NCAA hoops

Hey folks, Jax here.
I'm just waiting around for the NCAA games tonight. I have Duke beating Villanova and UConn over Purdue. A lot of people think 'Nova can do it, but I'm not so sure.

Same old, same old here. I think I'm really tired from barking at the deer last night. That's a lot of work.

Adios,

Jax

My cousin Lex is trying to get on a Bissell vacuum cleaner box

Go ahead and vote, why not?
Lex is from the Black Watch Newfoundland farm in Washington state, and he now lives in Campbell, CA. Interesting photo. This was forwarded to me. Lex also does rescue swims and can haul carts and stuff. Quite the Renaissance dog.
Jax

Lincecum look-a-like

Hey everybody, Jax here, waiting patiently for opening day.

I think Tim Lincecum kind of looks like JoJo from that movie "Horton Hears a Who." Brooke and Stephen watched that last night as I was on the floor in front of the TV, and Brooke said JoJo is an "Emo" kid. Stephen said JoJo looked like Tim Lincecum, with the longish black hair and slight build. That's about right. Emos Unite! And win more Cy Young awards.

I was kind of half watching, on the floor resting my jaw. I had a big day watching Brooke plant stuff in the garden and playing with the neighbor dog, Healey. He's always trying to steal my stuff.

I'll be interested to see who's in the Giants' starting lineup on Opening Day April 7. That's less than two weeks away!
Here are some Spring Training pictures from Arizona brought to you by the Contra Costa Times. Photos by aa.vox.com, FOX and VacavillePonyBaseball.com.

Jax

NCAA redux

Hey everybody, Jax here.

I heard the thrilling finishes of a few games on the radio on Sunday, and a lot of my teams squeaked in to the Sweet 16. I'm ranked fourth in my pool, I think, and maybe I can sqeuak into second place (money) by the end with some minor miracles.

Syracuse has to win, Michigan State, Missouri, and Duke. The rest are 1 seeds or favorites. This story breaks down the upcoming games by region.

Things have been good. I played a lot of fetch yesterday at the park, that was fun. I really, really, really like tennis balls. I just can't get enough. I could chew them for hours.

In SF Giants news, catching prospect Buster Posey has been looking really good and there's talk he could play in the majors this season. Stephen said he hoped he would play on the San Jose Class A team at least for a few games this summer, but we'll see. They have broadcast a few of the Giants Spring Training Games on KNBR-AM 680, and the buzz from camp is that Posey's ready.

Could he platoon with Bengie Molina? Is Pablo Sandoval (another upcoming catcher/hitter) going to convert to first base? Posey has been a quick study in the Cactus League, and better yet, he has a vaguely humble attitude. He's been hitting home runs, blocking wild pitches ... He's an animal. Photo by SJGiants.com.

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Jax

I cannot win my bracket

Um, I think I'm mathematically eliminated from my bracket pool, and there's only 6 players in it. And I didn't even have Wake going to the final four. I'm screwed. This Brian Strick guy is like a closet referee or something ...

Jax

Hoops news

Got up early and read the paper today -- so excited for the tournament!
Things are looking OK in my bracket so far, but I was counting on Butler to take LSU. What a day so far. I've been drinking tons of water out of my dish, so I gotta go take a leak in the yard now.

Jax

Obama's bracket

I'm happy to report that President Obama's picks aren't far off from my own, but I have changed mine slightly to have Pac-10 teams going a little deeper. Obama also has the Tar Heels winning it, and I can't support that. Obama handwritten bracket from WashingtonPost.com.

NCAA minutiae

Hey folks, Jax here, in the doghouse on a beautiful day in Santa Cruz County, California.

There's a lot to love about the NCAA tournament, but also a few things to hate. Read this story on Slate, and you'll see what I'm saying. North Dakota State, Eric Devendorf (although I kind of love to hate him) Jim Calhoun, Jay Bilas ... good stuff. Devendorf photo by ESPN.

Jax
P.S. Sorry about that last post. I'm trying to get the NCAA scores widget on the damn sidebar but it's not working.

Swami Jax sez:

What up. Here is my UPDATED bracket for the 2009 NCAA men's basketball tournament. You have to click on it for a larger view.

I tried to avoid the "experts" and go with instinct, but there was some research involved. I have to say that Syracuse won my heart in their conference tournament. And, as much as I hate the Tar Heels, their team will go far. If they get upset early, I figure that's OK too. It's always a struggle with teams I love to hate (Bob Huggins' W. Va., Tar Heels etc.) with underdogs I like but can't bring myself to wager on.

