And with that the back pains of the mailman picks up as the letters pour in to the Sports Mailbag.

Let's help our friendly local postal carrier out by emptying it out a bit while hoping this e-mail thing catches on to lighten his load a bit.

Dear Sports Mailbag:

I unexpectedly found some free time on my hands. What are your recommendations for the top first-round NCAA tournament games to watch?

P.S. Would it be possible for me to sleep on someone's couch for a few days?

E. Spitzer, New York

A: You could do worse than check out our neighborhood Omaha games. O.J. Mayo vs. Michael Beasley technically USC vs. Kansas State will give even more exposure to likely top-three NBA draft picks.

UNLV and Kent State don't have that exposure, but should face off in a competitive battle.

And is there an upset alert when third-seeded Wisconsin takes on Cal State Fullerton?

Add in a Kansas exhibition against Portland State, and it should be an entertaining Thursday at the Qwest Center.

Dear Sports Mailbag:

What are you looking forward to the least about the NCAA tournament?

B. Packer, Courtside

A: It's whatever new "hip" phrase will be repeated ad nauseum by the ESPN SportsCenter highlight readers and the announcers during games.

The early nominees are "three-ball" and "bigs". As for me, I appreciated a small with good fundamentals who can drive and pop for a two-ball.

Dear Sports Mailbag:

Forget this worthless talk! It's all about the brackets, man! What you got there?

Ill E. Gall, Gambler, Mo.

A: I'm not a bracketologist, and I didn't sleep at a Holiday Inn Express last night, so I don't play one on TV.

But if I were to fill out a bracket, I'd point out that a No. 16 seed has never beaten a No. 1. That means they're overdue.

I'd mention to everyone else who might fill out a bracket in my pool how good Kansas has looked. Then I'd have them ousted by the Sweet 16 like usual.

In the end, I'd go with the obvious choice: Tiger Woods.

Dear Sports Mailbag:

What's the craziest thing you've heard about the NCAA tournament?

Rick Snip, Cutter City, Utah

A: That'd have to be last week's "Sign of the Apocalypse" in Sports Illustrated. An Oregon institute is recommending vasectomies as a way for guys to be able to stay on the couch at home to watch NCAA hoops.

Just a friendly reminder: only use this excuse once per spouse and employer.

Dear Sports Mailbag:

Is the Houston Rockets' amazing 22-game win streak getting the publicity it deserves?

Tracy M., Houston

A: The problem for the Rockets is that they aren't seen as an elite team. They aren't a New York or Los Angeles team. For previous examples of this, look up Rockies, Colorado (2007).

The Rockets' best hope to make this the clear-cut top sports story is to get Mercury Morris debating whether they are in the 1972 Miami Dolphins' neighborhood yet.