Penn State - NIT Champions

Thursday night, Penn State defeated Baylor 69-63 to win its first ever NIT championship.

I could not be happier for these kids. Penn State has been long known for its football program; basketball has just never even gotten close to that level. A few weeks back I was livid that our team didn't get an invite to the NCAA tournament. (We were robbed, end of story.) But now I'm glad that we didn't get in. With the way our team had been playing, I think we could have made a deep, Cinderella run, but the odds were against it.The NIT has gotten a lot of "junior varsity" ribbing in recent years because, frankly, you are only in it if you didn't get into the Big Dance. Does that mean, as the joke goes, that you are "#66"? Please. We beat Florida on the road (where they were 18-1 this year), Notre Dame (Big East) and Baylor (Big 12).

What does it mean if you got an invite to the Big Dance and got beat on day one? Are you going to hang that #4 seed one-and-done banner on your ceiling?

And that's not how I wanted these kids, particularly the three big seniors -- Cornley, Morrissey, and Pringle -- to go out. They came to a nothing program (Pringle was a junior transfer, but no pulling away cred for what he brought to the team) that suffered through repeated seasons were we couldn't even muster a .500 record. We didn't even SNIFF the NIT.Cornley himself played with a partially separated shoulder through most of the tournament, and garnered MVP honors. That kid has heart, and I can think of nothing better than to reward his and this team's effort with a NATIONAL tournament championship. (You couldn't have storybooked the seniors' performance better -- Pringle and Morrissey both had excellent games and Morrissey even literally bled to get the job done.)

There are 220 teams that couldn't even get an invite to the NIT. And you can't tell me that winning a 32-team invitational isn't an achievement. Hell, on the way, we even set a season record for wins. Previous to this, Penn State's biggest achievement was beating #2 North Carolina in 2001 to get to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen. (Also known as the greatest day of my life.) But this is a friggin' national championship. It is a banner. It is a t-shirt that I'll own. It's a praise-worthy career-ending crown for years of blood and sweat and tears that were largely unsung.The best encapsulation of what this has meant for the program is what Jamelle Cornley talked about toward the end of the below embedded highlight:

"When I came here four years ago, I really wanted to make it a better place when I left... We had close to 30 buses come here and support us [tonight in Madison Square Garden]; when I first got here we couldn't get three buses to come across campus. So right now I'm just enjoying the moment."

From nothing... a championship. No asterisk.

Team Allegiances: A Reference Guide

Brace yourself, because this is one long and blustery blog about my allegiances to sports teams. (It started out small, but I found that I had a helluva-lot to rant about when it comes to this.) If there's anything that I tend to take flack from "true" fans of sports teams is that I root for more than one team from just about every sport I follow. For people that have only followed one team in a particular sport, the idea that you can pull for more than one professional sports team feels, well, wrong.

College Sports
And the way that I can tell you that I can testify what these fans feel is that I agree with that sensation for college sports. When it comes to college, I am a die-hard Penn State fan. There is something about attending a school that really gives you a sense of ownership and pride, and a lovely bloodlust for crushing certain teams and screaming "fucking kill him!!!" and meaning it, at least for the four seconds their quarterback is scrambling around. I'm looking at you, Nebraska and Ohio State. And any team from Florida but I digress; that's just general displeasure with teams from that state. So, college football is the one sport where I really have only one team.

In college basketball, to the annual chagrin of local ACC fans, I also root for, wait for it, Duke. OH MY GOD, NOOOOOOOO!!! But, yes.If your head has not exploded in righteous indignation, allow me to explain why. Before I ever went to Penn State, I was a fan of college basketball. In the days way before on-demand sports and ESPN8: The Ocho, you didn't have a lot of options as to who you wanted to watch. As it happens, Duke was starting to become a perennial powerhouse in the early-to-mid 80's, so they were getting a lot of exposure on TV. Plus, right around the time I was a junior in high school, they recruited a kid named Bobby Hurley to run the point. At the time, I was a short, white point/shooting guard, so there was instant emulation. Anyway, that's when I started watching Duke games as a fan.

