One Shining Moment

When I was in kindergarten, I attended a private school in the Bronx. The school was meant to be a stepping stone for all these kids to get into Ivy League schools. I remember one of my good friends routinely getting into quarrels with his dad (mind you, we were in kindergarten) because his dad went to Harvard and he wanted to go to Yale (Kindergarten!) Me, on the other hand, never wanted to go to an Ivy League school because "they sucked at sports."

Since I was a wee lad, my sport allegiances have been with non-local teams more often than not. You never think about it but being a fan of a local team has intangible benefit associated with it. It is created by the camaraderie created by fans of a particular team. Very few teams are an exception to this rule, besides the Cowboys and the Yankees no other teams are effectively able to cross state lines. I feel that this rule has become the basis of my transformation into more of a casual sports fan. I don't need to watch every Avalanche or Redskin game. I always check to see how the Mets and Yankees did, but it's not on the top of my list. Mostly I like keep abreast of all the major happenings in the sports world in general.

There is one exception though:
Syracuse Basketball

College basketball is by far my favorite sport. The season is the perfect length. The post season is phenomenal, even when your team is not in it. And every year there are about 40 games that don't involve Syracuse that are still must see games. To be honest I don't know how I fell in love with the Orangemen, but we have been seeing each other for about 16 years now. Starting in Kindergarten, I would wait patiently for the NCAA brackets to be printed in Sports Illustrated and I would tape it to my door. I'd write in the name of all the winning teams right away, unless Syracuse lost, then I would need to check at least five different sources before I would believe it. Mind you, this was extremely difficult in the age before the internet.

Since I have been alive, every college basketball season except one has ended on a down note. This year was no different. Syracuse was relegated to the NIT after being snubbed by the Selection Committee. Everyone in the country listed Syracuse as the number one snub so that softened the blow slightly, but not by much. (I can admit now that we just weren't that good. But you'll never hear me admit it.)

This year when Syracuse was playing Clemson, I still had the giddyness associated with the NCAA tournament. But like I mentioned before, this was the NIT. Unfortunatly for Tara, even though she was not at her computer, I still assaulted her with my thoughts on the game. Almost 200 IMs later I had myself a glog.

