You are looking live at sold-out Soldier Field where today the Chicago Bears meet the New York Giants for the NFC championship … ha, ha—wheeee!

What, am I supposed to tell you kids who I think will win the NCAA championship? Look, I’m into baseball—I eat, breathe and sleep baseball this time of year, so back off. I’m rabid.

I will say this, though. When UNLV beats Indiana in the championship, Bobby Knight will kick and scream like a child and desecrate the game of basketball. Actually, even if Indiana wins it all, Bobby Knight will kick and scream like a child and desecrate the game of basketball. He’s consistent.

Tip of the week: Stay in bed.

Kari Brackett, sports reporter

To tell ya the truth, I’m really not too excited this year over the NCAA Final Four. It’s not just because of the teams involved, but because I am nursing a basketball wound.

The Elgin High basketball team (Elgin is where I am from) went down to Champaign for the high school tournament and lost in the first round. It hurt a great deal, and I decided I’d better stay away from basketball.

I’ll admit I’m an Indiana Hoosier fan. Bobby Knight is calm, cool and collected and I admire him for that. Now I know he flies off the handle once in a while, but everyone needs to let off steam. So, I’m going for Indiana to win against UNLV because of Bobby Knight and because of his cute son.

Jim Wozniak, sports reporter

I can just hear NIU Coach Jim Rosborough right now. “If we had just played defense and held our opponents to less than 70 points a game, we’d be in the Final Four.”

Anyway, back to reality. Look for UNLV and Syracuse to meet in the final. Considering how many points UNLV scores, most people would think it does not play defense. But that is not true, and that combination will bring Jerry Tarkanian to the final after dumping Indiana. Billy Donovan has done a great job for Providence so far, but Syracuse is just too strong.

Tarkanian’s team is on a roll, and that will carry his team past Syracuse, which has not been as dominating this season.

Dave Duschene, editorial editor

For me the Final Four lost most of its meaning (as it has so, so many times in the past) when DePaul choked (it’s hard for me to use those two words together) last Friday.

But enough of that whining for another Chicago sports failure. The way I look at it, the Demons were a Final Four team this year, and Andy Laux didn’t belong on it. I know it’s harsh, but hey, if Leon Durham can take the rap for the ‘84 Cubs flop, I figure Laux can take the heat on this one.

Therefore, I pick the Demons to make a surprise comeback and win it all this year—and that has nothing to do with the fact that Dan Moran thinks I look like Joey Meyer.

Jeff Kirik, sports reporter

First of all, I want to ask Dave Duschene why he has to bring up Chicago teams when we’re talking about the Final Four. Dave, they shouldn’t be mentioned in the same paragraph. Pick a real team, okay?

This year is a tough one to pick, but I think I’ve got the winner. Every time there is a team that appears easily better than the rest of the Final Four, the underdog wins. Something tells me Billy Donovan and Providence are going to humiliate Syracuse and then outshoot the favorite, UNLV, 125-120. Before you laugh, remember the names North Carolina State and Villanova.

But then again, what do I know? I picked Pittsburgh at the beginning of the tournament. If Dave can do it, so can I.

Debra Fleischman, editor

The first basketball game I ever saw was at Campus Cinemas last week. “Hoosiers” really managed to bring out the sports nut in me. The popcorn was the best I have had in a long time—the kind where the yellow stuff is distributed evenly throughout the cup (as opposed to just the top layer). Anyway, it gave me a real soft spot for Indiana, so I’m going with Indiana vs. Syracuse in the championship game with high hopes for my mighty Hoosiers.

Was there ever a movie made about the Orangemen? Maybe one of you movie buffs can answer that for me. I’m much too involved in my career as a sports expert to bother with movies.

Dave Tuley, sports editor

I think I should wrap this up and give a serious prediction since everyone else is treating this as a joke. Sports prognosticating (not to be confused with procrastination, although this was written at the last minute) is not a subject to be taken lightly, unlike helium. Have you ever inhaled helium and then talked like Pee Wee Herman? Isn’t that fun?

Anyway, I asked two of my friends, Diana and L.V. (that’s a nickname) for some help on my picks. In Diana’s opinion, and I quote, “You an’ L.V. will lose to me this time.” L.V., who is studying for the clergy said, “By divine providence ….” That’s all I stayed around to hear. So, if you were able to follow that, Indiana and Providence will meet in the championship with the Friars being this year’s Cinderella. If the shoe fits, wear it.