Does the fact that I have been a Duke basketball fan for over 20 years get me any street cred down here? Of course not. Granted, I am in Maryland Terp country, and they love to hate Duke, so what do I expect. It makes for more fun watching, frankly. Now, that all said, if Duke and Penn State played, I like Duke, but I bleed PSU. No contest. I watched just about every PSU game they played this season that was televised (don't get me started about the Big Ten Network) and though we finished 15-16, was satisfied with a season where we lost our best two players to injury. PSU basketball has a long tradition of 'suck', but I love my team. Hey if you only have one tournament highlight in the last ten years (2001), that says something. But we beat Carolina and that is worth arms-raised-in-victory cred for years. In looking up the results for that tourney, I forgot that Duke was the eventual champion. Puts my priorities in clear relief, but man, that was a good tourney.

Now before we get into the rest of the discussion, here are the general guidelines for figuring out allegiances:

1. I grew up south of BUFFALO, and my mother's side of the family is mostly up there.
   
2. I migrated to PHILADELPHIA to finish high school, and my father's side of the family is mostly up there. My best friend lives up there.
   
3. I lived with many PITTSBURGH natives in college (PSU is 40% Pittsburgh, 30% Philly, 30% miscellaneous), so I grew to appreciate their teams.
   
4. I have lived in the WASHINGTON, DC area for the last 10 years (has it really been that long?).

These four notes will help you to understand most of my choices. But there are quirks in every system, most of these driven by sweet, sweet bitterness.

NHL
Now, moving on to professional sports (and I am only talking about the big four), that's when we get a little murky. Let's start with the murkiest and the one currently on the brain as we are hip-deep intro round one of their playoffs: the National Hockey League.I fully admit, I'm a playoff hockey fan only. I have a hard time finding interest in any sport where the regular season is more than 30 games; for me it has to do with the import of each game. (I cannot understand how baseball fans can bother to care about each game, especially in April. I have seen fans get so upset over something that matters 1/162 of their season. NOOOOOOO!!!) That all said, my favorite team is the Flyers, (Reference Guideline #2 above) followed closely behind by the Sabres (Reference Guideline #1). This is as close to a wash as I get in sports; it seems that just about every year they play each other in the playoffs, and I just kind of shrug and wait for the outcome.At least that's what I tell my family. I figured out that Philly trumps Buffalo because Philly fans are mean. I like that. So put that as unofficial guideline #5: when in doubt, go with the mean fans.

Now, because of Reference Guidelines #3 and #4, I root for the Penguins and the Caps when neither the Flyers nor the Sabres are involved, but it's not even close to as strong a feeling. So they get no logo post. It just doesn't feel right. Honorable mention: Detroit Red Wings. This is my girlfriend's team. She loves to watch playoff hockey, too (she actually smiles when she sees blood on a player's face -- I'm not joking). I don't root against them, but I like to see her happy. But am I going to root for them if they come up against any of the above four teams? Not really.

MLB
Moving on to the longest season ever and one that certainly doesn't start for me (although I always check scores) until August, baseball. Another very tight race for me, but ultimately, I take the Phillies over the Cubs.Using the Reference Guidelines, the first choice should be easy to figure out, but the Cubs? Well, western New York obviously has no baseball team, so how do you get the Cubs? Cable TV, that's how. In the early 80's you had two choices (other than the friggin' Yankees: blech) for daily baseball coverage: TBS and WGN. Braves and Cubs. My brother is a Cubs fan, and they always (used to) play their home games in the daytime, which means I came home from school early enough to catch the fourth inning on and Harry Caray.However, in terms of allegiances, although I have to admit I'd love to see the Cubs win the WS for the first time in 100 years, I think I'd be pulling against them if the Phillies played them in the playoffs. Because neither team has won in at least 25 years, I don't think I'd be too upset either way. Still, slight edge to the Phillies.

As for my current "home town" Washington Nationals... well what can you say about a team that's been around for three years? Not much, is my conclusion, and no logo for you.

