Champions!

Congratulations to the Kansas Jayhawks and the Tennessee Lady Vols, 2008 NCAA Basketball National Champions.

KU demolished North Carolina in the semi, something I never thought I would see, and gutted out a win in the championship over Memphis, a team very much like Kansas in style and talent. Tennessee was simply dominant, as so often before, overpowering a good Stanford team with sheer talent and determination.

So there we are...basketball wrapped up for another year and now on to baseball and softball.

As I write, the Royals are 5-2, coming off a win over the Yankees in their home opener. So far, we like what we see out of the Royals, good starting pitching, solid defense, timely hitting, and a lights-out bullpen. Which of these parts falters first, or what combination, is what all loyal fans are anticipating. My prediction is the starting pitching. Meche has always been somewhat a middle of the pack pitcher, until last year when he became the ace for the Royals; Bannister and Greinke are young and talented, and due for arm problems... and after that the cupboard gets thin.

Eternally optimistic, I'll enjoy it while it lasts, and continue to root and follow when it starts to come apart. Other clubs (Colorado, Arizona, Oakland) can manage decent teams and playoff runs with similar payrolls... I see no reason Kansas City can't do the same.

What else? Books and reading is kind of slow right now. I've finished up a couple of easy read mysteries, working on Eclipse by Stephanie Meyer (the conclusion to the love-triangle trilogy...human-vampire-werewolf) and the second book in The Earthsea Trilogy by Ursula LeGuin. I'll have more to say later on these...