#the sparty party returns

[strictlybecca]

WHAT.

"The new show is set to pick up in the aftermath of the defeat of Spartacus' rebel army, and tell a new story of treachery, deceit, and blood unfolding beneath the foreboding shadow of Rome."

[slippinmickeys]

Five Seconds (4/8)

If you’d like to read at AO3, you may do so here. 

June 4, 2018

Mulder stood in the kitchen wearing only sweatpants, the rented house quiet around him. Scully had headed to the local Meijer for supplies of every stripe, and both kids had leapt at the chance to go with her, a rare occurrence the last few years, but a clear result of forced low profile and cabin fever.

He was nursing a rare cup of caffeinated coffee and watching a black squirrel make a nuisance of itself on the residence’s sole backyard bird feeder. When his new cell phone rang, he answered it out of muscle memory.

“Hello?”

“Hello Fox,” said the person on the other end of the line, “aren’t you a sound for sore ears.”

It took him a moment to place the voice.

“Lauren,” he said after a moment, smiling into the receiver, “it’s good to hear from you, too. I take it you got the information I sent you?”

Mulder had had Frohike send her their contact information as they’d previously agreed, and he assumed this was the first of her planned unplanned check-ins.

“It was a little cloak and dagger, even for the District,” she said, and Mulder could hear her smile over the line.

“And I always thought you lived for the drama,” he said companionably.

“Well, I got to wear my best Carmen SanDiego hat, so I guess I can’t be mad.”

Mulder chuckled into the receiver.

“How’s it going?” Lauren asked, her tone shifting to one of sober inquiry.

“It’s going.”

“Dana okay?” her question was sincere, and Mulder marveled how time could change a person.

“She’s good,” he said, “healthy. All systems go. I’m sure she’d want me to send you her best.”

“And the kids? How are they handling it all?”

Mulder sighed.

Will was adjusting, but Lily was miserable. Lonely and bored, unable to talk to friends back home and without the specter and excitement of starting school in the fall. She’d even begged to be able to get a summer job, even as just a waitress at the local Bennigan’s, but Mulder didn’t like the idea of her being away from the house for hours at a time, and Scully wasn’t sold on their borrowed Social Security numbers passing an employment check.

“The kids are… okay.”

“Going that well, huh?” she asked.

“Lil is pretty miserable,” he admitted.

“Of course she’s miserable,” Lauren scolded him, “she’s 18 years old and stuck in a house with her well-meaning parents. She should be at the beach with friends getting day drunk on Bud Light-”

“-she would never-” Mulder interrupted, to which Lauren outright laughed in his ear.

“-I assure you, she already has!”

Mulder sighed again. “Aside from dropping her off at the lake and buying her a rack of shit beer, you got any ideas?”

“College boys in tight pants,” Lauren said.

“Excuse me?” Mulder asked, taken aback.

“Take the family to a football game Fox, you’re in a Big Ten town for Christ’s sake.”

“It’s not football season yet.”

“Just take her somewhere with a lot of people. And give her a little bit of freedom. And when it is football season?”

“Yeah?” Mulder asked.

“Take her to see the tight pants.”

XxXxXxXxXxX

 September 3, 2018

It had been months and they started to relax, maybe a bit too much. They were alert, but comfortable. Maybe complacent, Mulder couldn't tell. All he knew was that if he kept the kids in the house for much longer, they'd kill each other and possibly him and Scully in the crossfire, and it would defeat the whole purpose of their hiding out. That said, all was quiet on the homefront -- Darlene and the Gunmen, and to a lesser extent, Doggett, Reyes and Skinner -- had heard nothing with their ears to the ground.

He and Scully had discussed it, and decided that they would let the kids out of the house. They allowed them to socialize occasionally, if they promised to be careful. Will had made a couple of friends around the neighborhood, playing roller hockey in their cul de sac, but Lily hadn't had as much luck, or as much motivation. She had been quiet and keeping mostly to herself, and come September, Mulder had decided to finally take Lauren's advice. They were going to a football game.

William was beside himself with excitement which made up for Lily's lack of enthusiasm. Scully had opted out of attending, citing her increasing need of accessible bathrooms and the inevitable long lines at ladies rooms in sports arenas.

They took the bus to the edge of the MSU campus -- the first time any of them had been on it since moving to the town several months before. There were people everywhere -- most dressed in the hometown colors of green and white, but a rare few -- looking as lost on campus as the Mulders themselves -- in the brown and gold of the visiting team.

Mulder had ducked into the student union to get a campus map, whereupon William insisted he buy all three of them something supporting the hometown team. Lily opted out, but William and Mulder walked out each in a brand new ball cap, the brims stiff and flat -- in addition, William was carrying a big foam finger emblazoned with the number 1 and the gruff face of Michigan State's Spartan mascot, Sparty.

"It's this way," Mulder said, consulting his map and pointing south, and they set off following streams of people headed toward the stadium which sat in the middle of campus.

The day was delightfully mild, and while the sun shone, there were fat clouds everywhere that would cover it as soon as you were at risk of overheating. There seemed to be tailgate parties set up at increasing concentrations the closer they got to the stadium, the air thick with the scent of grilling meat and tinny stereos playing the home school's fight song.

There were frat boys throwing a football back and forth every thirty or so feet, and crowds of coeds sipping beer from green Solo cups, hovering around games of corn hole and beer pong, laughing while they clung to each other like the last few Cheerios floating in a bowl of milk.

Mulder stole a glance at Lily, who looked at them wistfully. School had just started here at Michigan State and the week before at UVA, and Mulder could tell his daughter was fairly heartbroken about not being able to attend.

Mulder pulled up short and Lily and William both stopped several steps past him and turned to look at him expectantly.

"One sec," he said and walked over to a large tent wherein an alumni organization was selling hot dogs and brats to raise funds. He bought three bratwurst and a couple of sodas and walked them back to his kids, hands full and pockets overflowing with napkins and little packets of ketchup and mustard.

He nodded toward a low stone wall that ran along the length of one of the sidewalks and they all sat down and ate sloppily, ketchup plopping to the sidewalk that they leaned over so as not to spill on their clothes. William was of course done first and snapped open his soda, slurping from it happily.

"They call it pop here," he said, raising his can and giving his father a cheeky smirk.

"No one cares, Billy," Lily said, wiping her lips delicately with a napkin and setting the last quarter of the brat on the wall beside her. "I'm stuffed," she declared.

Will happily scarfed the rest of her sausage and Mulder was about to suggest they start moving again toward the stadium when a frisbee glided through the air and scuffed to the ground at their feet. Lily jumped off the wall and picked it up, looking around to find its owner, who was trotting toward them in droopy cargo shorts and an overlarge school shirt that said "I BLEED GREEN."

Mulder shook his head as Lily pulled back and winged it back toward the guy, sailing it in a perfect arc into his waiting hands.

The kid smiled at her, teeth and all.

"Nice arm!" the kid said, giving her one more charming look before trotting back toward his friends who were waiting further across the Diag that cut through the center of campus.

Mulder glanced at Lily who was wearing a small but fading smile.

He stood, balling up the napkin and sausage detritus. He turned to Lily impulsively.

"You want a beer?" he asked her.

She almost blanched and gave him a queer look.

"A beer?" she asked.

"Yeah," he said, "you're a college kid now, no reason you shouldn't enjoy a cold one before a football game like all these other coeds."

Lily gave him a suspicious look just as Will piped up, "I want a beer."

"No," Mulder said, cutting off any complaints with a sharp look and then he walked over to a fraternity tent and talked for a moment to the kid that was manning the keg. After a few words, he handed over a few bills of cash and returned to his kids, handing Lily a dripping plastic cup.

He took a sip of his own cup and inclined his head at his daughter.

"Not the best," he said, while she took a tentative sip.

She smiled over the rim of the cup but kept her eyes on the ground.

"Tastes like college," she said, and Mulder couldn't help but smile.

XxX

"Hey Frisbee," Lily heard from several feet to her right.

She stood up from the drinking fountain in a nook of the stadium in between lavatories, and used her wrist to wipe her mouth dry.

