ESPN.com Front Page!
Okay - so if you read my post from last week about my NCAA bracket picks you saw that it generated a bit more interest than I ever thought it would. If you haven’t read it - you can see it below or click here to view it on my espn.com blog. Well over the weekend a post that I wrote on espn.com was promoted to the front page of the site. I of course didn’t actually get to see it there but when I logged in to check my email on Monday morning I saw this:
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 blogMessage: 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.
