Have you ever been in the middle of a great round of golf when, all of a sudden, you snap-hook a drive out-of-bounds costing yourself a chance to post your best score ever?

Well, if you play the game of golf on a regular basis, I'm sure the answer to the above question is a resounding "yes"!

But the great thing is, if you're just playing a friendly round with your buddies on a Sunday afternoon, all you have to do is take a "mulligan" and hit another drive.

What a concept, eh?  You make a horrible blunder that negates every great shot you made prior to that moment, only to receive a "do-over" that can make the costly mistake immediately disappear and get you back on the track toward personal triumph. 

But what if we could use "mulligans" in other aspects of our lives?  What if we could take back things we say or do that impact our own lives, or the lives of those surrounding us, and get a do-over to make things right again?  If nothing else, it would certainly make the relationships with our significant others a whole lot easier, wouldn't it?

Just as certain, in sports there are several personalities and organizations that could benefit greatly from mulligans on decisions they make, words that they say, and actions that they perform.

With that in mind, the following are ten random sports figures/organizations that would like to use a mulligan in 2005:

The University of Oklahoma

The Oklahoma Sooners finished the 2004 regular season undefeated and were the top ranked team in the BCS,  thus earning the right to play in the Orange Bowl for the National Championship.  Unfortunately for the Sooners, the USC Trojans and Auburn Tigers also finished the season undefeated and because of that, the title game was not without controversy.

The Sooners had an opportunity to prove to the entire sports world that they definitely belonged in the title game instead of Auburn.  Instead, they laid an egg and were blown out by USC, 55-19.

If the University of Oklahoma could use a mulligan, I think they would step aside and allow Auburn to play the role of sacrificial lambs to the vicious predators in maroon and gold.  Then, and only then, could they make the claim that they really deserved National Championship recognition.

The University of Auburn

If Oklahoma is going to be included in this list, then the Auburn Tigers should not be exempt either.  After all, Auburn had the enviable opportunity to completely discredit this bogus BCS formula.

If the Tigers would've stepped up to the plate and blown out Virginia Tech in the Sugar Bowl last January, the National Championship would've been at least somewhat disputed and perhaps the NCAA would've taken a closer look at the success, or lack thereof, of the BCS.

I think if Auburn had a mulligan, they would've come out of the gates hungry against the Hokies instead of harnessing the attitude that they were simply playing the "National Consolation-ship" game.

The National Hockey League

Entering 2005, the NHL was in the midst of a four-month long lockout that jeopardized the entire '04-'05 hockey season.  Instead of doing everything in their power (on both sides) to come to an agreement and save the season for fans, the owners and the labor union decided that because the two sides were so far apart, the only logical thing to do was to cancel the season.

If Gary Bettman and Bob Goodenow could do it all over again, I think they'd realize that the NHL was nothing without the fans and would've worked much harder to come to a deal much sooner.  But then again, considering the owners barely budged when they did finally come to an agreement, I could be wrong about that.

The University of Arizona

The Arizona Wildcats were leading the top-seeded Fighting Illini of Illinois by 15 points with four minutes to play in the 2005 Midwest Regional Final.  They were seemingly on their way to the Final Four to meet Louisville in a National Semifinal game. 

But instead of continuing to be aggressive on both ends of the floor like they had for much of the game, the Wildcats began playing tentatively and allowed Illinois to erase the deficit and eventually win the game in overtime. 

If coach Lute Olson and Arizona were given a mulligan, I think they'd simply turn back the clock to the final minute.  They led 80-72 at that point before allowing two huge three's and committing two costly turnovers that ultimately cost them the game.  Perhaps Lute would've called a timeout and warned his team that the game wasn't over and they had to finish before they could make their travel plans for St. Louis.

Matt Millen

There are an endless supply of reasons why Matt Millen would want to utilize a mulligan, but I'll narrow it down to one -- draft day.

Millen used the 10th overall pick to select WR Mike Williams from USC.  Not even taking into account that Williams hadn't played football in a year and a half and had a reputation for being a bit lazy, the Lions already used their first round picks from the previous two seasons on wide receivers (Roy Williams in '04 & Charles Rogers in '03).  Therefore, the pick made little sense.

If Millen could turn back time, I think he'd look at the deficiencies on the offensive line and select OT Jammal Brown instead.  Either that or nab an impact defensive stud like Derrick Johnson or Shawn Merriman.

