There's something symmetrical, I think, about turning 60 earlier this month and then attending the 60th Anniversary celebration for Allen Fieldhouse, which took place in that wonderful old barn last night. The symmetry exists in how important Allen Fieldhouse is to me--heck, it's even the inspiration for the name of this blog given my perch in section 10 in the Phog.
I feel like I grew up in Allen Fieldhouse. My parents began taking me to games when I was nine or 10 and from then on in my life, the number of games I missed only numbered in the dozens. I witnessed, night after night and afternoon after afternoon, great games played by the likes of Wesley, White, Robisch, Stallworth, Valentine, Manning, Vaughn, Pierce, Collison, Simien, Collins and Robinson, and by lesser-known names like Franz, Kivisto, Kellogg, Thompson, Turgeon, Robertson, Morningstar, Reed and Releford. I saw guys go off on Kansas--guys with names like Peeler and Durant--yet still lose, and I saw coaches stride off of the Allen Fieldhouse floor in a sullen funk, having been beaten yet again by the Jayhawks.
After I left home for school and then professional life, I always knew that I could count on seeing my parents, each game, at Allen Fieldhouse. My first date with my wife was to a Kansas-Missouri game in that building. My best friend, who died way too early in life, and I shared season tickets when doing so meant a significant hit to our respective disposable incomes. And, both of my children attended their first sporting event in, yep, the Phog.
If a building has a soul, as Jay Bilas contends with Allen Fieldhouse, then my soul and that of this building are inextricably woven.
I realize that I am incredibly lucky to have had the opportunity to step into Allen Fieldhouse 500 plus time so that I could sit down on one of those rock-hard benches, get cozy with my neighbor, and look on as Kansas won one of its 713 home court victories in the Phog.
Last night's event was a chance to revel in the magic, relive the great moments, thank four of the five coaches (Dick Harp is deceased) who coached in this building, and pay homage to the greatest home venue in all of college sports. It's the loudest arena in the land, says ESPN Magazine, and it's the "St. Andrews of college basketball," says Bilas. Most importantly, it's home--home to so many great memories that I know are shared by all of those who see themselves as part of this wonderful family and heritage.
"Pay Heed" indeed--you truly can go home again.
Tuesday, October 28, 2014
Monday, October 20, 2014
It's been a long 29 years
It's World Series Eve and everything that could be written about these amazing, logic-defying Kansas City Royals seems to have been written. Media outlets from the Huffington Post to the Wall Street Journal to Buzzfeed to the New York Times have sung the praises of this team and the town that they are representing. It's one big, nationwide love affair, outside of the state of California, with the boys in blue and their long-suffering fans who have waited a generation--in some cases, a lifetime--for this moment.
From a local perspective, the eight wins in a row have ignited an outpouring of affection, pride, catharsis, giddy behavior and genuine love for a franchise that had lost this community. Because, you see, while the eight wins are great and ultimately the reason for the Royals' first appearance in the World Series since 1985, it's the guys who are donning the uniforms and the relationship they've created with Kansas City that is truly special.
This is a franchise, after all, who had little in the way of a public persona in Kansas City. The owner and his son were vilified for running a "stack 'em high and sell 'em cheap" retail-like operation and the GM was guilty by association. Where the Chiefs and Sporting KC had cultivated civic and community relationships by engaging with fans and local leaders, the Royals seemed to have a bunker mentality with players who quickly came and went.
All of that has suddenly changed. Yes, winning does wonders at changing perceptions but let's give this team and its ownership credit--they won with gritty play and with a cast of characters who have not only played hard and smart but have shown their human, personal sides as well. Newborn babies are part of this storyline as are hot prospects given up for baseball dead; $15,000 bar tabs paid for by Royals players combined with a Korean fan-of-fans; guys sharing their ALCS trophy at an NBA exhibition game--all of this has combined into a story of redemption, community pride, and shoulders held back a bit more straight.
This has been a magical two weeks in Kansas City for a franchise that was down 7-3 in the 8th inning of a lose-and-go-home Wild Card Game against one of the best pitchers in baseball. And, we all know what happened next.