The guy who lost his frisbee at her feet while they were eating before the game was standing only yards away, a small cocksure smile on his lips. Lily tilted her head at him.

"I thought that was you," he went on.

She nodded awkwardly and stepped away from the drinking fountain so the person behind her could drink.

"I think you're in the wrong stadium," he said, and when she looked at him in confusion, he smiled kindly and pointed at her shirt.

She'd donned a UVA sweatshirt for the game out of a sense of loyalty or rebellion (she wasn't sure which, if she were being honest) and she only realized when they stepped onto campus how much it actually made her stand out.

"This isn't the UVA game?" she said mock seriously, "God, I took a left heading into Charlottesville and I guess I should have taken a right." The comment earned her a chuckle and a genuine smile. "Guess the extra ten hours in the car should have been my first clue."

The guy took a few steps toward her and held out his hand.

"Travis," he said by way of introduction, and she shook his hand politely. It was warm in hers, and his grip was firm but brief.

"Lillian," Lily said, almost forgetting to introduce herself with her cover name.

"That's pretty," Travis said, and Lily could feel herself blushing, feeling awkward that it wasn't really her name. "So you go to UVA?"

She nodded. "Deferred for a semester while my folks moved here." Her father had told her to stick as close as she could to their actual stories when telling people their covers in order to keep it all straight.

"Cool," said Travis. They stood there awkwardly for a moment.

"I should get back to my seat," she said, "halftime's almost over."

People were streaming back into the seating areas, and she could hear the marching band keeping tempo as they marched off the field.

Travis shoved his hands into his pockets and for a moment looked slightly bashful.

"Yeah," he said, turning away and taking a few steps, before turning back. "Hey, you want to hang out sometime?"

Lily thought to herself that just about anything sounded better than having to spend one more night at home playing Hearts at the dining room table.

"Sure," she said, and Travis pulled out his phone and handed it to her.

She put in the number of the phone that Darlene had given her and felt only a little weird entering "Lillian" in the name box.

When she handed Travis back the phone, he used his other hand to lightly touch her arm.

"Hey, it was nice meeting you," he said.

"You too," she smiled and wandered back to her seat, trying very hard to keep a smile off her face.

XxXxXxXxXxX

"So..." Scully started, not sure how to broach the subject, other than just to spit it out, "Lily wants to know if she can go 'hang out with a guy.'"

She was sitting at the dining room table sipping on an iced tea, the dew of condensation slippery and cold on her fingertips. She was feeling pendulous and heavy, the high of the second trimester given way to the rolling agony of the third. Her husband, as she had suspected he would, looked suddenly aghast.

"She... what?"

"She got asked out, Mulder, and would like to know if it was okay with us if she went."

William came breezing through the kitchen then, opening up the fridge door and hanging in front of it, blankly staring at its contents, unimpressed.

"Pick something or don't, Will," Mulder said testily to his current youngest, "but please stop letting all the cold out of the fridge."

Will grabbed a soda and stood while the fridge door closed on its own behind him.

"That's Billy to you," he said, mocking insult, and made his way slowly out of the kitchen, staring at Mulder who affectionately reached out as he passed and messed his red curls into an orange soda froth on the top of his head.

"You need a haircut," Mulder said, and Will lifted his nose, shaking his hair out with dignified hauteur.

"So do you," the boy said and left the room.

Scully chuckled. "Don't take it out on him," she said.

Mulder shook himself and turned back to her.

"Take what out on him?"

"That your daughter is growing up and you're not ready. You look like you did the night she went to prom with Derek Smead."

Mulder looked completely affronted.

"He didn't even come to the house! He just had the limo honk and she ran out the door. You didn't get any pictures! Who does that? No self-respecting gentleman. I honestly still don't believe he's a real person."

Scully chuckled again. "And she left him at the dance after an hour and took the limo with five friends to the Sonic drive-in. She's got a good head on her shoulders, Mulder."

"I know she does."

"So what do you think? Is it safe to let her date?"

"I don't like it."

"I didn't ask if you liked it. I asked if you thought it was safe."

Mulder blew out a raspberry. Scully knew that he was thinking the same thing she was -- they'd let Will hang out with a few new friends so long as he was careful. Lily arguably had more common sense by nature of her age (and her gender, thought Scully). She would take precautions and employ the minimal tradecraft Mulder and Scully had taught her.

"What do you think?" Mulder asked her.

"I think she's 18 years old and we're lucky she even ran it by us. If she were away at school, she'd be making these decisions for herself."

Mulder's shoulders slumped.

"As long as she's careful," he finally said.

"I'll give her some condoms," Scully muttered, an offhand remark.

"Scully!" Mulder blanched.

"I just wanted to see the look on your face," Scully laughed.

Mulder shook his head and turned to walk out of the room.

Scully was still chuckling minutes later.

XxXxXxXxXxX

"Hey Frisbee," said a voice from behind her.

Lily turned to see Travis standing several feet away in the middle of the footbridge. He was wearing black flip flops, a pair of long khaki shorts and a navy blue polo shirt. His hair -- dark tousled waves, cut short but shaggy -- was poking in all directions out of a  university ball cap, which, she was relieved to see, was pristinely white without a yellowing band of sweat or scuzz. His face looked freshly shaved and he was smiling.

"Hey yourself," she said, and took a step toward him.

He reached into his pocket as she approached and pulled out a ziplock sandwich bag, filled with a gritty grey substance. She took it with some hesitation.

"Is this... a bag of oatmeal?" she asked.

He colored and put both hands up.

"Okay, so: I was going to bring your flowers, but then I thought you know what would be cute? Flour . So I went to our pantry and I'm looking at this giant bag of flour and I'm like what the hell is she going to do with a giant bag of flour? And then I saw the oatmeal and thought -- well, we're meeting on the footbridge, we could feed the ducks! ...So I brought you oatmeal. Bread is bad for ducks."

Despite the lengthy diatribe, Lily laughed. "It was nice of you to think of the ducks," she said.

"Well," he said, and walked with her to the railing of the footbridge, which crossed the Red Cedar River. "The bag itself is multipurpose. If you think it'd be fun, I thought we could rent a canoe later and go down the river?"

"What does that have to do with the bag?" she asked, leaning over the railing and looking down into the tannin-tinted water. A cluster of ducks, trained to anticipate food, swam quickly toward them.

"We can put our phones in it," he said, leaning into her shoulder a little. "I myself have been through the gauntlet of canoe training at Camp Quitcherbitchin as a young lad, but you're an unknown quantity, Frisbee. What if you dunk us? I aim to save our electronics."

Lily laughed again, charmed despite herself. She opened the baggie and threw a handful of oats to the waiting ducks below, which scurried as fast as they could swim for the feast. Lily offered Travis some, and he took a handful and cast it out. They fed the ducks for a minute or so of comfortable silence.

Finally, Lily asked: "Camp Quitcherbitchin?"

Travis smiled.

"Sleep-away summer camp up north. I went every year. It's actually called Camp Nageesh, but some of the counselors were somewhat less than tolerant of complaints, so the campers called it Quitcherbitchin.”

Lily chuckled. "Canoes, huh?"

"Plus sailboats, swimming and archery. I refuse to divulge which I have a higher level of competency in, in case you're some kind of polymath with a competitive bent."

"You aren't one of those guys who can't stand it when a girl is better than you at something, are you?" Lily asked.

“Are you a polymath with a competitive bent?” Travis grabbed another handful of oatmeal and threw it toward a mother with a brood of ducklings that were having trouble getting into the mix.

“I’ve got some game,” Lily said, arching an eyebrow that would have made her mother proud.

"In that case," he said, turning toward her. His eyes were a mossy green, like her father's. He  gave her a small smile, “I look forward to being outmatched."

"Well," said Lily, intrigued. She scattered out the last bit of oatmeal and, blowing some of the grit from the bag, put her phone into it and handed it to Travis for him to do the same. "Let's see what you're made of, Paddles."

