MonkeyBusinessBlog

This IS It For Some, Sayeth Big D

Editor's Note--There is some basketball this weekend. Tonight, in something called the CBI Tournament in Pittsburgh. Tomorrow, in a place called "The Big Easy". Tomorrow just happens to be the Final Four of the NCAA tournament. With 65,000 screaming fans at the arena in N'awlins, and millions watching at home. Sounds like a good time. Oh there's also the biggest purse for a horse race in the world. Sounds like we need a man who understands all these things, like no other. That man is Big D. Big D, please BRING it.--R.B.  

Well, well, well, Richie B, and all your women, men, and monkeys, how goes it? A little bit better come Saturday night we suspect. These days, only a few college hoops teams get to finish their seasons saying they won their final game. Stanford did it last night in the NIT. Tonight is one of those chances in the CBI. Monday is the NCAA final game. One horse gets to say they've won a $10mm horse race in a year. No, thats not a misprint. The Dubai World Cup Race is tomorrow from Meydan Race Course in Dubai. Let's get it on........

Tonight from Pittsburgh, the Panthers host the COUGARS of WASHINGTON STATE. In a funky, best of 3 series to determine the champion of the CBI tournament, both teams have won once. Tonight is for all the marbles. Well, the CBI marbles, anyway. Both teams have been winning nicely, to finish their seasons. But only one has been winning even nicer against the spread. And that team is WASHINGTON STATE. 8 points is the line. Seems like way too many. Take pal. Take.

In the horse racing tomorrow, Race 9 from Meydan in Dubai, at 1:40pm Eastern time, let's go with the #10 TRANSCEND from Japan. He came in 2nd last year in this very race. He's run 20 bigtime races in his career and finished 1st 10 times and 2nd 5 times. His morning line odds are 8-1. What's not to like? Win, place, and show on #10 TRANSCEND baby.

In the Final Four from New Orleans, 6:05 pm Eastern time tomorrow, there are some nice matchups. 2 teams (and coaches!) that hate each other are Kentucky and LOUISVILLE. I wonder if the Governor of Kentucky wears a half red suit/half blue suit to the game like Gov. John Brown did in 1983 when they played each other in the tournament?!?! We'll be wearing RED because..... Both teams have been playing "lights out" for at least the last 10 games. It's just that LOUISVILLE has been playing a smidge better, certainly versus the spread. The line, you ask? Well that is NOT a smidge. Its Kentucky minus 9. Hellooooooooooooooooo. Coach Pitino with a veteran team and a shot blocking maniac in the post getting 9? Hellllooooooooooooo. Big D wonders if this team has been playing the song "This Is It" by Kenny Loggins all week like the NCAA champion 1980 LOUISVILLE team did back in the day. Take!

Finally, these are two hard knocking midwest teams, in Ohio State and KANSAS. Looks like very evenly matched. The bookmaker thinks Ohio State needs to be favored by 3. NEEEEEEEEED. We will take KANSAS with the points. Rock. Chock. JAYHOCK. or JAYHAWK. Something. Take.

Sooooooooo, in an incredibly exciting 24+ hours of sporting events we choose: WASH ST+8 @ pitt tonight, #10 TRASNSCEND win,place, and show tomorrow Race 9 Meydan, LOUISVILLE +9 vs Kentucky, and KANSAS+3 vs Ohio State. This IS it for some teams and horses. But not for us. We still like the song though. Enjoy.

 

Big D Warmer and Not Done Yet

Editor's Note--Yep. Nice to get back on the winning side yesterday with that easy OVER. Today, Big D said even less. But as we know, sometimes LESS is more. Speaking of less.....

UNDER North Carolina/Kansas!!!

When you have a questionably healthy point guard, as UNC has, you might want to slow it down just a liittle and not get too crazy. Be methodical. Take the UNDER in game 2 today 5pm eastern. Good luck and god bless.--R.B.

Big Dick SHORTER and NOT SWEET

Editor's Note--As Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons once sang, "So close. So close. But yet soooooo faaaaaaarrrr." So close last night to a few jackpots. And we ended up with zero. Insanely tough. The only words I heard from the seething soothsayer, Large Richard was thus:

OVER Ohio State/Syracuse

So thats all for today. 1 play. Please check back tomorrow. --R.B.

