Who would ever think a 98 year old nun, in a wheel chair after breaking her hip, would dominate Saturdays famous Final Four basketball weekend.   Now jacksjargon has seen everything in sports.  Small enrollment Chicago’s Loyola Ramblers take on mighty Michigan in the first game.  Loyola an underdog again.

Said Las Vegas Review Journal’s Ed Graney….”Bless me Father, for I have sinned.  I purposefully whacked the guy next to me in the head so as to secure the perfect angle for Facebook Live because , as the moderator just said: “Sister Jean is in the house.”  “Sister Jean has become the face of this NCAA basketball tournament.”   She is all Loyola all the time.  Loyola has become the Cinderella team of the tournament.  An 11th seeded team next to never makes it to this day. Media availability Friday looked like Tom Brady at the Super Bowl.  And Sister Jean is having none of it feeling it all should be about “her” team.   But she is so friendly…so quotable …clear headed…and likable.

The Loyola Ramblers have NO media coverage in Chicago.  No radio deal.  No fancy practice facility.  The only publicity comes from the University’s college weekly newspaper.  And yet here they are on college basketball biggest stage.  But, face it.  Michigan with all their might, a 6 foot 11 inch center and guys that can shoot 3 point baskets with ease are very likely to win.  They are five point favorites. However, the Ramblers play as a team.  None will make it to the NBA.  But, two of them have been playing together since 3rd grade.  So it’s possible.  Just not likely.  Villanova, in the 2nd Saturday game is figured as the team to win it all.

But, let’s close with the words of now famous Sister Jean.  “I pray for both teams, but only partly because at the end of the prayer I always ask God to  be sure the scoreboard indicates the Rambler have the big W.”  God always hears but sometimes he thinks it’s better for us to have an L than a W.  And we have to accept that.”   “We have a little slogan: Worship, Work, Win.”

Jacksjargon simply has to add….”They are on a mission from God.”