XxX

"We seem to be drifting a bit to starboard," Lily called over her shoulder. Travis had taken the backseat ("Do you mind if I steer?" he'd asked). They'd managed to board and push off okay -- the bored-looking livery attendant having given them minimal instruction, but held the craft as they both lifted themselves gingerly aboard.

"I'm aware of that," said Travis, his voice a little tense for the first time.

"You said you were steering," she teased him. They were rapidly making for the opposite shore of the river, the canoe swinging sideways with the current.

"I'm aware of that too," he said back, and then a moment later, she felt the canoe sway radically, followed by a splash. She grabbed the side of the craft for dear life and then swung her head to look behind her. Travis had jumped out of the canoe and was now holding it by the triangle at the stern with one hand, paddle in the other; halting their momentum, which had been about to take them into a bramble of cedar branches hanging low over the water.

"Oh my god!" Lily squeaked. "Are you okay? Did you fall?"

"I jumped," Travis said, "If you headed home with a rat's nest of cedar sprays in your hair, you might not go out with me again."

"And they say chivalry is dead," Lily said, setting her oar down on the bottom of the canoe.

"Will you go out with me again?" Travis said hopefully, and the smile he flashed her made her want to say yes, but instead she teased:

"Too early to make that call."

"This water is really cold, Lillian," he said, and turned, pulling the canoe behind him into the water upstream and back toward the livery.

"It looks it," Lily said. "If I do go out with you again, let's stick with something land-based, huh?"

Travis threw a grin at her and kept trudging, clearly trying his best to keep the craft steady so she didn't fall in herself. She checked her pockets briefly for their phones, which she'd offered to hold on to, and watched him. The river was relatively shallow -- he was a tall guy and the water was only soaking the cuff of his shorts.

"Your parents should call Camp Quitcherbitchin and get their money back, Travis," she said, canting her face up to the sun and closing her eyes briefly. She shrieked when the canoe suddenly lurched to one side. She grabbed the side and looked at her date, who had stopped and was wearing a mischievous grin. He was still wearing the dorky orange life jacket that they'd been required to don, and the whole situation made Lily start laughing.

"Laugh it up, fuzzball," Travis said, turning again to continue the trudge back to base. "I'll have you know that I learned how to canoe on a lake. I forgot to account for one variable."

"The current?" Lily asked.

"The current," he admitted.

They made it back to shore and he helped her out of the canoe, explaining to the still benumbed livery worker that they wouldn't be back, but still throwing a soggy five dollar bill in the tip jar. After retrieving his flip flops from the bottom of the small boat, he offered to take Lily to the campus Dairy Store for ice cream.

"Your campus has a Dairy Store?" she asked him curiously.

"This is Moo U, Lillian," he explained, steering her a few blocks from the river to a large brick building beyond the main engineering hall. "This street is Farm Lane. We have cattle."

Once inside they reviewed the offerings, and Lily noticed that they had a flavor for every university in the Big Ten conference -- even their arch rivals. About which he announced, "I'll buy you anything but the Maize & Blueberry. I like you, but even I have my limits."

Once they had their cones (she with Boilermaker Brownie and he with Hoosier Daddy ("basically strawberry," he explained)), they settled onto a picnic table in the shade.

"So," Travis said, licking a drop that had melted onto his knuckle, "why'd you end up deferring this semester?"

Lily swallowed the bite in her mouth without chewing. They had prepared cover stories but she hadn't yet needed to use hers. Stick with the truth as much as you can , said her father's voice.

"My dad got a job here and my mom is pregnant. She was on bedrest for a while and needed help."

Travis was looking at her expectantly, clearly waiting for her to elaborate, but she didn't -- continuing to nervously lick her cone. After a long moment of waiting, he kindly plowed ahead, asking her about her major and telling her about his. He was a sophomore, from a town in the northern part of the state, and she found him inherently easy to talk to and interesting, and wondered, idly, if that was because he really was interesting or if she were just starved for company and attention.

When they finished up, they threw away their napkins in a nearby trash can and stood looking at each other, only a little awkwardly.

“So... “ Travis started, “still too early to make the call?”

She smiled, remembering what she’d told him in the canoe about going out with him again. “I like your chances.”

He smiled back and she felt a little thrill. “Lillian, will you go out with me again?” he asked.

“Dry land stuff?”

“The driest.”

“In that case, yes.”

She was still feeling the soft kiss he'd given her cheek hours later as she sat around the dining room table, fielding invasive questions from her father and trying to avoid her mother’s eye.

[maggyme13]

Old Lady Part 10

Here the links to the previouse parts :) 1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9

Happy looked down towards your hands, you had sneeked around his waist. Your head layed on his back, and you listened to his calm heartbeat.

"I asked Chucky if there is one of the doorms left for me to stay in  tonight."

He turned around with a frown on his face.

"Don´t look at me like that. You need to have a night of your own and do what you always do after a party."

"Milli-"

"You are sharing your dorm with me the whole time. You never thought about yourself these past days. You need this. You need to release steam. You almost killed Juice today because you are loosing control. And don´t worry. There is a whole clubhouse full of bikers between any intruder and me. Please Hap. Enjoy yourself - for me."

"I will try."

He hugged you tight and kissed you on your forehead.

"Come on, lets get ready. I want to see what you brought. Hulk didn´t want to tell me."

"You will like it."

You waited for him to get ready and leave the dorm himself.

As soon as the door closed after him, you took the dress out of the bag and started to get ready yourself.

After a quick shower, you put your hair into big curlers and started to finish  make up.

It was a decend one, so no one would mistake you for a sweatbutt or croweater.

Your  hair dried , you  put on the dress and heels.

After a quick check, you released the hair, enabling it to flow around your head and shoulders in big waves and curls.

With a pounding heart, you entered the mainroom and walked towards your brother.

Happy and Kozik sat at the bar, diskussing something you couldn´t understand.

"So, what  you think? Am I allowed to join the party or do I have to hide in one of the dorms?"

Both their heads turned towards you.  Kozik´s had a smile, Happy´s a frown.

Why ?

"Lookin´ beautiful sweatheart. Am I right brother?" Kozik asked his brother.

"Yeah. Hope I don´t need to kill a brother today. But I like it. Though the skirt could be longer."

"Longer? It´s already reaching my knees. "

He only cocked an eyebrow on your little outburst.

"Hulk said it looks good and  aint not to short." She pouted."No muffin for you next time."

"Ohh, sure you don´t want to take that back Happy? Last chance."

The blond biker laughed.

"You wearin something beneath that?" Your brother asked again.

"Nothing. Naked like the day I were born", You answered cooly, starting to get pissed.

Earning a deep glare by a breathless brother.

"Jesus. Who do you think I am ? A whore? Of course I am wearing underwear beneath the dress, and I will put a pair of shorts on, befor the sparty starts. I aint a Sweetbutt. You should really know me better."

Anger was visible in your voice.

Does he really think , with everything going on, I would walk around dressed like a whore?

"I am always wearing something beneath." with these words you walked away, not wanting to get in an arguement with your brother tonight. You really wanted to relax, you deserved it.

You headed towards the door. But when you reached out for the doorknop, you remembered the promise given to Hulk.

You looked around, searching for the hughe biker.

Maybe he´s outside?

You  opened the door and peeked outside.

It was already 7pm and the party would start soon.

Hulk lend on one of the ringpoles.

"Sometimes I hate my brother." You sighted. "Can you believe he said the skirt should be longer.?"

"Na. Its long enough. Don´t listen to him. He´s just worried. I think you look beautiful."

"Ohh thank you. I know why you are one of my favorites.So, do you know who will be here tonight?"

"As much as I know, only Samcrow, the five of us and maybe five Nomads. And the usual Croweaters, Sweatbutts and wifes of course."

"Just a little party then. Thank god."

"Jepp, just a little one. So if you want to crash, there are just a fiew witnesses." he laughed.

"Who told you my gameplan for tonight?" You answered with a smile on your face.

"What would I do without you ?"

"Right now? Probably trying to kill your brother because he had probably killed the mohawk boy earlier."

"Probably."

Both of you sat quietly next to each other for some minutes, watching Oli and the other prospects starting the BBQ,.Then the first Nomad turned into the parkinglot.