Big D Short But Not Too Sweet

Editor's Note--Well, the games started right for us. A brutal defensive battle in the Louisville/Michigan State contest, as we surmised, but a slowdown at the end of both the CINCY game and the Fla/Marquette game gave us losers. 1-2. I made up a little rhyme. Big D 1-2. Whatchoogonnado?--R.B.

4 things Richie and then I gotta go. Take the money line on all the dogs. Yep. All the underdogs to win OUTRIGHT tonight. No points. No nada. Just winners, that "arent supposed" to win.

That's INDIANA @ 4-1 vs Kentucky, XAVIER @ 2.5-1 vs Baylor, OHIO U @ 4.5-1 vs unc, and NC STATE @ 3.5-1 vs Kansas.

Oh yeah. Check back tomorrow and Sunday for more. Good luck and god bless.

Big D Says, "Sweet 16 And ALWAYS Been Kissed"

Editor's Note--Well we did notice how fancy we did last Thursday and Friday with Big D. Today is Thursday. Tomorrow is Friday. There's 4 games today. There's 4 games tomorrow. There's music in my head, that's starting to beat. I can wait NO longer! Big D, what have you, oh sage one?!?!?!--R.B.

Well Richie, we have 3 snappy plays and we won't waste anyone's valuable time in getting to them. Most importantly, my own.

50 AND 51 years ago this week, an upstart CINCINNATI team beat a highly favored Ohio State Buckeye team for the NCAA Championship. A Buckeye team with a guy named Lucas, another guy named Havlicek, and ANOTHER guy named Bob Knight. YES. THAT Bob Knight. And contrary to what MANY believe, CINCY did NOT have "The Big O" Oscar Robertson on EITHER of the 1961 or 1962 teams. Interesting right? He had already left for the NBA. Why is this relevant, you ask? You wanna know how many times in the last 50 years CINCY and Ohio State have played? Once. You wanna know how far the 2 schools are apart? 100 miles You wanna know why they havent played? Ohio State don't wanna play 'em. So why is Ohio State favored by 7.5 tonight? Maybe because people like the Big 10 conference? Or Ohio State has 2 or 3 first round NBAers on their squad? Maybe. You know what Big D is going to do? DEFINITELY wager on CINCINNATI at +7.5. And he ain't gonna hate you if you want to play them outright at 3-1 odds or more. So there.

Florida? Marquette? Scoring? Yes! Total 146? Seems high? Good. OVER.

Finally, perhaps the best coaches in the land with Mssrs. IZZO and PITINO going at each other. Wild respect for each other, and probably a lot of bacala (fish) and pasta and meatballs before and after the game! Capisce paesano? (That's Italian for Understand, friend? You see Izzo and Pitino are both Italian...... Ah forget it.) Big D sees a throwdown of epic proportions on the DEFENSIVE side. Total seems a little low at 124.5? Great. We'll take the UNDER. Bravo. Ciao.

So in the Sweet 16 opening night, we go with CINCY+7.5 vs Ohio State, OVER 146 Florida/Marquette, and UNDER 124.5 Michigan State/Louisville. Good luck. God bless. And check back tomorrow!! 

Big Dick Spreads It All Around

Well a winning first wager this time in the waaaaaaaaaaay UNDER in the Indiana/Vcu game looked like liquid gold. Then we had two very close games for a long while with Iowa State/Kentucky and Colorado/Baylor. And then......we didnt. 1-2 for Big D.

If Big D was too busy to talk to us when he went 2-1, he surely ain't talking today.

He did blurt out the following to me though: NC STATE+4 vs Georgetown, MANHATTAN COLLEGE+5 @ Fairfield, and NORFOLK STATE+14 vs Florida.

I guess he sees the fact that NC STATE is playing better ball then almost anyone and Georgetown's last 5 games have gone like this. Win, Loss, Win, Loss, Win.....I wonder whats next? Oh maybe LOSS? And we get 4 points for our troubles!!

Then MANHATTAN COLLEGE? Wait they are in one of those "lesser" tournaments. Well when you put a bunch of Ben Franklin's in your pocket, do you care where they come from? Of course not. Chew on this. The JASPERS are 23-5 versus the spread on the road last 28. Are they on the road today? Why, yes they are.