Continue to ride with us, enjoy the moment, and let's all say "thanks" to a team of good guys who are representing a city with humility, grace, smiles and hard work. That, I'd say, sounds like a description of the people of this wonderful town. It's nice that the rest of the world seems to now be noticing.
From a local perspective, the eight wins in a row have ignited an outpouring of affection, pride, catharsis, giddy behavior and genuine love for a franchise that had lost this community. Because, you see, while the eight wins are great and ultimately the reason for the Royals' first appearance in the World Series since 1985, it's the guys who are donning the uniforms and the relationship they've created with Kansas City that is truly special.
This is a franchise, after all, who had little in the way of a public persona in Kansas City. The owner and his son were vilified for running a "stack 'em high and sell 'em cheap" retail-like operation and the GM was guilty by association. Where the Chiefs and Sporting KC had cultivated civic and community relationships by engaging with fans and local leaders, the Royals seemed to have a bunker mentality with players who quickly came and went.
All of that has suddenly changed. Yes, winning does wonders at changing perceptions but let's give this team and its ownership credit--they won with gritty play and with a cast of characters who have not only played hard and smart but have shown their human, personal sides as well. Newborn babies are part of this storyline as are hot prospects given up for baseball dead; $15,000 bar tabs paid for by Royals players combined with a Korean fan-of-fans; guys sharing their ALCS trophy at an NBA exhibition game--all of this has combined into a story of redemption, community pride, and shoulders held back a bit more straight.
This has been a magical two weeks in Kansas City for a franchise that was down 7-3 in the 8th inning of a lose-and-go-home Wild Card Game against one of the best pitchers in baseball. And, we all know what happened next.
Continue to ride with us, enjoy the moment, and let's all say "thanks" to a team of good guys who are representing a city with humility, grace, smiles and hard work. That, I'd say, sounds like a description of the people of this wonderful town. It's nice that the rest of the world seems to now be noticing.
Saturday, October 4, 2014
It IS a Blue October!
What do you say about these Kansas City Royals that hasn't already been written, told or explained? That a whole city has stayed up well past its collective bed time on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday of this week? That two guys that were written off at various times in their young careers have now hit home runs, on consecutive nights in extra innings, that resulted in the winning runs? That a lost generation of baseball fans has momentarily hit the "pause" button on their love affair with Sporting KC and is actually wearing Royals paraphernalia and talking baseball? Yes, yes and yes.
I've lived in this city for 35 years and have never experienced this community as united in an "isn't this fun" vibe given the Royals current postseason run. Sure, the team won the World Series in 1985 and played in the Series in 1980. Yet, this feels very, very different and I think it's been caused by the 29 years of baseball purgatory for fans in this city.
No one, and I mean no one, saw this coming. The Royals came up a game short in the AL Central and were thus placed in that most awful of sudden death formats--Major League Baseball's Wild Card game. We all know what happened with that storybook comeback and finish. Next, the team won in extra innings in the ALDS not one, but twice, and now has two chances at home to wrap up this series and move on to the ALCS.
Let's not get ahead of ourselves and anoint the Royals a World Series participant just yet. For now, let's soak up the euphoria, don our blue, and rejoice in the fact that this is now, indeed, a #BlueOctober. Whodathunkit!?
I've lived in this city for 35 years and have never experienced this community as united in an "isn't this fun" vibe given the Royals current postseason run. Sure, the team won the World Series in 1985 and played in the Series in 1980. Yet, this feels very, very different and I think it's been caused by the 29 years of baseball purgatory for fans in this city.
No one, and I mean no one, saw this coming. The Royals came up a game short in the AL Central and were thus placed in that most awful of sudden death formats--Major League Baseball's Wild Card game. We all know what happened with that storybook comeback and finish. Next, the team won in extra innings in the ALDS not one, but twice, and now has two chances at home to wrap up this series and move on to the ALCS.
Let's not get ahead of ourselves and anoint the Royals a World Series participant just yet. For now, let's soak up the euphoria, don our blue, and rejoice in the fact that this is now, indeed, a #BlueOctober. Whodathunkit!?
