As a wise guy, or should I say "thee" Wise Guy, it should not surprise you that I correctly picked this year's Final Four. Picking Kentucky and UConn is not much of a stretch, and most of you had them as well. Butler, we all know about Butler; they were that underdog team that lost in last year's championship game to a team I can happily say is nowhere near Houston.
Now, that takes us to VCU. I know most people thought it was either a hospital wing or maybe the sound a person makes when he sneezes. Not me; let me explain. I met Shaka about 14 years ago. Back then, he spelled his name Chaka. I was attending another Senior Gold Rush with my father, brother, and a cousin. They are big golf fans, and even bigger Lee Trevino and Chi Chi Rodriguez fans. Back then I was neither a fan of golf nor liked the idea of missing a weekend of football, but figured if my dad drove two hours to visit, I could suck it up and attend the event. It was held annually in the early fall at the El Dorado Country Club just outside Sacramento.
I had my VIP pass when I entered the hospitality tent. Food, football on the tube, and free booze. What more could a wise guy ask for on a fall afternoon? That is when I met Chaka, or Shaka. Back then he was giving out free samples of his soon-to-be famous BBQ sauce. We chatted awhile, and it was great to find out he grew up just outside of my hometown of Fremont, CA. He spoke of his two passions: BBQ sauce and basketball. Little did I know he would be famous at both. Back then, Chaka was young and bald ... just like he is today!!!
As I left the tent, I tasted the sauce. "MMM, great sauce, Chaka!" He smiled and said, "That's what I'm going to call it, 'MMM' sauce." I smiled back and told him that was smart. He then told me that was his name. I thought I should remember his name, as Shaka Smart might become famous one day.
I ask of all you hoop junkies, as you get ready to watch the Final Four tonight, to please open up a jar of MMM sauce for your BBQ, put on some music (Chaka Khan), and cheer for an old friend and his team, Virginia Commonwealth University. Go Rams!!!
"Wise Guy"
That's a cool story.
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