Well, it’s happened. I thought it might happen at the beginning of this college basketball season; I thought it might happen in the middle of the season, when it was clear they’d both be 1-seeds; I thought it might happen the first weekend of the tournament; and here we are. Monday night, it’s Purdue vs. UConn for the men’s college basketball championship.
You ever see Gordie Howe play for the Whalers? "Goddie" as some used to call him. No roids, but built like a brick shithouse from all that farm work in Canada. I think he played into his 50s. Still the greatest in my eyes, along with Bobby Hull (who was a terrible person, but an explosive hockey player). The NHL just isn't the same anymore, sadly.
As a lifelong Marylander, I really hate that the Terrapins are in the Big Ten. It's gross. No more MD vs Duke basketball clashes. I'll still never get over it.
As fun as it is to watch college football, I hate the greed that has destroyed conference after conference and rivalry after rivalry.
As a staunch UConn fan who is 82 years young, i remember the pre Calhoun and pre Auriemma lean years - loved your comments on the Big East breakup - obviously glad that UConn is back at home there. MSG is indeed a great tournament venue and showcase. Watched on TV the first time the women beat fabled Tennessee and the Pat - Geno rivalry started to heat up.
You are probably one of the few if not the only person who will be content no matter who wins.
We delayed our trip home back to CT from our winter residence to attend the Final Four. Monday’s game could be a potential classic.
A PhD in 4 years, or even 5, is incredibly fast. I took 7 years (probably would have been 6 without Megavideo) and I have friends who spent 10+ years in grad school.
I attached my undergraduate during the season USF’s Women’s Basketball toed up as No. 2 against UConn as No.1, and now I live in NC where both State teams are competing for title. Imagine that!
I'm a triple husky. BFA and MA in Dramatic Arts then started my teaching career as a Lecturer in Storrs. My PhD is from Wayne State University in Detroit. Retired as an emeritus professor from Boston University, they are playing in the frozen four.
This has been a great season. Being at UConn in the early 80s when both basketball teams were poor-to-mediocre it's been amazing to see how far they've come. And for the women to make it to the Final Four as beat up as they've been this season was a bonus.
“And it’ll be even easier to tell Duke and North Carolina to eat shit.” This seems unnecessary and petty. Why the vitriol? I guess I’m out, as I can’t in good conscience pay someone who tells me, unprovoked, to eat shit.
I hear you about the Big East. I grew up in what might be called their golden age, the mid 80's. It made me a basketball fan for life. I can still remember the sheer joy when Villanova upset Georgetown in 1985, which wasn't limited to just Villanova's campus, but was everywhere in the Philly region. Everyone was a basketball fan that day. Unfortunately the last decade or so it has lost its luster.
Good one. Start with an off-speed toss or two and then put ‘em in their place with a nice bit of chin music for the dolts who’ve overseen the utter demolition of college football, among other despicable pseudo-achievements. I’ll always consider the college sports scene as if it were locked in amber, the Big 8 exploits of Johnny Rodgers and Pac 8 dominance of Bill Walton as twin peaks. Funny that the venerable, comforting myth of amateurism birthed on the sepia-toned floor of the Yale Bowl back in the leather helmet days had such a long run and purchase on our hearts and minds, despite being largely fiction. But it was of noble intent, which clearly can’t be said of such dreary innovations as UCLA and USC enlisting in the Big 1G or whatever the hell it’s called now. Bah humbug.
That UConn game last night, despite never feeling in doubt, was one of the more entertaining NCAA games I've seen all year. I have a (not novel) notion that Clingen is going to eat Edey's lunch tomorrow night, at least relatively speaking to how dominant Edey's been.
I don't have any dog in this fight, so I'll just be rooting for the under. Betting on the under in the late stages of March Madness isn't as fun, but almost feels unfair how often it seems to hit. Players are super amped and generally tight, shooting in a huge stadium, and the public loves better the over.
I have no idea if data supports this in any way, but goddamn, it sure feels correct anecdotally.
