BCLienesch289

There's a sour taste in my mouth...and it's not the milk that's been sitting on my desk for the past two days. Believe me, it's disgusting. No, it's the taste of Mid-Major Hatorade, and the pundits are gulping it down.

Just a week ago, the buble teams in question were teams like New Mexico and Massachusetts. Now it's Arizona State, Kentucky, and Villanova. I mean seriously, who wants to see 8 teams from the Big East?! Even as the bubble teams lose, it's other Major teams taking their place. And I know a lot of the Mid-Major teams did themselves in. But look at people's bracket projections. 11 and 12 seeds look to be from the Pac-10 and SEC. I don't want to hear about the big upset of Kentucky over UCLA. I want to hear about Western Central Texas State Tech (please if there's anything I can add on to that, let me know), or any other ridiculously named school take down a two seed.

One of the cases is VCU. Yeah, I know I'm bias...but a week ago guys like Gary Parrish had them on the Last Four out. Well, logically speaking, if then a team of loses and their stock drops, shouldn't the team behind them then move up? I think they should. But it's not just VCU...it's Dayton and Massachusetts that people want to see knock off the top teams. It's just not the same if David and Goliath are from the same conference.

Even on SportsCenter today, the bubble teams they talked about were Arizona State and Kentucky. Give me a break, I don't want to see you in the tournament if you finished sixth in your conference. I want to see the ones and twos and threes play each other. Otherwise it takes away the spirit of the NCAA, where literally any team has a shot at winning. Where else can a team like Cornell be put in a spot where they are just a handful of wins away from the championship. That's what it's about. Because I can guaruntee you, it doesn't matter if they're Kentucky or if their Western Kentucky; if they're Virginia Teach or Virginia Commonwealth; or even if they're Memphis or Middle Tennessee State. You put a team in that position and they will play like there's no tomorrow.

In just about 28 and a half hours the selection committee will announce their results. And I, for one, hope they haven't been drinking the same Hatorade the pundits have so far.

Congratulations Brett on 17 mostly spectacular seasons. But may I suggest a little advice? Don't come back. You got chewed out by the press in the last years of your career by the press for being too old, past your prime. This season you shut everyone up, don't go back and give them something to talk about. And really, Brett, you can't go back. Not after that teary-eyed farewell. I think that's the secret to Roger Clemens and his endless going back and forth like Anne Heche on her sexual preferences: He was never dramatic. You made a point to leave, so stay left.

For references on this advice, see Jerry Rice. A man who didn't quit when he was ahead. He didn't leave at the end of a great season. He left when the Broncos, who picked him up, told him he wasn't going to start. His old teammate Steve Young knew when to hang up the cleats. The result? Steve Young made it as a talking head and Jerry Rice went on Dancing With The Stars. You decide Brett what's best for you?

And I know there's pressure for the greats like you to come back, but seriously, don't. It's decisions like that that make us remember two Michael Jordans best summed up in two images. The first Michael Jordan: MJ mid air ball over his head and in his palm, appearing to be in flight like a legend. The second MJ: An old man playing for the Washington Wizards walking around after games with bags of ice strapped to his knees. Don't paint a second picture, Brett, stick to what you've got.

But I understand that you love the game and you'll want to be strapping up in the fall when everyone else is. Football is a part of you, but there are ways to handle that love without coming back. The past greats have all done it in different ways. John Elway-he bought himself a football team. Granted, an AFL team, but nonetheless a football team. Cal Ripken did the same when he got himself his own minor league team. The logo was a jet with his orange #8 and characteristic deep blue eyes. Come on Brett, doesn't Green Bay need an AFL team? But if that doesn't float your boat, you could do the more practical choice and land yourself a sweet job as a commentator with one of the football crews. Who can't see Brett knocking Jimmy Johnson into television retirement?

But whatever you do Brett, stay retired. Make sure a bad day for you is getting stuck in the water hazards, not being sacked ten times. You are a textbook case of quitting while your ahead. Make sur eyou keep it that way.