"Let´s head back inside. Your brother should be sorry by now" He winked and pulled her with him.

"He should. I told him he will never ever get a muffin again.", YOu answered with a little laugh in the voice.

"If not. I will happily take his." Was his answer, bevor heading inside the clubhouse.

"I bet"

Once back inside, Hulk joined his brothers at the bar.

"What are you doing Juice?"

He looked up startled and surprised. "I -uhm- I am checking the cams, to make sure they are working correctly. And I am arranging a private server, so we can save the records for some time. You know to check afterwards if someone was there to try something. Usually they don´t record you know" He answered shy.

"Please tell me you wount be sitting here this whole evening, watching these screens." You looked ad him sternly.

"Why do you look angry all of the sudden? No, the prospect and Scar will look at the screen. The Laptop will be over at the bar."

"Good. Because I don´t want you to miss the fun. Specially after your near- death experience this morning. We need to have a drink or two together and maybe a little round of billiard or cards."

He started to smile.

"-But NO Strippoker" She quickly added.

Now he looked shocked again.

"I -I- I would have never suggested that."

"I know. But these rooms have ears and we don´t want someone to have false hope or intentions, do we?"

He started to work again on his laptop. But glanced up every other second.

That didn´t get unnotices by you.

"Spit it out Juice. Do I have something on my face?"

"No. I, well you look good today. Not that you look bad the other days. You looke beautiful there to, but- " He frowned."-I should shut up now."

You don´t look bad yourself Juicy.

"You broke our IT." Tragger laugh behind you. "But he´s right. Ya looki´ georgeouse tonight doll. Wouldn´t kick ya off my bed ."

He held out a beer bottle,you greatfully accepted.

.-.-.-.--.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-..--.-..--.-.-.-.-.-.--.-.-.---..-

The evening was fun. Everybody forgot the things that happened for a little while.

Booze and beer seemed to flow endless. You played billiard and darts against half of the Tacoma and SAMCROW bikers. Sometimes winning, sometimes loosing.

The party weren´t even nearly the end, when you noticed your brother leaved for his dorm, a Sweetbutt flung over his shoulder.

I knew you would follow my suggestion. Have fun ,you deserve it.

You were in the middle of a staring contest with Juice ( one you would clearly win), when Chucky came over. Looking a bit worried.

"Whats wrong?" Juice asked him.

"Well. One of the Nomads puked on the bed in the dorm I readied for you ,Milli, and it all soaked . Your things as well."

"So you are telling me, the place where I wanted to crash isn´t any more?"

He nodded in shame.

"You can sleep in my dorm. I can crash on one of the couches." Juice imediatly stated.

"No."

"What- why?"

" I will not occupy your room and have you crashed on one of these couches." You stated stern.

"It´s ok."

"No either we both sleep in oyur dorm or none of us. And don´t argue with me on this."

"But, what about your brother. I don´t want to die." He squeaked.

Ok now he is paniking.

"Juice. What do you think what upset him more. Me sleeping in your dorm, as well as you, or sleeping in the main room on the floor?"

He frowned.

"Exactly. He will be more pissed if I sleep on the floor in the mainroom. So do you have an shirt I could borrow to sleep in?"

You had already turned and walked towards the dorm.

"Yer comin?"

The young biker handed your an old shirt and a pair of boxers to change into.

"You can change, I will grab something to drink for tonight, you want something yourself?"

"Yeah. You can bring me a bottle of water. I will change in the meantime."

He nodded and left the dorm.

When he returned. you had occupied his bed and were snuggling the sheats.

"I will turn around so you can get changed yourself."You told him sleepy.

You felt the matress dip, when he laided down next to you, but he cept as much distand as possible. Nearly falling of his own bed.

"Juice. I wont bite. Get YOUR ass in YOUR bed, the way it belongs. Or do I need to help you?"

It took some seconds, but he decided to listen to his guest.

"Happy will kill me if he sees us like that."he mumbled paniked.

Calm down boy.

"Juice for your own sake, stop worrying and start sleeping." You mumbled tired , starting to get angry.

"And don´t you dare to apologise now."

Not long after, both of you  were fast asleep.

A tickle on your back woke you up, a few hours later.

The  frown  on your face deepened when you felt weight around your waist, that weren´t there befor.

What the...Juice?

And indeed , Juice had snuck his arm around you and were snuggling his forhead against your head, letting his breath tickle you.

It was to dark in the room for your eyes to recognise any features, but he seemed to be relaxed.

This feels-good. I wonder....

A stir behind ended your thoughts, making you stopt breathing for a second fearing the young biker might wake up.

But he only snuggled deeper into your back. His upper body was now pressed against you.

With a smile and a warm feeling in the chest, you slipped  back into a deep and restorative sleep.

Part 11 is online

[junker-town]

6 college basketball streaks in serious jeopardy

Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

A strange season in college basketball has the potential to get a whole lot stranger in the months to come.

The 2019-20 college basketball season has already featured two No. 1 teams losing on their home floor to unranked mid-major opponents, more losses by top five teams in the opening two months of a season than any other, and more different No. 1 teams before January than any season before it. With all this being the case, it feels right that some of the sport’s most strange and notorious streaks appear to be in serious jeopardy this season.

Let’s look at six streaks you should have an eye on as we start to dive into the second half of the season.

The West Coast Streak

In news that might shock anyone born after the turn of the century, three of the 10 NCAA tournaments that were played in the 1990s were won by teams that resided West of the Rocky Mountains. The news might stun a teenager because the last of those three — Arizona’s upset of Kentucky in 1997 — also marks the final time that a team from the West Coast (regardless of what your definition of that area is) has claimed college basketball’s top prize.

The assumption at the beginning the last decade was that when this streak was mercifully brought to an end, it would be one of the traditional Pac-12 powers who would be bringing solace to the West Coast. After all, it had been since UNLV in 1990 that a West Coast team that wasn’t UCLA or Arizona had cut down the nets.

Gonzaga emerging as a consistent and legitimate powerhouse has changed that thinking in recent years, especially after the Zags advanced all the way to the national title game in 2017. Now we’re in the middle of a season where not only is Mark Few’s team No. 1 in both human polls. but where San Diego State is one of two remaining undefeated teams and is No. 3 in the current NET Rankings, the grouping tool the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee uses to seed the Big Dance.

It isn’t just Gonzaga and San Diego State though. Oregon, which also participated in the 2017 Final Four, is a legitimate top 10 team with a national Player of the Year front-runner in Payton Pritchard. After last year’s down season, Arizona has bounced back with a vengeance and has the type of electric guard play necessary to play deep into March and perhaps beyond. Stanford has also been one of the sport’s most pleasant surprises, and currently sits at No. 16 in the NET.

This “down” season for college basketball is shaping up to be a resurgent one for the West Coast.

The Rutgers Streak

No team from a power conference has a longer active streak of missing the NCAA tournament than Rutgers, which hasn’t heard its name called on Selection Sunday since all the way back in 1991. Perhaps even more embarrassing is the fact that Rutgers hasn’t even finished with a winning record in a season since 2005-06. The Scarlet Knights were a truly abysmal 16-76 over their first five seasons in the Big Ten.

This season has been beyond different for Steve Pikiell’s team. After taking down No. 20 Penn State on Tuesday, Rutgers sits at 12-3 overall and 3-1 in conference play, the best start for the program since its Final Four season of 1975-76. While predicting that the Scarlet Knights are going to repeat history and head to Atlanta this April might be a bit ambitious, there is reason to believe that they’ll be partying in Piscataway when the NCAA tournament bracket is revealed.

In addition to the win over Penn State, Rutgers has league W’s over Wisconsin and Nebraska, and a 20-point victory over a nationally-ranked Seton Hall team. The Scarlet Knights are No. 21 in the latest NET Rankings, a spot which would almost have them comfortably in the field of 68 if the NCAA tournament started tomorrow.