Finally, Florida is an historically great favorite in the NCAA tournament. But when they LAY 13 or more they are 2-10 their last 12. NORFOLK STATE beat fair and square a VERY good Missouri squad, and they get 14 points from a good, but not great, Florida squad? 14 > 13, yes? This must be the reason for Big D's choice, no?

So, as we get 16 teams left by tonight (by dinnertime in Hawaii, aloha), Big D says: NC STATE, MANHATTAN, and NORFOLK STATE.

Excellent.

Big D: He of The Winning Formula. Again.

Well I guess the secret is, if Big D gets his FIRST game of the day correct, he will then go PERFECT.

Another 2-1 performance for you and your pals. But in what fashion do these 2 wins come? Well one of them will be talked about for the next 50 years. How about them LEHIGH MOUNTAIN HAWKS beating them Dukies?! Didn't Big D tell you, you'd look smart yesterday? Well didjas? You did. Very much so.

"Large Richard" is already studying up for TOMORROW's games (dont forget to check back again tomorrow, if you like money). He was able to blurt out today's winners to me though, thankfully.

He said, and I quote: "UNDER 139 Indiana/VCU, IOWA STATE+11.5 vs Kentucky, and COLORADO+8 vs Baylor".

Now there you have it. And I have to believe some of you will also be taking IOWA STATE and COLORADO to win outright, right? After all, who was the first guy yesterday to tell you LEHIGH was worth a shot? Say it loud. "Big Dick!" Say it proud. "Big Dick!"

The papers and internet are all abuzz about the "shocking" victory. Was it "shocking" to you? Of course it wasn't.

Oh? Like yesterday? Congratulations AGAIN in advance, for reading this column today. Check back again tomorrow, ok?

Big D Not Perfect. But You Still Won

Editors Note--Big D is like one of those legendary investors of financial instruments. Yet he does it in the sporting arena. The following is really all that needs to be said about yesterday's performance: You know what underdogs did against the spread yesterday? They went 5-11. You know how many underdogs Big D chose? 3. You know how many of HIS won? 2. Enough said. There's 3 more plays he has today. I know he's not one to brag (much), but I am. So I'll just say to you, congratulations in advance for reading today's column. Really. What say you Big D?--R.B.

Richie, I'm not sure what happened yesterday with MONTANA. Maybe this Wiscy team is very good. Oh the other 2 games? Oh. UNC-ASHVILLE almost provided the biggest upset in tournament history, but still easily covered the 16 point spread. And what about those BUFFALOES of COLORADO? Did they win outright even though they were getting 5.5 as an underdog? Yes they did. That's 2-1 ladies and germs and monkeys. You ready for 3-0? Me too. We'll skip the afternoon action and go right to the NIGHT plays.

Memphis isn't quite the team of the Keith Lee days. Or even Anfernee Hardaway days. And no, that's not a misspelling for those who never heard of him. But one thing they still do, is RUN with the ball. Fat Rick Majerus is one of our favorite coaches of all time and he has his Billikens of St Louis running nicely, too. This should be a very entertaining up and down thriller. Believe you me, St. Lou will run whenever they get the chance. Unlike their coach unless theres a ham sandwich involved. The total is 128. Small potatahs. Are you hungry yet? We are. For more money. Memphis also 10 of 11 OVER in last 11 NCAA tourney games. OVER pal.

Quick! Who has the best record against the spread of ALL teams in the last  20 NCAA tourney games? Why, its XAVIER, that's who! 16-4 to be factual. Now we've been burned going against Notre Dame before by the OVERTIME. This game is going to be close. We just think there won't be an overtime and XAVIER can win this game. You can't underestimate that tournament spread record either. The fighting Irish could win. But only by 1 or 2 pal. Take the 2.5 with the MUSKETEERS pal. Take.

