In case you’ve been asleep at the proverbial wheel, a friendly heads-up that Villanova won the men’s college basketball national championship. The Wildcats’ Monday night beat-down of Big Blue secured the powerhouse program’s second title in three years.

“#NovaNation has another #NationalChampionship!”

Relive the aftermath in the Alamodome ✌ pic.twitter.com/ztYafxItUb

— NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) April 3, 2018

Unlike their 2016 crown, Jay Wright’s team didn’t require a walk-off from deep to complete 2018’s impressive run. This time around, Nova easily handled their championship game opponent. In “time flies when you‘re having fun” fashion, their win over Michigan officially put a stamp on 2018’s Final Four.

Call me a petty Millennial, but I want nothing to do with a Big Ten foe winning it all.

Go Nova. Go Gophers.

— Johnny Minnesota (@TheJohnnyMN) April 3, 2018

*I know they’re not as bad as Bucky, but still. 

To give a quick shoutout; Thank you, San Antonio!  You did an excellent job providing a location for the last three games (two semifinals, one final) of the bracket-busting competition. On that note, you can now hold our beer. The city of Minneapolis will take it from here:

That’s right, ladies and gentlemen. In just over one year from meow now, U.S. Bank Stadium will host what organizers have indicated could set the behemoth building’s attendance records. While February’s Super Bowl saw slightly under 68,000 fans pack into the Metrodome’s successor, the entire trio of next April’s games have strong potential to exceed 70,000 people.

While the in-game attendance should surpass the NFL’s big game, the influx of out-of-towners most definitely will not. The pigskin-related event drew more than 100,000 visitors. By hypothetically removing 40% of those tourists (preferably all Eagles fans), you’re left with the approximate amount of travelers for next April’s festivities.

When it comes to the make-up of those 60,000ish people, it’s sure to be a hell of a lot different than what we saw two months ago.

Per Rochelle Olson:

“unlike the Super Bowl, the Final Four doesn’t come with a barrage of corporate activations or ultra-exclusive events. It’s mostly out there for everyone.”

To back up that statement, Olson’s recent StarTribune article touched on this past week’s vibe in Texas’ second-most populated city. The people pleasing “up close and personal” experience was available to all. For example, San Antonio’s “interactive, basketball-themed” Fan Fest didn’t charge an admission. On top of that, unlike the recent security ridden atmosphere surrounding the Eagles and Patriots hotel stays, fans flock to their teams’ temporary home.

Michigan leaving hotel to play for National Championship! pic.twitter.com/yEGS9vdudb

— Jeff Wilson (@ESUCoachWilson) April 2, 2018

In regards to concerns surrounding next year’s Final Four, as is tradition, people won’t stop talking about the weather. The way I see it, the current stretch of snow is almost as frustrating as the fluke season that was Gopher’s 2017-18 Basketball. In my eyes, a more mentioned complaint attached to the 2019 Final Four will be the alcohol restrictions. Due to the college athlete aspect of the three games, booze isn’t readily available.

To those rattled by that news, it will be okay. The workaround to the NCAA’s roadblock is just pretending that U.S. Bank stadium is bar and you’re broke as hell:

via GIPHY

In conclusion, if the thought of checking out the 2019 Final Four flips your switch, you’re going to be there no matter what liquid is banned (if not the game, at least the festivities). In the rare event you don’t have a good time, it won’t cost you an arm and a leg. Plus, like the Super Bowl; who knows when, or if, the pinnacle of the Men’s college basketball will return to the great city of Minneapolis.

A blast from the past! Last time the Twin Cities hosted the @FinalFour wad in 1992! @MplsChamber pic.twitter.com/rDJnTA3Pto

— Jonathan Weinhagen (@jweinhagen) March 31, 2018

Johnny Minnesota @TheJohnnyMN
Minnesota Sports Fan MinnesotaSportsFan.com

When someone says there’s no such thing as over-exposure, they obviously haven’t spent a winter in Minnesota. That saying is false. You over-expose your skin during cold streaks here and mother nature will laugh while said skin loses all feeling, turns black, and falls off.

Fortunately, for my fellow proud — potentially passive-aggressive — Land of 10,000 Lakes’ residents; our state’s recent publicity spike, created by Super Bowl LII, seemed to be immensely positive (no reported skin falling off).

Outside of frigid temperatures and the background checks (or lack thereof) for some security guards, hosting the big game went as smoothly as anyone could have hoped.

When it comes to the publicity arena, Stephen Curry is all the time, what Minnesota was during Super Bowl week. But, not even the most-educated marketing brains could have seen the combination the 2x NBA MVP would rock while visiting America’s greatest state (I’m talking about us, MN) for the country’s largest sporting event.

Butler and KAT All-Star teammate, Steph Curry, on the sidelines representing Minnehaha Academy. Photo found on Instagram… pic.twitter.com/XEqcieqbbH

— Darren Wolfson (@DWolfsonKSTP) February 4, 2018

Minnehaha Academy, located in Mendota Heights, had indication that Steph would be sporting the Redhawks apparel well before kickoff. A tweet from the School’s official Twitter account, from just before 4:30 PM CST on Sunday, suggested Curry would be supporting the private, Christian based school.