I'm entered in the Microsoft office pool in Redmond, WA, and so far that's it. If you have a pool and need an entry, lemme know.

Straight from the doghouse,

Jax

Bracket me

For all of you waiting with baited breath, I will be releasing my NCAA basketball brackets on Tuesday. A lot of dogged research is going into it this year, so watch out.

Putting on the green eyeshade,

Jax

We won something

Hey, we won an award for the blog!

How cool is that. It's the Spreader of Love Award bestowed upon us by TJ Lev of the blog Ophelia's Flowers, Art by TJ! The award goes to blogs that spread the love.

I have to give the award to five more blogs. Nominees, anyone?

Maybe I'll have a poll in an upcoming post.

Until then, enjoy some spring training baseball.

Also, if you get the MLB Network, they will be featuring the Giants tonight on their "30 Clubs in 30 Days" 1-hour program. It's on at 5 p.m. PST and I think repeated at 10:30 p.m. Check it out.

Jax

Dirty little secrets

Oh, man.

I know spring training is in full effect, the Giants are hitting home runs left and right, but I'm kind of feeling like an overwhelmed Obama at the moment. (He smokes Marlboro reds, in case you were wondering -ABC News)

I've been busy. We've gone on some walks in the woods. I eat some bones in the living room. I play with the Viszla (SP?) Healey from a few doors down. He comes over and wags his tail at me. But I'm lazy getting out of my bed in the morning. Now I have an old yellow sleeping bag to sleep on.

Things are OK. I can't wait for the NCAA brackets to come out on Sunday! I've been impressed with Pittsburgh, UCONN, Louisville. We'll see. I cannot root for Chapel Hill though because I hate Tyler Hansbrough.

Here's another picture of a bad habit, Obama! (Top photo credit newsone.blackplanet.com, bottom photo Osmoothie.com.

Jax
P.S. Predictify.com recently predicted that 84 percent of people think Obama will not start smoking in public. 16 percent said he will!

Play ball!

The Giants opened up their Spring Training games today with a 10-7 win over the Indians. The starting lineup looked like this, and here's the box score.

RF Winn
SS Renteria
3B Sandoval
C Molina
1B Ishikawa
CF Rowand
LF Schierholtz
2B Burriss
DH Uribe
P Lincecum

The Mercury News' Andy Baggarly says Freddy Lewis was kept out of the lineup just as a precaution. He's recovering form bunion surgery. Ouch.

I know what that's like, you know, I've had some paw issues, some swamp paw. When it rains and I walk around, it gets really went between my paws. I just can't seem to get it out with a towel and my teeth. Kind of like Athlete's Paw, y'know? I need some Tinactin.

Jax

Other pets' diaries

Hey everybody, Jax here. I've been hearing from other pets, and this is how they're doing.

Solidarity,

Jax

--

Excerpt from a Dog's Diary.......

cid:1.2196487409@web38304.mail.mud.yahoo.com

8:00 am - Dog food! My favorite thing!
9:30 am - A car ride! My favorite thing!
9:40 am - A walk in the park! My favorite thing!
10:30 am - Got rubbed and petted! My favorite thing!
12:00 pm - Lunch! My favorite thing!
1:00 pm - Played in the yard! My favorite thing!
3:00 pm - Wagged my tail! My favorite thing!
5:00 pm - Milk Bones! My favorite thing!
7:00 pm - Got to play ball! My favorite thing!
8:00 pm - Wow! Watched TV with the people! My favorite thing!
11:00 pm - Sleeping on the bed! My favorite thing!

Excerpt from a Cat's Diary...

Day 983 of my captivity....

My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects. They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while the other inmates and I are fed hash or some sort of dry nuggets.

Although I make my contempt for the rations perfectly clear, I nevertheless must eat something in order to keep up my strength.

The only thing that keeps me going is my dream of escape. In an attempt to disgust them, I once again vomit on the carpet.

Today I decapitated a mouse and dropped its headless body at their feet. I had hoped this would strike fear into their hearts, since it clearly demonstrates what I am capable of. However, they merely made condescending comments about what a 'good little hunter' I am. Bastards.

There was some sort of assembly of their accomplices tonight. I was placed in solitary confinement for the duration of the event. However, I could hear the noises and smell the food. I overheard that my confinement was due to the power of 'allergies.' I must learn what this means and how to use it to my advantage.

Today I was almost successful in an attempt to assassinate one of my tormentors by weaving around his feet as he was walking. I must try this again tomorrow -- but at the top of the stairs.