Sunday, September 28, 2014
Another KU coaching reign comes to an end
Let's be fair--Charlie Weis inherited a pile of dog dew at Kansas when he arrived on campus in December 2011. The Lew Perkins' hire of Turner Gill was an abject failure at every level--the performance on the field was abysmal, players weren't exactly consistent in their class attendance, and stories of off-field issues were all too common. Gill failed to connect with fans and his well-worn cliches became the focus of alumni bitch sessions.
Weis righted Gill's wrongs in the classroom and chased off guys who were disciplinary problems, such that he immediately was disadvantaged in competing at a Division I level, much less in the Big 12.
But, make no mistake--today's firing was necessary. Yes, I know this is Kansas and, yes, I know how many head football coaches have come--and gone--on Mt. Oread. The issue, beyond the obvious win-loss record, is that Weis lost support of donors, season ticket buyers, students and just about every other audience that is important to a power conference head coach. In fact, one could argue that Weis NEVER had support of these audiences. In today's world of college athletics, negative impacts on revenue are never a good thing nor is a lack of competitiveness in a sport that recently dictated which schools had relevance, and which did not, in the realignment discussion.
The hiring of Weis was a splash, for better or for worse, and briefly elevated the visibility of a program that had gone into free fall after an Orange Bowl win and a follow-up season that included an Insight Bowl victory. Weis came to campus not only to clean up the Gill debacle but to also restore credibility to a program that had a messy divorce with Mark Mangino. It didn't work.
Weis leaves Kansas with a lot--I mean, a lot--of money coming his way given the continued checks headed to his account from South Bend and the buyout due from KU. He takes with him his "schematic advantage," his Super Bowl rings, and his job references from Tom Brady. He also takes with him a grand total of six wins in three seasons at Kansas with two of those W's coming over FCS schools.
The list of issues with Weis are many but, in the end, his most egregious was his inability to find and/or develop a quarterback at Kansas. KU fans were thrilled when news came of Dayne Crist's transfer to Kansas followed by the same news regarding Jake Heaps. Both of those guys were recruited to run Weis' pro-style offense. Silly us--it takes a premier offensive line to run a pro-style offense and Kansas simply did not have the talent up front to protect two immobile QBs. (The same pro-style offense didn't work in Weis' brief stint at Florida, either.) And, both highly recruited quarterbacks never displayed the talent that was showcased in their high school offensive systems. Both players were over-sold to a hungry Kansas public, followed by Weis' praise for the potential of current QB, Montell Cozart.
Kansas fans are now left with what has become an all-too-frequent discussion--who will be the next coach of this now moribund program? The sexy name will likely be Ed Orgeron with some suggesting that KU make another run for Jim Harbaugh, who was oh-so-close to being in Lawrence three years ago. My hope is that Dr. Zenger goes for the less splashy but the more solid choice--David Beaty at Texas A&M or Ed Warriner at Ohio State. Both have spent time in Lawrence, both know Texas high school football, and both look and talk the part. And, make no mistake--selling the program, to any and all who will listen, may be the most critical qualification of the next head coach at the University of Kansas. Kansas simply cannot afford anything less than stability and improvement for what, in the current world order of college sports, is the most important program in the athletics department.
Weis righted Gill's wrongs in the classroom and chased off guys who were disciplinary problems, such that he immediately was disadvantaged in competing at a Division I level, much less in the Big 12.
But, make no mistake--today's firing was necessary. Yes, I know this is Kansas and, yes, I know how many head football coaches have come--and gone--on Mt. Oread. The issue, beyond the obvious win-loss record, is that Weis lost support of donors, season ticket buyers, students and just about every other audience that is important to a power conference head coach. In fact, one could argue that Weis NEVER had support of these audiences. In today's world of college athletics, negative impacts on revenue are never a good thing nor is a lack of competitiveness in a sport that recently dictated which schools had relevance, and which did not, in the realignment discussion.
The hiring of Weis was a splash, for better or for worse, and briefly elevated the visibility of a program that had gone into free fall after an Orange Bowl win and a follow-up season that included an Insight Bowl victory. Weis came to campus not only to clean up the Gill debacle but to also restore credibility to a program that had a messy divorce with Mark Mangino. It didn't work.
Weis leaves Kansas with a lot--I mean, a lot--of money coming his way given the continued checks headed to his account from South Bend and the buyout due from KU. He takes with him his "schematic advantage," his Super Bowl rings, and his job references from Tom Brady. He also takes with him a grand total of six wins in three seasons at Kansas with two of those W's coming over FCS schools.