Finally, Duke plays LEHIGH. Not in chess either. In basketball. Men's Division I basketball. So the Dukies are gonna kill em right? Perhaps. But why is the line "only" 12.5? With the success of the favorites yesterday, how many stone cold idiots are going to bet Duke because they dont know who LEHIGH is, and because Duke is.....Duke? The MOUNTAIN HAWKS are 14-3 the last 17 versus the spread. Duke has dropped their last 5 spread decisions. One team is hot. One team is not. Duke might make it out alive, but it wont be easy. LEHIGH puts the biscuit in the basket baby! Impress all your friends tonight, when you say, "Yeah I took the MOUNTAIN HAWKS boys and girls. I have knowledge." And you will continue to be a winner. Take!

So, OVER 128 Memphis/St. Louis, LEHIGH+12.5 vs Duke, and XAVIER +2.5 Notre Dame. 2-1 yesterday. Looking like 3-0 today. Check back tomorrow and Sunday for some wonderful new selections.

Didjas like the song from yesterday? Then yuhs'll like this one today. I'm wearing the same "shirt" as the cat at the :41 second mark playing the guitar FYI, and I'm not taking it off all day and night.

 

Big D Says, "The Madness is Back. Come Invest In It."

Editor's Note--Some close calls going the wrong way in the conference tournament week for Big D. Not a disaster for mere mortals, but anytime Big D loses a game of tic tac toe or rock, paper, scissors he is upset. Speaking of upset.......we got some basketball to be played today and tonight. And tomorrow day and night. And Saturday day and night. Oh, and Sunday, day and night! If that doesn't make you happy, you need to check your pulse, friends. Some followers of Big D aren't daily followers. And that's ok. I mean it's costing you money, but hey it's your dollar, or Greek drachma, pally. Something tells me, however, EVERYONE is a follower of Big D EVERY day over the next 3 weeks and I don't even need to hint at telling you why. Now here are the steps you need to follow: 1) read the following paragraphs, 2) invest in said "investments", and 3) Play that clip at the bottom, and if you aren't screaming "Let's Get Happy!" at least 2 or 3 times in that song, get to the doctor. You may be dead. Go Big D. Like only YOU can in a time like this. Go forth and prosper some more......--R.B.

Bravo Richie on the title to this passage. Bravo. I can remember in the 80's taking the limo with other A-listers, after all night Park Avenue "gatherings", out to the horse track and passing Shea Stadium, Flushing, Queens, NY, and seeing the huge billboard on top of the NY Mets' home field, "The Magic is Back. Come See It." Many people took heed and did go to Shea. The Magic was back. At least for a few years. Quite a nice memory.

Speaking of nice memories, how'd we do in last year's March basketball? Well some of you are sitting on your verandahs, at your new homes, right now, because of it. Yes it was THAT good. A few funny bounces leave us at around the .500 mark thus far this March. You know what that means? Run--Don't walk--to the sports brokering shop, and INVEST, when you read the steamy selections for the next few weeks in March. And April. And May. And......

Fab Melo (a great name) is out for the 'Cuse of upstate New York. You know what Big D says (and you KNOW we are in fine post-season form if we are talking in the 3rd person already)? Bummer. Not for the Syracuse people. Maybe a little for us. We loved UNC ASHVILLE before this cat was not going to play! A ferocious ball hawking team that can make good shots. 'Cuse limping into the tourney anyway with their 4-10 mark versus the spread the last 14. The line had been pulled off the board due to Melo's absence, but it looks like the oddsmakers moved it from 17 to 16. ONE point for the Big East Defensive Player of the Year? Not the CYO from Missoula Player of the Year. Big East pal. Oh lucky day. Take the points, pal. Take.

Speaking of Missoula, and no disrespect, the MONTANA team is no band of slouchers either. More importantly, they think they can beat this Wisconsin team. And if the referees aren't used to Wiscy's bruising style of play, you might see some foul calls on Wiscy. MONTANA can shoot the free throws friend. Oh the line? 9.5. Hmmmm can you say potential outright winner here at nearly 4-1? We wont argue with you if you want to make Wiscy get "shocked" and pick them to lose, we'll just play the easy money. MONTANA plus the points baby. MONTANA GRIZZZZZZZLIES plus the points.

