I'm Shipping up to Boston - NCAA predictions and a musical mea culpa
Our most loyal reader and prolific commenter SK wants me to eat crow for my Gilman pick, so here goes. It is set to the music of the Dropkick Murphys' “I'm Shipping up to Boston,” which will be playing in my car on the way up tomorrow and everywhere when we get there!
(intro music – start kicking your leg like an Irishman now)
I'm a Pundit wreck
And I picked Gilly Tech
Was on the losing side
I lost my pride
I'm shipping up to Boston
EVERYBODY: whoa oh oh
I'm shipping off
To find my winning way
I'm a blogger strayed
I’ve lost my way
I spurned the Dons
I can’t go on
I'm shipping up to Boston
EVERYBODY: whoa oh oh
I'm shipping off
To kill the blues
I'm a blogger bruised
But I’ve paid my dues
Now I just can’t lose
I’ve picked the ‘Cuse
I'm shipping up to Boston
EVERYBODY: whoa oh oh
I'm shipping off
To find my winning way
NCAA final four predictions
So, I am not fond of predicting. I do it inadvertently sometimes while discussing lacrosse topics and here in the blog, where it's my job to sometimes be a pundit and prognosticator, but the first thing I can predict and should always say is that lacrosse is not so predictable sometimes, and that’s what makes it so great. If there’s ever a Vegas line on lacrosse, the bettors are suckers either way. With that said, here’s my predictions for the NCAA final four this weekend in Foxboro, Mass.
Salisbury will beat Cortland in overtime in the Division III men's final, completing one of the most heralded seasons ever played in Div. III with an undefeated record, father and son Player and Coach of the Year awards, and a national championship.
Jack Kaley’s NYIT team will beat LeMoyne in the Div. II final.
Syracuse will beat Duke in the final. Just a feeling. Duke should win but a Hopkins or Virginia title would not be a stunner. There is no real upset pick here. But the Orange WILL be the home team.
And here are my other predictions:
People from all over the nation will meet up and have a great time regardless of which team wins or what happens on the field. That’s really why we are there.
Many new people, who have never seen an NCAA final four live will get the chance and have the time of their lives. If you live in New England -- you gotta be there, rain or shine!
Most out-of-towners are flying in from far places but there will be an evident caravan up Interstate 95 on Thursday and Friday from Baltimore, Philly, New York and all points south of Boston. Drive safely and honk if you see us!
No one will yell “O” during the anthem. If Maryland had made it, we’d hear some but that's not the Hop’s style.
The Foxboro authorities will be well prepared for the eccentricities of our lacrosse crowd. Patriots fans are nuts. They are the Salisbury of the NFL.
The crowd from the state of Maryland will be the noticeably scant. I know very few going to the event and I have been asking everyone around here for weeks. When Maryland lost, a huge part of the state lost any interest in driving up or booking a last-minute flight. It’s just too far and too expensive. “If both Hopkins and Maryland were in, maybe, but ...” is what I keep hearing from those lame folks.
Because the game is on ESPN and not ESPNU, someone will actually see it!
The Syracuse fans will be back in force, though many showed up last year just for the event.
Because of the extra eligibility controversy, there may be some boos if Duke wins. Fair warning. They will have to win many fans this weekend to change that and their stellar play may do just that. Watching NCAA championship-level lacrosse live in that crowd is often a transcending experience.
A slew of sponsors will be purported as supporting lacrosse all over the grounds and in the game programs, but if it wasn't for the NCAA bundle package they bought so they could sponsor, for example, men’s basketball, some of these companies would never have considered supporting the sport in any way.
It will be a far less social evening scene at the tournament because it is being held 30 miles from civilization. Boston will be buzzing with lacrosse folks all over town but we will see far fewer of them in any one place than usual. Get used to it. They picked Boston again without even trying it once first. Sounds shady, but I think Bill Belichick was involved somehow, so I am sure it wasn’t.
The Ivy League has no representation in the final four this year, but look for a huge Ivy presence in the parking lots. This is Ivy country!
No less than 25 party tents will be on site representing NCAA teams and alumni from schools that have never made the tournament but still show support every year.
Quint Kessenich, our Ryan Seacrest, will glorify at least one fundamentally bad playing habit per game.
If Duke wins, people will herald it as a huge indication of the growth of the game.
Belichick will be there, dressed like a teenager, but he won’t cheat. Everyone will suck up to him, even me.
The attendance will not break a record, but will be adequate and a success.
The Banks family barbeque will make the long haul to Foxboro and feed me kindly.
I will hug at least 400 people over the course of the weekend. This is essentially, my family reunion.
An athletic director will call me Tuesday asking me not to use the footage he heard we had of his team playing cups or sucking on a beer bong in the parking lot. We will accommodate them like we always do.
Even more than Baltimore and Philly, the ticket scalpers will have no idea what lacrosse even is.
Because a medieval festival is probably not going on in Foxboro this weekend, the tournament will not be out-promoted 5-1 locally by a medieval festival.
Gillette Stadium, for perhaps the first time ever, will be filled with folks who don’t worship the Patriots. The place may never be the same again.
There will be, for once, plenty of parking for everyone. Foxboro is a parking lot.
So that's it for predictions. And if I'm wrong, I'll write another song.
Comments
"Lame folks?"
Come on. Gas is $3.75 a gallon and you're knocking Marylanders for forgoing an 800-mile round trip up I-95 on Memorial Day weekend -- for a couple of games they can watch on TV?