The list of issues with Weis are many but, in the end, his most egregious was his inability to find and/or develop a quarterback at Kansas. KU fans were thrilled when news came of Dayne Crist's transfer to Kansas followed by the same news regarding Jake Heaps. Both of those guys were recruited to run Weis' pro-style offense. Silly us--it takes a premier offensive line to run a pro-style offense and Kansas simply did not have the talent up front to protect two immobile QBs. (The same pro-style offense didn't work in Weis' brief stint at Florida, either.) And, both highly recruited quarterbacks never displayed the talent that was showcased in their high school offensive systems. Both players were over-sold to a hungry Kansas public, followed by Weis' praise for the potential of current QB, Montell Cozart.
Kansas fans are now left with what has become an all-too-frequent discussion--who will be the next coach of this now moribund program? The sexy name will likely be Ed Orgeron with some suggesting that KU make another run for Jim Harbaugh, who was oh-so-close to being in Lawrence three years ago. My hope is that Dr. Zenger goes for the less splashy but the more solid choice--David Beaty at Texas A&M or Ed Warriner at Ohio State. Both have spent time in Lawrence, both know Texas high school football, and both look and talk the part. And, make no mistake--selling the program, to any and all who will listen, may be the most critical qualification of the next head coach at the University of Kansas. Kansas simply cannot afford anything less than stability and improvement for what, in the current world order of college sports, is the most important program in the athletics department.
Sunday, August 31, 2014
Week one of the new world order of college football
Week one of the "best regular season in sports" is complete and it was hard, while watching, to not think about the impact of teams' performances on the College Football Playoff selection process. Yes, "that" playoff starts this season and already we've got story lines developing for consideration by the 13-person selection committee.
Here are some initial observations.
Nick and Lane: Okay, there was just something a little unsettling about seeing Lane Kiffin and Nick Saban roaming the same sideline, wondering whether the two could co-exist under the pressure cooker of all that is Crimson Tide football and inflated expectations. Saban lauded Kiffin after the game with his handling of new QB, Blake Sims, and the offensive game plan. Bama's coach was less pleased with his defense who he called out as "soft" at halftime.
Jameis being Jameis: When a big play needed to be made, last year's Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston made it for Florida State, running in from 28 yards for a touchdown when Oklahoma State was threatening to upset the preseason number one team.
Don't schedule NDSU: North Dakota State continued its dominance of FBS teams in week one action, knocking off Iowa State on the road and notching its fifth such FBS victory since 2010. Former Kansas head coach Mark Mangino's debut as ISU's offensive coordinator netted only 14 points against the Bison's defense, all in the first half.
Under the dome: Notre Dame opened in impressive fashion by dominating Rice, in South Bend, 48-17. The headline for the Irish was the return of QB Everett Golson who looked good--14 of 22 for 295 yards passing and 41 yards rushing on 12 carries.
Sign that kid: In case you missed it, here's the YouTube link to the Auburn ball boy who displayed his wheels in going stride for stride with wide receiver Melvin Ray on a touchdown catch.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2181821-auburn-ball-boy-shows-off-blazing-speed-vs-arkansas?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=share&utm_campaign=web-des-art-top-23
Impressive: Oklahoma State's youngsters, Kansas State's Jake Waters, Winston, Nebraska's 29 straight season opener wins, Kenny "don't call me 'Kenny Football'" Hill, the lightning in Gainesville, FL.
Not so much...: Ohio State, South Carolina, Paul Rhoads, Iowa, ESPN's studio crew of Rece Davis, Lou Holtz and Mark May.
Here are some initial observations.
Nick and Lane: Okay, there was just something a little unsettling about seeing Lane Kiffin and Nick Saban roaming the same sideline, wondering whether the two could co-exist under the pressure cooker of all that is Crimson Tide football and inflated expectations. Saban lauded Kiffin after the game with his handling of new QB, Blake Sims, and the offensive game plan. Bama's coach was less pleased with his defense who he called out as "soft" at halftime.
