Tonight's Choice. Partagas Cifuentes Maduro Toro.

When I can, I try to get in an evening cigar. Always satisfying and enjoyable this time of the year and night, a nice cool evening breeze and the sounds of the ocean waves.  Tonight's choice, Partagas Cifuentes Maduro Toro. Has a nice slow burn which made it enjoyable, spicy and has a medium to full flavor. Had a handful of these in the past and a pretty consistent cigar. 

Brand-Partagas
Shape- Toro
Origin- Dominican Republic
Wrapper- Connecticut Havana
Filler- Dominican

Try one!!! 

If the NCAA top seeds were to be announced today, here's what I think...

Besides spring training getting underway, it's wrapping up the college basketball regular season in February and heading into March for tournament play that gets me excited.  Well as a sports fan a few things get me excited like the NFL and college football season, the Masters and the U.S. Open (because I'm a dad now of two beautiful girls and it falls on Father's day every year) for golf, the Kentucky derby, baseball and college basketball like I mentioned earlier.

Continuing on with college basketball if it was Selection Sunday and the seeds would look like this in my eyes.

Top and overall seed West region- Gonzaga Bulldogs

With 2 games to go San Diego this Thursday and BYU on Saturday with the West Coast Conference tournament after that, facing Saint Mary's a 3rd time which they'll most likely go undefeated going into the First Round of the NCAAs and with wins at Florida, Iowa St, at Arizona, at Tennessee earlier this season and Akron (currently 1st place in MAC East 22-5) should be a good case for the Bulldogs. It's probably the west coast bias that the AP poll doesn't give them all 65 votes this week, 60 of 65 seriously? They've won 28 straight and the lone undefeated and because they are in the WCC don't penalize them. 

East Region- Villanova Wildcats

Yes they're the defending champs, I guess the sports writers always worship past champs but this is a new year and the bullseye got bigger on your back and if they get far into the tournament, there is a good chance of Villanova/UNC the rematch can happen in Phoenix. UNC won't let 'Nova beat them back-to-back seasons. If it happens does Roy Williams go on the hot seat at Chapel Hill? No way! The Wildcats have a rough 3 game stretch to finish the season. vs. #24 Butler, #20 Creighton and finish off with a road game vs. Georgetown. If they get past that and do well in the Big East tourney, you bet the media would dare put them ahead of Gonzaga as the overall seed. I think it's wrong but you watch... 

Midwest Region-Kansas Jayhawks

Rock Chalk Jayhawk, what can I say they beat #4 Baylor twice, big wins vs. Duke, Georgia, Stanford and split the regular season with a tough West Virginia squad which could pose as the only threat in the Big 12 tourney. 

South Region-Arizona Wildcats or UCLA Bruins 
Either Pac-12 most likely. Even the Oregon Ducks have a shot. The Wildcats had big wins earlier in the season, Michigan State here in Honolulu for the Pearl Harbor Classic (I was there witnessed that dramatic win with my oldest), loses to good teams like Butler and #1 Gonzaga and a lost at Oregon may help or hurt when the NCAA selection committee looks at the resume. 

UCLA Bruins got a big road win at Kentucky and at that time, UK was #1. Another strong win was vs. Ohio St. 

Next Saturday should be the measuring stick as the two teams meet in Tuscon. Arizona won the previous match up 1/21 96-85. 

And my early favorite to win out the NCAA title.... Last season's runner-up, yes hate to say, The Tar Heels.

EhBrahThanksfo'checkdistingout!!! 

NCAA Men's Tournament dates and locations

Over 20 something days until the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament begins, just so you can plan ahead to view in person or block off dates to free yourself to one of the best time of the year. March 12th is the day the brackets get filled and then the games begin on Tuesday March 14th and Wednesday March 15th, but we all know the its all fo' real starting that Thursday and Friday with opening rounds and through the weekend. The road ends at University of Phoenix Stadium this year. 

