Fan Stop Central

The remaining few: North Carolina, Villanova, Michigan State and Connecticut. They’ve outlasted the competition to this point to become the 2009 NCAA Men’s Basketball Final Four. They will head to Detroit for their showdown next weekend where a new National Champion will be crowned.

This bracket didn’t turn out too well for us around here. The champion might still be in-tact as North Carolina was the favorite of our many brackets … but NONE of the other teams even sniffed our Final Four projections. The most common Final Four around here included: Louisville, Memphis, Pittsburgh and North Carolina … with UNC and Louisville playing in most of the championship games … and UNC coming out the champion.

Some notable disappointments from a few of our brackets:

• UNI to make it to the Sweet 16 – BUSTED!
• Memphis in the Final Four – BUSTED by Mizzou
• Louisville in the Final Four over Kansas – BUSTED both by Michigan State

Congratulations to the four schools who have advanced to Detroit, and to all the 65 teams who played their way to the 2009 Tournament. Maybe 2010 will see the resurgence of Missouri State back to Tournament glory?

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Another of our favorite shows around here is CBS’ The Unit. The Unit is an action drama that follows a covert team of Special Forces operatives as they risk their lives on undercover missions around the globe, while their families maintain the home front, protecting their husbands’ secrets. Jonas Blane (Dennis Haysbert) leads the Unit on missions out in the field. The Unit includes Jonas, Colonel Tom Ryan (Robert Patrick), Mack Gerhardt (Max Martini), Charles Grey (Michael Irby), Hector Williams (Demore Barnes) and Bob Brown (Scott Foley), all highly skilled, trustworthy, brave and dependable soldiers whose ability to rely on each other is what creates their brotherhood. Jonas’ wife, Molly (Regina Taylor), is the base matriarch who comforts and counsels the other wives as they cope with the fear and uncertainty they experience when their husbands leave home. Molly and Tiffy Gerhardt (Abby Brammell) help Bob’s wife, Kim (Audrey Marie Anderson), acclimate to the stress of her new secret life.

Watch online episodes and get hooked on this show which airs Sunday nights at 10:00pm ET/PT.

Popularity: 5% [?]

The 2009 Major League Baseball season is just around the corner with Opening Day (night) on April 5 with the Dodgers/Giants and Phillies/Braved kicking off a twi-night double header.

Now that Japan has kicked the crap out of the rest of the world to win the World Baseball Classic, it’s time to get down to 162 games of business here in the U.S., and what everyone wants to do … pick their playoff contenders and World Series champion … so Fan Stop Central will get in the game with that as well.

American League West Division
This could be the division that (like normally) does its best to beat each other up … but it’s probably going to end up being the strongest. Who knows, really? Fan Stop Central likes the attitude that Giambi will bring back to the A’s, but has always been a Ken Griffey, Jr fan. No that KGJ (or Giambi) are the one-man franchise changers, between the two, Griffey has the track record of being a one-man game changer.
Our pick for the AL West – Seattle Mariners.

American League Central Division
The Royals look like the team to beat … beat up on that is. They’ve made some moves and might make some waves, but don’t get your hopes up this season either. White Sox? Indians? Twins? Tigers? Let’s just get to it without a lot of reading.
Our pick for the AL Central – Cleveland Indians.

American League East Division
The Rays have made some interesting moves and coupled with their run to the 2008 World Series can’t totally be counted out. Baltimore seems to have made some moves, but since Ripken departed, they’ve just been a wreck. Red Sox and Yankees seem to be the heavy-handed players in the division, but the Blue Jays … well, nevermind. This division will most likely end up like the West where they beat up on each other so there’s not one dominant club in the end.
Our pick for the AL East – New York Yankees.

National League West Division
With Manny going (and staying) in Los Angeles, how can you not pick the Dodgers to come out with the West Division pennant? Giants? Diamondbacks? Rockies? No.
Our pick for the NL West – Los Angeles Dodgers.

National League Central Division
The Cubs would like to continue their much found success of 2008, but not so fast. The Astros have re-tooled, the Cardinals are more focused, the Pirates and Reds … well, they are the Pirates and Reds.
Our pick for the NL Central – St. Louis Cardinals (shocking isn’t it).

National League East Division
Some would like to see the Braves have a resurgence. We don’t seem to think the Phillies can repeat their success and the Mets seem to always find a way to implode. Nationals? Well, the Rays made a run so you can’t totally count out the Nats, but not likely. The Marlins have shocked baseball more than once, but probably not this year.
Our pick for the NL East – Atlanta Braves.

Wild Cards
American League – Oakland A’s
National League – Chicago Cubs

AL West – Seattle Mariners
AL Central – Cleveland Indians
AL East – New York Yankees
AL Wild Card – Oakland A’s

NL West – Los Angeles Dodgers
NL Central - St. Louis Cardinals
NL East – Atlanta Braves
NL Wild Card – Chicago Cubs

Wow, I have never picked a final such as this, but this year is a good a time as any.
American League Champion – New York Yankees
National League Champion – Los Angeles Dodgers

And even though they have like 500-some World Series trophies, I’ve never picked them to win one … here goes nothing, I guess.
World Series Champion – New York Yankees

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For accurate putts, you must send the ball down your line. A good way to ensure doing this is to hit and hold.

At setup, try to see the line to your target as if it were marked on the green. Strike your putt and then let the putter chase the ball down the line.  Hold the putter so it is facing the ball as it rolls toward your target.

If you watch the PGA or LPGA Tour professionals you will see this type of putting move with the vast majority of players.

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