Suggested reading for the drive to and from the Target Center

Interesting opinions on Iraq
Francis Fukuyama
Christopher Hitchens
Fred Kaplan

and Garrison is still on the President's case:
"A peacock walked past the window as I ate breakfast last Saturday at an old country inn in Albuquerque, N.M., his great fan of bejeweled feathers open wide, following a peahen who was pecking around the gravel as if he didn't exist. The peacock appeared to be infatuated, shuffling around, waggling his rump, craning his bright blue neck, the little doodads on his head bouncing around rather fetchingly, and the peahen kept scratching in the dirt, looking for grubs. Think of Elvis in a silver jumpsuit doing "One Night" at the Sands and the audience studying the dinner menu and trying to decide between the salmon and the baby ribs. Finally he got her cornered up against the window and then he stretched the great fan open to the max and he strutted and stuck out his chest and waved the tail feathers. The lady appeared interested for a while, and then she slipped past him and he deflated in about three seconds."

Finally...the Star Tribune's predictions:

Today • Target Center
GAME 1 • 6 P.M.
Pelican Rapids Vikings (28-2)
Why they'll win: The Vikings had been looking forward to this season due to a talented group of seniors. The leader, Taylor Huseby, is the school's all-time leading scorer and rebounder.
Why they won't: Pelican Rapids isn't as adept in a slow-tempo game. Both losses came when the Vikings only scored 50 points.
Benson Braves (22-4)
Why they'll win: Balance, balance and more balance. The Braves are tough to shut down because all five starters can score. They have gone 44-8 over the past two seasons.
Why they won't: Their only other state tournament appearance came in 1964, so stage fright might be an issue. The Braves also don't have a lot of offensive punch off the bench.
GAME 2 • 8 P.M.
Braham Bombers (28-2)
Why they'll win: Simply the class of the field. The two-time champions have two of the best players in the field in the Dahlman brothers (Isaiah and Noah). Michigan State-bound Isaiah is the state's all-time leading scorer with 3,293 points.
Why they won't: They showed they can be beat this year, but their setbacks also came to two of the better teams in the state (Eden Prairie and Minneapolis Henry). It will take a superb effort for a 2A team to pull off the upset.
New London-Spicer Wildcats (25-5)
Why they'll win: The Wildcats will work hard on the defensive end of the court. They only allow 55.9 points per game. Todd Herman, a 6-4 forward, can carry a team.
Why they won't: Fatigue could set in on offense because the Wildcats will have to play with a lot of energy on defense. They also aren't a great three-point shooting team, which could prove detrimental when trying to keep pace with Braham.