Pre Final Four Musings
This past Sunday at around 4:30 another one of my team’s seasons came to a screeching hault. The Jayhawks dropped to the 11th seeded VCU Rams. Oh the memories are still fresh from just over a year ago when Ali Farokhmanesh took that ill-advised three-point shot from deep – splash… all of Lawrence Kansas cringed as did I. And with that, the 2010 Jayhawks season came to a chalky tasting bitter end. Similar to this year, KU was flat out-played and out energized by the upstart “FIRST FOUR” Rams from Richmond, Virginia – who somehow boasted two sweet 16 teams and sent one into the coveted Final Four. Quite an evolution. Jay Bilas ate crow, I sulked along with a large demographic of the Sunflower State. Shaka Smart broke it down on the sidelines of the Alamo Dome…the Dougie was looped on ESPN with those wretched Final Four hats being sported all crooked and uncouth… Really I’m over it…
This one was a bit different…at least for me. As an admittedly obsessive compulsive sports fanatic, this one didn’t sting as bad. Was it the fact that Kansas was not the “overall #1 seed”, or that they got out of the Round of 32 this year without punishing dissapointment? Maybe. This is how I saw it errr rationalized it… There are times as a fan when you cannot accept a loss: 1) The Stage - The Superbowl of accomplishments. Your team has made it to the promise land, the final challenge, the gates of Mordor. Just reaching that feat gives you some false sense of accomplishment. A foregone conclusion. Your team has a 50/50 shot to reach sports euphoria. For me this was Superbowl 42 - as Plaxico Burress caught an over-the-shoulder TD from Eli to cement a monumental (yet should-have-seen-it-coming-upset). Or this past summer when Kobe and the Lakers capitalized on the absence of Kendrick Perkins and showed up in the 4th to earn another title and to reaffirm Phil Jackson’s soundbite that the Celtics choke it up in the 4th Quarter. 2) Pre-Ordained Greatness - KU as an OVERALL #1 – Sherron Collins and Cole Aldrichs’ final season in Jayhawks gear with a diaper dandy Freshman Xavier Henry and a strong supporting cast. Drink the Kool-Aid, accept the hangover, and move on.
This had a different feel. After halftime when KU went on a big run to close the gap to two points, the fist pumping and cheers felt good. The sting from last year was still palpable, but it couldn’t happen again, could it? Oh yes, my friend, it could. Stats don’t lie. When a team goes something like 2-21 from 3-point land and the opposing team goes something like 12-21 from the same continent, you’ve got issues. And from the charity stripe you’re barely over 50%, I’m sorry…you don’t deserve it. You have to swallow some pride, accept defeat, and move on. Forget talent. Forget power-conference reputation. Forget a National Title three years ago. Forget the “re-load” vs. “re-build” recruiting pedigree of a blue chip program. Forget it all. You got beat. You got out-coached, out energized, out-everything’d. It still stings, burns, you hate it… but it somehow feels more acceptable.
Thank God (if you swing that way) for Opening Day tomorrow and Friday. A new season breeds the belief in a renewed chance for that same coveted sports euphoria…
No mini cam yet, our 2nd bedroom in our cramped little apartment has a futon, my wine fridge, a dinasor computer that collects dust and everything else that needs a temporary home, but I WILL make it my studio and bust out the flip cam and start blowing your minds with media and wine pairings.
For now though, why not jam on a bottle I opened last night – 2006 Waters Syrah, Columbia Valley, WA. Picked it up at our local Wine World for 12 big ones. Got home, scoped it out online and couldn’t find it for less than 28 or so dollars, so I was pleased I got a deal. Of course I didn’t want that to influence my opinion of the wine, and it didn’t.
A lot of wood and chocolate on the nose, clearly rich, dark red fruit as well. Spices also, but I’ll be damned right now if I can tell you what they are. Sending it to the lab in the morning. I’m kidding. It was very silky. Definite carob and dark chocolate flavors, maybe a little plum and cherries, too. Front end and mid palate was strong but it didn’t last too long on the finish. Still have half a glass that has been sucking air for 3 or so hours, I’ll score it later but I’m projecting 85-87. Its going down well with the re-run of Bones my wife is watching.
Welcome to Entertainment on the Vine!
My goal in starting this blog is to talk to, and more importantly with, anyone who enjoys my pinnacle passions. Film, Sports, and Wine. Stay tuned for voluminous content.
Cheers,
Allan