Jameis being Jameis: When a big play needed to be made, last year's Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston made it for Florida State, running in from 28 yards for a touchdown when Oklahoma State was threatening to upset the preseason number one team.
Don't schedule NDSU: North Dakota State continued its dominance of FBS teams in week one action, knocking off Iowa State on the road and notching its fifth such FBS victory since 2010. Former Kansas head coach Mark Mangino's debut as ISU's offensive coordinator netted only 14 points against the Bison's defense, all in the first half.
Under the dome: Notre Dame opened in impressive fashion by dominating Rice, in South Bend, 48-17. The headline for the Irish was the return of QB Everett Golson who looked good--14 of 22 for 295 yards passing and 41 yards rushing on 12 carries.
Sign that kid: In case you missed it, here's the YouTube link to the Auburn ball boy who displayed his wheels in going stride for stride with wide receiver Melvin Ray on a touchdown catch.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2181821-auburn-ball-boy-shows-off-blazing-speed-vs-arkansas?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=share&utm_campaign=web-des-art-top-23
Impressive: Oklahoma State's youngsters, Kansas State's Jake Waters, Winston, Nebraska's 29 straight season opener wins, Kenny "don't call me 'Kenny Football'" Hill, the lightning in Gainesville, FL.
Not so much...: Ohio State, South Carolina, Paul Rhoads, Iowa, ESPN's studio crew of Rece Davis, Lou Holtz and Mark May.
Sunday, April 6, 2014
Reporting in from Jerry World
It's Jerry's world and we're all just livin' in it--all 79,444 of us. Here's my report from yesterday's NCAA Tournament semi-finals at AT&T Stadium and some thoughts on this Final Four from Dallas...er, uh, "north Texas."
- The Westboro Baptist Church, Topeka, KS, was in force outside of the stadium promoting their homophobic hate-mongering. Plenty of police were nearby.
- The north Texas weather was anything but welcoming as cool temps and rain kept fans away from the pre-game tailgate and the block party, featuring Tim McGraw, in downtown Dallas. Only 10,000 or so hearty souls showed up for McGraw's set which was opened by none other than LL Cool J. (Interesting mix of artists, huh?) Cool J later showed up courtside at AT&T Stadium--he was one of probably 5,000 or so who could actually see the game from their vantage point without reliance upon one of the four "small" video screens or the two mega-deluxe "big" screens.
- Kansas did have a presence at this event--photographer Rich Clarkson was in the house with his credential, covering yet another Final Four. The KU alum first covered the 1952 Final Four--an event that issued six photographer credentials. This year, there are 129 photo credentials and 1,829 media credentials.
- Let's talk about sight lines, shall we? AT&T Stadium is Texas-sized excess and is jaw-dropping upon first seeing and then entering the building. And, that's what the ticket the 79,000 plus held got them--into the building. For all but a few thousand, the viewing experience stunk with heads constantly turned upward (or down, if one sat in the 300 sections or higher) to see the mega-screen. It's an expensive way for the common fan to be able to say "I was there."
- Celebrities in the crowd includes Johnny Manziel (suite), Dwight Howard (sitting among the Florida students), Danica Patrick (in a suite along with beau and fellow NASCAR driver Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., who was not identified alongside Patrick on the big screen), Drake (sitting among Kentucky fans), Troy Aikman (suite), Jerry Jones (his suite, of course), LL Cool J (court side), and CBS' Les Moonves, who sat next to Jones and was not identified on the big screen when the camera showed Jerry in his suite.
- Tubby Smith received a big round of applause from Kentucky fans when he was introduced along with fellow Final Four Coaches Club members Jim Calhoun, Roy Williams and Jim Larranga.
- Is it just me or does everyone in Dallas own a BMW or a truck?
- North Texas is putting its best foot forward for this event but the unfortunate reality is that this metropolitan area is just too spread out to be considered one of the best Final Four cities. Unlike San Antonio, Indianapolis or Atlanta, events are spread out enough that driving is a necessity and the stadium is stuck in Arlington. ESPN has its set in Fort Worth, the NABC convention is at the Sheraton downtown, and the concerts are at Reunion Park, which is also downtown. Traffic has been manageable but it's still been a pain to navigate the area for this weekend.
