How 'bout those Salukis!

Sure, they lost to Kansas tonight, but it was a helluva a year for Southern Illinois

Even though Kansas won by three points, the Salukis pretty much controlled the game, probably the best game I've seen this tourney. As much as I talk about Illinois and Wisconsin, Southern Illinois is the team I have the most loyalty toward. Those were the games I went to as a kid and those are the games that made me love college basketball.

Since leaving Southern Illinois, I don't think I've ever followed the team as closely as I did this year. Largely because they were on TV alot more, but they were an extremely exciting team to watch all year.

Kansas is a tough team, but they're going to have their hands full with UCLA. Kansas made alot of sloppy plays tonight, and couldn't hit free throws to save their lives... If Southern Illinois made a couple more lucky shots, the game would have been theirs.

So I'm out of teams I actively root for in this tourney now... so go UNLV!

Poll Results and New Poll

Who will win the NCAA Men's basketball tournament?

50% Someone else
25% Wisconsin
12.5% Florida
12.5% UCLA

Well, the two people who guessed Wisconsin are wrong (and no, I don't vote in my own polls).

No one went with Kansas, North Carolina, Memphis, Ohio State, Southern Illinois or Nevada... Yet all but Nevada still remain.

And yes, I put this poll up a few weeks ago, before it was clear just how good Georgetown was, so I didn't include them.

New poll on the right... pretty simple yes or no question this time.

Best and Worst Cover Songs

Amazingly, I came across both of these lists on the same day...

The Onion AV Club's list of 14 cover songs that are better than the originals

Cracked's 20 Worst Cover Songs in Pop Music History

As with any lists like these, I find things to agree with and disagree with on both lists.

From the AV Club list:

I'll agree that Stevie Wonder's "We Can Work It Out" is better than the Beatles version, which is no dis on the Beatles version. Stevie just outdoes them. I also agree that Jimi Hendrix's "All Along the Watchtower" is better than Bob Dylan's version. But Devo's version of "Satisfaction" doesn't hold a candle to the Rolling Stones. Sorry.

Other songs that could have been on here... Aretha Franklin's "Respect" is obviously more significant than Otis Redding's version... Jeff Buckley's "Hallelujah" outdoes Leonard Cohen... And Johnny Cash's "Hurt" made a lesser Nine Inch Nails song into a classic.

From the Cracked list:

Celine Dion and Anastasia singing "You Shook Me All Night Long?" The horror. The thought alone makes me cringe. Cracked got that one right. I also agree that Guns and Roses should have left "Knockin' On Heaven's Door" alone. And Kid Rock's version of "Feel Like Makin' Love" is one of the most horendous things ever. But Sheryl Crow's version of "Sweet Child O Mine" is actually pretty good. And while Britney Spears' version of "Satisfaction" is bad, her version of "I Love Rock and Roll" is the one that truly belongs on this list.

Others that belong here... I know I'll get flack for this, but The Goo Goo Dolls version of "Give a Little Bit" just grates at me. Supertramp's version is so much better. Also, this is an easy target, but Tiffany's version of "I Think We're Alone Now?" And, Uncle Cracker's version of "Drift Away." Blech.

My Bracket is Busted

Well, so much for my bracket. I'm actually surprised that I'm still doing better than 25% of the brackets submitted to ESPN.

My champion, my beloved Wisconsin Badgers, were bounced by UNLV. Granted, I've already acknowledged the Badgers didn't have a prayer and I was picking from my heart, not my head. And at least they were beaten by a team coached by Lon Kruger, a former coach from my other alma mater, Illinois... and in this year's lame tournament, UNLV, a 7 seed, is the closest thing to a Cinderella team left. So go, UNLV, beat Oregon, and everyone else, except for Southern Illinois.

Speaking of Southern Illinois, they're my only source of joy left in this tournament. And they looked very good against the Hokies today. Next up is a bigger challenge in Kansas, which is coached by yet another former Illini coach, Bill Self. Bill Self pretty much dissed Illinois on his way to Kansas, so screw Bill Self. If SIU can pull off this upset, justice will be served.