ChicagoSportsBlogs : Non Compete

I made a list a few years back of the top 10 things I wanted to see before I died. Most of these wishes, or dreams, involved gorgeous Swedish models. Some items on the list were career related, like starting a hot dog stand. Yea, I want to sell hot dogs for a living. You think I want to be a desk jockey my entire life? All kidding aside, the list was really the top 10 sports related items I wanted to experience before I died. It was a simple list. Here, I'll give you a sample (in no particular order)

• White Sox win a World Series (check!)
• Experience a parade after a huge championship! (White Sox parade! Check!)
• Kiss the Stanley Cup (after the Hawks win it. Never going to happen, got close in '92)
• See the Cubs win a Series. Yea, I never removed this from the list. You're telling me YOU don't want to experience bedlam in this town? It would be the single GREATEST story of our lives. Don't get me started on this one Southsiders...
• Bears Superbowl ! (Got it this year! Check!)
• Bears WIN the Superbowl (Technically got it too, CHECK! - I was alive in '85. And no, I wasn't shitting my diapers either)
• Loyola goes to the Dance

Let's stop right there on that last one. Loyola going to the dance? Hell yea. I've been waiting for this to happen since I finished my undergraduate degree from this fine institution. The Ramblers got close one year against the UIC Flames. It was 93 or was that 98? It was a double overtime loss that kept the Ramblers from dancing that year. It has been the closest they've gotten to a post season in 22 years. (yea, I've got to spend more time googling this stuff...) Fast forward to Friday's matchup between the Flames and Loyola and you should be getting the sense of my excitement. Blake Schilb leads the Ramblers towards our last, and probably best shot to make it to the dance.

If these guys had any idea how important this was to me, maybe they would play that much harder. So, I'm leaving this breadcrumb out for all you Ramblers: Beat the Flames on Friday. Beat them silly. Beat them like you beat the 13th ranked Butler Bulldogs last Thursday. This is the best team Loyola has put together since that '85 team that actually made the sweet 16. I believe that was Patrick Ewing and Georgetown that killed the dream back then.

Tomorrow begins March 1st. It's time for the Madness kids. It's time to go to the dance.

GO RAMBLERS.