And the Clock Strikes Midnight

What a difference a day makes, or however the cliché goes.

24 hours ago, many sports fans were glued to their respective picture boxes for various reasons.  Myself, I was glued for three.

The one that captivated most of the sporting world was March Madness.  With the possibility of history in the making, the games between Memphis and Texas, and Kansas and Davidson, this year's Cinderella sensation. 

The possibility was legitimately there for the four number one teams to make it to the Final Four, and it happened.

Memphis made short work of Texas and made it look easy. 

On the opposite side, Kansas and Davidson were locked in a game that was back and forth and back again throughout the whole game. 

It came down to the last shot, when Davidson would go for the win.  A two-pointer would tie the game, and a three would win it.  The shot went sailing, looked promising, but was just a bit off its mark.

So why not go for the tie?  Honestly if I were in Davidson's shoes, I'd throw caution into the wind for the win. 

When the 64+1 teams were selected, who honestly would have thought Davidson, let me repeat DAVIDSON, would have any chance of making the Final Four? 

Who would have picked them to be the "bracket busters" of 2008?  Nevertheless, the clock struck midnight, and Cinderella was sent packing.

So onto the story of March Madness... We have the true Final Four for the first time in history.  We have UNC, UCLA, Kansas, and Memphis all with one goal, the NCAA Championship of D-I Basketball.

Who is the favorite now?  Argueably, it is UCLA.  They have been convincing in this tournament, and tuned many heads.  UNC is still in that "favored" catagory.  They began the favorites, but are now seemingly joined by UCLA.

Here's what I think though.  The two "non-favorites" are the two that ARE the favorites. 

Kansas didn't have as difficult of a bracket to run through, minus Davidson.  But all season they have been one of the best teams on the court. 

Then you have Memphis.  This is a team that, I'm sorry, is the number one team in the nation. 

How you can say a team that has lost 2 or 3 games is better than a team who only lost ONE baffles me. 

Sure they can't shoot free throws to save their life, but seriously, this team has made a run this season that is deserving of the overall number one slot in the polls.

So my prediction... I see Kansas upsetting UNC in a similar game to the one against Davidson, and I see Memphis winning hands down over UCLA. 

Why hands down?  It's my opinion that's why.

The second event that I was glued to is one that I have been doing most of these articles on, the Dallas Stars.

Last night they finally clinched their playoff birth taking the game against Anaheim to overtime, then a shootout, which they handedly... Lost.  Regardless, they got the 93rd point they needed to secure their spot in the 2007-2008 Stanley Cup playoffs.

Where they'll be seeded is still a mystery, but they're in nevertheless.

So what do the Stars do now?  It's simple, you try to end the season on as positive a note as possible. 

Play smart, play strong, and get the needed confidence boost to make a serious run for the Holy Grail of sporting championships.

The final thing, which to me was one of the best and worst things to watch was Wrestlemania.  When I say worst, I don't mean it in the "it was awful" type.  It was sad more than bad.

Going into Wrestlemania, Ric Flair had accumulated 16 World Championships, over his 35-year career.  He IS the greatest wrestler of all time, and has touched the lives of more people than he probably will ever know.

The hype going in to Wrestlemania was that when Ric Flair lost his next match, his career was over.

At the Hall of Fame cermony, the night before, and which he was inducted, Flair was VERY emotional.  He talked about his love of the business, how much he'll miss it when he's done, and how much it means to have been a part of it. 

It was the speech of someone who knew his time was coming to an end.

At Wrestlemania, it did.

As Shawn Michaels and Ric Flair battled, the ending of the match was as emotional as could be expected.  After delivering the second superkick to Flair, the true emotions began to show.

Ric kicked out after the 2-count, and both men were in tears.  The characters of Shawn Michaels and Ric Flair left the Citrus Bowl, and the fans were given a glimpse at Richard Fliehr and Michael Hickenbottom.

Shawn stood up fighting the tears, and Flair stood up, showing his emotion and sadness completely.  Ric looked at Shawn, mouthed "Give it to me," to which Shawn replied "I'm sorry... I love you!"

Writing about that moment still makes me choked up.

Once the pinfall was counted, Shawn immediately hugged Flair, who was still on his back sobbing, and kissed him on the forehead.

Flair exited the arena to an ovation of applause that only "The Nature Boy" deserves.

To Ric Flair, there are only three words I can say...

The first two... Thank you!

The third... WOOOOOOOOOO!