The Pat Chambers Streak

Even with the previously mentioned loss to Rutgers, Penn State is off to an awfully impressive start itself. The Nittany Lions are 12-3 and own four wins over top 50 Ken Pom teams in Georgetown (46), Alabama (50), Maryland (7) and Iowa (20).

Penn State’s most recent appearance in the NCAA tournament came in 2011, when they earned a 10-seed and lost in the first round to Temple. Following that season, Ed DeChellis stunned everyone by announcing that he was leaving his alma mater to take over as the head coach at Navy. Pat Chambers was named the program’s new head coach days later, and remains the man in charge of Nittany Lion basketball at the present moment.

What makes Chambers’ tenure at Penn State unique is a fact that he’s looking to change. This is Chambers’ ninth season in Happy Valley, and he has yet to bring the Nittany Lions to the NCAA tournament. There is no other active coach in Division-I who has been with a power conference program for more than five seasons who has yet to take that program to the Big Dance.

The NIT championship run in 2018 was ... something, but with this rock solid start and with a bonafide star in Lamar Stevens playing in his final college season, it certainly feels like the time is now or never for Chambers and the Nittany Lions.

The North Carolina/Cincinnati Streaks

The four longest streaks of consecutive NCAA tournament appearances — Kansas (30 years), Duke (24 years), Michigan State (22 years) and Gonzaga (21 years) — all seem certain to live on until at least 2021. The two programs that are tied for fifth on that list, however, are both swimming in much choppier waters.

North Carolina and Cincinnati have each been to nine consecutive NCAA tournaments and have done so with fairly little drama. If either extends their respective streak to 10, it will have happened after a considerable uptick in uneasiness.

Despite climbing as high as No. 5 in the national rankings back in November, North Carolina actually appears to have the rockier path to traverse of these two teams. The Tar Heels are 8-7 overall, they’re just 1-3 in ACC play, and they’ve lost four of the six games they’ve played without Cole Anthony, the star freshman who many believe may not return to the team even after his right knee injury has healed.

If you’re looking for comfort from Roy Williams, you’re not going to find it. The longtime UNC head coach — who is still stuck one win away from passing Dean Smith on college basketball’s all-time wins list — recently referred to this Tar Heel team as “the least-gifted” squad he’s ever coached, and then stuck by those words days later.

Cincinnati’s situation is different. The Bearcats returned a fair share of production from the team that won 28 games and the AAC tournament a year ago, but it lost head coach Mick Cronin to UCLA. New head coach John Brannen (formerly of Northern Kentucky) has clashed some with star Jarron Cumberland, and the rest of the Bearcat team has struggled to adapt to a new system that is wildly different from the one they’d gotten to know under Cronin. As a result, the team sits at 9-6 overall with ugly losses to Colgate, Bowling Green and Tulane.

There’s still time for both Cincinnati and North Carolina to get their acts together, but the window for that evolution is certainly closing. At the moment, the Bearcats are 75th in the NET and the Tar Heels are a lowly 108th.

The Clemson Streak in Chapel Hill

One of the most well-known facts in college basketball is that despite both programs being charter members of the ACC, Clemson has never beaten North Carolina in Chapel Hill. The official record is 0-59, a remarkable run that has included more than a handful of absolute heartbreakers that have combined to form a streak of futility that seems to defy every law of averages.

The two teams will meet inside the Dean Dome on Saturday afternoon, a location where North Carolina has now lost consecutive games to Georgia Tech and Pittsburgh. If this is the year that one of the ACC’s most famous streaks comes to an end, it’ll be an especially bitter pill for UNC fans to swallow considering that this is also one of the worst Clemson teams in recent memory. Brad Brownell’s Tigers are coming off of a solid win over NC State, but they’re still just 7-7 overall and losers of six of their last eight. A win Saturday and Clemson fans won’t care at all about those other numbers.

The Big Ten Streak

Despite a whopping eight trips to the Final Four, Tom Izzo’s lone national title remains the run Michigan State made in 2000 where Mateen Cleaves carried Sparty to its second NCAA tournament championship. Even with a fairly astounding seven appearances in the national title game — Indiana in 2002, Illinois in 2005, Ohio State in 2007, Michigan State in 2009, Michigan in 2013, Wisconsin in 2015, Michigan in 2018 — no team from the Big Ten has won it all since.

The top contender to break the Big Ten’s two decade long streak of futility is, of course, Michigan State. The Spartans are the only undefeated team remaining in league play, and are finally playing like the team that was a near-unanimous preseason No. 1. But if Izzo doesn’t capture that ever-elusive second national title, there’s still hope for the Big Ten.

Maryland is a top 15 team with one of the best inside-outside combinations in the country in Anthony Cowan and Jalen Smith. Ohio State looked like it might be the best team in the league over the first month and a half of the year, and is hoping to work its way back to that place once it gets fully healthy. Michigan has also cooled off a bit in recent weeks, but is still the only team in the country to knock off Gonzaga, something the Wolverines did decisively in the Battle 4 Atlantis championship game.

By every measure but one, the Big Ten has been one of the two or three best conferences in all of college basketball over the last two decades. The league will take another run at trying to rectify that one outlier in a couple of months.

[thebuckblogimo]

So what’s the meaning of twenty 70-year-olds getting busted for excessive noise?

October 23, 2017

Hey, you can’t make this stuff up.

It happened during a reunion of my college buds known as the “grill rats,” mostly 1969 and 1970 graduates of Michigan State University, who lived in either Abbot Hall or its sister dorm, Mason Hall, during the mid ‘60s.

In those days, “the grill,” with its booming jukebox and smell of sizzling burgers, was our hangout. It connected the two dorms at the midpoint of the complex’s basement. It’s where we went for Coke and chips. To read the State News. To play bridge. To search for romance. To act silly in a Marx Brothers sort of way.

On the first night of the reunion, after dinner and drinks on the edge of campus, the entire crew assembled in a room at the East Lansing Marriott. With a cooler of beer, a box full of adult beverages and WiFi speakers, we had come ready to party. And were promptly banished to the lobby by hotel security when someone down the hall complained about the noise.

Oh, yes, that old gang of mine proved to be still capable of hi jinx during reunion weekend. We did a group hug and jumped around to Hava Nagila at our Saturday afternoon tailgate party. One guy (guess who) sang the MSU fight song...in initials, with choreography provided by a former MSU cheerleader. And there was the collection of buzzed alums singing “The wheels on the bus go round and round...” aboard the shuttle from the hotel to a sports bar to watch Michigan State play Minnesota on TV.

But there were more than a few serious conversations and contemplative moments during the weekend, to be sure--times when it got a little emotional for me and for some of the others who had traveled to campus from locations as far away as California, Oregon, Nevada, Minnesota, Illinois, Virginia, Florida, even Hawaii.

During our “tailgate,” as we kibitzed, mugged for photos and played corn hole, I glanced around the room and tried to envision this collection of baby-boomers-turned-senior-citizens as they looked when they were 18-year-olds more than 50 years ago.

Across the room stood my first Abbot Hall roommate, once described by a fellow dorm-mate as a “rolling ball of facts,” and who I recall wearing Levis and Bass Weejuns--without socks--that Sunday afternoon in the fall of 1965 when I first met him in room 271. During his adult life he would go on to qualify for Jeopardy (yes that Jeopardy) four different times. From him, more so than from any other person I have ever known, I learned intellectual curiosity.

Then I noticed the guy, who when I first laid eyes on him coming out of our floor’s community bathroom, I whispered in mild shock, “Sockamutha!” That’s because he had the broadest, most muscular chest I had ever seen on a young athlete up to that point in my life. He would go on to become an Academic All-American football player and eventually earn his doctorate in chemical engineering. I have never met a more disciplined person--academically, athletically, in every way I can think of--in my entire life. As time went on I was always observing him, hoping that some of whatever he was made of would rub off on me.

Then my gaze turned toward my soul brother, the guy with whom I shared an abiding love of Motown music and with whom I discussed many an essay by syndicated newspaper columnist Sydney Harris while walking to business letter writing class. He would go on to become my lifelong financial advisor. But beyond that I have discussed more of life’s significant issues--regarding man’s inhumanity to man, politics, cities, crime, education, love, family--with him than with any other person I can think of.