- The Texas NASCAR race switched from its usual time slot of Saturday night to this afternoon. Unfortunately, the weather is not cooperating as it's rainy, cool and cloudy.
- Fans were warned not to leave AT&T Stadium between games last night due to severe weather in the area.
- Back on the fan experience, parking costs a cool $75 if you want to get near the stadium. If you're willing to walk about three-quarters of a mile, then your freight drops to $40.
- And, finally, what do we make of this match-up? Monday night's championship game will feature a seven seed and an eight seed, and two teams who did not win their regular season conference championships or their conference post-season tournaments. What we do have is an intriguing match-up of UConn quickness and lockdown perimeter defense against a Kentucky team that has obviously figured it out and is using superior athleticism coupled with guys making plays down the stretch. Let's also credit both coaches for getting their teams to this place--Kevin Ollie kept his guys' heads in the game when they got behind to Florida early and everyone in the building thought the Gators were headed to the championship, and John Calipari's early second half timeout fueled a Kentucky run that was key to their victory over Wisconsin.
- The Westboro Baptist Church, Topeka, KS, was in force outside of the stadium promoting their homophobic hate-mongering. Plenty of police were nearby.
- The north Texas weather was anything but welcoming as cool temps and rain kept fans away from the pre-game tailgate and the block party, featuring Tim McGraw, in downtown Dallas. Only 10,000 or so hearty souls showed up for McGraw's set which was opened by none other than LL Cool J. (Interesting mix of artists, huh?) Cool J later showed up courtside at AT&T Stadium--he was one of probably 5,000 or so who could actually see the game from their vantage point without reliance upon one of the four "small" video screens or the two mega-deluxe "big" screens.
- Kansas did have a presence at this event--photographer Rich Clarkson was in the house with his credential, covering yet another Final Four. The KU alum first covered the 1952 Final Four--an event that issued six photographer credentials. This year, there are 129 photo credentials and 1,829 media credentials.
- Let's talk about sight lines, shall we? AT&T Stadium is Texas-sized excess and is jaw-dropping upon first seeing and then entering the building. And, that's what the ticket the 79,000 plus held got them--into the building. For all but a few thousand, the viewing experience stunk with heads constantly turned upward (or down, if one sat in the 300 sections or higher) to see the mega-screen. It's an expensive way for the common fan to be able to say "I was there."
- Celebrities in the crowd includes Johnny Manziel (suite), Dwight Howard (sitting among the Florida students), Danica Patrick (in a suite along with beau and fellow NASCAR driver Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., who was not identified alongside Patrick on the big screen), Drake (sitting among Kentucky fans), Troy Aikman (suite), Jerry Jones (his suite, of course), LL Cool J (court side), and CBS' Les Moonves, who sat next to Jones and was not identified on the big screen when the camera showed Jerry in his suite.
- Tubby Smith received a big round of applause from Kentucky fans when he was introduced along with fellow Final Four Coaches Club members Jim Calhoun, Roy Williams and Jim Larranga.
- Is it just me or does everyone in Dallas own a BMW or a truck?
- North Texas is putting its best foot forward for this event but the unfortunate reality is that this metropolitan area is just too spread out to be considered one of the best Final Four cities. Unlike San Antonio, Indianapolis or Atlanta, events are spread out enough that driving is a necessity and the stadium is stuck in Arlington. ESPN has its set in Fort Worth, the NABC convention is at the Sheraton downtown, and the concerts are at Reunion Park, which is also downtown. Traffic has been manageable but it's still been a pain to navigate the area for this weekend.
- The Texas NASCAR race switched from its usual time slot of Saturday night to this afternoon. Unfortunately, the weather is not cooperating as it's rainy, cool and cloudy.
- Fans were warned not to leave AT&T Stadium between games last night due to severe weather in the area.
- Back on the fan experience, parking costs a cool $75 if you want to get near the stadium. If you're willing to walk about three-quarters of a mile, then your freight drops to $40.
