Southern Comfort

"One more time for y'all..."

Big Boi - Red Velvet

A month ago my friend Vince sent me a text that read: Duke is going to win it all. And while I didn't totally scoff at his message...I had a second thought or two on the matter.

Fantastic Four

Coach K always talks about how the name on the front of the jersey is more important than the name on the back...and if there is one thing you can say about the Blue Devils...you can express without hesitation that they play together as team. Their last two games are proof positive that they can play with the best of them, after defeating Purdue, and Baylor...no easy task by any means.

This has been one of the best NCAA tournaments in recent years. It was as unpredictable as it was entertaining, and now that West Virginia, Butler, Michigan State, and Duke have advanced...it seems that anything can happen...mainly because it already has.

Nonetheless the ride is far from over...and if the world had it's say, the Dookies would have lost in the first round. I don't understand why EVERYONE despises Duke...they get the Yankees, Cowboys, and Lakers treatment. That's what happens when you are a proven winner, however Michigan State is also an elite program, winning the national championship twice, along with numerous trips to the Final Four within the the past ten years...but they don't receive the distain that Duke does.

West Virginia is the only team I have left in my bracket after watching Kansas, Kentucky, and Villanova fall by the wayside. It's really good for college basketball to see these schools as the last ones standing. On one end there is the familiarity and experience with Tom Izzo leading the Spartans, and then Duke making the return trip after several years on the outside looking in. On the opposite side of that spectrum is Butler making their first ever trip to the Final Four, and West Virginia is back for the first time since Jerry West led them in 1959...his son Jonnie ironically is a guard on the current team.

The possibilities are endless, however I'm going to stick to my Big East pick West Virginia, and just pray that Duke doesn't make me look too bad this weekend.

Photo: Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

By Any Means Necessary...

Proven

The future

"I thought Jordans, and a gold chain was living it up..."

Nas - Street Dreams

I can admit when I'm wrong...so when the Charlotte Bobcats drafted DJ Augustin out of Texas with the 9th overall pick last summer, I wasn't too sure about him. Then he signed an endorsement deal with the Jordan Brand soon after...at which I felt was another move in the wrong direction. To say I was perplexed is an understatement.

The Most Known Unknown

Augustin played collegiately at Texas, and outside of Kansas, I don't watch teams from the BIG 12 Conference, but after seeing him play recently in Philadelphia, I wish that I would have paid more attention to him before. His game is good, and by the time I caught up with him in the visiting locker room, we started what will become a good friendship, and respect for each other's profession.

Here is the final score on our conversation:

What are your feelings in playing for Michael Jordan, as well as representing him on the court, with the Jordan Brand?
“It’s a dream come true. Growing up, I always looked up to Michael Jordan, he’s my favorite player, and to play for his team and to wear his shoe, it’s a great feeling!”

Did you collect Jordan sneakers when you were younger?
“I tried, I tried to keep up with them, but I couldn’t keep up. My friends they used to do, but I never did, but now I have all the Jordan’s so…now my friends are calling and asking me for shoes now. [Laughs]”

How often do you switch up and wear a new pair?
“I don’t wear a new pair that often…it’s tough to do that…I have to break them in a little bit. I try to go about 10…about 10 games, and then I’ll switch them up. We get different shoes every quarter of the season, and after All-Star break, we get a new selection, so I just try to switch up every 10 games. They [Jordan Brand] offer a lot of different colors and different styles, it’s great!”

Which is your favorite Jordan?
“Favorite shoe…man? There’s so many man…I’ll probably have to say the XI’s, I like the Space Jams, and the Six Rings right now, they’re tight. I was playing in them, but they’re kind of heavy for me, so I don’t play in them anymore. Now I’m wearing the Jumpman Pro, and they’re really light.”

Growing up as a fan, and now you are representing the brand…can you put how that feels into words?
“It’s crazy…it’s unbelievable, it’s really a dream come true like I said…I’m just very blessed to be in this opportunity and take advantage of it.”