Sportsfrog.com

I think I may have to root for North Carolina. I like casinos. Ty Lawson likes casinos. Roy Williams likes casinos. And apparently some panty-bunchers have wadded theirs over Ty Lawson, a 21-year-old, hitting the craps tables in downtown Detroit near the team hotel in the last few days. Roy Williams has THE correct take on this non-story:

Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said Friday that he told his players not to gamble, but North Carolina coach Roy Williams fired back at Lawson’s critics with a fantastic point that wove together common sense and all-you-can-shovel crab legs. “It’s strange,” Williams said. “If we don’t want those kids doing it, don’t put the Final Four in a city where the casino is 500 yards from our front door. And they’ve got a great buffet in there. … You know when we got here? Wednesday. I mean, I’m not gonna tell my guys they got to stay in the room and watch Bill Cosby reruns for four days. Come on.”

Besides, Lawson won’t be the only Tar Heel rolling the dice this weekend. His coach plans to hit the tables before Carolina faces Villanova in Saturday’s national semifinal. Based on past experience, if Willams rolls a few snake eyes, the Tar Heels will beat the Wildcats. “When I came here this year to play Michigan State, we stayed at MGM,” Williams said Friday. “And I went down and shot craps, we lost, and we won the game. I go to Reno, to play Nevada-Reno, and I stayed in a casino, and I went downstairs and shot craps and we lost, and my team won. So you’ve got to be half-an-idiot if you think I’m not going to go gamble and lose money before this game.“

Snicker. Newflash to Puritans out there. Casinos are not dens of sin. You are NOT given a complimentary blowjob upon entering. Lines of cocaine do not greet you at the blackjack tables. Mostly, they are full of people looking for a few hours of diversion with a chance to win some money. And old people spending their social security checks. That part is sad. But still, it is not hell on earth. Stop acting like it is.

As for the games themselves, plenty of places to go around the net for analysis better than anything you read here. As things have unfolded, it sure does look like UConn and UNC will be meeting in the National Title game Monday night, but there’s enough uncertainty that it won’t be shocking if Michigan State and Villanova are the ones standing instead.

I am curious about the venue. I don’t like the idea of packing 71,000 under one roof to see a basketball game. The event would be better served by sticking to somewhat recognizable basketball venues, in my opinion. At any rate, I’m rooting for the Heels. If only because I honor fellow casino afficionados.

The games will be discussed in the Swamp here. Stop by with a thought or two.