ok, false start, now to finish

as befits a conference which is the D1 equivalent of a deadbeat taking out a payday to payday loan to survive...well the Big West got got the Dollar Loan Center - aproporo - a match made in heaven.

1) The DLC has really shown itself well, absolutely a perfect fit for teh Big West, the arena is superb and 6000 is the right size, great sight lines. food/bevs overpriced but not as overpriced as Honda.

2) Parking. $15, gouging as usual, but can easily part across at the village (more to come) and walk from the residential neighborhood, which has walking trails, so found after shelling $15 once, went for the alternate - more liquor money.

3) Hawaii really stands out with fans, brought a couple hundred students (spring break), the band, cheer dance major league, and the most support put the Cali schools to shame

4) having said that, LB is by far the best represented of the Cali schools in terms of fans, band, and the dance/cheer - hate to bag on other schools - Fullerton didn't even have cheerleaders until last night and no band. Davis band was just awful, jr high stuff and they have a full marching band?. Bake had a good following, at least brought a band and cheerleaders. UCSB had nada. UCR had no band - really dissapointed in the overall Cali representatives - cmon this is the conference showcase. Hawaii & LB though have been first class all the way and have carried this event in terms of showing like a D1 school should show, everyone else isn't close. Can we please get a 3rd trumpet player though

Make no mistake the Beach band/cheer was 1st rate, still wish they'd bring back 'Superstar' but that's a generational thing

was hoping Hawaii would win, just to maximize the atmosphere for which LB-Hawaii would have shown the best in spades.

5) The DLC/Henderson has to be commended on this, they have a mini fan experience, basic, but put out the effort, they had a solid rock band & big-time stage, before the semis last night.....sadly no one was really watching, they were playing to about 6 people, and they were really good. the DLC had to be wondering, we signed up this conference for this? lol. But they have been first rate for this arena opening

6) Again, fantastic arena for this event, just would be better if had something like it in SoCal.

7) It's next to a pretty decent entertainment/reastaurant village lots of options, and Green Hills Casino (won there to offset the strip losses). Not the Strip, but actually the Strip is a bit sad anyway. IT really is a good fit, and there's always the Strip close to venture to. Talked to a Lucille's bartender at the village who had been with the chain 20 years, so familiar with Long Beach scene.

8) have to compliment CDM on demeaner. After watching Turner, Les, and then Pasterprick last night. Have to wonder if part of the win can be attributed to the Nachos taking a que from their coach and losing their 'cool', as this team keeps their cool. At one point 2nd half, Pasterprick after pulling the Belgium guy for some mistake, just chased after him to the end of the bench and back, back and forth flapping his wings the guy was ridiculous, totally embarrassing if you were a SB fan, I thought he might actually punch or strangle the kid. Les, like Turner, argues every damn call, just more dapper.

9) we survived Syphers, what a blowhard, two flops, that technical almost haunted us. the inbounds to Cobb, the guy jsut seems to lose control, I think he called one foul as a make-up call. Having said that, the refs didn't call much first half, with which are injuries probably a good thing. Praying for Vinovich tonight, he's immune to coaches antics, he's seen it all.

10) I can see the DLC going after the WCC when they get the chance as well.