I am convinced that the other prisoners here are flunkies and snitches. The dog receives special privileges. He is regularly released - and seems to be more than willing to return. He is obviously retarded.

The bird has got to be an informant. I observe him communicating with the guards regularly. I am certain that he reports my every move. My captors have arranged protective custody for him in an elevated cell, so he is safe. For now.

Sleepy time

Hi everybody, Jax here.

I've been kind of sleepy lately. Just moping around. This morning, Brooke got out of bed and went to work. Stephen got out of bed to take a shower before work, and I just yawned and rolled over. Stephen actually had to wake me up. What's the rush? I'm in a big rush to have breakfast and hang out in the garage?

There's only so much web surfing and online gambling I can do, OK?

I started following the Amgen Tour of California bike race. I think those guys are nuts, especially racing for miles in the rain for the first three stages.

A reporter asked competitor Levi Leipheimer what it's like to ride in the rain through Northern California in February. His response: "Turn the shower on as cold as it gets and stand there for four hours."

Brrr.

Jax
P.S. Here's a bonus picture of the Stage 3 start in San Jose that Stephen shot on Feb. 17. That's Floyd Landis on the far left (Briefly the 2006 Tour de France winner (drugs)).


For results, video and more of Bob Roll's teeth, check out www.versus.com/cyclysm.

Manny rumors

Bring on Manny!

Buster Olney is optimistic he might be coming to San Francisco.


Jax

Busy

I can't blog right now, I'm too busy with my accountants and lawyers sorting out my offshore holdings for the IRS. What a mess. Here I am with one of my assistants.

Adios,

Jax

I hate winter

Hi. It's Jax. I took a few weeks off there because I at some weird green apples from next door and I wasn't feeling well. Also, it's raining and I just kind of felt like hibernating.

So sue me.

Alot has gone on in the last few weeks. We have Superbowl teams, finally. (My latest line, Steelers win by 7. Call 1-800-Jax-Picks to place bets. I'm set up offshore now.)

Also, the Australian Open tennis is on. I like Nadal on the men's side. That guy Monfils (11) from France is interesting. The women's side, I have no idea.

The Giants have potential lineups floating around. Manager Bruce Bochy is on the radio saying how much better the team is now than last year. Here's what we're looking like.

1) Randy Winn (OF)
2) Edgar Renteria (SS)
3) Pablo Sandoval (1B)
4) Bengie Molina (C)
5) Fred Lewis (OF)
6) Aaron Rowand (OF)
7) Travis Ishikawa (3B)
8) Second-Base (Emmanuel Burriss, Kevin Frandsen or Eugenio Velez)
9) Pitcher

It's not exactly stacked with power, but I think we can get above .500 with it. Manny Ramirez would look so good in there. The Giants strategy in the NL West is all about pitching, anyway. Just shut down teams with Lincecum, Randy Johnson, Matt Cain and then throw in Wilson to close.

Nobody cares, but the World Baseball Classic is coming up and a few Giants are in there. Big Money Bengie Molina, Jonathan Sanchez, and Pablo Sandoval. Sanchez is playing for Puerto Rico (isn't that part of ...) and Sandoval is playing for Venuzeula.

Traitors.

Jax

Manny being Manny

Hey sports fans, welcome to 2009. Jax here, in the garage as usual ...

It's old news that the Giants signed the Big Unit Randy Johnson, for a cool $8 million for one year. The pitching rotation is sewn up, and it frees the Giants to deal Jonathan Sanchez. Nice.

Now I read Giants GM Brian Sabean is pursuing Manny Ramirez, and now I would like to parrot everything that Ann Killion says in her Jan. 4 column in the Mercury News. Photo credit: AP.

Sure he would be expensive and a big clubhouse presence (sound familiar?) but what a bat. Yeah, he's not a team player and left Boston on the worst possible terms, limping like a listless imbecile because he didn't feel like playing, but what a bat. Yeah, he has held up a game during a pitching change in Boston because he was taking a leak in the Green Monster scoreboard, but what a bat. Yeah, he doesn't exactly fit in the Giants youth movement, but what a ... did I mention he strikes fear in every pitcher in the majors?

Plus you're taking tons of hits from the Dodgers. Plus the Giants outfield isn't the greatest anyway (Rowand, Winn, and a back-from-bunion-foot-surgery Freddy Lewis)? The Giants were the only team in major league baseball to hit fewer than 100 home runs last season.

I say sign Manny if you can and get this train rollin'. (Note to Giants ownership: He also puts butts in seats at AT&T Park, like you didn't know that). I'm ready for the drama. Bring it.

Adios,

Jax