Larry Brown

Last year during the NBA playoffs, then Pistons' Head Coach Larry Brown was embroiled in an off-the-court controversy that proved to be a huge distraction in his team's quest to defend their NBA Championship.

Brown, whose future was already in doubt due to on-going health issues, was rumored to have accepted a job as the President of Basketball Operations for the Cleveland Cavaliers while the team he was coaching was still competing in the playoffs.  When asked to confirm or deny these rumors in numerous press conferences, Brown simply proclaimed, "if I coach anywhere next season, I'll be coaching in Detroit."  Obviously that was a lie.

I think if L.B. could use a mulligan, he would've put a halt to those rumors, even if there was an element of truth to them. His responsibility at that time should've been solely to his team.  And if he could do it all over again, I think he would've done everything in his power to ensure that was the case.

Anaheim Angels

During Game 2 of the ALCS against the Chicago White Sox, Angels' catcher Josh Paul non-chalantly rolled the ball toward the mound after an apparent inning-ending strikeout of Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski.  However, the strike-three pitch skimmed the ground before going into the mit of Paul and Pierzynski proceeded to take off toward first base. 

After a long conference and a lot of bickering, the umpires ruled that Pierzynski was safe at first.  From there, pinch-runner Pedro Azuna stole second and promptly scored the game-winning run on a line drive to the wall off the bat of Joe Crede.  The White Sox, of course, went on to win the series and eventually the World Series from there. 

I believe if Mike Scoscia could tee it up again, he'd tell his catcher to tag out the runner just in case and not allow an umpire's decision to decide the outcome of the game.

Terrell Owens

The annual T.O. "I'm the greatest innovation since the advent of television" saga took an interesting, yet predictable, turn this year when he went public with the notion that the Eagles would've been undefeated if Brett Favre was their quarterback instead of Donovan McNabb.

Those words, coupled with other malicious verbal attacks against certain teammates, left Eagles' Head Coach Andy Reid no other recourse but to suspend Owens for conduct detrimental to the team, and to then put him on the inactive list for the remainder of the season afterwards.

If T.O. was given a mulligan, he'd probably use it to give himself a raise for "speaking the truth" about McNabb and the Eagles organization, and then would go on to lead the Eagles back to the Super Bowl all by himself.  C'mon... you didn't really think I'd have the audacity to claim that T.O. would take back his ill-fated words, did you?

Minnesota Vikings

This past October, while the team was muddled in a prolonged losing streak, members of the Minnesota Vikings were caught participating in a "sex party" on a boat in Lake Minnetonka.

As it turns out, four Viking players (Daunte Culpepper, Fred Smoot, Bryant McKinnie and Moe Williams) are now being formerly charged by authorities for their involvement in this scandal.

If the players in question could exercise a do-over, they would've driven the boat far away from any other human contact so that nobody could've possibly caught them during this endeavor.  Of course, they'd also like a mulligan because, hey, who wouldn't want another chance to participate in an orgy?

Ron Artest

Coming off a tumultuous season in which Artest was suspended for the duration of the '04-'05 season for his involvement in the hideous Palace brawl in November 2004, Ron Artest had a chance for the ultimate mulligan.  He had a chance to redeem himself and begin to repair his shattered image by becoming a consummate teammate, an obedient NBA soldier, and a vital contributor to a championship year for the Indiana Pacers.

Instead, Artest has begun his "redemption year" by bad-mouthing Indiana's front office people and asking for a trade because, among other reasons, he doesn't "fit in" anymore.  Now it appears Artest is backing off his trade request... whatever!

If Artest had a re-do (and any sense in his head), he would put his NBA career on hold and make an appointment to meet with a psychiatrist on a weekly basis.  Perhaps after a year or so of good therapy and strong medication, Artest could return and become the kind of player that he has the potential to be.

**************************************************

I'm sure there are many other sports figures that could've used a mulligan this past year.  That's where my fellow bloggers come in.  Besides those that appeared on this list, who else in the sports world do you think needed a mulligan?  And why?

 

 

After further review... the replay system must be revamped!

Now don't get me wrong, I am a huge proponent of instant replay.  Since it's re-inception (is that a word?) in 1999, it has done much more good than harm. 

