On Monday the NCAA tournament bracket was set, we are getting ready for the big tournament. Canadians like myself will be watching Winthrop in the tournament, but it doesnt seem likly that they will go to far as they have Wake Forest in the 2nd round, even if they adavance from the 1st game. Uconn comes into the tournament unranked and have to go through the 1^st round aswell. This year and have an interesting battle in front of them. If they catch fire I could see them making it to the final 8.

If the Eastern Conference Final between Columbus and Chicago was as expected as finals go, then the Western Conference Final is the exact opposite.

Real Salt Lake, a team which before two weeks ago had never tasted playoff soccer, hosts the New York Red Bulls, an Eastern team that gets the opportunity to become the West champions by virtue of MLS’ crazy CFL-esque playoff crossover system.

This week we are happy to bring you an interview with Hoosier Brad Ring. In 2007 Brad was named as a semifinalist for the MAC Hermann Trophy and was a unanimous first-team All-Big Ten pick. It was announced yesterday that Brad has once again made the first-team All-Big Ten team.

Ring hasnt found himself in the same kind of attacking role as NCAA seasons past, and has proved he can play the key defensive role in midfield as evident by Indianas shutouts, many of them against ranked opponents. Although Ring has been unable to participate in the last few matches due to injury problems, Indiana finds themselves matched up against Michigan State in the finals of the Big-Ten tournamnet after knocking off Michigan, and Ohio State.

In what many are calling “the real  Cup final”, the Eastern Conference championship sees Supporters Shield winners Columbus Crew hosting the surging Chicago Fire.

To say that this has all the makings of a possible classic match is an understatement. In fact, this is about as good as it gets in MLS; two regional rivals - who both play an exciting, attacking brand of soccer – battling it out for a spot in Los Angeles.

There is no love lost among the respective sides’ fan support, and one can expect that underlying resentment to spill over onto the pitch. Both teams play with a bit of an edge, although Chicago – as led by Cuauhtemoc Blanco and his considerable bag of tricks – can be counted on to have the upper hand on some of the less appreciated aspects of the game.

It’s Tuesday which means that we get told how great Wake Forest is. With a record of 17-0-1 this team is going into the post season with an ultimate high. The Demon Deacons finished with an unbeaten season, the first in Forest history. Seems like a perfect ending before a lot of them make the jump to the pros. 

I don't know why, but I have a feeling that this team is going to share the same fate as the New England Patriots this year.

After spending hours a day on Toronto FC message boards, there is one thing that is clear: everyone has fallen in love with O’Brian White. They think he is a shoe in for that 2nd or 4th pick. I for one disagree with that, but I do think that using our picks to grab Canadian talent is a very smart idea. It’s just that it might not be the case in the first round.