The Water Cooler: March 24, 2010

By Bontã Hill
The Guardsman

I’d like to meet the person who came up with the idea of scheduling mid-term exams during the greatest tournament in the world, the NCAA Basketball Tournament.

They should be crucified.

Okay, that’s a bit much, but punishment should be considered.

As students, we’re not allowed to text or look at our phones in class. Not fair considering that Georgetown could potentially be destroying my bracket and giving me no hope at winning my office pool.

How am I supposed to focus on wind patterns and the different types of clouds in geography?

I was told by a teacher that I had spring fever. You know, with the flowers blooming, the anticipation of spring break, nice weather and girls starting to come to school wearing a little less clothing, who wouldn’t be?

Well, she’s right in saying I have a fever, but not because of spring. I have to blame it on something though, because the NCAA tournament has me discombobulated.

Kansas, Kentucky, Syracuse and Baylor were my picks to make the Final Four, with Kansas cutting down the nets in Indianapolis, even though my heart is with Kentucky.

That said, Kansas has already let me down by losing in the second round to Northern Iowa — NORTHERN IOWA!

However, the school’s schedule maker ought to be thrown into the Idiot Hall of Fame. Why would you — whoever is behind this — schedule March Madness, spring break and the great weather that we’re getting near midterms?

The faculty here just doesn’t know how tough it is being a student. They just don’t know…

Idiot of the Week

I have to go local with this one, and due to my deadline to turn this column in — which I missed for the fourth straight issue — I won’t know the full extent of this situation
due to The Guardsman going into production, but I’m going with the San Francisco 49ers front office as this week’s Idiot of the Week.

The 49ers organization announced that General Manager Scot McCloughan was taking a “leave of absence.” Huh? Five weeks before one of the most important NFL drafts in recent history for the 49ers?

Great timing.

As of March 19, there have been reports released to the media that McCloughan’s office has been cleaned out. It’s also been noted that he is going through a divorce.

However, his representative, Peter Schaffer, is saying McCloughan is still on board with the franchise. Some say that is just to get full compensation for his contract as the 49ers are forcing him out.

Why the 49ers have not come out and spoken publicly about this issue is beyond me. This is the type of behavior that one would expect from their neighbors across the bay.

You have to feel bad for McCloughan and angry at the 49ers’ brass. McCloughan, who has been with the organization for five years, has been a big part of the rebuilding of this team through the draft.

The 49ers have the potential to fill some needs and become serious contenders to win the NFC West this season. With a distraction like this, how will it affect the 49ers in attracting free agents or decision making in the upcoming draft?

All this has done is cause confusion, and for the time being, put a halt to the momentum the franchise was starting to gain.

Now, all we know is we don’t have any leadership at the top —something that doesn’t mix with trying to be a winning organization in the NFL.

Miscellaneous

Manny Pacquiao defeated Joshua Clottey on March 13, in front of a crowd of 51,000 at the gorgeous stadium in Arlington, Texas. It was the third largest crowd in U.S. boxing history.

Too bad the fight was a stinker as Clottey decided to collect his check and cover-up instead of throwing a punch. At least I saved $50.

In other news, Texas Rangers’ manager Ron Washington tested positive for cocaine use. He also admitted to using drugs when he was a player in the 1980s.

On that note, I’ll see you folks after spring break.