The third-seeded Georgetown Hoyas (23-10) will face the 14th-seeded Ohio Bobcats (21-14) Thursday in Providence, Rhode Island in the first round of the NCAA tournament’s Midwest region.
The Maryland Terrapins (23-8) received a number four seed, also in the Midwest, and will take on the 13th-seeded Houston Cougars (19-15) in the first round Friday, in Spokane, Washington.
For the rest of the article, see http://www.examiner.com/x-37753-DC-Sports-Headlines-Examiner.
Nicklas Backstrom scored the game-winning goal in overtime, and Washington scored three goals in the third period as the Caps overcame a 3-0 deficit to defeat the Blackhawks in Chicago.
The Caps had to play most of the game without Alexander Ovechkin, who was ejected at 12:16 of the first period for a boarding major penalty and a game misconduct in the nationally televised contest.
For the rest of the article, see http://www.examiner.com/x-37753-DC-Sports-Headlines-Examiner.
West Virginia Mountaineers win first Big East championship, 60-58 over Georgetown Hoyas
March 14 – Seventh-ranked West Virginia edged 22nd-ranked Georgetown 60-58 to win their first Big East tournament title last night at Madison Square Garden.
Da’Sean Butler scored 20 points and made the game winning shot with four seconds to play for West Virginia (27-6). Butler was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player.
For the rest of the article, see http://www.examiner.com/x-37753-DC-Sports-Headlines-Examiner.
Georgetown Hoyas cruise into Big East tournament finals with 80-57 win over Marquette Golden Eagles
March 12 – Georgetown routed Marquette 80-57 in the semifinals of the Big East tournament tonight at Madison Square Garden in New York.
Sophomore center Greg Monroe played a great all around game for the 22nd-ranked Hoyas (23-9, 10-8), scoring 23 points, grabbing 13 rebounds, and dishing out seven assists.
For the rest of the article, see http://www.examiner.com/x-37753-DC-Sports-Headlines-Examiner.
No. 22 Georgetown Hoyas upset No. 3 Syracuse Orange in Big East quarterfinals, 91-84
March 11 – Georgetown upset third-ranked Syracuse in the quarterfinals of the Big East tournament, 91-84 today behind 27 points from junior point guard Chris Wright.
Junior guard Austin Freeman added 18, sophomore guard Jason Clark chipped in 17, and sophomore center Greg Monroe had 15 points and 10 rebounds for Georgetown (22-9, 10-8).
For the rest of the article, see http://www.examiner.com/x-37753-DC-Sports-Headlines-Examiner.
March 12 - Georgia Tech upset 19th-ranked Maryland in the quarterfinals of the ACC tournament 69-64 tonight in Greensboro, N.C.
With the win, the Yellow Jackets (21-11, 7-9) strengthened their case for an NCAA tournament bid and kept their hopes alive to win their first ACC tournament since 1993.
For the rest of the article, see http://www.examiner.com/x-37753-DC-Sports-Headlines-Examiner.
I think at one time or another, most people have had a bank account go below zero because of a mistake. When that happens, banks usually charge a fee, often about $36. I recently had too many of those fees to mention, and most of them were due to charges on my check card (debit card) that were for less than $15.
I thought a debit card meant that it would only allow you to use what is in the account. I thought that was the whole point. But I went over the limit, or under the limit, to be more accurate, as my balance went below zero due to a mistake.
I’m not exaggerating when I say I’ve had hundreds of dollars in “NSF fees” (Non-Sufficient Funds), but that the average transaction was less than $15. Meaning that I had charges of $3 at McDonald’s, $5 at Home Depot, and several other charges around $10, mainly for food. Each one of those charges incurred a $36 penalty. The NSF Fees were about quadruple the actual charges.
(I know, it’s horrible. I went to McDonalds. I usually eat healthier.)
I went to the bank and they told me that this was a “service” that they do for me and the service they offer is that they allow you to use your card when the money isn’t there, but it costs $36 each time. So I was paying a $36 fee for transactions that averaged $10.
Then I explained that the reason I have all these $36 charges is because they have given me all these $36 charges. I kept depositing money in the bank but I couldn’t catch up with all their charges. The reason I didn’t have enough in the bank was because they kept charging me. Without all the charges, I’d be in the black by a lot. I could understand the first couple, but not all the ones after that, especially for things I bought for less than $10.
Some people, such as bank employees, would take pleasure in this – “You broke the rules, you should have known…”
I’d publish the actual bank statement here but I don’t have time now. I will though if the bank doesn’t return the money. It is a predatory practice. It is usury. These fees are way more than the percentage rates of even the highest credit cards, and they levy them right away. It should be illegal. In fact, it will be by this summer, so I guess the banks are getting as many in as they can now.