I spoke with Minnehaha Academy’s Executive Director of Institutional Advancement, Sara Jacobson, on Monday, and she said the school was “proud and pleased to be represented by such a great athlete, on such a national stage.”

Good looking out, Steph. As you can see, Minnehaha Academy appreciates the gesture.

Just think of what we could have been if David Kahn wasn’t such a …. never mind.

But, the question still remained: why was Curry wearing the apparel of Minnesota’s own, Minnehaha Academy, during Sunday’s contest?

The method behind Steph’s clothing madness isn’t quite as intricate as his pregame ritual. The Chef mixed in one of his personal contacts to cook up his unique shoutout to Minnesota. In regards to who exactly Curry’s contact is, with ties to Redhawks? The Mendota Heights-based school is leaving it as it was described in this tweet. Plain and simple: The greatest shooter of all time is good friends with the spouse of a Minnehaha Academy alum.

With the school expanding no further on that realm, neither will I. As of February 5th, 2018, I’m a HUGE Redhawk fan. Their willingness to take time out of what is already the most dreaded work-Monday of the year, in order to talk to the over-caffeinated — Stephen Curry-loving — blogger, sold me.

Hey, Minnehaha Academy – I’m sorry it took this long for me to come around. You can blame the delay on my wonderful mother. For any new moms out there, don’t make the same mistake mine did. For the sake of your child’s future, stay woke:

To show off my new-found support for the Redhawks, it would seem appropriate that I go get myself one of those sweatshirts. If you too want the gear the pros wear, click here: Minnehaha Academy Bookstore Information.

As we saw a few months ago, hoodies that are associated with the State of Minnesota are prone to becoming huge fashion trends. So, get ’em while they’re still available. (Take note: chat with Johnny Minnesota = free plugs for you and your team — My DM’s are open)….. actually, this was an editor’s note. Johnny doesn’t talk in the 3rd person. He’d be cooler if he did, though:

Weeks later, many customers still waiting for Science Museum of Minnesota’s brontosaurus hoodie made popular by “Stranger Things 2.” https://t.co/9gzDdGc3zb pic.twitter.com/1VTKJ1CpGE

— Star Tribune (@StarTribune) November 29, 2017

Johnny Minnesota @TheJohnnyMN
Minnesota Sports Fan MinnesotaSportsFan.com

If you made up Tom Brady’s life story, the tale would be considered too over-the-top for a Disney movie. His upcoming appearance in Super Bowl LII will mark the 8th career time the Patriots’ captain has played in the big game. A victory in Minneapolis’ U.S. Bank Stadium would mean 6 NFL titles for the man whose supermodel wife has an estimated net worth of $360 million.

In regards to the quarterback position, the 199th overall pick from the 2000 NFL draft is the best ever. A bit of Tom Brady’s mystery was revealed to me on Sunday. The greatest football player of all time mentioned that part of his make-up is tied to the greatest state of all time.

Tom Brady says he’s ‘part Minnesotan,’ reminisces about milking cows on family’s farm, fishing https://t.co/HTZvAXi03m pic.twitter.com/cFR1pdzVhc

— Star Tribune (@StarTribune) January 22, 2018

Once the weekend’s blood bath on and off the field, in Philadelphia, ceased, I knew I’d be rooting for the Patriots come February 4th. In the event you’re not quite sold on cheering for the NFL’s Evil Empire, maybe this latest development will cause you to side with New England.

In an interview with the NY Daily News, after their defeat of Jacksonville, Tom Brady referred to himself as “part Minnesotan.” His ties to the Land of 10K Lakes come from his mother, Galynn. The 40 year-old Brady now carries the entire city of Boston on his back. Well, the woman who carried him in her uterus for 9 months is a native of Browerville, MN. Now, his story makes a little more sense.

The small town, with Brady family ties, is approximately two hours northwest of Minneapolis. Per the 2016 census, Browerville, MN has a total population of 753.

In his youth, the now Michigan alum’s grandparents still called Minnesota home, despite Brady being born in California,. While growing up, the future Hall of Famer visited his mother’s-side grandparents every summer. Apparently, a couple of his fonder memories were fishing and milking cows.

I’ve always wondered how the hell he was so comfortable around animals.

As you can tell by his life accomplishments, Tom Brady is playing chess while the rest of the world plays checkers. He jams hours of Words With Friends, while we mortals f*ck around on Candy Crush.

With the Vikings falling short on their quest to be the first team ever to play a Super Bowl in their home stadium, the year’s biggest sporting event will now take place at a neutral site. However, that may just be on paper. In my opinion, Brady premeditated the hell out of this statement on his Minnesota-ties. He knew if the Vikings lost, the Purple’s fans set to attend the championship would be devastated. This strategically placed piece of information, meant to pull at our vulnerable heart-strings, was simply genius.

Super Bowl LIII will take place at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. If the Vikings just so happen to exorcise their recent demons and advance to the season’s final game, WHOEVER we have starting under center best have some family affiliation with the state of Georgia.

Teddy Bridgewater sad he “definitely” feels he should be starting next season, whether it’s here or elsewhere.

— Brian Hall (@MNBrianHall) January 22, 2018

Johnny Minnesota @TheJohnnyMN
Minnesota Sports Fan MinnesotaSportsFan.com