The changes that were implemented from the first go-around have all been positive.  The coach's challenge rule assured that the game wouldn't be slowed down by constant stoppages.  The inside-two-minute rule allowed coaches to save precious timeouts while virtually guaranteeing that the right call would made in the most crucial game situations.  And the mandate that says officials are only allowed 90 seconds to review a play... well, two out of three ain't bad!

Yet despite all the forward movement in the attempts to take full advantage of today's technology, the system can still be improved.

Two aspects of the advanced, yet still flawed replay system that MUST be looked at closely by officials in the off-season are the "down by contact" rule and the "non reviewable" plays.

Down By Contact

How many times has your team been screwed by this ruling?  Think about it for a minute.  You're sitting in your lazy-boy with a bag of semi-stale corn chips resting in your lap, an ice cold brewsky in one hand and your dip-of-choice in the other.  Suddenly, just as it seemed that 'ol Mo was slowly slipping away, your team picks up a loose ball and rambles for a game-changing TD that would immediately put them back in control.  You're elated... screaming at the top of your lungs over this implausible turn of events.  

Soon after, a voice echoes through your television speakers that quickly turns your stomach worse than the stale corn chips and spoiled dip that you've been devouring for nearly an hour.  It's the referee proclaiming, "there is no fumble on the play, the runner was ruled down by contact on the field."

And just like that, all the elation is taken away.  The worst part is, because it was ruled down by contact, the play can't even be challenged because the whistle blew, making anything that happened after the fact irrelevant.

Now let me preface by saying that I understand the premise.  The whistle blows signifying the end of the play, and subsequently, players stop playing.  Therefore, I can certainly understand not allowing any return of a fumble that was initially ruled down by contact to stand.  But let's be honest, when a football is lying unattended on the turf (whistle or no whistle), no one stops.  In fact, if anything more players insert themselves into the scrum in an effort to secure the loose ball for their team.

So here's what I propose...

If a fumble is ruled "down by contact" on the field, the play should still be subject to a coach's challenge or a replay from the booth.  For that matter, a pass that is ruled incomplete on the field should be subject to reversal as well (almost forgot about that one, basically the same principle).  However, anything that happens after the recovery (or catch) would not be allowed for the simple reason that everyone stopped playing after they heard the whistle.  Instead, the beneficiaries of the challenge would simply receive the ball at the spot of the recovery (or catch).

Admittedly, it's not a perfect solution.  But in my opinion, it's better than the system that's currently in place.

Non Reviewable Plays

A perfect example of a "non reviewable" play took place last Sunday night in Green Bay.  With the game tied 13-13 late in the fourth quarter, the Packers had the ball first and ten at their own one-yard line.  Favre handed the ball off to Samkon Gado who was immediately drilled in the end zone by Lions' Defensive End Cory Redding.  In a desperate attempt to avoid a safety, Gado shoveled the ball forward out of the end zone and down to the ground. 

After a bevy of committee discussions, the officials ruled that Gado was guilty of intentional grounding in the end zone.  Holding was also called on the play.  Both penalties would seemingly result in a safety for the Lions but just to be sure, Detroit declined the holding penalty and accepted the "sure thing."

Packers coach Mike Sherman proceeded to challenge the ruling claiming that Gado was outside the pocket when he "passed" the ball.  Referee Mike Carey concurred and the call, much to the dismay of Dick Jauron and the Lions, was reversed and the new ruling was an incomplete pass... no safety.

From there, it got quite interesting.  In addition to changing the safety call, Carey also ruled that the holding penalty against Green Bay occurred at the half-yard line, thus the penalty was half-the-distance to the goal as opposed to a safety for holding in the end zone.  Jauron attempted to challenge that ruling, claiming that Redding couldn't have been held outside the goal line since he was in on the play that happened inside the goal.  But Carey announced that the holding was an "unchallengeable call" and that the ruling would stand without further review.

The result - the Packers moved the ball out past the 30 yard line to gain field position and eventually won the game in overtime.

Now I'm certainly not claiming that the Lions would've won the game had the original safety call been allowed to stand.  Nor am I claiming that had the holding penalty been reviewed, the call on the field would've been reversed.  I'm simply asserting that there's no valid reason (at least in my view) why the officials couldn't at least take a look at where the holding penalty actually occurred and make the proper ruling from there.

