Maybe there is a hint of irony in the fact my streak started in New Orleans and ends there.

In 1982 I saw North Carolina beat Georgetown in the NCAA Championship in the Super Dome and I made every Final Four until this year.

My bosses, and I certainly agree with them, made the decision not to apply for NCAA Tournament credentials because to be approved we had to sign away our rights to any photographs or video we shot.

I’ll never forget that first tournament though. Dean Smith vs. John Thompson.

Players like Patrick Ewing, James Worthy and a freshman named Michael Jordan.

With a little more than a minute to play Sleepy Floyd gave Georgetown a 62-61 lead but Smith called for Jordan to answer and he did. The Hoyas didn’t take a time out and pushed it up court but in the torrid pace Fred Brown passed the ball to Worthy with two seconds to play and Smith had his first National Championship.

As it turned out it was the perfect year for me to not attend. My wife is still sick. In fact we are sitting in the hospital waiting to be discharged for the fourth time this year. That doesn’t include the eight days as an out patient at the Cleveland Clinic.

The good news is we’ll watch the Final Four together.

Rachel is a huge sports fan. Probably more so than yours truly.

This Final Four looks great on paper, but the games aren’t played on paper.

One thing is certain, it looks like it is Kentucky’s tournament to lose. They are loaded with talent, play hard and well coached.

I’ll miss seeing it, but not too much.

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