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| For those playing at home ... By Dan Shanoff Special to Page 2 | ||
The first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament are a relationship killer. I'm not talking between you and your buddies, or even between you and that jerk the next cubicle over who went to Duke. Unless you are lucky enough to have a significant other who lives and breathes college hoops as much as you do (and I have one, though I overlook her SEC partiality), the fact you aren't answering your phone Thursday and Friday afternoons and are booked solid from Thursday night through Sunday just might put you in the doghouse.
Regardless, you might want to keep it handy for the explanation you'll inevitably have to provide.
1. The Two-Timer Tourney-watching style: Will tell everyone at the bar that they're all for Florida winning it all -- until the Gators drop to Illinois. Then, they move along to the next hot team. Teams they like: Lots of transfers, particularly from big-name schools. Representative Tourney team: San Diego State
2. The Euro Guy Tourney-watching style: Hard to get comfortable on a barstool in leather pants. Teams they like: Offenses geared around distance shooting and no defense; rosters filled with the European flavor. Representative Tourney team: Valparaiso
3. The Bad Boy Tourney-watching style: Heads to the non-sports bars, where they shout and curse and drink hard alcohol. Teams they like: Black uniforms, overly physical defense, intense coach, low graduation rates. Representative Tourney team: Cincinnati
Dating style: Tries to impress with his sports car and Rolly. Tourney-watching style: Rents a table at the upscale sports bar. Teams they like: The ones that win all the time -- and just get richer. Representative Tourney team: Duke
5. The Underdog (a k a The Lloyd Dobler) Tourney-watching style: First on the bandwagon for the unlikely heroes; stakes out spot closest to the TV airing the game they play in. Teams they like: The Cinderellas Representative Tourney team: Gonzaga
6. The Jock Tourney-watching style: Head to a crowded bar, then clear out space for themselves, usually at the expense of the smaller guys around them. Teams they like: The physically dominant ones Representative Tourney team: USC
7. The Know-It-All Tourney-watching style: Every stat and storyline is at the tip of their tongue ... much to the annoyance of those around them. Teams they like: The ones from the "smart" schools Representative Tourney team: Stanford
8. The Prepster Tourney-watching style: Likes a booth (less chance of wrinkling button-down shirt) -- and makes sure the sorority girls are around! Teams they like: The fluffy, those with a reputation for being soft Representative Tourney team: Wake Forest
9. The Sensitive Guy Tourney-watching style: Reluctant to boo; cried when Hampton beat Iowa State. Teams they like: Appreciates the teams that struggle at the cusp of greatness; roots sincerely that this is their year to break through. Representative Tourney team: Xavier.
10. The Rebel Tourney-watching style: Proclaim the higher-ranked seeds can go to hell; Which higher seed? "Whaddaya ya got?" Teams they like: Ones that go against conventional wisdom; other rebels Representative Tourney team: Ole Miss, naturally
Dating style: Trying just a bit too hard; always goes home early. Tourney-watching style: Head back to their apartment at 11 p.m., even though the late games don't end until after midnight! Teams they like: Defined by their coach (a k a, mother figure); historically eager -- even talented -- but ineffective. Representative Tourney team: Kansas
12. The Neurotic Tourney-watching style: Stay in the house and order the satellite Tourney package so they can watch without being bothered by others. Teams they like: Methodical offenses and defenses, perhaps with a head-case streak. Representative Tourney team: Texas Tech
13. The Frat Guy Tourney-watching style: Meets his buddies at the overcrowded designated bar for his alma mater. Teams they like: The ones that like to party; the ones that brim over with unearned overconfidence. Representative Tourney team: Kentucky
Dating style: Hangs out in the apartment, or maybe a Phish concert. There's a funny smell. Tourney-watching style: The only ones in the bar who don't freak out at the buzzer-beater endings. Teams they like: Oh, any school from a place with liberal laws about ... Representative Tourney team: Oregon
15. The Older Guy Tourney-watching style: Finds a quiet bar where he can sip Scotch. Teams they like: Senior-heavy rosters are nice, or maybe a squad where some of the guys took some time off during school. Representative Tourney team: Utah
16a. The Wannabe Tourney-watching style: Heads to the "hip" bar; reads one too few NCAA-related columns to truly sound smart. Teams they like: Historically weak teams now considered "nouveau riche" contenders. Representative Tourney team: Miami
16b. The Good-Time Guy Tourney-watching style: Knows where the most fun place to watch the game will be -- hell, he was one of the party organizers. Teams they like: Ones that show a little life for a few rounds, but won't cramp his style by sticking around too long and getting in the way of plans later this month. Representative Tourney team: Texas Dan Shanoff is a regular contributor to Page 2.
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