have the whole thing resolved before the end of this year’s tournament. Just letting the public know that we’d like equal treatment with 16, 8 & 4 is sure to get them thinking – I would guess that the big brains out there could come up with something great. I’m talking to you Musberger.”

At that point Von Count ushered 32 & 64 away. They were later seen signing autographs and having their picture taken with Big Bird & Elmo.

When asked to comment on the announcement 4 (Final Four) stated that he’d love to see parity in the nicknames and hopes the NCAA can reach an agreement with 32 & 64 quickly. 8 & 16, however did not share his feelings.

16 (Sweet Sixteen) – “64 – you’re a punk, you need a few more trips around the block before you can start making demands like that – and 32, you ought to be ashamed of yourself. You’re an important part of the process, but there is no “I” in team dude.”

8 (Elite Eight) added, “I’ve been here since the beginning – but I didn’t go begging for a nickname. Know your role and shut your hole”

8 & 16 were brief in their comments stating that they still had work to do for this weekend’s games.

Noticeably absent from todays events were 1 & 2, both who play what is considered the most important of roles in the tournaments. The famously arrogant #1 declined to comment stating “Who cares – it’s all about me anyway.” and Number 2 has avoided the public eye ever since he became a euphemism for defecation.

You see Keith thinks that in order to fill out a NCAA tournament bracket you should know something about sports, or at least basketball or maybe at least be able to tell which of two numbers is higher than another.  But I don’t agree – I think part of the fun of taking part in March Madness is the fact that you don’t have to know anything to fill out a bracket and you might just get lucky.

This is apparently quite annoying to him so I capitalized on it by posting a blog which you can read below or view on my ESPN.com profile page, oops wait I mean this one.

5 reasons my NCAA picks are better than yours… 

If anyone is actually reading this then you probably know me, and by knowing me you know that I know absolutely nothing about sports. But that doesn’t mean that my picks aren’t better than yours. Here are 5 reasons my picks beat your picks…

5. I did them at work. I’m generally a bit more on my game when I do things during the work day. If this hold true I will easily defeat you.

4. I’m wearing brown. It’s a good color on me and I think it just adds to my ability to make great picks.

3. Kent State – I know where it’s at and can drive there without written directions, once again – adding to my familiarity with this years tournament.

2. The Wagner Lab of Ornithology in Newport has informed me that that bird is a liar, and also not my doppleganger. Today is a good day.

1. You actually read this list, meaning you’re looking for insight for your picks which means you’re worried that you’ll make or have made poor choices – I win.

Good luck this year.

So I finished typing that and published, figuring that nobody would ever read it unless I specifically directed them there.  I was wrong – later that day I got an email letting me know that I had received a message on my profile at ESPN.com.  It said the following:

From:       MattFriedrichs
Sent:          03/19/2008 at 10:32 AM
Subject:    Picks blog
Message:  Very funny. I’d consider it for the front of ESPN.com if you turn on the comments (Edit My Profile, privacy settings).

The next day I received another message:

From:      CommunityEds
Sent:        03/20/2008 at 3:34 PM
Subject:   Funny blog
Message: We rounded up NCAA tourney blogs, yours included here: http://myespn.go.com/s/blogs/show/username/CommunityEds?target_tsn=99

I was really suprised -  I went ahead and turned on comments like they requested but I don’t think it ever was promoted to the front page of ESPN.com.  But just like the March Madness, (and Forrest Gump for that matter) you never know what you’re gonna get.  Looks like sometimes there is a little luck involved with Tournament brackets…