The gas alone would cost me at least $120, and that's not factoring hours spent idling in traffic (and I drive a Toyota). Then you've got hotels, food, tickets ... With two nights and bare minimum expense for family of four, you're talking at least an $800 weekend. And that's a bare-bones estimate I imagine for most people would be significantly higher.
Bring it back to Baltimore -- heck, even Philly -- and I'm there. But I'm not driving to Boston on a major holiday for anything.
I for one hope the crowds are a huge disappointment. Then the NCAA won't go this route again.
Posted by: Shore | May 22, 2008 7:01 PM
Well done Mr. Weaver. Enjoy the games up in The Razor.
I will be watching and rooting for somebody to beat Duke.
SK
Posted by: Anonymous | May 23, 2008 9:22 AM
I can understand the NCAA wanting to try a northern venue one time to test the crowds.
But to have it there in 2009 w/ no idea how it will go this year seems a bit odd.
The crowds at Syracuse and Rutgers have never come close to those in Philly and Baltimore.
I know it's being self-serving, but to have the finals alternate each year btn Philly and Baltimore would be nice.
SK
Posted by: Anonymous | May 23, 2008 9:32 AM
You said that UVA was a "paper tiger" before the tourney started. Now
"a Virginia title would not be a stunner." Glad to see we have improved your view a little. The Cavs certainly are not pretty, and they have some obvious weaknesses. But they make the plays when it really counts. Not a bad trait to have.
Posted by: laxntj | May 23, 2008 7:29 PM
Hey, I know it's hard to travel but the rest of the county should see this level of play live. I'm from the Eastern Shore of maryland
I say bring it to Denver or California. The sport has just grown so much in the last decade except the number of D1 programs. After seeing it live who knows your kids my someday get to play for Stanford or Colorado in the Final 4
Posted by: dave shepherd | May 24, 2008 7:41 PM
The selection of Foxboro--which is NOT Boston--was a big mistake.
First, the promised free train to the stadium from Beantown was a farce. A week before the event, we got an e-mail telling us for the first time that we'd need reservations for this free train--with no warning that these free reservations were very limited. Guess what? The free train "sold out" in 48 hours leaving hundreds (thousands) of stranded fans. The solution offered? A commmuter train that you MIGHT get onto (no guarantees and no reservations) and would get you within 3 miles of Gillette (and then onto a bus) for $11.50/person roundtrip each day! For a family of four for the three days: $138. For a "maybe" trip on T, then train, then bus, then foot. Hmmmm. Guess what? We rented a car.
Second, traffic was horrific--left Boston at 10:15 a.m. for the 30 mile drive; got to our seats just as the teams took the field at a bit after noon (almost 2 hours from hotel in Cambride to seats at Gillette). And absolutely terrible traffic direction on the way out; you almost had to be rude to other drivers to get out of your aisle.
Third, the fan zone area--where the kids have a blast--is across a freaking 4 lane road with a median fence in the parking lot of a car dealership; like it is not at all connected to the event itself! What a letdown for our boys.
Fourth, the announcers were on time delay--really! So annoying; they'd announce a penalty or goal about 90 seconds after the event when the game had been resumed for more than a minute. The announcers seemed like they were lacrosse novices; they did not announce penalties properly and stuttered through describing goals.
Fifth, the shots and saves stats were nowhere to be found at the stadium--not displayed anywhere at all. What's up with that??????????
Finally, the attendance took a dive for the first time in five years and, frankly, many of the fans there were just lax fans who did not cheer a team, which is totally fine but made for a more subdued and quiet crowd despite the super-exciting games.
Posted by: Kate | May 25, 2008 12:09 AM
Baltimore Crowds would be lower if no regional team makes the final 4. Granted, there is a real good chance that a MD team will be there, but it is not a 100% deal. They gave Boston a shot, How about Charlotte, NC.
Baltimore is a great idea, but not all the time. I am not sure Baltimore sets the record last year if it was Syracuse, Princeton, Duke and Virginia, (or some combination leaving out MD teams)
Grow the sport, keep it moving around.
Hit Baltimore every other year.
AND CONGRATS to Dulaney High on getting another 4A Title. They are always fighting to be near the top and this year they made it back again.
Posted by: Doug M | May 26, 2008 2:04 AM
Weav...I thought I might have heard a few WEAK "O"s during the NC anthem.
Posted by: captpat | May 26, 2008 1:20 PM
I was just about to shout O myself and the flyby buzzed past my head. I thought I heard them too but wasn't sure.
I will respond to all of the comments you'd like to send about your experiences at Foxboro. I have good and bad impressions and will share them as well.
Posted by: John Weaver | May 27, 2008 3:13 AM
I agree. Have Lacrosse finals every other year in Baltimore. Who was the bright ones that choose Foxboro? You're right there is a good chance there will always be a MD. team in the finals. Hopkins is almost always there and I have to give it to "Petro". He always gets them there. What a coach!!!
Posted by: Katie Barone | May 27, 2008 9:00 AM
I've been to Final Fours in Syracuse, Baltimore, Philly, Rutgers, and College Park. I have had a great time at all the venues. You MD folks need to realize that you are not the center of the lacrosse universe. In fact, I would rate the lacrosse as big if not bigger in Long Island and Central NY. I thought Foxboro did a fine job (as good as ravens Stadium) hosting the Final Four!
Posted by: Sean | May 27, 2008 2:16 PM