Aaron Rodgers said today on the Pat McAfee Show that he still isn’t sure he won’t retire, that he’s still a Green Bay Packer, and that he’s going on a four-day retreat in total darkness (outside of meal delivery, and I assume not Uber Eats) that stimulates DMT, the active drug in ayahuasca. He may have meant or said “simulate,” not “stimulate,” but I don’t know a ton about psychedelics and Shaka Smart tips off in 34 minutes as I sit down to crank these out.
This retreat part of what he said is the least important for the Packers, but it’s definitely the most interesting.
I’m not against the darkness retreat. Honestly, when I heard it I got a little bit jealous. It sounds intolerable, but I’d like to be the kind of person who could tolerate that, you know? Imagine being able to go four days in total stillness. You’re choosing to do something they force prisoners into as torture. Probably in a way more comfortable set of rooms, though. This is like glamping, but Nelson Mandela-style.
As someone who struggles to put his iphone on that ‘do not disturb’ setting, I’m not hating on Aaron Rodgers for going to spend four days in a dark room. I know I couldn’t do it. I’m impressed that he can. If I went into a dark room for four days, I’m a little terrified of what would happen. I will say, though:
If you’re going to spend four days alone with anybody, you better love that person. So no wonder Rodgers is stoked about getting to hang out with himself all weekend. He’s obsessed with that guy.
(Is he missing the Super Bowl? I can’t decide if that’s a power move or not.)
We Told You (Duke)
Duke got whacked by Miami, and Joe says they won’t make the NIT but Joe’s being a hater and needs to shut the hell up before he gets banished into the void. Yes, we know it’s a longshot. But it’s on the table. If Duke can play like that, they can play with us.
We Told You? (Shaka Smart)
Big one for our guy tonight. Win, and Marquette moves into first place all alone in the Big East. Lose, and Marquette doesn’t, but is still very close. It’s a little bit of a trap game, since UConn’s probably a lot better than they’ve been playing, but it’s a fun one, because in addition to Marquette maybe getting trapped, Dan Hurley could get trapped by the police after ripping a referee’s limbs off for calling a routine blocking foul. There’s upside everywhere.
NASCAR vs. Rap
I know I shouldn’t go on The Internet™ too much, but I do live most of my life there, and since I was in the room and you are now in the room with me I want you to know that a vocal subset of NASCAR fans are mad that NASCAR held the Clash at the Los Angeles Coliseum. Not necessarily because it wasn’t at Daytona, either, or because it was an ugly race in the end. They’re mad because there was a rap concert involved.
It’s classic old white dude behavior to be grumbly about rap, but I kind of thought we’d moved past it. I thought old white dudes were just putting classified documents in unsecure locations now, and that sort of thing. Turns out, they still get pissed off if you give them the opportunity to listen to rap. That still plays. Kind of comforting, to be honest.
Burnley Moves On
I forgot that Burnley was playing its FA Cup replay this afternoon, but Nathan Tella didn’t, and the match wasn’t on TV anywa—
Oh no.
I just said “match” instead of “game.”
And I did it unintentionally.
Alright, soul-searching ahead, but I’m logging off. Burnley won, Nathan Tella scored at the bookends, the lads are through to the Round of 16. They’ll play Fleetwood Town at the end of the month. Way less cool than Fleetwood Mac.
**
Our menu this evening:
7:00 PM EST: Cincinnati @ Tulane (ESPN+)
We start with our Game of the NITe. There was never any doubt this would be the Game of the NITe, there was only doubt as to whether it would be on ESPNU or ESPN+, the latter of which would make us feel justified for paying for our Disney/Hulu/ESPN+ bundle. Well, folks, we feel very justified, because I’m not sure there’s anything Tulane can’t do right now, and I’m about to find out.
7:00 PM EST: UNC @ Wake Forest (ESPN)
9:00 PM EST: Arkansas @ Kentucky (ESPN)
Two of our white whales are on the court this evening, and ESPN—bubble-banging NIT broadcaster that it is—has them both for our enjoyment. Dream on, dreamers. Dream on.
7:00 PM EST: Dayton @ VCU (CBSSN)
7:00 PM EST: Bowling Green @ Kent State (ESPN+?)
7:00 PM EST: Toledo @ Akron (ESPN+?)
8:00 PM EST: Drake @ Murray State (ESPN+?)
Big things happening in the A-10, MVC, and MAC, but we’ll keep tabs so you don’t have to. That’s why we didn’t confirm those last three are on ESPN+ yet.
7:00 PM EST: Mississippi @ Georgia (SECN)
7:00 PM EST: Louisville @ Pitt (ACCN)
8:30 PM EST: St. John’s @ Butler (FS1)
9:00 PM EST: Rhode Island @ Saint Louis (CBSSN)
The NIT’s bottom bubble is bouncing tonight (apologies to Pitt, you aren’t on the bottom bubble but this is where this could pull you). But does it match the top? Let’s take a look.
9:00 PM EST: NC State @ Virginia (ACCN)
9:00 PM EST: South Carolina @ Mizzou (SECN)
10:30 PM EST: Nevada @ New Mexico (FS1)
Add in UNC and Kentucky, and I don’t know, bottom…the top bubble might have you beat on narrative. That’s kind of how it should be, though.
8:00 PM EST: Bulls @ Grizzlies (League Pass)
I’m not going to watch this game.
6:30 PM EST: Marquette @ UConn (FS1)
Shaka Smart with the free play after Texas’s loss last night. Go get ‘em, boss.