You ever see Gordie Howe play for the Whalers? "Goddie" as some used to call him. No roids, but built like a brick shithouse from all that farm work in Canada. I think he played into his 50s. Still the greatest in my eyes, along with Bobby Hull (who was a terrible person, but an explosive hockey player). The NHL just isn't the same anymore, sadly.
Good stuff. I prefer columns like this to take a shot at Boston College who, while jumping into the life raft of the ACC, elbowed UCONN out and left them to drown. https://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/sports/bc-admits-it-doesnt-want-uconn-in-acc/1893542/
As a lifelong Marylander, I really hate that the Terrapins are in the Big Ten. It's gross. No more MD vs Duke basketball clashes. I'll still never get over it.
As fun as it is to watch college football, I hate the greed that has destroyed conference after conference and rivalry after rivalry.
Purdue vs UConn should be fun though.
As a staunch UConn fan who is 82 years young, i remember the pre Calhoun and pre Auriemma lean years - loved your comments on the Big East breakup - obviously glad that UConn is back at home there. MSG is indeed a great tournament venue and showcase. Watched on TV the first time the women beat fabled Tennessee and the Pat - Geno rivalry started to heat up.
You are probably one of the few if not the only person who will be content no matter who wins.
We delayed our trip home back to CT from our winter residence to attend the Final Four. Monday’s game could be a potential classic.
A PhD in 4 years, or even 5, is incredibly fast. I took 7 years (probably would have been 6 without Megavideo) and I have friends who spent 10+ years in grad school.
I attached my undergraduate during the season USF’s Women’s Basketball toed up as No. 2 against UConn as No.1, and now I live in NC where both State teams are competing for title. Imagine that!
UConn not even giving Caitlin Clark a look is further evidence that nobody really knows anything.
Solid post but I sort of need a pick here so I know what to do in my family pool
You're 100% right abut the old Big East. The basketball was out of this world.
I'm a triple husky. BFA and MA in Dramatic Arts then started my teaching career as a Lecturer in Storrs. My PhD is from Wayne State University in Detroit. Retired as an emeritus professor from Boston University, they are playing in the frozen four.
This has been a great season. Being at UConn in the early 80s when both basketball teams were poor-to-mediocre it's been amazing to see how far they've come. And for the women to make it to the Final Four as beat up as they've been this season was a bonus.
“And it’ll be even easier to tell Duke and North Carolina to eat shit.” This seems unnecessary and petty. Why the vitriol? I guess I’m out, as I can’t in good conscience pay someone who tells me, unprovoked, to eat shit.
Let’s go Canes!
I hear you about the Big East. I grew up in what might be called their golden age, the mid 80's. It made me a basketball fan for life. I can still remember the sheer joy when Villanova upset Georgetown in 1985, which wasn't limited to just Villanova's campus, but was everywhere in the Philly region. Everyone was a basketball fan that day. Unfortunately the last decade or so it has lost its luster.
Good one. Start with an off-speed toss or two and then put ‘em in their place with a nice bit of chin music for the dolts who’ve overseen the utter demolition of college football, among other despicable pseudo-achievements. I’ll always consider the college sports scene as if it were locked in amber, the Big 8 exploits of Johnny Rodgers and Pac 8 dominance of Bill Walton as twin peaks. Funny that the venerable, comforting myth of amateurism birthed on the sepia-toned floor of the Yale Bowl back in the leather helmet days had such a long run and purchase on our hearts and minds, despite being largely fiction. But it was of noble intent, which clearly can’t be said of such dreary innovations as UCLA and USC enlisting in the Big 1G or whatever the hell it’s called now. Bah humbug.
That UConn game last night, despite never feeling in doubt, was one of the more entertaining NCAA games I've seen all year. I have a (not novel) notion that Clingen is going to eat Edey's lunch tomorrow night, at least relatively speaking to how dominant Edey's been.
I don't have any dog in this fight, so I'll just be rooting for the under. Betting on the under in the late stages of March Madness isn't as fun, but almost feels unfair how often it seems to hit. Players are super amped and generally tight, shooting in a huge stadium, and the public loves better the over.
I have no idea if data supports this in any way, but goddamn, it sure feels correct anecdotally.