Area Sports by Michael Dashiell

The Chapmans have returned from a week's vacation and have to tell you that Las Vegas is alive and well, thank you, recession or no recession. Read on for more details.

We visited two weeks ago when March Madness had begun for college basketball teams and the city was filled up with those wanting to put down a few bucks on their favorite team.

I had a hunch Washington wasn't going to get into the third round after their one victory as they just had a bad habit of falling behind early in games and I knew a good team would not let them come back.

Gonzaga made it to the Sweet 16, however, but had a tough foe in North Carolina and the Tar Heels showed why they are favorites to win the entire shebang by ousting the Zags, 98-77.

Now, it's the Final Four and my Memphis team was knocked out, so I don't really have a favorite going into the final weekend of the season. Brackets were really busted when Memphis lost and Duke lost, so there are some new faces.

There has been talk of adding more teams to the tournament, but me thinks that would let everybody in and make conference schedules meaningless. I like the 64-team concept, but the NIT and other events are there just so teams can get more playing time and I'm not sure I like that.



Slots of fun

Mrs. C and I did the casino thing on vacation. We stayed at Bally's, visited Flamingo, Paris and Caesar's and left a little money in each one. Did find a slot in the first-mentioned casino and Mrs. C hit something like three wilds on one line and two wilds on the upper line, but all five were blinking so we were excited at the prospect of getting 10,000 pennies.

Alas, it took two slot managers and a technician to check the machine over and decide it was only worth 7,600 pennies as the three wilds made four of a kind and the two other wilds made three. I almost called Glenn Smithson at 7 Cedars to help them decide how much to pay us.

Niece Cathleen Donahue lives in Sin City and showed us a nice restaurant and we did the St. Patrick's Day buffet (Judy Tordini need not read further). I did not adhere to my Heart Healthy Diet. Believe me, folks, when I say there no longer are inexpensive buffets at any of the major casinos and the rib eye steak and eggs for $4.99 is only good between midnight and 4 a.m. at smaller outfits.

Last thing I said to Mrs. C as we hit the airport: "Remember, nobody wins at the airport, it's just a money grabber to keep the airport going ...." What do I know? Nothing. We came home with gambling money after a week in Vegas and in Yuma, Ariz., and you can ask her just how much she cashed in from the airport machine. Of course, I was chastised for trying to give advice.

It's April Fool's Day and I would be remiss if I didn't wish my No. 4 son a happy birthday, make that a happy 41st birthday.

Those who know the family are familiar with the fact that we have four boys and Nos. 3 and 4 were "supposed" to be girls. Remember these were the days before ultrasound. Parents-to-be didn't know ahead of time, so we planned on girl-type stuff for No. 3 and he turned out to be another boy. You can stop by Evergreen Collision and say hi to Christopher.

No. 4 was on the way and we were confident a girl was coming to join her brothers, but after having girl showers and all that stuff, Mrs. Chapman called from the room (remember this was in the time husbands were not allowed on the maternity ward) and said, "April Fool ... it's another boy ...."

Craig Alan is doing well in Bothell, folks.

Columns by KONP 1450 AM sports announcer Scooter Chapman appear weekly in the Sequim Gazette. He can be reached via e-mail at scooter@olypen.com.