Of course there have been several other "non reviewable" plays that have taken place over the years that could've completely altered the outcome of a given game.  And because of that, I think it's time to make all calls challengeable, as long as there is some element of uncertainty and/or controversy involved.

It wouldn't slow down the pace of the game any because coaches still have only two challenges per game, with a third rewarded only if the first two are both upheld.  Therefore I see no reason why these changes can't be implemented.

The worst that could happen is that the coach loses the challenge (and thus, an all-important timeout) and the game moves on accordingly.  The best that would happen is that an erroneous ruling would be corrected and the game wouldn't be decided by a bad call.

Again, it's not a perfect solution.  But in my opinion, it's better than the system that's currently in place.

 

 

 

This past Monday (Dec. 12), exactly three weeks after collapsing on the Red Wings' bench during the first period of a home game against the Nashville Predators, Detroit Defenseman Jiri Fischer sat poignantly behind the podium and delivered one of the most emotional press conferences in recent memory.

Among the many tears shed and words choked back, Fischer addressed his future to the media.  "Not too many people get a second chance at life like I did.  I hope to return to the ice one day," he said.

Since then, many teammates and other experts have speculated over whether Fischer should ever play hockey again.  Teammate Robert Lang even went so far as to say that if he was in Jiri's situation, he would retire.  But ultimately, the decision isn't up to Lang or anyone else who has pondered his future.  It's up to Jiri Fischer and his doctors.

In the coming weeks, the question the 25 year-old defenseman should ask himself is this ... "Is it worth it?" 

In doing so, he should consult with his family, fiancee, friends and peers.  Find out how they feel about the prospect of him playing hockey again and whether they would be in full support of such a decision.

Fischer should also look into the stories of former basketball players Hank Gathers and Reggie Lewis, who were both tragically killed while applying their craft due to cardiac arrest--the same affliction that nearly cost Jiri his life.  He should ask himself what Hank and Reggie would've done if they had been given a second chance at life.

In addition, Fischer should examine all the wonderful things he has accomplished in his brief NHL career.  He was an integral piece of the Red Wings' 2002 Stanley Cup Championship puzzle.  Many players go through an entire 15-plus year career without ever winning a championship.  Just ask Pat LaFontaine.

Finally, Jiri Fischer should examine what is really important in his life.  If his NHL career is more important to him than anything else, that playing hockey was the reason he feels he was put on this Earth, then he should throw caution to the wind and go for it.  But if the importance of family and friends supercede his passion for hockey, then it's time to call it a career and focus on taking advantage of his second chance at life.

Of course all of these factors that weigh into a decision like this are a non-issue if it is eventually revealed that doctors won't ever clear him to play.  Perhaps that would be a blessing in disguise in the long run.

But even if the decision rests solely in the hands of Jiri Fischer, the choice is crystal clear.  Hockey is a game, and whether it's now or ten years from now, eventually he will have to stop playing.  Why take the chance of having his career, and more importantly his life, taken away because of another freak occurrence?  Remember, this isn't the first time Jiri Fischer has had heart problems.  In 2002, he was diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat.

Taking everything into account, it's just not worth it.  Let's hope for the sake of Jiri and his family that one day he realizes this and does the right thing.

 

To say that the 2005 season has been one of turmoil for the NFL's version of the Chicago Cubs (the Detroit Lions) would be the understatement of the century.  And the bad news is it's only going to get worse.

Heading into the off-season, there will be a seemingly infinite supply of questions surrounding this organization.  Who will man the sidelines?  What will they do with Matt Millen?  How can they teach their talented, yet underachieving youngsters how to properly prepare for battle from week to week?  And of course, what are the most glaring needs that must be addressed in the '06 draft? (hint, hint... bolstering the O-line would be a nice start)

But one of the biggest questions going into next season and beyond is who will be under center when the Lions take the field for another promising (and most likely disappointing) season in 2006?

It has become increasingly apparent that it won't be Joey Harrington.  The former first round and third overall pick has been far too inconsistent throughout his four-year tenure in the Honolulu blue and silver to be given another chance at this point.  Sure, he hasn't had much help during that period but when you consider that more than half of the players and coaches on the team have already given up on him as a viable starting QB in the NFL, there's just no way he comes back for another year.

