Was watching the end of the Dodgers-Red Sox exhibition at the LA Coliseum where they supposedly counted 115,300 fans (counted = anyone inside the stadium – they pushed the entrance fence further back so they can get more people in the concourses).  Looked pretty cool with the short left field fence and the “Screen Monster”.  The Dodgers, of course, lost.  Well, it was all for charity at least.   I bring this up because there’ an interesting article about how the NCAA is expanding seating for the Final Four (and testing at some Regionals such as Detroit this year) to an excess of 70,000 by putting the court in the middle and putting temporary seating courtside – for the fans.  At discounted prices.  Yes.  The most humorous part in the article was the claim that “Fans even in the farthest reaches were pleased with their ability to view the game either on the court or on giant flat-screen televisions placed strategically in the upper confines.”  So they couldn’t see the game, but they watched it on TV inside the dome… which they could’ve done at home for free.  Of course, you are paying for the atmosphere and to say you were there so who cares that you can’t actually watch the game.  But the fans will supposedly sit somewhere on the bottom which means those in suites will have a worse view of the game.  So the NCAA hits the high-paying customers.  Nice change of pace.

If anyone wants to join myself (THE FABONE 14), MARATHONMAN, IWONTHISSH-T13YRSAGO, THE MIGHTY MOBELFAKTA, and THE FLYING ELVI in our weekly Saturday morning basketball games (in La Mirada, CA), let me know. Don’t expect any skill, just lots of exercise and fun.

OK, the pool…. UCLA’s win was picked by 86 entries and its win eliminated PERFECT PICKS and QUEENB leaving 43 in the running for money. The top stays the same. SHRINER, BAMAG, and PSW-SP have a 14-16% chance to win first (FLYING ACE drops to 11%). Just 17 entries can win first.

UPDATE: UNC’s win was picked by 75… FLYING ACE has now built a 5 pt lead over SHRINER with WOODEN_SOLDIER (won can’t win 1st) in 3rd… SLACKJAW and THEBIGDDOG were eliminated… just 14 can win 1st… FLYING ACE, SHRINER, and PSW-SP all have a 5 in 32 chance (15.6%) of winning first… interestingly, PSW-SP can only win 1st…

UPDATE: In the $40 Bonus1 race, the Big East lost its final team, leaving it with 11 wins… the Big 12 has 9 wins with both teams playing tomorrow (max: 14)… just 9 entries can win this (no one wins if the Big East & Big 12 both end with 11 wins)…