And in front of the blow-up Sparty near the buffet table stood my two roommates during senior year at Water’s Edge Apartments, where we had the best parties, with wall-to-wall people, in all of East Lansing. One of them elevated my appreciation of James Brown, as well as doo wop music, to a whole new level. While the other taught me practical things that I was eager to learn: how to make a bed with “hospital corners,” how to snow ski, how to pack for my first trip on an airplane and much, much more.

But at the same time, as I looked around the room, knowing what I know, I pondered the fact that life has not been without its struggles for these old Spartans. Among the group we’ve suffered the deaths of spouses, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, heart trouble, business failure, fire and other serious challenges.

Now, about that question at the top of this page. It actually comes from an inside joke, stemming from the time that two of the grill rats returned to their dorm room after class, only to discover that its entire contents, including their personal possessions--bunks, desks, chairs, stereo, clothes, shoes, etc.--had been removed and arranged in the snow outside.

“What’s the meaning of this?” one of them asked in wonderment.

At some point during the reunion I asked myself the same question about the vibe I felt throughout our mid-October grill rats reunion. And here’s where I come out:

When I look back on the early part of my life, I realize that there were three major influences on me before I entered into adulthood: my parents, the neighborhood kids I grew up with and, finally, my Michigan State friends.

And today, whoever it is that I am, whatever it is that I do, I carry around a little bit of each one of those Mason-Abbot people inside of me every day. Thanks, guys.

[g9trip]

Weekend in Budapest | Expedia Viewfinder

With its fascinating museums, hip ruin bars, and vibrant arts and culture institutions, Budapest, Hungary’s capital city, is an excellent destination for a trip. Even if you only have a weekend to take it all in, you can experience the best the city has to offer. Take a look at this suggested itinerary and ideas for spending 2 or 3 days in Budapest and how to make the most of your visit.

Budapest

Friday Evening

When you arrive on Friday, you’ll have 72 hours in Budapest. You can have dinner and drinks at Borbíróság, a quiet restaurant with an exclusive Hungarian menu and an extensive wine list. There’s plenty to choose from, such as tuna tartare, pork tenderloin, and lemon tart, and you can dine on the terrace to take in the views of the city. This is a good place to have a few drinks to get ready for your night.

After dinner, you can get a taste of the city’s nightlife with Hungarian wine tasting tours. During the tour, you’ll sample some of the city’s best wines and learn all about the wine history in Hungary while traveling through the Jewish Quarter. You could also book a Danube dinner cruise to see all the landmarks and architecture illuminated by lights. There are different options for boat cruises as well, ranging from quick dinner cruises to party boats with live music and drinks.

Saturday Morning

On Saturday morning, you’ll have 48 hours remaining in Budapest. Start with breakfast at Portobello, a specialty coffee shop nestled on a cobbled downtown street. Complete with airy high ceilings and oversized windows, Portobello has a modern charm and a variety of coffee and breakfast dish options to start your day right.

After breakfast, take some time to stroll around the city and check out its famous landmarks. You should see Matthias Church, a late-gothic Roman Catholic church in the Castle District. Nearby, you’ll find the statue of St. Stephen, Hungary’s first king, and other statues of notable Hungarian leaders. You could also visit Heroes’ Square, which features statues of the 7 chieftains of the Magyars and the Memorial Stone of Heroes.

For lunch, head to Rosenstein for a fusion of Jewish and Hungarian cuisine in the family-run restaurant. The casual space has delicious, simple foods, such as catfish fillet and chicken and dumplings.

Matthias Church

Saturday Afternoon and Evening

After lunch, you can work off your meal with a stroll through the Budapest Zoo & Botanical Garden. Great for kids, the zoo is home to hundreds of animal species in naturalistic habitats, as well as a vibrant garden with beautiful blooms.

On Saturday night in Budapest, you’ll have plenty of options for how to spend your night. Start with dinner at Dobrumba, a trendy 7th district restaurant with Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine. The unique menu features dishes inspired by Italian, Spanish, Moroccan, Lebanese, Georgian, and Turkish flavors, such as piri piri chicken and patatas bravas.

After dinner, experience some of Budapest’s famous nightlife in the trendy ruin bars. Throughout the city, you can find quirky and unique ruin bars that combine historic charm with eclectic decor and specialty cocktails. If you want to explore more of this popular attraction, you can book a ruin bar tour to see the city’s top spots.

Sunday Morning

On Sunday morning in Budapest, you’ll have 24 hours left for sightseeing. Begin with breakfast at Szimply, a cozy breakfast spot that serves breakfast all day in a courtyard of a historic downtown building. The trendy restaurant serves inventive dishes with unexpected ingredients, such as sweet potato cream, curry-cilantro sour cream, and quail eggs.

After breakfast, head to St. Stephen’s Basilica, the largest church in Budapest. You can tour the church to see views of the city from the cupola and one of the country’s greatest treasures, St. Stephen’s mummified right hand. The church hosts concerts and musical programs as well. If you’re in the mood for some shopping, you can visit the historic Central Market Hall and explore the goods on the offer.

For lunch, visit Café Kor near St. Stephen’s Basilica. The popular café serves traditional Hungarian dishes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, so you have flexibility in when you arrive for your lunch.

Sunday Afternoon and Evening

After lunch, take some time to experience Budapest’s history with a trip to the House of Terror. The museum was created to house exhibits related to fascist and communist regimes and their impact on Budapest and the world.

On Sunday night in Budapest, you can take in any experiences you may have missed. Start with dinner at Divin Porcello, a stylish Italian restaurant with small plates, charcuteries, pasta, and cheese boards.

After dinner, you can relax before your trip home with a soothing thermal bath. Many of Budapest’s famous thermal spas are open late into the evening, such as Szechenyi Thermal Bath, and they often host seasonal “Sparty” nights with a DJ, pool party, and cocktails.

You could also travel to Buda Castle and Fisherman’s Bastion to see the beautiful views of the city’s landmarks at night. Fisherman’s Bastion is the best place in the city to check out views of the Szechenyi Chain Bridge and St. Stephen’s Basilica.

Gellert Thermal Baths

Ready for the perfect weekend getaway?

Now that you have a weekend itinerary for an exciting trip to Budapest, it’s time to start planning your getaway. Discover other things to do in Budapest and take a look at deals on Budapest vacations on Expedia to save on your trip!

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[viraljournalist]

College basketball predictions - Will UNC complete the Duke sweep?

New Post has been published on https://viraljournalist.com/college-basketball-predictions-will-unc-complete-the-duke-sweep/

College basketball predictions - Will UNC complete the Duke sweep?

Duke and North Carolina have their second meeting of the 2018-19 season on Saturday (6 p.m. ET, ESPN), and ESPN.com’s team of college basketball experts weighed in on whether the possibly still-Zion-less Blue Devils would earn the split or fall victim to the sweep. Our experts also made their picks for the much-anticipated Michigan-Michigan State rematch (8 p.m. ET, ESPN) and told us what they expected to be the most compelling conference tourney of the season.

Jump to score predictions for the weekend’s top games

It’s Duke/North Carolina, Part II. Tell us how this is going to go if Zion Williamson plays … and if he doesn’t.

Jeff Borzello, college basketball insider: I’m not sure it matters on Saturday. I guess it’ll be closer if Zion suits up in Chapel Hill, but I think North Carolina wins either way. If he doesn’t play — and Mike Krzyzewski’s comments make that appear the likelier scenario — I think the Blue Devils are really going to struggle. They’re a thoroughly average team without Zion and one that got steamrollered by North Carolina in Durham just two weeks ago. The Tar Heels dominated Duke in the post behind Luke Maye, Cam Johnson and Garrison Brooks, and that seems likely to happen again. At the other end, Duke hasn’t gotten consistent offense from anyone not named RJ Barrett, which could be an issue against a team that loves to push the tempo and put up points.

