Randy Gardner on Sports

Watching March Madness Games

Sort of Like Viewing American Idol

By Randy Gardner

Randy Gardner
Randy Gardner

As far as March Madness goes, I am going to have to say that it has been kind of boring. There have been no major upsets, except the fact that Duke almost got beat on Sunday night. It’s always more fun when the small schools beat the bigger schools or a low seed beats a high seed. Just watching some of the games though, I think that Duke is the team to beat. They are always good and are always a contender.

As the teams dwindle down, I think the viewership drastically rises. It is common sense but I think the intrigue of winning a championship pulls in even the average viewer. You start to get caught up in the stories about the teams and the players.

It is much like watching American Idol. You turn it on for a minute and then get caught up in the emotional stories behind the performers and next thing you know you’ve watched the entire show. I know, because it has happened to me twice. I actually like turning on a basketball game at about halftime because that is when the excitement starts to brew.

Blues Make the Playoffs

Onto hockey, how about those Blues making the playoffs after a horrible start to the season? A start so bad that they even fired their head coach. What a run it has been especially here as of late, beating several good teams including the Vegas Golden Knights to secure a playoff spot.

I am really worried about the long playoff run though. They accomplished their first goal of making the playoffs but now they have to stay healthy and endure another two months of the playoff run. The NHL playoffs are the longest playoff format I have ever seen. What an emotional and physical toll it takes on the players.

How sweet of a turnaround season would this be if the Blues could bring home the Stanley Cup to St. Louis?? I can hear it now, all of the bandwagon fans jumping on as the playoffs begin. Either way, root the Blues on to victory.

Road Opening, then Home Opener  

Do you have Cardinals fever yet? Opening day is just a few days away. With the weather being as nice as it is right now, I am ready for opening day today. I am ready to hear the sounds of baseball just being on in the background at the house.

I love hearing Cardinals baseball in the car. No matter where you are , when you hear it, it makes you feel like you are at home. I know a lot of you feel the same way because I have heard that from many people. To hear Mike Shannon and John Rooney call the game is like a sense of inner peace.

I remember listening to Jack Buck and feeling that exact same way. My son told me the other day that he misses the good ole’ days and he was referring to last year! He is 18! It made me stop and think about living in the moment and stopping to smell the roses now and then. The good ole’ days are always the ones that have gone by. Make the memories of the good ole’ days, your current life. Live in the moment and live each day to its fullest.

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