(7:17:58 PM): Syracuse is losing 8-9 in the first half
Auto response from Thoops4 (7:17:58 PM): playing basketball....
(7:18:18 PM): I beat u back
(7:19:48 PM): Even if you’re not there I’m still going to IM you
(7:21:28 PM): those SYR jerseys are atrocious
(7:29:34 PM): those jerseys are so stupid
(7:29:42 PM): gray numbers? Really?
(7:29:53 PM): losing 14-18
(7:31:01 PM): Clemson assholes
(7:31:18 PM): winner gets to play in NY next week!
(7:31:43 PM): gross
(7:31:57 PM): their play is matching their jerseys
(7:32:17 PM): they are talking about blonde brownies for some reason
(7:33:21 PM): Clemson is boxing out b4 the shots go up. They box out and the guards are able to drive baseline. It’s Blue Chips
(7:33:37 PM): SYR 14 -Assholes 24
(7:34:59 PM): they just referred to Paul Harris as a man’s man
(7:35:10 PM): and they said that the new jerseys make his guns that much bigger
(7:35:21 PM): down 13
(7:40:40 PM): down 11
(7:41:09 PM): the ball just got blocked and wedged in between the rim and backboard simultaneously
(7:42:53 PM): mom made me mac and cheese
(7:43:22 PM): maybe it will be lucky
(7:43:25 PM): nope
(7:43:34 PM): Rautins just air-balled a three
(7:43:50 PM): you need to teach him how to shoot the three
(7:44:05 PM): down 8
(7:44:41 PM): or they can turn it over
(7:44:58 PM): DOWN 5!
(7:47:23 PM): It’s getting a little out of control
(7:49:12 PM): Nessler needs to stop talking about these blonde brownies
(8:10:27 PM): finally I can finish my thought after being kicked off for years
(8:10:40 PM): when I got kicked off Nessler commented: "Matt Gorman with an easy dunk.”
(8:10:51 PM): he made that easy dunk look so hard
(8:11:00 PM): it was a struggle for him to dunk it
(8:11:35 PM): Now SYR is down 11 at halftime
(8:12:20 PM): Boeheim got a technical foul during half time. More points for Asshole #1.
(8:12:24 PM): fantastic
(8:12:47 PM): they just showed the blonde brownie on TV
(8:12:57 PM): down 13 now
(8:13:10 PM): AHole #1 with 23 points now
(8:13:59 PM): Jesus
(8:14:15 PM): SYR hasn't touched the ball yet in the 2nd half
(8:15:01 PM): 1 minute 15 has gone by
(8:15:24 PM): SYR just got their first touch
(8:15:24 PM): down 15
(8:15:34 PM): down 13
(8:15:39 PM): Devendorf with 11 points
(8:15:56 PM): that was the most pathetic play ever
(8:15:59 PM): wow
(8:15:59 PM): wow
(8:16:49 PM): first they steal the ball, then while dribbling up court Wright dribbles the ball into the hand of the assholes, easy asshole lay-up
(8:17:01 PM): then they throw away the inbound pass
(8:17:59 PM): the license plate on the car in this commercial is GAH
(8:19:04 PM): down 15
(8:19:12 PM): lets start playing now
(8:19:14 PM): down 13
(8:19:24 PM): Devendorf is going to carry us right now
(8:19:50 PM): he is going to take every shot
(8:19:58 PM): Nichols better step up
(8:21:03 PM): every Clemson inbounds pass from their baseline has to go all the way back to half court. That’s the one bright spot of our game; our inbound defense
(8:21:17 PM): asshole #1 has 26
(8:21:25 PM): SYR down 13
(8:21:52 PM): ok ok down 11
(8:22:13 PM): You’re not really going to read all of this are you?
(8:22:17 PM): it’s like a book
(8:22:18 PM): I'm sorry
(8:22:32 PM): even when your not here I still talk to you
(8:22:46 PM): I could be telling someone else this, but I’m not
(8:24:14 PM): I was going to pack when I got home because I'm ancy
(8:24:18 PM): but I don't want to leave my seat
(8:24:33 PM): granted they aren't playing too good with me sitting here
(8:24:35 PM): but they won when I sat here on Monday
(8:24:41 PM): I'm wearing my Gerry McNamara shirt again
(8:25:10 PM): Nessler is impressed by the packed house. Little John holds 10,000
(8:25:20 PM): I don't see why that is impressive. They had 3000 the other night.
(8:25:55 PM): SYR had 26,000 that same night
(8:26:00 PM): fantastic turnover by SYR. They are getting creative with their turnovers
(8:26:18 PM): 11 again
(8:27:10 PM): of the 10 or so shots this half, Devendorf has 9 of them
(8:27:41 PM): what a Macy’s call
(8:28:23 PM): really.
(8:29:03 PM): we play 35 seconds of solid defense and the assholes throw up a prayer as the shot clock goes off and it goes in
(8:29:39 PM): Make FTs
(8:29:54 PM): Down 12
(8:30:04 PM): with 13 to go
(8:30:21 PM): dagger
(8:30:36 PM): Assholes score then SYR get ancy