Coby White and UNC face RJ Barrett and Duke on Saturday. Can the Tar Heels pull off the season sweep? Lance King/Getty Images

Myron Medcalf, senior college basketball writer: Tough question. You can’t rely on the analytics for everything, but Duke without Williamson is a team that falls in love with the 3-pointer (42 percent of its attempts compared with 35 percent with Williamson available) and relies on Barrett’s straight-line drives. The Blue Devils are just easier to figure out and that’s what I think North Carolina will do (again) in a second win if Williamson doesn’t play because, as Jeff said, Duke isn’t really built to stop UNC in the paint without Williamson. If he plays, then Duke wins. Why? Because he’s the ultimate playmaker who fixes the flaws that were exposed (defense around the rim, post production, poor shot selection) in the first game.

Here’s your updated source for all of the latest on the NCAA tournament bubble.

Virginia, Duke and North Carolina all have top-seed cases … if they take care of business this week.

1 Related

John Gasaway, college basketball writer: This is going to go swimmingly for Duke if Zion plays. He changes the Blue Devils for the better on both offense and defense. That first part requires no further explanation, one surmises, but on D the freshman is a disruptor and a highly mobile wall of shot-changing menace. Fueled by Williamson’s return and, no less, by a desire to even the score after the game in Durham, Duke wins if Zion comes back. If not, this does not go well for the Blue Devils. Winning in Chapel Hill is a taller order than recording a home victory against Wake Forest.

Fill out your bracket for a chance to win $10,000 in Amazon.com gift cards and a trip for two (2) to the 2019 Maui Jim Maui Invitational! Fill out your brackets

Jordan Schultz, insider/analyst: Duke is winning this game, with or without Zion. As poorly as the Blue Devils played in a near upset loss to Wake, they still received tremendous production from Barrett, whose 28 points helped him pass Marvin Bagley III for most ever by a Duke freshman. Assuming Williamson can’t go, look for Coach K to once again run everything through Barrett, isolating him on the wings with flat sets that allow him to work out against a terrific Heels defense. We should expect more from the uber-talented Cam Reddish as well, who already hit Carolina for a career-high 27 points in Durham. If Zion does play, however, expect a heavy dose of post-ups and highlight-reel plays considering this will be the only time the prodigious future No. 1 pick ever plays in the Dean Dome. Either way, an angry Duke team wins what should be an excellent game.

And then immediately after, it’s Michigan vs. Michigan State from East Lansing. You expecting a Spartans sweep?

Medcalf: I just want to be there. The Breslin Center is just a wild place, especially when that bass player in the school’s band gets going. It’ll be crazy this weekend. And I think that will be the difference in a game that will feature two teams hoping to get healthier before the NCAA tournament arrives. I just don’t see Cassius Winston, who has been a hero and Wooden Award contender despite his ongoing bout with knee tendinitis, falling short in this season finale against his team’s chief rival. Ain’t happening. Michigan State gets the sweep.

Borzello: Man, this is a tough game to read. First, it doesn’t sound like either team is going to be healthy. Charles Matthews has missed two games in a row for Michigan, and John Beilein didn’t sound optimistic that Matthews would play on Saturday. For Sparty, Nick Ward is still hurt and Kyle Ahrens also missed the last game. Michigan State goes through stretches where it struggles to score due to its lack of options, and that theoretically will be magnified against an elite defensive unit like the Wolverines. That said, this is basically the same team that went into Ann Arbor — with Matthews playing 28 minutes — and beat Michigan by seven two weekends ago. In that one, it was all Winston. He had 27 points and eight assists and outplayed his counterpart, Zavier Simpson. I think that happens again and I think Michigan State gets the sweep.

Gasaway: Yes, the Spartans will sweep Michigan after going 0-2 against Indiana. How perfect is that? In the first game, Michigan State did what you’re not supposed to be able to do against the Wolverines. Tom Izzo’s guys attacked in the paint and it worked beautifully. No Big Ten opponent has scored as efficiently against Michigan as did the Spartans (1.23 points per possession), and no Big Ten opponent has shot anywhere near as well inside the arc (68 percent). True, Michigan State took better care of the ball than UM, which we can safely class as a true freak occurrence. Still, I like MSU’s chances in East Lansing.

Schultz: I do not. Michigan was uncharacteristically locked up by the rugged Spartans defense in Ann Arbor, going 7-26 (26.9 percent) from 3 while amassing just six total assists. True, Sparty is elite on both ends — top 10 in offensive and defensive efficiency, per KenPom — but the Wolverines have more firepower and once again will not have to worry about Ward, who continues to be sidelined with a fractured hand. The X factor for John Beilein & Co. is Matthews, if he plays. When he plays well and is confident shooting it, Michigan becomes much harder to guard, because Simpson and Jordan Poole are both deft at creating their own offense as well. Matthews — who went 1-8 with 4 points in the first MSU game — must discover his stroke in this one. I’m betting he will, and in turn, that the Maize and Blue steal a tight one on the road.

You are forced to watch every minute of one and only one 2019 conference tournament. Which one are you picking, and why? (Ivy League mini-tournament not allowed):

Borzello: No naps? I’m going to be at the Big East tournament, so I’ll leave that one out. If literally every second has to be watched, I think you have to avoid leagues with double byes. If you choose the ACC, you’re saying you want to watch Wake Forest or Georgia Tech or Pittsburgh twice in 24 hours. The Big Ten actually has interesting lower seeds, but still, no. The SEC has you grinding through two games involving Texas A&M or Missouri or something. Meh. I’ll go with the Big 12. There’s a ton at stake heading into Kansas City and fascinating storylines abound. Oklahoma, TCU and Texas all still have work to do to feel comfortable heading into Selection Sunday, so those opening-round games are interesting. Does Kansas bounce back after seeing its streak end on Tuesday night? Does Texas Tech stay hot? Can Iowa State stop losing? Will Kansas State start getting national respect? I’m all-in on the Big 12 next week.

Medcalf: Oh, man. Borzello’s pick makes sense. The Big 12 is always fun and it’s in Kansas City, where you can just walk across the street to the Power and Light District and party with Iowa State fans after the games. But I’ll take the SEC. I mean, Tom Crean in the opening round, where Georgia might score 98 points (win over Texas on Jan. 26) or 39 points (Wednesday loss to Missouri)? He might punt a basketball into the stands before halftime. Mizzou’s Jordan Geist taking 30 shots because why not? Can Billy Kennedy save his job? All of that before we even get to LSU, Kentucky and Tennessee? I’ll take it. I’d love to watch everything that happens at the SEC tournament, including Frank Martin and Bruce Pearl possibly pulling off upsets and giving us the best postgame interviews of the week.

Gasaway: Is this even up for discussion? Absolutely the Pac-12 tournament. One, no one in the conference not named “Washington” or, possibly, “Arizona State” (and even that second one is very iffy) is getting anywhere near the NCAA tournament without an automatic bid. These teams will all be playing like hungry carnivores, not like the “let’s just stay healthy” locks in certain other major conferences. Two, these completely off-bubble teams can, paradoxically win a game or possibly even two if they do get in the field of 68: Utah’s offense is excellent and the two Oregon teams are both playing quite well without anyone much noticing. Three, UW’s Matisse Thybulle is possibly Division I’s most entertaining player who’s also healthy. Last thing, 12-team tournaments feel like less of a slog on the first day than your true mega-leagues. I’d love to be there with my Maui Jim sunglasses celebrating the conference of champions.

Schultz: This is relatively easy for me, if hardly conventional, but I love the OVC, mainly because Belmont and Murray State each have All-America candidates. We all know about Racers all-world point guard Ja Morant, who is arguably the best player — and highlight — in the country, save for Mr. Williamson. But don’t sleep on Bruins senior hybrid forward Dylan Windler, a sterling offensive machine who can shoot it (43.2 percent 3s), make a play off the bounce and post up as well. Windler (21.1 PPG, 10.3 RPG, 2.5 APG, 1.4 SPG) is one of the most efficient all-around players in the nation and a legitimate pro prospect as well, as one NBA scout recently noted to me. To be sure, a Belmont-Murray State OVC final is the matchup we all deserve.

ESPN.com expert picks for this weekend’s top games

(Lines, published as they become available, from the Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook.)