Quick! How many road games has unlv covered since December? Answer? NONE. ZERO. OON GOTZ. People really down on Pac 12 (old Pac-10) this year. COLORADO happened to win that tournament. Its first year in the league. They have good guards? Check. Good defense? Check. Good free throw shooting? Check. Getting 5.5 points because people "love" unlv? Um check check. We might be known to be placing a money line bet on the BUFFALOOOOOES from time to time. We for sure are known for taking live underdogs. This one is a live wire. Taaaaaaaaaake.

So I'm with you Richie. Let's get happy. UNC ASHVILLE+16 vs Syracuse, MONTANA+9.5 vs Wisconsin, and COLORADO+5 vs unlv. Check back tomorrow for some winners. Enjoy the lobster, champagne, and of course the action. Now up off your feet, Big D's hair is just like this cat's in the video and he's keeping it that way, AND, let's dance......

 

Big D Heatin Up!!

Editor's Note--A mere 1 point stopped Big D's perfection yesterday. But, as that fat boy once sang, "2 out of 3 aint bad." Yep 2-1. Big D was busy studying when I just contacted him, but he did mutter these words to me for today:

"FLORIDA STATE+2.5 vs Duke, MICHIGAN+7 vs Ohio State, ST LOUIS+ whatever vs Xavier, and when we go at least 2-1 try UNDER whatever in the Long Beach State/UCSB late game tonight."

Wow even a bonus pick for this Saturday!! Now get to the windows, and continued good fortune!!

Big D Starts Late. Finishes Even Later.

Editor's Note--Well, some of you whined up and down how you didn't get enough points on the A&M game yesterday and you lost. So you went 1-2. Others did win and went 2-1 in the afternoon and 3-2 overall, with a BRUTAL defeat in OT with SOUTH FLORIDA. So Brutal. Any way you slice it, that's not what Big D strives for. Well, we got some more daaaaaaaaaaaaaytime basketball today. We know a certain Large Richard who is ready to CRUSH someone. Firstly, it will be your bookmaker. Big D? The dance floor is yours. Show us the proper steps.--R.B.

Yes, Richie, I learned looooooooong ago, not to whine. So I don't. There was some junk in those games yesterday that really seemed unfair. Doesn't matter. But I will tell you this. Today is gonna be a lot more "fairer". And we start it up at 4pm eastern.........

BOTH Marshall and Southern Miss went into OT yesterday. Marshall went into TRIPLE OT. So I guess a lot of people are going to talk about how TIRED they're going to be. That's nice. These are 18-20 year old kids. They aren't traveling to the next game. They went to bed (hopefully) in the same hotel last night and are waking up in the same place. They play in the same arena today at 4pm eastern. Fatigue wont be a major factor here. What will be a major factor? OFFENSE. Which means scoring. Southern Miss has gone OVER 10 out of 11. Marshall scored 105 yesterday, albeit in 3 OTs of course. O-V-E-R 135 baby is where we put our hard earned green.

We like to use the old adage of "ride with the horse that brung ya here". CINCY shot 2 for 21 from 3 point range yesterday......and WON! We're not gonna knock Syracuse and their defensive play. But 7 points seems like a lot of wheat to chop. And we KNOW CINCY plays some defense. They got us a hard earned victory yesterday, and we don't see why they can't keep it close today. Too many pal. Take.  

Finally, in the late games, perhaps the greatest nickname for a team in college hoops? The ANTEATERS of UC-IRVINE. Well, that name usually does NOT translate into stellar performances on the hoops court. However, this year it has happened. More importantly, yesterday. When the 'EATERS munched up the 2nd seed as a nice big underdog. Well guess what happens later tonight? They are a big old underdog to the Long Beach State boys. MICHAEL WILDER, he of the 1970s afro, will keep the ANTEATERS close in nearby Anaheim. Taaaaaaaaaake the 13 pal. Take.

So: OVER 135 Marshall/So. Miss, CINCY+7 vs Syracuse, and UC-IRVINE ANTEAAAAAAATERS+13 vs Long Beach State. Good luck. God bless. And do check back on the weekend for perhaps some further updates.

Welcome to The Daytime Hoops. 2012 Edition.

