Post St. Patty’s Day Sports Q&A

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There is nothing I like more than NCAA March Madness.

Just ask my co-workers. We spent at least 20 minutes of Friday’s work day trying to figure out how to manipulate an unused computer in our office so that we could all watch basketball while finishing up our assignments for the day.


Don’t tell my boss that I said that, though.

Anyway, assuming that I’m not now in hot water with the higher-ups (just kidding; I work with and for some of the greatest people in the world), I can say that one thing that rivals my love for March Madness is my monthly mailbag.

So let’s go. A lot of this month’s questions are focused on basketball, and trust me, I am 100 percent OK with that.


Q: Who do you have winning it all in your bracket?

A: I picked UNC. I am a Tar Heels fan, and I think that North Carolina’s A+ game is better than anyone else’s. But there’s a caveat with that. I have zero confidence in my pick. North Carolina is inconsistent, and they have some nights where their energy is awful — especially on the defensive side of the floor. But my pick is my pick, so I have to stick with the Tar Heels. There’s no going back now.

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Q: Who do you think LSU basketball is going to hire?

A: Honestly, I have no idea. I know some of the names that I would like to see. I’d like to see Middle Tennessee coach Kermit Davis, Nevada coach Eric Musselman or even someone like Houston coach Kelvin Sampson or former Indiana coach Tom Creen. But here’s the deal: I don’t think the LSU basketball job is a very good job in the NCAA coaching hierarchy. Sure, the Tigers have some winning history, but they don’t pay. They were No. 13 out of 14 SEC teams in staff salary last season. The only team that paid less than them was Missouri. Guess what? LSU and Missouri were the two worst teams in the conference this year.

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Q: Who are some of the teams to beat on the local high school baseball scene?

A: There’s always a few teams who are among the elite. The E.D. White baseball team is first-class. That little team has talented players and a lot of coaches with a wealth of baseball knowledge. Outside of the Cardinals, I think South Terrebonne is going to be pretty good in the Class 4A District. I also don’t count out South Lafourche, either, which is already about to pass up last year’s win total in the early stages of the season. Of course, in Class 1A, CCA is a boar, too. They will always be one of the top teams as long as that program is run the way that it is right now.

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Q: What is your best sports tradition?

A: It’s got to be March Madness. Every year, I like to eat like a pig and spoil myself for the duration of the tournament. On the eve of the tournament, I decided on a whim that I would wake up and get some pizza and enjoy the basketball that is played throughout the day around the country. I currently am on an exercise routine, and obviously, sports and food aren’t wonderful for a diet. So at around midnight this past year after all of the games ended, I decided to go take a few dives in the pool and swim a few laps. You can’t beat that!

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Q: What do you think of the Nicholls schedule?

A: I think it’s a good one. The Colonels will face just one Power-5 opponent, which will save the team some wear and tear as the season goes on. I think opening the season in Southland Conference play is an interesting wrinkle, but I wish the opponent were different. I don’t mind the mid-week conference game to start the season, but I do take issue with it being against a rival opponent. I wish that would be a little different.


Q: How’d your biddy season go? We see you on Facebook all the time with photos on your page.

A: First, thank you so much for asking. We did outstanding. We won more than 20 games and took home a couple tournament titles. More important than the wins and losses, I think our kids got better as the season went on, which is all that matters to be. That, and I think the kids had fun. Winning titles are great, obviously. But teaching young people the right way to play and act is even more important. I think our coaching staff does an excellent job of that, and we are blessed with great kids and parents, as well.


Q: Do you have a piece of sports gear that you hang on to?

A: Yes. A blue hat from when I played baseball as a kid. I wear it all of the time.


Q: Do you have any sports team that you root against no matter what?

A: Besides from Alabama, you mean? Yes, I do. I don’t ever root for the New York Yankees in the MLB, nor do I root for the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA. I’m not a big fan of LeBron James. He’s an amazing player, but I don’t like how he’s handled a lot of the situations he’s been dealt with in his career.


Q: Will the Pelicans make the playoffs?

A: No. That horse has left the barn.


Q: Will the Pelicans keep Boogie Cousins after next season?

A: I think it’s 50/50. He wants the money they can offer him, of course. But he also wants to win, too. This offseason will be key. Very, very key.

Post St. Patty’s Day Sports Q&ACaseyGisclair
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