That brings us to Jeff Garcia.  He was brought in by Steve Mariucci because of his previous successes under Mooch as well as his vast knowledge of the West Coast offense.  Of course Mariucci is now unemployed (thanks to Matt Millen) and to be honest, Garcia has not looked very impressive in his four starts as a Lion.  I think it's obvious that his best days are behind him and I would be shocked if he was brought back next year.

That leaves us with rookie fifth round draft choice Dan Orlovsky.   The original thought behind the drafting of Orlovsky was that he would be a guy they could take their time developing and eventually either elevate to starter or backup status, depending on how the Harrington experiment panned out.  The bottom line, though, was to develop him over a long period of time and not rush him onto the field.

But here we are heading into week 15 and the Lions are sitting at a dismal 4-9 (soon to be 4-10) with Harrington holding a clipboard for the rest of the season and Garcia struggling to find a rhythm.  Therefore, it's time to throw this kid into the fire and see how he reacts.

All the coaching staff would have to do is simplify the playbook a little and take away some of the reads and checkdowns that are associated with the West Coast offense.  That way, instead of evaluating him on running an offense that may very well not be in place next year, they can evaluate him on other important NFL QB qualities like arm strength, accuracy, leadership, command of the huddle and the ability to improvise.

Based on the limited action he saw in the preseason, he showed that he possesses probably the strongest arm of the three quarterbacks in a Detroit uniform.  He also displayed an innate ability to make plays outside the pocket and throw accurately on the run.  With the athletes they have at wide receiver, this quality should produce some big plays down the field, something this offense has severely lacked all season long.

Besides, at this point what do they have to lose?  It's not like if Orlovsky performs poorly that they'll just give up on him altogether.  They'll simply realize that he needs more time to develop.  Plus, his performances in the final two games (I believe Garcia will start this Sunday) could decide the direction they take in looking for a quarterback in the off-season.  If he performs well, maybe they just look to add a veteran to hold the spot briefly until he's ready to take over the reigns.  If he doesn't, then they can look more long-term... perhaps even get into the impending Philip Rivers sweepstakes.

No matter what the reasoning, I think it's time to see what this kid can do.  It's simply a matter of Dick Jauron making the gutsy call.  Look it this way, the odds of Jauron being the Lions' head coach next season is minimal at best.  But if he puts Orlovsky in for the final two games and the kid performs well, it could be the kind of ballsy move that vaults him right to the top of the list of candidates.

Because at this point, there isn't much else he could do that would save his job.

____________________________

What do you guys think?  Should the Lions give Orlovsky a chance to start?  Or am I just an overly disgruntled Lions' fan who is grasping at straws?

 We're just three weeks away from the start of conference play in the Big Ten and one thing is for certain, the league is as deep as it's ever been.  In recent years, that has not been the case.

For the last three seasons, the Big Ten has been extremely top heavy.  Michigan State, Illinois and Wisconsin have battled diligently for league supremacy, while the rest of the schools have done their best just to remain competitive.  In fact, Indiana and Purdue are the only other schools besides the "big three" to make it out of the first round in the NCAA tournament during this period.  And they were both bounced rather easily in the proceeding round.

This season, however, expectations are high for several teams, including the last three Big Ten Champions (Illinois, MSU and Wisconsin).  As many as seven teams (yes, you read that right) could make a legitimate run at a Big Ten Championship... some more legitimate than others.

Here is how it breaks down:

The Favorites

Michigan State -- The Spartans returned four vital cogs in their run to the Final Four last season.  Junior swingman Maurice Ager and senior power forward Paul Davis have led the early charge for MSU, averaging 21.7 and 20.6 PPG respectively.  While junior guard Shannon Brown and sophomore point guard Drew Neitzel have made significant contributions as well.

The Spartans survived a brutal early season schedule that included tough losses to Gonzaga and Hawaii, along with huge wins over Arizona, Georgia Tech and Boston College.  In taking on such a difficult pre-season challenge, Head Coach Tom Izzo has prepared his talented squad for the rigors of the arduous Big Ten season as well as the competitive and unpredictable nature of the NCAA Tournament that follows.  Barring injuries to key contributors, Michigan State will be right in the thick of the Big Ten race come late February.