Editor's Note--Ahhhh Spring is always about to get "Sprung", when we get the daytime college basketball. The air smells different. The flowers might start to bloom. There's talk of outdoor activities. And Big D looms over it all! With his glasses of bubbly, his lobster bib, and his potential gout inducing 24 hour feasts.You know what? We wouldn't have it any other way. Now the conference tournaments are among us. The games start in a few moments. Big D doesn't play small and he doesn't just stick his pinky toe into things when he goes after it. Today? He's going after it. Sweet Jesus almighty. Goooooo Big D! Goooooooooooooooooooooo!--R.B.

Well Richie, after this short time away from you and your followers, I would like to say hello again. And while you all may have taken a slight break from the action, we here at Big D's Picks, have not. Always keeping our finger on the pulse. This pulse is represented by a round orange leather ball, a 94 foot hardwood court, and 10 foot baskets with nets on them. 10 players on the court. 3 Zebra like referees. 20,000 or so live studio audience, and perhaps MILLIONS watching at home. Is your heart beating harder now? Sure it is. Here we go with college hoops 2012!!!

At 12:30 pm eastern and 7:30 a.m. in Hawaii---ALOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHA--there is a wonderful game in the heartland. Kansas City, Missouri (pronounced, Mizz-or-ahhhh). Theres a pretty well publicized team playing one that hasnt gotten too much hype. We're talking about Baylor playing K-STATE. Well Baylor is favored by 2.5. Probably because of their #21 ranking. Well K-STATE plays better defense and they have a 7 foot center who is protecting the basket on the defensive side. The fiery coach (an understatement for this cat) Frank Martin will WILL the WILDCATS of Manhattan, Kansas (the "little apple", and a wonderful place) to victory. It doesnt hurt that Baylor is favored in a place (KC) where the crowd is going to back the 'CATS. Wrong team favored. Take the points pal. Taaaaaaaaaaaaaake.

At 2pm Eastern (9am in Oahu) in the mecca of basketball, Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, the greatest tournament of all the conferences (in Big D's humble opinion), the Big East Tournament, continues. Perennial good performer, Georgetown, is playing the BEARCATS of CINCY. CINCY was mired in some kind of scandal earlier in the year for a big brawl versus Xavier. Players were suspended. Feelings were hurt. Then when CINCY got back all of its team members they started to win. And win a bunch. And more importantly, COVER the spread. A bunch. Today G'town is favored by 3 in the quarterfinals. This game will not be for the faint of heart. It could go into OT. It probably will go down to the buzzer. So do you wanna layyyyyyyyy the points or taaaaaaaaaaake the points? You take pal. You take.

The TEXAS A&M AGGIES were once 17th in the country this year. Then they took a big ol' thud from grace. Well they play Kansas today. Yes that Kansas. The one that is always one of the best teams in the whole land. The one playing in Kansas City, Mizz-or-ahhhh today. But you know what? A&M is showing a nice hint of what got them to 17th earlier this year. And Kansas really doesnt care too much about a Big 12 conference title. I mean its nice and all, but the big prize, an NCAA Championship, is always their goal. So when they lay 20 or so today, do they really care about pulverizing A&M? No, they do not. They care about winning and not getting injured or too tired. That smells like the "back door" is open for a cover from TEXAS A&M and we are on it! Taaaaaaaaaaake again, pal. Taaaaaaaaaaake again.

Finally, when we go 3-0 (or remotely possibe 2-1) this afternoon, and you are feeling lucky, as 2 bonus plays tonight, try SOUTH FLORIDA vs Notre Dame. Notre Dame always gets overbet in NYC with the "subway alumni". SOUTH FLORIDA plays better defense than almost anyone. Also, TOLEDO looks to be an interesting play in Large Richard's all-time favorite conference, the Mid-American Conference, aka the MAC. Ohio is good, but not great. Take the points with the ROCKETS of TOLEDOOOOO.

So the first edition of 2012 daytime basketball brings us this: KANSAS STATE+2.5 vs Baylor, CINCY+3 vs Georgetown, and TEXAS A&M +20 (or so) vs Kansas. When (if, a small if) we go 3-0 or 2-1 try bonus selections tonight of SOUTH FLORIDA vs Notre Dame and TOLEDO vs Ohio. Good luck and god bless to all, and we will do it ALL again for MORE daytime basketball tomorrow! Yessssssssssssss!