NBA
Continuing our tour of the major sports, we hit professional basketball and arrive with a more solid thwacking. Again, without a major team in the Buffalo (or Pittsburgh (discounting the Fish That Saved...), for that matter), the choice is easy: the 76ers. Watching the early 80's Sixers with Dr. J, Bobby Jones, Mo Cheeks, Andrew Toney, and Moses Malone (effortlessly recalling the starting lineup of the 1983 Championship team for your approval) was indeed the golden age of this team. Since then, I've watched many an Alan Iverson game in my time, and even though he's kind of a thug, I'm sad to have seen him go. Probably the highlight of his era was lighting up the Lakers for 48 to steal Game 1 of the 2002 Championship series. Certainly the Sportscenter highlight was his infamous "We talking about practice" press conference, which still gets a lot of airtime.
Iverson's point of view was comically made by his repeated (and by repeated, I mean like 25 times) mention of "practice" versus "the game". It's too bad that he ended the rant with the question, "How the hell can I make my teammates better by practicing?" Up until that point I was laughing with him. Anyway.

I certainly have watched my share of Washington Wizards games around here, but are they logo-worthy? I think you know the answer. The team really took a down-turn once they changed their name from "Bullets" to "Wizards", which is about as limp a change as I can imagine. I guess it's not as bad as a nickname like "Heat" or "Magic", but it certainly sucks. And sucky nicknames. But I will put a Boston Celtics logo on here as a distant second team, surprising even the most prophetic prophesiser! This is the negative-postive inversion support (or NPIS) case, where I pretty much can't stand any other team (excluding the Sixers) in the East, and I also grew up watching the Lakers-Celtics battles of the 80's. Guess which Western Conference team I hate?

NFL
Finally on to the main course, pro football. This one is tough because you again have two football teams that I have followed for a long time: Buffalo and Philly.Again, Philly gets the nod by the slimmest of margins, but only in recent years. I grew up a Bills fan and slowly evolved my preferences to the Eagles by being immersed in the NFC East environment that is Washington, DC. Obviously, there are plenty of Redskins fans around here, but you'd be surprised there are a great many Dallas, Eagles, and Giants fans around, too. It makes for great rivalrys, and great games. But it's the fans that bring it out in me, specifically the Redskins fans. You'd think that being down here this long would have swayed me towards their camp, but in fact where I used to support them (for my friends who liked them as long as we weren't playing each other), their incredibly delusional fans have driven me to embrace fully my hatred of the Redskins fans. Over the last couple years, this classic video of the fantasy football guy continually butchering "T.J. Houshmandezadah" and, finally getting it correct, intones "Championship" had come amongst my friends to represent your typical Redskins fan: cluelessly confident.

So, you see that it is a combination of Reference #2 and pure irritation that puts Philly over the top in my heart. It's like milk chocolate and caramel coming together, and it is oh, so sweet.
Worth mentioning: I put the logo of Green Bay up there because I once made the mistake of not supporting Danielle's team in the fullest amount. All my guidelines and irritations cannot stand up to an intense frowning and/or withholding of affections.

March Sanity

With Davidson falling to Kansas, we now have the first time ever that all four number 1 seeds have made it into the Final Four. Forgive me if I an less than enthralled.

After watching as much of the eight Sweet Sixteen and four Elite Eight games as is possible, I feel so far this has been the lousiest tournament to date. In my lifetime, that is. Considering I have watched each and every tournament since 1983 with the kind of ravenous intensity normally reserved for the truly insane, you know I don't pronounce this lightly. But here are the facts: of the above mentioned 12 games played in what is usually the best weekend of tournament basketball (the first two rounds don't get as many great matchups), only TWO were watchable. And what I mean by that is that as a hardcore NCAA basketball fan, of course I was watching the games, but it was painful. Blowouts galore. Boring.They did at least save the best for last, with Davidson coming up against overrated Kansas. I don't think the best team won that game, I think the DEEPEST team won. They rotated four guards against Curry and tired him out, if you can call "only" getting 25 points a victory. Kansas looked like a deer-in-headlights all game, and I think they were extremely fortunate to win.

