As soon as Jason Richards' shot missed and Davidson fell short of upsetting Kansas in the Elite Eight on Sunday, I smiled.I wasn't happy that Davidson lost. Heck, Stephen Curry gave us a tournament run that will be hard to forget. But my joy came from realizing all four No. 1 seeds -- North Carolina, UCLA, Memphis and Kansas -- advanced to Saturday's Final Four in San Antonio.It happened for the first time in NCAA history, and I'm just glad I get to see it.You see, as much as I love upsets and underdog stories, the real meat of the NCAA tournament is the classic match-ups. That's what the Final Four is about.I was probably the only person disappointed in 2006 when Cinderella George Mason finished its season among the four best teams.This year, despite the fact there's been a bevy of blowouts, it's hard to make an argument for Saturday's action to be very close games.The No. 1 seeds play all season in hopes of getting that top regional spot. It's supposed to give you the best shot at making the Final Four. And while there are still plenty of roadblocks along the way, there's nothing wrong with getting an advantage.This year, it finally paid off. And that's what basketball is all about.As unprecedented as it is, I'm not sure seeing these four teams left is surprising.Start with the Associated Press' preseason Top 25: 1. North Carolina, 2. UCLA, 3. Memphis, 4. Kansas. Look familiar?In a year in which every analyst and writer said there's four really good teams and everyone else, it couldn't have worked out any better. The Tar Heels have won by an average of 25.2 points per game in the NCAAs. UCLA's average margin of victory is 18.5 with Memphis at 15.7 and Kansas at 15.The latter three all played one close game each with those being the only games under single digits.North Carolina, well, just hasn't struggled against anyone. But, there are other reasons we have a historical last four. The tournament committee didn't give its best effort seeding teams. Seeding Butler seventh with a second-round match against Tennessee gave UNC an additional boost.And there were too many mid-major match-ups in the first round, giving the top seeds easier opponents in later rounds.But, in a time where parity seems to reign in college sports, it's kind of refreshing to finally see the best meet the best. I don't have a rooting interest in any of these four, but it will still be fun to watch.Now that we know who is left, what's going to happen on Saturday and Monday?Hard to say with this being the first time with all No. 1s, but hopefully, history making is just beginning.(Contact Brad Senkiw of the Anderson Independent-Mail in Anderson, S.C., at XX(at)xxx.com.)
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About time for an All No. 1 Final Four
Submitted by SHNS on Tue, 04/01/2008 - 14:26
Paying taxes unites us. It also divides us. People can pay five and even six times more in state and local taxes than other folks in similar circumstances making similar incomes.
Who's got your number?
In one of the fastest-growing forms of identity theft, crooks are stealing tax refunds by swiping personal information and using it to trick the Internal Revenue Service.




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