Don?t worry college basketball fans, did you think we were going to let you fill out your NCAA Tournament brackets without Bimbo?s help?
Bimbo proved she was pretty good at predicting National Football League games by correctly picking 165 of 267 games (61 percent), but how well does The Examiner?s pigskin-picking princess know college basketball?
We?re about to find out.
For each the tournament?s 16 quadrants, Bimbo was presented four strips of paper, with each one displaying one of the team?s logo. For example, in the West Region, Bimbo passed over Mississippi Valley State, Brigham Young and Texas A&M before grabbing the piece of paper with UCLA?s bruin ? making it her pick to reach the Sweet 16.
“Bimbo and all the monkeys have watched a few basketball games this season, and I think all the monkeys like watching the bouncing ball,” said Colleen Layton-Robbins, Bimbo?s owner. “I really think they enjoy it. When there is a commotion in the crowd, the monkeys react.”
Many of Bimbo?s picks look good: Memphis, North Carolina, Tennessee and Louisville. But some of her selections are a bit risky, as she predicts strong showings from 11th-seeded Kentucky, 12th-seeded Villanova and her biggest underdog of all, 14th-seeded San Diego.
One underdog she does not think will have a successful trip to the NCAA Tournament is UMBC. When presented with just the logos of UMBC and Georgetown, Bimbo smacked the Hoyas, which isn?t surprising since the second-seeded Hoyas are heavy favorites against the 15th-seeded Retrievers.
Bimbo isn?t the only resident of Frisky?s Wildlife and Primate Sanctuary in Woodstock who thinks the Retrievers? season will end on Friday. Bimbo?s best friend, Oogie, also picked the Hoyas.
“Oogie has stopped throwing things because she?s so excited to be a part of it,” Layton-Robbins said. “I think Bimbo and Oogie are really looking forward to being a part of this. It?s fun for them.”
The monkeys have spoken. Let Monkey Madness begin.