So, that said, my prediction is that North Carolina kicks the holy crap out of them. I'm actually rooting for UNC (!) mostly because it irks me that such an undeserving team as Kansas should steal a game from Davidson. Or maybe I just can't stand Kansas. The point is, as long as you have anger, fear, and aggression, the games become that much more watchable. Embrace the dark side.

Madness

One hell of an opening night, at least for yours truly, an admitted Duke basketball fan since way back in the mid-eighties. Last night was a heart attack, but not unexpected in many ways, given the circumstances. Allow me to explain. And by "allow" I am clearly talking to the Blogger administrator who has given me access privileges to write to this site and not to you (and you know I know who you are) who is powerless to stop me.Belmont played a great game, but there were certain elements that also lent it to be a close contest. I noticed early on that the referees were 'letting them play' -- while hand fouls were generally called, you had to tackle someone to get a 'body foul'. Belmont was playing some tough man-to-man, so the lack of body fouls means you can get away with a lot of hand-checks. What this does against a shooting or "finesse" team is throw off their timing and rhythm and make getting open 3's even harder. I made it analogous to the Indianapolis Colt's receivers going to New England and being unable to get open -- the ref's were letting the defense maul them. In this game, the ref's weren't favoring Belmont per se, but 'letting them play' made for a more playground-type game. Towards the end, you could see that both teams were just chucking it up from wherever they could because both teams' defenses were being allowed to smother. Unfortunately, this desperation atmosphere ultimately led to Belmont's undoing. As soon as they got the lead late, they began to tighten up, taking quick, ill-advised and low-percentage shots from downtown when they should have slowed it down and used the clock and forced Duke to foul. They had some great free-throw shooters on that team that could have sealed the game (I think the one guard was a 91% shooter), but their inexperience showed up late, and Duke remained calm and got the job done. Luck has a lot to do with anything, but I was fairly confident going into the last two minutes, even down. And as Bobby Knight said, Belmont was there the last three years and would have played anyone tough.

And I still nearly had a heart attack. I love this time of year. Next Thursday and Friday are my two favorite nights to watch basketball.

PS: I would be remiss if I didn't relay a comment I made about Penn State's chances of getting in the tournament this year (they were 15-16). As I am prone to saying this time of year is 'my Christmas', I said if they got in, it would be as ridiculous as the virgin birth. Birth, get it? I am funny, and I must declare as such.

Bitter Defeat
Well, the season has come to an end. The Duke Blue Devils fell to the persistent Kansas Jayhawks last night, and I was none too pleased. I get a little fired up during the games, and I was in no mood to hear the whoops of Kansas fans at a local watering hole. Fortunate or not, a few of my friends bought some conciliatory shots when all was said and done.

Duke played a good game, and (in my completely unbiased opinion) outplayed Kansas in a tough and exciting matchup, but just couldn't overcome poor shooting. J.J. Redick was 2-for-16 shooting, which is unheard of; when he's alone at the top with 1:13 left and nearly misses the rim on an open three he normally nails, you know he's off. However, he's a freshman, and he'll be back next year. So will Duke in the tourney.

Arizona laid a lickin' on Notre Dame. The game started out in a scoring bonanza, but the Irish couldnt' keep up. Neither could CBS, who wisely switched back over to the riveting Wisconsin-Kentucky matchup once the Wildcats (Arizona, that is) started putting on a hurting. Speaking of hurting, I could use an alka-seltzer; I disgress. Anywho, Wisconsin held the vaunted Kentucky offense in check and stayed close the entire game, surprising even the most stalwart Wisconsin fans, who themselves merely hoped not to be blown out. They had a chance to win it in the last minute, which certainly shocked some obnoxious Kentucky fans in the bar.

I can only hope that tonight's games match the level of intensity. Great stuff!!!

Update: Two things. Unlike this highly fictionalized, yet stunningly penned account of 12:04 AM, I was in a Virginia bar, and my cries of pain were decidedly censorable.

