March Madness is here and I am sure everyone has their brackets filled out. There also is talk about the NCAA expanding the field in the future. If the NCAA expands the field it will probably be the end of the NIT. Money is what this is all about, everyone wants to go to the “Dance”. Will there be another “Cinderella” team like George Mason a few years ago? I feel that there are already enough teams in the field of 64 who should not be there, what’s it going to be like with more “bad” teams being in the tournament with no shot of winning. Now the selection committee won’t have to worry about who they leave out and other teams won’t have to worry about making the tourney, because everyone will be in the tourney. Once they expand it they will continue expanding it until everyone gets a shot at the tournament. What happened to “earning it”? Enough of the college madness. Strange that it actually ends in April. I have the chance to go again this year, but I would much rather spend time with my wife and daughter over Easter weekend. Years ago I would never have missed the chance to go to the NCAA Final Four, but now my priorities have changed. The NBA has it’s version of March Madness as well. The New Jersey Nets are trying to win a few more games so that they don’t go down with the worst record in NBA history, they already own the most losses in a row with 18. These are not records that you want associated with your franchise. Other teams are trying to make the playoffs and others are trying to position themselves for a higher seeding in the playoffs that will begin in April and end in June. The NBA season is long and so are the playoffs. Speaking of Madness how about the weather, it has been crazy. Here in Maine the weather has been outstanding 50’s and 60’s of late. The weather in Florida has not been much warmer. Yesterday I took my daughter to Old Orchard Beach to run around and to hang out in the park. There were alot of people out enjoying the weather. I, too have been enjoying it, taking the Harley out for a spin. Never thought I would be riding a motorcycle but I must say that it is alot of fun and it clears your mind and you are out of reach from others, no cell phone, emails, etc.. Everyone needs some time to themselves. Enjoy the Madness but enjoy and cherish your loved ones more. They are what you care for and what you would do anything for. Pray for your loved ones and others that need them and remember that prayers never hurt.

Just returned home on Monday evening from a trip to Belfast, Northern Ireland. I left on Wednesday the 24th of February at 9:30 pm and arrived in Belfast on Thursday morning. It was a very short trip but it felt like I never left. Everyone involved with St. Gall’s makes you feel special. It was great seeing all of my former teammates and friends. Thursday night we all got together and had a couple of pints and plenty of laughs. On Friday I had an Ulster fry over at Pattie”s and Kathy’s. It was just as good as I remembered it to be. Then Kathy took me on a tour of the city. Belfast sure has changed since I was last there. The city center is no longer closed off with check points. They have a large ferris wheel next to city hall and it does not fit in with the architecture of the city. Friday night was the old timers game and it was a blast seeing everyone. It seemed like old times at Andersonstown, there was a very nice crowd at the game. Unfortunately there were a couple of injuries, hopefully nothing was too serious. After the game we all went back to St. Gall’s for an unforgettable evening. It was a night that you didn’t want to end. The turnout was something else. There are so many people to thank for putting on the basketball event, I don’t know where to start and I am sure that I will probably leave someone out so I am just going to say thanks to everyone in the entire organization and I would also like to thank everyone for having me over and putting up with me. Saturday I was up and off to have lunch with Ed White who plays for the Belfast Tropic in the Premier League. Years ago I had the opportunity to work him out when he was a young kid. Most of St. Gall’s was off to Dublin for a Gaelic Football match which St. Gall’s won and now they will be playing for all the marbles on ST. PATRICK’s DAY. It doesn’t get any better than that. Saturday I did a couple of clinics one for Claire Mckee who was a former player with St. Gall’s and then I did a clinic for Breda Dick who was the best female player in Ireland. They both do an amazing job with there programs. Keep up the good work. After the clinics I went to dinner with a couple of teammates and then it was back to Micky and Marie’s for an early night and a good sleep. Sunday came and it hit me that I would be going back home on Monday. Sunday we had a great luncheon at Bernie’s club, it was sad when it was time to leave. Back at Micky and Marie’s we watched Saving Private Ryan and it seemed like 1982 all over again sitting there with two of the greatest people in the world who opened up there home to me and have been like a family to me. I love you two very much and miss you dearly. Take care and God Bless to everyone in Northern Ireland. I hope to be back soon and bring my wife and daughter back to meet the friendliest people in the world.