- And, finally, what do we make of this match-up? Monday night's championship game will feature a seven seed and an eight seed, and two teams who did not win their regular season conference championships or their conference post-season tournaments. What we do have is an intriguing match-up of UConn quickness and lockdown perimeter defense against a Kentucky team that has obviously figured it out and is using superior athleticism coupled with guys making plays down the stretch. Let's also credit both coaches for getting their teams to this place--Kevin Ollie kept his guys' heads in the game when they got behind to Florida early and everyone in the building thought the Gators were headed to the championship, and John Calipari's early second half timeout fueled a Kentucky run that was key to their victory over Wisconsin.
Saturday, March 22, 2014
It's Madness...!
What have we learned after the first--ahem, second--round of the NCAA Tournament, a k a March Madness? Well, we know why Warren Buffett is not only smart but shrewd--who's surprised that no brackets, anywhere, are still in play for Buffett's $1 billion carrot for those hoping to pick a perfect bracket? We also know that, as a friend tweeted, "what the tourney giveth, the tourney taketh away" (see VCU, Duke, and Ohio State.)
Let's do some grades, shall we, on early round action...
Pass: 12 seeds. This is a tournament that, at least initially, will be known for the 12 seeds' dominance over five seeds--North Dakota State, Harvard and Stephen F. Austin all showed why the five seed is, annually, susceptible to the upset.
Fail: Not only did five seed VCU fall to Stephen F. Austin but they did it by giving up a four point play with less than a second left in regulation.
Pass: Thank you, NCAA and CBS, for expanding this tournament to Turner such that all games are televised and available for easy switching, to and fro throughout the day.
Fail: Albany's unis. Did you see those two-toned shorts? Talk about a Glamour don't...
Pass: Wichita State did what one seeds are supposed to do--they took care of business and easily demolished Cal Poly.
Fail: Quick service burger restaurants. What's with McDonald's cursory use of Johnny Manziel in the LeBron James commercial? And, it's two days in and I'm already tired of the Burger King spot with Chris Webber and the obnoxious screaming fan.
Pass: Bill Raftery and Verne Lundquist. Raftery is the most engaging, fun color guy of the tournament and Lundquist makes the perfect foil and sidekick. Yeah, these guys are long in the tooth but their voices just scream "March Madness."
Fail: Gus Johnson, where are you? We want you back...
Pass: Kansas' freshman. We all expected 19 points, 4 rebounds and 2 blocks from Andrew Wiggins but it was the two least heralded Jayhawk frosh--Conner Frankamp and Frank Mason--who provided significant minutes and production off the bench. Frankamp steadied a ship that was taking on water in the first half with his steady play and ended up with 10 points, four assists and no turnovers in 25 minutes of action.
Fail: Duke--it was the Blue Devils second opening round flameout in three years.
Let's do some grades, shall we, on early round action...
Pass: 12 seeds. This is a tournament that, at least initially, will be known for the 12 seeds' dominance over five seeds--North Dakota State, Harvard and Stephen F. Austin all showed why the five seed is, annually, susceptible to the upset.
Fail: Not only did five seed VCU fall to Stephen F. Austin but they did it by giving up a four point play with less than a second left in regulation.
Pass: Thank you, NCAA and CBS, for expanding this tournament to Turner such that all games are televised and available for easy switching, to and fro throughout the day.
Fail: Albany's unis. Did you see those two-toned shorts? Talk about a Glamour don't...
Pass: Wichita State did what one seeds are supposed to do--they took care of business and easily demolished Cal Poly.
Fail: Quick service burger restaurants. What's with McDonald's cursory use of Johnny Manziel in the LeBron James commercial? And, it's two days in and I'm already tired of the Burger King spot with Chris Webber and the obnoxious screaming fan.
Pass: Bill Raftery and Verne Lundquist. Raftery is the most engaging, fun color guy of the tournament and Lundquist makes the perfect foil and sidekick. Yeah, these guys are long in the tooth but their voices just scream "March Madness."
Fail: Gus Johnson, where are you? We want you back...
Pass: Kansas' freshman. We all expected 19 points, 4 rebounds and 2 blocks from Andrew Wiggins but it was the two least heralded Jayhawk frosh--Conner Frankamp and Frank Mason--who provided significant minutes and production off the bench. Frankamp steadied a ship that was taking on water in the first half with his steady play and ended up with 10 points, four assists and no turnovers in 25 minutes of action.
Fail: Duke--it was the Blue Devils second opening round flameout in three years.
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