2018-19 college basketball predictions leaderboard

ESPN.com experts Last week SU Season SU Last week ATS Season ATS Jeff Borzello 7-3 51-19 4-5-1 38-28-4 Jordan Schultz 8-2 51-19 6-3-1 38-29-3 John Gasaway 8-2 51-19 4-5-1 31-33-6 Myron Medcalf 7-3 50-20 4-5-1 29-36-5

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Though my favourite form of travelling is with a backpack and a craving for adventure, every year I book onto a week-long package holiday to Spain. This is not something you’ll hear hardened travel bloggers admit very often! Package holidays spent almost exclusively within a hotel complex are usually my idea of a holiday nightmare. But yet Medfest is one of the highlights of my year! Why you ask? Well imagine your standard package holiday but then compare it to one where you are with 50 or so of your friends playing pool games on giant inflatables and having late night parties in a spa. (Pool conga anyone?!) Not only that but you are surrounded by 700 people who share your passions and hobbies (in my case this is dance.) Sounding a bit better isn’t it? I’ll go on to explain why I make ‘Medfest’ my annual tradition!

What is medfest?

Medfest is a week-long Ceroc dance holiday spent in a 4* hotel  in Calpe, Spain. Daytime activities include relaxing by the pool or on the beach, playing beach volleyball, playing water polo on giant inflatables, attending dance classes or playing games by the pool such as giant jenga, not forgetting Tim’s incredibly funny ‘pool exercise classes!’ There are also day trips you can go on if you feel so inclined but I have to admit this is one holiday where I chose relaxation over exploration! Trust me, this is unusual for me, but I guess everyone needs some chill time! The evenings are spent dancing into the early hours – my other favourite hobby alongside travel and photography. For the most part this is Ceroc and Blues dancing but there are also opportunities to dance West coast swing and Zouk!

What is ceroc and why do I love it?

For some of you, my last sentence may sound like gobbledegook. In a nutshell Ceroc is a partner dance which draws influence from lots of different forms of dance including jive and salsa. West coast swing is more about fancy footwork and zouk about swishy head movements and impressive body rolling! Here are some videos I found on you tube which show you what I mean…

Ceroc                                  Zouk                          West coast swing                      Blues

I personally started dancing about 9 years ago when I was volunteering in Ghana. My colleague was a salsa dancer and introduced me to local classes but I was so frustrated that I couldn’t partake properly in either hiking boots or flip-flops so I booked myself straight onto a salsa lesson once I returned to the UK and never looked back! For years salsa was my dance of choice and I danced it all over the world including in Malaysia and Australia! But over time, my love for salsa waned a little. The dance scene in Cardiff declined after lots of young people left to get married and start families and it just wasn’t quite the same. I missed dancing like crazy but when I moved into my new home, I discovered Ceroc – conveniently a  few minutes walk from my home! As soon as I arrived, it was like stepping into a big dancing family! I was made to feel so welcome and it wasn’t long until I was spending most of my time with my dancing friends and going away on weekends with them dancing all over the UK! My passion for dancing is as strong as ever and now I dabble in all of the dances listed above plus several others!

There are many reasons I love dancing so much! For starters it’s the sort of exercise I like – exercise which doesn’t FEEL like exercise! I can burn calories quickly without feeling hard done by for having to spend hours down the gym! It’s creative – I’ve mentioned before about my creative streak. This is one of the best things about Ceroc. It’s a lot more flexible than dances like salsa so I can get creative and add my own twist and style to the moves! But mostly I love how sociable it is! I’ve met hundreds of new friends through ceroc who live all over the country (and some abroad!) We meet up on dance weekenders and competitions and it’s like we’ve never been apart! Ceroc attracts people from all walks of life so my dance friends are by far the most diverse group of friends I have and I love this! Variety is of course the spice of life!

Dean and Rachel at the UV party

As I mentioned before there are loads of dance weekend events. We frequently take over Pontins in the UK (Ok not the classiest of venues) but it is a whole lot of fun! From chalet parties (imagine 60 + people squeezed into tiny chalets partying the night away) to the wide variety of dance lessons to the non stop dancing available from midday until 7am each morning! And yes I frequently stay dancing until 7am! I am a self-confessed dance addict after all! We also have several competitions throughout the year as well – in fact I have the Welsh Champs coming up this weekend! Wish me luck!! Between these weekend events and holidays, there are classes in most towns across the country. Find your local class here.

Okay so more about Medfest…

Accommodation

Held in the beautiful 4* Diamante Hotel with some people staying in surrounding apartments it’s a great venue. Just minutes from the beach and restaurants – Bar Tango and Bar 78 were our favourites! Bar Tango does super cheap cocktails -4 euros and I recommend the sea bass at Bar 78! Not forgetting the amazing ice-cream stalls! Creme Brule flavoured ice-cream anyone? The food was occasionally a tad random in the hotel restaurant but I certainly never went hungry!

Daytime dancing

Every afternoon there is dancing by the poolside with some great DJ’s. But you can also attend dance classes – everything from ariels to ladies styling to beginners zouk! The teachers do an amazing job!

Pool parties 

Even for the most restless of sunbathers there is plenty to do in the afternoons around the pool! From music quizzes to poolside giant jenga to ‘pool fitness classes’ with Tim. I admire how much energy he put into each class and he always had everyone in a fit of giggles! Our addition to the poolside fun this year was our giant inflatable pool polo! Imagine a swimming pool filled with 30 or so giant inflatables! Add to that plenty of people using supersoakers to get us even more wet! Trust me I didn’t need the extra help – I fell off mine often enough! Sadly not many of the inflatables survived the week – most were decapitated!

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  Sparty

My Absolute Medfest highlight! At 1 am after a few hours of dancing, the DJ decks are set up inside the luxury spa and the champagne is free-flowing! It starts off feeling very glamorous and civilised sipping champagne and eating chocolate truffles inside the jacuzzi but as the music gets cranked up so does the energy, and before you know it you’ll be doing the conga through the freezing cold plunge pool!

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UV party 

Another highlight of the week. Everyone gets dressed up in fluorescent clothes and body paint and head to the beach. There’s the flash mob where dancers suddenly launch into a dance routine on the beach front and this is then followed by an outdoor dance party under UV lights. There’s something really lovely about dancing outdoors! It does draw quite a crowd from interested passers-by so it’s also a great way to spread the word about Ceroc!

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Fancy dress final night 

This is the night generally most looked forward to and talked about! Every year there’s a new letter theme for the fancy dress – this year it was ‘P.’ So we all rocked up dressed as punks, police, power rangers and even Piccachu! Theres a competition for the best outfit so everyone goes all out! My personal favourite outfits were friends of mine, Linda and Terry who home crafted piñata costumes – it must have taken ages but it was so effective! We then all hit the dance floor though I learnt the hard way how hot it can be dancing in a pink spiky wig!

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  So why should I consider going?

If you are a Ceroc dancer already you will be surprised how many people you will know when you get there (I certainly was!) What could be better than a weeklong pool party with your friends?

If you’ve never danced before, you should still consider going! There are beginner lessons on all weekenders and holidays and people are super friendly and helpful towards beginners. And it doesn’t matter if you don’t know anyone – you soon will! My roomie this year didn’t know anyone at all and now she’s made so many friends she’s coming to visit us all in Cardiff this weekend for the competition!

I can not recommend Ceroc dancing as a hobby enough! It keeps you fit, is heaps of fun and you will make so many new friends from all walks of life! The basics of Ceroc are also easier to pick up than other dances so it’s accessible to anyone – yes even if you reckon you have 2 left feet!!

So if you’d like to find more, visit www.ceroc.com

Please feel free to comment below! have you tried Ceroc or want to give it a whirl? (Pun intended!) Or have you been on any holidays similar to this but catering for different hobbies? I’d love to hear all about your experiences!

      An alternative holiday - a dancing pool party in Spain - why Medfest is my annual tradition! Though my favourite form of travelling is with a backpack and a craving for adventure, every year I book onto a week-long package holiday to Spain.