What a term it has been this winter. The theme? Failing and succeeding. We did it in sports, campus protests, Greek Life, the EMU renovations, Justin Bieber as he came and left and on an individual basis. We failed and succeeded in academia as well, I’m sure. It was a bumpy ride, and one that, I think, has made everyone thirsty for springtime (amongst other things).
As we make our way into “Spraaang Breaaaak” — to quote my favorite Franco, James — the men of UO basketball are about to see if they can add to all their success this past season. I hate to jump on the ole’ sports culture bandwagon, but I can’t help feeling excited for these boys who are making history with their no. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. I’m working to regain knowledge about how the sport works (instead of studying for my Friday final), since this is the part of my brain that hasn’t been used since around ‘08 when the Blazers caused a (positive) ruckus with a flavorful roster (think: B-Roy, Rudy, Batum, et al).
The NCAA March Madness games begin on Thursday, March 17. It all starts for Oregon a day later on the 18th. Oregon will play its first game up in Washington against the Southern Jaguars, apparently at 4:27 p.m. If this matchup starts a minute late, my Twitter followers will hear about it.
So, as I’ve been told by my b-ball-loving mates, March Madness starts with 64 teams. One by one, the teams will move through a bracket system, depending on the winners, who move up in the rounds, and the losers, who go home. It’s do or die, one for the books – and any other dramatic sports cliché out there.
There’s also a thing where fans can create their own brackets to see if they can predict how the tournament will turn out. Sometimes there’s money involved, similar to how fantasy sports work, but not always. Some people just make brackets to see if they have a fifth sense like ESPN or something; just make sure you channel your inner Karen Smith.
During his first year in office in 2009, President Obama correctly predicted that North Carolina would win the madness, and now, in his last year of presidency, bae hopes to do it again. On March 16, the POTUS revealed his 2016 bracket picks and he has chosen Kansas to take it all.
I am disappointed that he thinks Oregon will lose during its Sweet 16 matchup, which the President thinks will be against Duke. But at least we make it that far! I can’t say the same for Oregon State, who isn’t projected to progress at all after its first game against VCU. I’m always one for the underdog, and maybe the Ducks can prove the most powerful baller in the world wrong and win the whole thing. *Insert trophy emoji*
Speaking of winners, a local victory is in the works, depending on who you talk to. Albertsons grocery stores are making their way back into our lives. Two years ago, a Bellingham, Washington-based grocery store company Haggens bought out two Springfield and Eugene Albertsons stores because of the Albertson-Safeway merger. The switch in ownership happened all so fast, as did my yearning for the dark-to-light blue letters of Albertson’s name.
My drives around town became different, even more average than before – and the green cursive that screams “Haggens” at me hasn’t helped with the process of acceptance. But, none of this matters now since in the coming weeks, two of the popular Eugene locations, 30th and Hilyard and 18th and Chambers, along with a Springfield location, will see the return of our old friend Al as the result of another buyback.
Through the decades that I’ve lived in Eugene, I continue to find myself getting attached to certain places in town, especially when it comes to food. Some places that I develop a passion are local spots that you can’t find anywhere else, but sometimes I feel the same way for chain establishments that are most definitely not unique to Eugene. And with becoming attached, a lot of times, disappointment follows. Albertsons and Haggens are one example, and then, there was the Chipotle let down. There were outbreaks of diseases like E.coli, salmonella and norovirus at Chipotles around the country last year, which caused their sales to plummet, along with stocks invested in the company.
On March 16, executives of the chain explained how they are working to get their eatery back on track. Those free burrito coupons that went viral a few weeks back? That was them. About 3.5 million burritos were handed out for free with that texted coupon code as a tactic to prove that its food is safe and that people can stop boycotting them out of fear of getting sick. I have a tip for Chipotle, how about some free guac, no? I mean, that would draw me in more frequently. Just sayin’.