Gophers can't top Musketeers - the 2009-10 season comes to a close.

Despite the outcome, still had a great time at the BC for the Milwaukee NCAA regional.  Attended the pre-game for Minnesota fans at Bootleggers, and it was Gopherrific to see so much Maroon and Gold in one place, all unified and postive.  The bartenders were kept very busy all morning.  After a couple hours of imbibing, I headed into Session 1 with my bud TKL who is a NU and IU alum, and Big Ten thru and thru.

A number of observations/comments:

• Since it was a weekday and before 6pm, the parking situation around the BC was not real good.  All on-street parking on side streets were 3 hour max or less.  I ended up in a ramp that raked you to pay for parking during both sessions 1 and 2.
• On my 9:30 am walk from the ramp to Bootleggers, I walked past not one, but two separate Iowa Hawkeye fans.  By the second one, I was so bewildered at the sight of them that I said to him "What are you guys here shopping for a coach?"  He ignored me.
• Bootleggers was full up of Maroon and Gold.  Pretty awesome.  They had two huge U of Minn Alumni flags hanging from the rafters. The Rouser spontaneously broke out a few times, and spirits were high.  At one point, a large banner was unfurled that said "It's Tubby Time - Let's Dance" or something like that.  Very cool.  
• A group of Oakland fans swung into Bootleggers, and were definitely enjoying themselves.  A fun bunch.
• The BC got pretty full up by midway through the 1st Half, when the corner upper deck seats get filled up, good to see, since a number of the Thursday regional games had a lot of empty seats.
• Xavier and Minnesota brought vocal crowds, both were on top of the game and rallied around their teams at the right moments.
• No beer sales in the BC, no doubt due to NCAA stipulations.  Stuck with Pepsi products.  Got bad gut-rot from a soda.  A little beer will put out that fire.
• Headed back to Bootleggers after Session 1, with a pit stop at the Calderone Pub first.  Nice mix of fans from all the teams in the regional there.  
• Bootleggers was no longer the Gopher haven it was when I left there that morning.  Badger fans had decended upon it, and the Gopher fans started to disperse.  Still our banners were up and we were flying the flag
• Finally the Bootleggers staff start to take down the huge 'Welcome M Alumni' flags.  I offer to buy  one off the guy taking it down, but he states that these belong to the Alumni Association, to which I reply "I'm in the Alumni Association! Sell it to me!"  No dice.

Panoramic view from our seats in Sec 221.

Obstructed view, but close enough that I didn't care.

Goldy keepin' it real, while the Musketeer looks on.

Goldy and the bench look on in the 1st Half.

Tubby paces the sidelines.

For some reason my camera chose to focus on Blake - I thought it kinda made this pic cool.

LW inbounds during the second half.

Gopher Nation stands to acknowledge the seniors, Westbrook, Johnson, and Bostick.

Its over, its all over.

Gopher Bandanna Guy and TKL just glad to be a part of March Madness.

Ralph Sampson the 2nd.  Certainly the tallest man currentlyin the building. Very likely the tallest man currently in the State of Wisconsin. And quite possibly the tallest man currently in the upper Midwest.  Also see Bryant Allen sitting with friends, and Paul Carter sitting with sister on the bottom of photo.

Game 2 - Pitt brings out their lovely cheerleaders, and apparently one grouchy one.  Smile dear, you're at the Big Dance!

The Oakland Golden Grizzly.  I thought he was pretty cool.  Huge head, might be one of the biggest I've ever seen on a mascot.

Pitt sets up the offense.

With Pitt firmly in control, the stands empty out, but the Oakland Grizz faithful stick to the end.