Quick Hits

RANDOM THOUGHTS

HOOPS IN A SAD STATE

Random thoughts while wondering whether a one-game winning streak would be enough to put Illinois in the NCAA tournament:

- NIT could stand for Not In Tournament, as far as schools in Illinois are concerned. Or Normal Invitation Tournament -- with schools in the state (Northwestern, Illinois, Southern Illinois, Bradley, Illinois State) competing for a shot in the real National Invitation Tournament.

- Speaking of March Madness, it's that time of year for Chicago-based Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc. CEO John Challenger to issue his calculations of what the tournament could cost employers in workplace productivity (a byproduct of 20 minutes daily spent focusing on hoops rather than work -- well, unless you happen to be a sports journalist, in which case it is work). Challenger's number: $1.8 billion. And that's merely for the first week.

- Still speaking of college basketball, ''Horseshoe Hoopla'' will be held March 18 and 19 at Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, Ind., for the start of the NCAA tournament, with $5,000 awarded to bracket winners each day. There will be appearances by members of the Chicago Bliss Lingerie Football League team and Hooters Girls, plus a free breakfast buffet from 10 a.m. to noon. Participants must be 21 or older.

- Beginning with the March 19 Bulls-Cavaliers contest, there will be online streaming of Bulls games for Comcast SportsNet Chicago viewers at CSNChicago.com. Registration is required. Six games will be available in HD on a free trial basis -- March 19, 25 and 28 and April 2, 8 and 16. Plus the first round of the playoffs. Well, if the Bulls are in it.

GO, CUBS, GO

AN ANAL RITE OF SPRING

The 2010 Cubs Annual -- available on newsstands, maplestreetpress.com and elsewhere -- might be for the true-blue Cubs fan. Or the anal retentive. Or something like that.

That is an assessment after taking a glance at the publication's cover, which features first baseman Derrek Lee. His presence blocks out the second ''n'' and the ''u'' in annual. One can only assume that the resulting word spelled out is accidental.

Among the writers for the 128-page publication edited by Al Yellon (who also contributes a couple of articles and runs the Web site bleedcubbieblue.com) are Cubs radio play-by-play announcer Pat Hughes and multimedia threats Sarah Spain and George Castle.

STAR GAZING

THE MODEL FOR DANCING SUCCESS

Even better than seeing Joanna Krupa on the cover of Michigan Avenue Magazine's March fashion issue?

Seeing the model, who grew up in Chicago, in person.

It happened at a party last week at the restaurant Epic, 112 W. Hubbard. It's what some of us call work.

On a good day. Or evening -- which it was.

Figuring there should be a sports connection, Quick Hits asked Krupa about Olympic gold-medal figure skater Evan Lysacek (who grew up in Naperville), who will compete on ABC's ''Dancing With the Stars'' beginning March 22. Krupa was on the show last season and was amazing -- only to exit early, thanks to voters who must have based their ballots on something other than beauty, grace and dancing ability.

Her advice?

''Just have fun, and let your partner guide you,'' she told Quick Hits before offering a flute of champagne.

Has it been mentioned that some of us call this work? Her presence was intoxicating enough even without the bubbly.

Meanwhile, back to DWTS.

''I think some of the celebrities, the mistake they make is they tend to feel like they know what they're doing instead of letting their partners -- who are professional dancers -- tell them what to do.

''Put your best face forward. Try your best. You can't take it too seriously. You've still got to have fun.''

Wednesday: More with Joanna Krupa, poker player.

BRACKET RACKET

''With worker stress and anxiety heightened, a little distraction could be just what the doctor ordered. The key for companies is finding a way to maximize the positive aspects of March Madness so that they outweigh any potential negatives.''

-- JOHN CHALLENGER, CEO of outplacement company Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc., on the NCAA tournament