Update #2: I have one word for Jaquandor's rather eccentric take on March Madness. That word is "poofter".

NCAA Live Updates - Round Two

Updated the link for second round coverage, above. I'm that kind of guy.

Update. The weekend's not over yet, but it's already been a helluva tournament. ESPN has nailed it on their Top Ten Moments So Far page's top two plays; Maryland's prayer shot with no time (an obvious aficionado of dry humor, coach Gary Williams commented that Nicholas had better clock management this time -- Nicholas had a near buzzer beater in the ACC tournament that left 1.3 seconds on the clock)and Wisconsin's corner three with 1 second to play.

Not that it's any of your business, but I have been out in a sports bar watching these games, because I find it excruciatingly torturous to wait for CBS to flip to the "most exciting game" at the time. Jaquandor noted below that ESPN has an agreement to take over for CBS if war coverage breaks in. Luckily, that hasn't happened much; from what I observed of ESPN's coverage on Friday, their "clock management" skills were even worse.

Duke and Kansas will play Thursday in the marquee matchup of the tournament so far. Both teams looked impressive in their wins Saturday. To quote my friend Paul, "let's rock!!"

Brief War Commentary -- How Dare They Interfere with March Madness

With a global version of March Madness, perhaps? I fully support our troops and our president. I am not an anti-war ignoramous. I have, unfortunately, gotten in a war debate with some fool every single night I've been out, and let me tell you that I have supreme patience for the "war is just bad, let's stop" mentality of anti-war goombahs who clearly don't get it, and probably never will. But it's wearing thin. I'll talk more about that later.

CNN has great updates here. Relativity scale: "great" = "reliable".

I'll comment about the war later, of which I am watching with a great amount of interest. Things appear to be going well, but you never know.

A quick story to let you know where my mentality (not to be confused with priorities) are. My boss walked in on Thursday at 1pm and said, simply, "So, it's finally started." I responded, enthusiastically, "Yes, I've beeen waiting and waiting but thank god it's finally started. I'm so excited, this is going to be great!" After a long pause accomanied by a confused stare, he replied, "Are you talking about basketball? I was talking about the war."

Go USA. Go NCAA.

NCAA Tourney and BYU Screw Brackets

This morning I woke up fresh from a good night's sleep, knowing that my Duke boys are stuck in the West bracket along with powerhouses Kansas and Arizona. My friend Paul's team Wisconsin is in the Midwest, and has the potential to play Kentucky in the Sweet 16. Or, perhaps Texas in the South. Confused? What did I just say?

You heard it. The brilliant, yet quirky selection committee for the NCAA has inadvertently (hopefully) plunked the big Mormon Cougars in a bracket that would have them playing on Sunday. And God doesn't allow that. Anyone who has seen Chariots of Fire, the 1981 Best Picture winner and personal favorite, knows this. Unfortuately, in this case, BYU doesn't have a buddy who's already won a medal to step aside and let them run. No, their potential buddy will be either Wisconsin, Dayton, Tulsa, or Weber St.

If by some reason BYU happens to upset UConn and potentially Stanford and get to a point where they would play Texas, well apparently that's where the NCAA committee will apply brakes and do a Chinese fire drill to the brackets. Swapping teams in midstream is about the dumbest thing I can think of. What the hell is going to happen to anyone's picks? This has the potential to screw up all the pools in the country.

Therefore, I am hereby going to become the biggest fan of UConn this week. I suggest, for the sanity of all, you do the same.

In the category, "If You Can't Be Famous, Be INfamous"...

As some of you may know, I was born and raised in a small town called Allegany, NY. Right next door to the two-stoplight town is a private, catholic college called St. Bonaventure University. It is a division one basketball school, with membership in the Atlantic Ten.

That is, at least for now.

It's a shame that a bunch of whiny kids did this to a great team. I grew up watching games in Reilly Center, and it's embarrassing that the team would forfeit their last two games because of their own duplicity. I even have to agree with Dick Vitale's assessment.

If I was a ticket holder for those games, I'd be even more pissed.

Still, good to see the ol' town in headlines!