(8:30:44 PM): then they run down court and just throw it away
(8:30:53 PM): bah I'm about to go downstairs
(8:30:59 PM): not much faith left
(8:33:06 PM): walking downstairs
(8:34:09 PM): so I can pack and chew some gum
(8:35:11 PM): fantastic SYR gets the ball
(8:35:17 PM): commits an offensive foul
(8:35:39 PM): I think Boeheim's just going to say F it in a few seconds and go sit with his wife in the stands
(8:36:06 PM): hahahahah Austin Peay
(8:36:20 PM): assholes
(8:36:25 PM): down 15
(8:36:50 PM): stop making threes u sparkling wiggles
(8:36:54 PM): ok 13
(8:36:58 PM): with 10 to play
(8:37:21 PM): how many messages have I sent
(8:37:25 PM): 100?
(8:37:27 PM): 150?
(8:37:35 PM): SYR turnover
(8:37:47 PM): I'm about to turn this off
(8:37:53 PM): we are so terrible
(8:39:37 PM): 15 points
(8:39:47 PM): terrible shots
(8:39:51 PM): plus turnovers
(8:39:58 PM): plus heads up their butts
(8:40:03 PM): equals this is hard to watch
(8:40:16 PM): now I realize y we didn't make the tournament
(8:40:50 PM): that asshole just dunked the ball so hard he knocked his own contact out
(8:41:24 PM): ostrowe's training thus far: by the way, my training is going awesome, I just had a big Mac, a cheeseburger and mozzarella sticks for dinner
(8:41:35 PM): my training: complaining about this game
(8:41:47 PM): not to far away from changing the channel
(8:41:57 PM): these recruits we are getting next year better be good
(8:42:05 PM): I wonder if is Harris staying
(8:42:20 PM): if he tried to enter the draft, he wouldn't be drafted
(8:42:35 PM): he has little to no skills that can translate to NBA talent
(8:42:52 PM): Devendorf on the other hand can drive the hoop and not pass, perfect for the pros
(8:43:06 PM): that’s not saying Harris can pass, b/c he can't either
(8:45:57 PM): they just commented on Paul Harris' physique in the new jerseys again
(8:46:25 PM): bah.....
(8:46:33 PM): down 14
(8:46:37 PM): down 16
(8:46:49 PM): my breath smells like potato sticks
(8:47:04 PM): am I at 200 yet?
(8:50:47 PM): Syracuse Line.
(8:50:54 PM): 17 field goals
(8:50:57 PM): 16 turnovers
(8:51:06 PM): that is y we are in the NIT
(8:51:17 PM): if we were in the big dance we would have lost in the first round
(8:51:22 PM): so which outcome is better
(8:51:44 PM): being relegated to the NIT and making some revenue by hosting two extra home games
(8:51:58 PM): or getting to the dance and losing in the first round to long beach st
(8:53:18 PM): hahahahhaahha this asshole just tried to dunk but muffed it and he just hung on the rim and caught his missed dunk and tried to put it back in
(8:53:25 PM): he got T'd up
(8:53:30 PM): SYR down 13
(8:53:39 PM): shooting two free throws
(8:53:44 PM): and then they get the ball back
(8:54:02 PM): Down 9!
(8:55:28 PM): I just made fun of my mom for playing FreeCell
(8:56:40 PM): Nessler on Devendorf dribbling up the court: “he'll probably shoot.”
(8:56:56 PM): and he does
(8:57:30 PM): down 6!!
(8:58:03 PM): oooo 4 fouls on rivers
(8:59:38 PM): Keep driving at him over and over again!
(9:01:40 PM): down 3!!!!
(9:03:30 PM): clemson has lost two starters to fouls
(9:06:28 PM): SYR has lost Watkins
(9:07:48 PM): Devendorf and Harris are playing like men possessed
(9:09:32 PM): F
(9:09:40 PM): FTs
(9:12:43 PM): Paul u wiggle
(9:13:39 PM): Still down 3
(9:14:30 PM): BS
(9:14:49 PM): That asshole fell down on his own
(9:15:02 PM): not our fault he is clumsy
(9:15:02 PM): down 4
(9:17:41 PM): confusing moment
(9:17:54 PM): the scoreboard says timeout
(9:18:07 PM): nessler said foul
(9:18:20 PM): Nessler is right
(9:18:49 PM): Nichols on the line
(9:19:09 PM): makes the first
(9:19:50 PM): a very quiet 17 pts for him tonight
(9:20:32 PM): down 2
(9:21:49 PM): roberts just fouled out of the game
(9:22:29 PM): bah they ran out of gas
(9:23:31 PM): They showed a lot of heart coming back
(9:23:58 PM): another 2 minutes and they would have won
(9:24:54 PM): Well it was an entertaining season. There is always next year.

Another year in the books, but the chance that next year will be better keeps you coming back. That's what so great about sports, every year you get a clean slate. But I'll never forget that one year that ending on a good note. That's enough to keep me coming back for years to come.