March Madness dates, location, schedule

ROUND	SITE	DATE(S)
Selection Sunday	N/A	March 12
First Four	Dayton	March 14-15
First/Second	Buffalo	March 16&18
First/Second	Milwaukee	March 16&18
First/Second	Orlando	March 16&18
First/Second	Salt Lake City	March 16&18
First/Second	Greenville	March 17&19
First/Second	Indianapolis	March 17&19
First/Second	Tulsa	March 17&19
First/Second	Sacramento	March 17&19
Midwest Regional	Kansas City	March 23&25
West Regional	San Jose	March 23&25
South Regional	Memphis	March 24&26
East Regional	New York	March 24&26
Final Four	Phoenix	April 1&3

Praying my Braves have a contending 2017 season at the new Sun Trust Park

As we enter Spring Training 2017, by listening and following reports on MLB network and online my Braves are gonna try to contend. In the NL East in 2016, ATL went 32-24 vs. MIA, NYM and PHI and underachieving 4-15 vs. WAS. Washington has been Atlanta's problem and hoping that Max Scherzer (fractured knuckle) will be out for sometime, though the Braves will still need to face Stephen Strasburg (15-4, 183Ks in '16) and Gio Gonzalez (11-11, 171Ks in '16) along with the rest of the Nationals rotation. 

How I see the projected Braves batting order will look like in 2017

(2016 stats Games/Avg/R/HR/RBI/SB)
1. Ender Inciarte CF (131/.291/85/3/29/16)
2. Adonis Garcia 3B (134/.273/65/14/65/3)
3. Freddie Freeman 1B (158/.302/102/34/91/6)
4. Matt Kemp LF (156/.268/89/35/108/1)
5. Brandon Phillips 2B (141/.291/74/11/64/14)
6. Nick Markakis RF (158/.269/67/13/89/0) *Backup 1B
7. Dansby Swanson SS (38/.302/20/3/17/3)
8. Kurt Suzuki C (106/.258/34/8/49/0)
9. Pitcher

C Tyler Flowers (83/.270/27/8/41/0
CF Chase D' Amaud (84/.245/24/1/21/9)
3B/SS/2B Jace Peterson (115/.254/45/7/29/5)

Starting Rotation
(W-L/IP/ERA/K)
Julio Teheran (7-10/188.0/3.21/167)
R.A. Dickey (10-15/169.2/4.46/126)
Bartolo Colon (15-8/191.2/3.43/128)
Jamie Garcia (10-15/171.2/4.67/150)
Mike Folytynewicz (9-5/123.1/4.31/111)

Closer
(SV/BS/K/ERA
Jim Johnson (20/3/68/3.06)


Newcomer and Veteran Maui Catcher Kurt Suzuki will wear #24 for the Braves and hope he'll win the job over Tyler Flowers. Watching spring training highlights so far Suzuki been seen working with knuckleballer R.A. Dickey and be his primary catcher. Nice to see a Hawaii boy play for my Atlanta Braves and inside brand new Suntrust Park.

March Madness around the corner...Las Vegas is the place to be!

Glad to get this website up and going once again! In time for March Madness, there are 4 conference tournaments held in Las Vegas to enjoy for both the college basketball junkie and the individual that likes to put some moolah at the Sports Book. 

West Coast Conference Men's Tournament held the Orleans Arena at the Orleans Hotel & Casino March 3-4, 6-7

2017 West Coast Conference Tournament Bracket

Current #1 Gonzaga and #22 St. Mary's should be the expected finals match up but, that's why they go through the process of playing out the games. With Gonzaga projected to win out the rest of the regular season and conference tourney they'll receive the West #1 seed and may have a outside shot at being the NCAA's overall #1. The WCC has 2 bids into the NCAA tourney.

Pac-12 Conference Men's Tournament presented by New York Life held at the New T-Mobile Arena March 9-12.

2017 Pac-12 Conference Tournament

Arizona, Oregon and UCLA should be the 3 teams expected to fight for the Pac-12 Tourney title as the Pac-12 have 5 bids into the Dance.

The Mountain West Conference held at the UNLV campus Thomas and Mack Center March 7-12

2017 Mountain West Conference Tournament

Nevada is the favorite to win the lone bid of the MWC followed by other contenders Colorado St., Boise St and New Mexico. Should be an interesting postseason tourney with only one automatic bid.

Lastly, the Western Athletic Conference held at the Orleans Arena after the WCC wraps up March 8-11.

2017 Western Athletic Conference Tournament

Cal-Bakersfield should win the one and only bid and other contenders that pose a threat New Mexico State and Grand Canyon.

So if you are planning to head up to Las Vegas on those dates get ready for some exciting basketball Enjoy!!