Heard Mike Wise on 106.7 “The Fan” today (my Sirius Satellite radio wasn’t working) talking about seeding older women (I prefer not to call them “Cougars”) as if in an NCAA-style March Madness tournament. Only problem is, it has already been done – by me more than a year ago: mikefrandsen.org/2008/12/05/most-beautiful-tv-news-women-2008/. How about some credit?
There were a few older women on that list and even more on this one: mikefrandsen.org/2009/11/23/20-most-attractive-actresses-in-movies/.
So in no particular order (who am I kidding – Linda Hamilton and Lynda Carter are tied at No. 1), off the top of my head, here are a few older women. Don’t talk to me about 40 or 41 – that’s not older. Even when I was 35 I wouldn’t have said that was older. You have to bee at least in the mid-to late 40s to make this list.
I’m sure I missed a ton but that’s just a combo of my first two lists and also a little off the top of my head.
Sometimes people ask me how I’m doing in relation to my kidney disease and need for a transplant.
My kidney function is now between 8 and 9% (remaining). See www.mikeneedsakidney.com. I’m expected to need the transplant later in the year.
Honestly, I’m not that worried about it. I’m confident that a donor will come through and I expect the transplant to be successful and to be back working less than two months after the operation.
Now I may change my tune a week before the transplant. I got pretty nervous before my tonsillectomy, so I can’t predict what will happen with this one.
But right now, I’m really not concerned with it. At all. Maybe I’m procrastinating. I think part of it is that I’ve been pretty busy. And so down and cynical after the events of the last six months. It makes the thought of the transplant seem not so bad at all.
I’m not being brave or exaggerating – I just don’t really care about it at all right now. I’m not afraid of it at all.
I think my attitude is typified in the scene in “Forrest Gump” – number 18 on my list of 100 Best Movies by the way –mikefrandsen.org/2009/04/12/100-best-movies/ — when Lieutenant Dan was on top of the shrimping boat.
(By the way, “Hastings” from “24” is the same guy who played “Bubba” from “Forrest Gump.”)
Anyway, Lt. Dan had told Forrest that if he ever became a Shrimping Boat Captain, he would become his first mate.
So he shows up in Bio La Batterie (sp?), Louisiana to keep his word. So a huge storm develops that would ultimately knock out all the boats except for the “Jenny.” The wind, rain and thunder comes furiously and relentlessly but Lt. Dan stays up at the top of the boat, shouting:
“You’ll never sink this boat!
Come on!
You call this a storm?
It’s time for a SHOWDOWN!
(maniacal laughter)
You and me.
I’m right here.
Come and get me!
(More laughter)
You’ll never sink this boat!”
So like Forrest would say, “That’s all I’ve got to say about that.”
The Boston Celtics overcame a 13-point deficit in the last six minutes to defeat the Washington Wizards 86-83 and win their fourth straight game tonight in Boston.
Ray Allen led the Celtics (39-21) with 25 points on 10 of 15 shooting. Allen hit two three-point shots in the final 1:33 including the winning basket from the corner to put Boston up 85-83 with 17.1 seconds left. Paul Pierce added 17 points for Boston.
For the rest of the article, see http://www.examiner.com/x-37753-DC-Sports-Headlines-Examiner.
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Please see http://www.amazon.com/shops/mikeneedsakidneydotcom to browse for great deals on books, CDs, and DVDs. If there was ever a time to do it, now is the time.
The Washington Capitals shut out the New York Rangers 2-0 tonight at Verizon Center to get their team record 13th consecutive home win.
Caps goaltender Jose Theodore made 30 saves to get his 29th career shutout and remain undefeated in his last 14 games (12-0-2).
For the rest of the article, see http://www.examiner.com/x-37753-DC-Sports-Headlines-Examiner.
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Please see http://www.amazon.com/shops/mikeneedsakidneydotcom to browse for great deals on books, CDs, and DVDs. If there was ever a time to do it, now is the time.
Redskins six-time Pro Bowl left tackle Chris Samuels announced his retirement today. The announcement was expected after Samuels suffered a career-threatening injury last year.
Samuels, 32, was warned by doctors that a spinal condition could potentially result in paralysis. He played all of his 10 seasons for the Redskins after being drafted with the third overall pick in 2000.
For the rest of the article, see http://www.examiner.com/x-37753-DC-Sports-Headlines-Examiner.
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Please see http://www.amazon.com/shops/mikeneedsakidneydotcom to browse for great deals on books, CDs, and DVDs. If there was ever a time to do it, now is the time.
