Selection Sunday is … Sunday.

Illinois just beat Wisconsin. They appear to be in now. If Ohio State can win the Big Ten Tournament — or Purdue for that matter — either squad may be able to snag a No. 1 seed.

And then there’s Indiana … oh wait. Nevermind.

The weather is turning. March Madness is on the horizon. It’s a great time to be alive. Embrace the weekend, people.

Ladies and gentlemen, Marquette basketball coach Buzz Williams on the sidelines against Louisville earlier this week:

Try and top that on the dance floor this weekend. I dare you.

Hear that noise? It’s the horn blowing at the end of the third period. The United States just rolled Finland 6-1 in the semifinals, and will play in the gold-medal game Sunday afternoon.

And hey: Partick Kane even chipped in with two goals. Fear the icicle.

Canada and Slovakia are playing tonight. The winner takes on the U.S. for the gold Sunday. And of course we want Canada. We want our biggest rival; we want the team that beat us in the gold-medal game in Salt Lake City in 2002; we want some more hype and drama.

Sorry Slovakia. I’m sure your country is terrific this time of year, though.

I’m sure it will be difficult for the U.S. to beat Canada twice in one week, but this is the gold we’re talking about here.

There’s no easy road to it.

Whoo! Hockey

Grown men holding back tears. Over Tiger Woods’ statement.

When the Blirkins come from the planet Zuzu to learn about our society, this is what we’ll show them. Also: cats. Lots and lots of videos of cats.

Have a good weekend. Peace.

Count me among those that will be watching as much Winter Olympics as I can stomach with the Opening Ceremonies kicking off tonight. Do I know anything about luge, or curling, or bobsledding, or figure skating? Only as much as I’ve seen from previous Winter Olympics.

Some argue that’s why I shouldn’t watch it; that one can’t all of a sudden hop into all these fringe sports one knows nothing about. Fandom is about knowledge, it’s about following the ins and outs of sports and athletes year in and year out.

It would be a farce to all of a sudden be interested and hop on the bandwagon of sports and athletes we don’t know about. They call it sports for non-sports fans.

But I scoff at that. That’s all what makes it so fun — you can enter with little expectations and fringe knowledge, and that oftentimes makes it more exciting and interesting.

The unknown is oftentimes life’s greatest thrill.

–

Things are looking good for Derrick Rose this weekend. He told the Trib he’s “75 percent sure” he’s going to play in the All-Star Game on Sunday. But he’s less sure about defending his Skills Challenge title on Saturday night, though.

Between those two events, the dunk contest, the 3-point contest, the Rookie-Sophomore game, H.O.R.S.E and the Olympics, I don’t think I’m going to leave my couch this weekend.

Yes, Spencer, you’re right: The above rap video actually is dorkily endearing. Unlike every other terribly conceived sports-themed rap song, this one doesn’t take itself too seriously. Or try too hard to be funny. It is what it is what it is. And it’s not too bad.

In other bowl news, Snookie got booed at the Wing Bowl today. But it’s OK. She got paid $10,000 in appearance fees. Oh, and the Situation is maybe going to be in a commerical with Payton Manning … but also maybe not?

Did the NFL hook up the  “Jersey Shore” cast get with their own private box at the Super Bowl yet? Are they doing the coin toss? Maybe Ronnie can take a snap at fullback for the Saints at some point in the game?

All likely scenarios in my book.

Oh, and don’t forget the Puppy Bowl on Sunday. Look at how cute this particpant is:

CUTE OVERLOAD.

As for the game: I am picking the Colts to win, but will be rooting for the Saints. Head vs. heart kind of thing.

Enjoy the game, and see if you can start work two hours late on Monday just like the school kids.

… swagger on a hundred thousand trillion:

Hi guys!

Because the Bears can’t even give their offensive coordinator job away right now, they’ve brought in Mike Martz to interview. The same Mike Martz they’ve known all along has had interest in the job. But the Bears didn’t seem to have any real interest in him, what with the thousand other guys they’ve brought in first.

Pro Football Talk’s headline kind of says it all: “Desperate Bears interviewing Martz.”

Of course, Martz certainly has the resume of a guy that knows how to get it done with an NFL offense. He’s familiar with Lovie Smith. He likes to pass. All good things in my book.

But as PFT points out, there’s also a chance this relationship becomes combustible; Martz did, after all, say this about Cutler in September: “He just doesn’t get it. He just doesn’t understand that he represents a great head coach and the rest of the players on that team. Somebody needs to talk to him.”

And we don’t want anyone upsetting our quarterback, that’s for sure.

But I’d counter and say Cutler also could have had an issue with Ron Turner this past season, because Turner, when he was head coach at Illinois, allegedly rescinded on a scholarship offer to Cutler back in the day. Cutler’s dad didn’t think it was cool. Bu that was a non-issue.

I would assume this beef could be similarly squashed if need be.

At this point, one would have to assume that Martz is going to accept the job and come to Chicago to coach. So if Lovie and his whole staff goes down with him after next season, at least he’ll have a friend aboard, eh?

Enjoy the weekend. Don’t freeze your face off.