Odds of winning:  4-1

 Illinois -- The defending Big Ten Champions and National runners-up are back to defend their crown, and they have no intention of giving it up easily.  However, the Fighting Illini will have a tough time sledding the Big Ten slopes without the services of swingman Luther Head and point guard Deron Williams, who have since departed to the "greener" pastures of the NBA.

Illinois does return two other catalysts to last year's Big Ten Championship and NCAA Finals run... slick and speedy guard Dee Brown and physical forward James Augustine.  It will up to these two seniors to provide the scoring and leadership necessary to catapult the Illini back to the top of the heap.  But they'll need help from their young players like Jamar Smith and Brian Randle along the way if they're going to challenge for a second straight title.  So far, so good!

Odds of winning:  5-1

The Scary Second Tier

 Indiana -- The Indiana Hoosiers just might be the most talented team in the Big Ten.  With reigning Big Ten Freshmen of the Year D.J. White set to return to a lineup that already includes powerhouse transfer Marco Killingsworth, the front line looks as good as any in college basketball.  But in order to seriously challenge for a Big Ten title this year, they'll have to be more consistent.  They need to resemble the team that battled no. 1 Duke to the very end, and the one that hammered no. 15 Kentucky, and not the team that was shackled by lowly Indiana State last week.  After all, Mike Davis' job may very well depend on it.  If they can be more of the former, and less of the latter, look for the Hoosiers to make some serious noise.

Odds of winning:  7-1

Ohio State -- The Ohio State Buckeyes boast a balanced offensive attack with J.J. Sullinger, Terrence Dials, Je'Kel Foster and Ron Lewis all averaging in double figures in scoring.  But what makes this team dangerous is that this year they actually have something to play for. 

Last year, the Buckeyes meandered through a season marred with NCAA sanctions that prevented them from competing in any postseason tournament.  Their lone crowning achievement was spoiling Illinois' hopes for an undefeated season with an improbable home-court victory.  This season, with the loan scandal and sanctions behind them, the Buckeyes will look to build off last year's late season momentum and challenge for a Big Ten Championship.  Don't be too surprised if it happens.

Odds of winning:  10-1

Michigan -- Speaking of NCAA sanctions, the University of Michigan has dealt with them (and a host of other off-the-court issues) ever since the Ed Martin scandal hit the mainstream press seven years ago.  This year the Wolverines look to begin a new era, free of distractions and full of a winning attitude.  If early season play is any indication, they are well on their way to achieving their goal.   

With senior guard Daniel Horton leading a talented cast that includes PG Dion Harris, C Courtney Sims and the returning swingman Lester Abram, the Wolverines possess the skill and athleticism to compete with anyone.  The question is, can they avoid the injuries and the off-court drama that has plagued the program for the better part of the last decade?  If they can, there's no reason to believe they can't raise the Big Ten banner for the first time in twenty years.

Odds of winning:  10-1

On the Outside Looking In

Iowa -- The Hawkeyes are a solid basketball team that is well coached and doesn't beat themselves.  They possess pinpoint outside shooters in guards Jeff Horner and Adam Haluska combined with the tough, physical interior presence of PF Greg Brunner and C Erek Hansen. 

Iowa will prove to be a test for all the aforementioned teams and an NCAA berth is certainly an achievable goal for this team.  But their lack of athleticism and a proven go-to guy will likely cost them in the Big Ten race.

Odds of winning:  15-1

Wisconsin -- It's hard to believe that the Badgers could be considered pretenders going into the Big Ten season after everything this team has accomplished under Head Coach Bo Ryan.  And with three outstanding players (Alando Tucker, Brian Butch and Kammron Taylor) and an 8-1 start to build off of, it seems even more of a stretch to not include Wisconsin among the league's elite.  But as fundamentally sound as the Badgers are, they lack depth, and that could prove to be very detrimental as the season unfolds. 

If Bo Ryan can get this team to consistently play the type of tough, hard-nosed, man-to-man defense that has become commonplace for Wisconsin basketball, then perhaps the offense provided by Taylor, Tucker and Butch can be enough to give the Badgers another Big Ten crown.  But so far, they've given up over 80 points on three separate occasions.  If that continues, the Badgers will finish in the middle of the pack.

Odds of winning:  18-1

---------------------

Of course, at this point these predictions are nothing more than semi-educated prognostications.  To paraphrase what a great musician once wrote... "I may be wrong, but for all I know, I may be right!"  Come March, we'll find out.