It’s the NCAA men’s basketball title game tonight, so this will be a sports rant. First off, let me say this about the state of college basketball. Any fan of the game can clearly see the impact of the NBA game on college basketball. Kentucky, currently leading by 16 points near the end of the first half, plays a brand of basketball that I can only compare to the Miami Heat. It seems as though they have 5 games of one on one happening at the same time. Nobody moves or cuts to create passing lanes, pick and rolls are non-existent, and the Cats are not shy about jacking up three pointers as opposed to making the extra pass for a layup. Know why? Because if you sink a deep three, you get on SportsCenter, you get noticed, and the public thinks you are a much better basketball player than you actually are. The college game (and NBA game for that matter) has changed so much just in the last 15 years. It has evolved into a ‘look at me’ culture that encourages individuality and showboating as opposed to teamwork and sacrifice. Norman Dale wasn’t right about everything, but he sure knew how to instill discipline in his team.
I am glad that I am watching this game on delay via DVR, because I have absolute zero interest in hearing President Obama’s thoughts on the state of college basketball. And just for the record, I would be saying this no matter who the president was. I am interested if he is discussing fiscal responsibility with my tax dollars, not so much on which defense is better, the zone or man-to-man. Thank God for the DVR. Kentucky leads by 14 at halftime, they have won 40 straight games after leading at halftime (should I even keep watching?), and CBS, ‘America’s Most Watched Network’ (can I get some proof of that please?), has not shown Ashley Judd once. Ashley Judd, the fine actress and the only reportedly sane member of the Judd family, is from Kentucky and their self-proclaimed #1 fan. Hooray! Go Cats!
Kansas has scored six straight points to cut the lead to 12, and I am starting to think that this is going to be a good rivalry from two power programs. Oh wait, that’s right, 80% of the starters in this game are leaving early for the NBA draft. See what I mean? For every LeBron James or Carmelo Anthony, there are 10 Chris Tafts of Stromile Swifts (underclassmen who left college early and flamed out). I guess they are just kids, really, who have agents whispering their ears to go pro and ‘get your money’. It’s difficult to place all of the blame on them, but they do need to absorb responsibility for their actions, positively or negatively, which a as a sidebar, is a huge problem in society today. Under 16 minute time out, Kentucky by 13, and 4 minutes later the lead has been cut to 10. Maybe I should stick with this game and leave my date with Patty Hewes for tomorrow. This game suddenly just got interesting. Updated: Kentucky ended up winning by eight despite a furious rally by Kansas. The teams I routinely route against always seem to win. Darn.
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