Omaha Reminds Me of "Bull Durham"

I love sports--this is a shock to no one. But there are two times of the year where I can barely have a conversation without being distracted by the television: College Basketball's March Madness and the College World Series. Both of these distractions become far more exasperated if any of the following teams are involved: Gonzaga Bulldogs, (South*) Carolina Gamecocks, Notre Dame and Clemson.

This weekend my baby brother and his girlfriend game to visit. We went out to eat on Sunday, and I, of course, made sure the waiter turned the nearest television to ESPN2 so that I could watch Coach Tanner and the Gamecocks. I contributed to conversation for the most part while constantly looking at the television. This only got worse when we got back to my place.

 My mom called around the top of the 9th--I feigned conversation, and then bluntly told my mom, "Gotta go. It's the bottom of the 9th and the Cocks are batting." (I think I did mumble an "I love you" before I hung up.) Then my husband tried to tell me a story when Robert Beary hit a double and I screamed at the TV. At that point everyone in the room realized, don't talk to Polly until the game is over. The end of the game didn't take too long, but with a tied score of 4 to 4, the anticipation always seems to drag it out. After the bases were loaded, Scott Wingo hit in the winning run. And the Gamecocks won their first game in Omaha; something they didn't even do when they won the Series last year.

It was awesome! But, I think the most hilarious moment of the evening was listening to Wingo's post-game interview. It reminded me of the scene in Bull Durham when Crash Davis is telling Ebby Calvin LaLoosh the appropriate wording and phrases to say in an interview; and it was painfully obvious that no such lecture was given to Wingo. He said the word "battle" as a verb at least 7 times in an interview that totalled at most one minute and 45 seconds.

Crash Davis from Bull Durham.

 Don't get me wrong Scott Wingo is young, and he will have plenty of time to learn. Being a (not really) new Los Angeleno, I look forward to seeing him play for the Dodgers. And just in case he doesn't have is own Crash Davis, here's a sample of a well-rehearsed speech:
* The asterisk is for anyone who may not have been sure which team I was referring to if I had just said "Carolina." But for future reference, if Pondering Polly says "Carolina" or "USC," it means the University of South Carolina.

"I'm just happy to be here, and I hope I can help the ball club. I just want to give it my best shot, and the good Lord willing things will work out. You got to play 'em one day at a time. A good friend of mine use to say, 'This is a simple game. You throw the ball, you catch the ball, you hit the ball. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. And sometimes it rains.'"

Now Exiting Pleasantville

So, my Zags are out of the tourney (insert sad face here). I still say that we have an exceptionally young team, so all is not lost. Robert Sacre, who I contend is the best all around player of the Zags (despite the argument for Steven Gray), is a red shirt Junior--so barring drafting to the NBA early, we have at least one more year out of him. I speculate, although very early at this point, that those two years should be awesome. I also love the look of Harris, Stockton, Dower, Carter, etc for the following year.


Also, as a Zag fan I took great joy in the BYU fans' signs that read: "Zags have Stockton, BYU has Jimmer." This sign was hilarious to me on two fronts. The first: they could be comparing him to David Stockton; which is awesome--a senior to our walk on freshman. The second is perhaps they were comparing him to David's dad John. All I have to say to that is, John was a Zag 30 years ago, and college play means nothing to the NBA (i.e.: lame comparison, talk to me after almost 20 years in the NBA).


I could go on pouring out my undying love for the Zags, and I'm sure I will at a later date. (Please take note of the photo below and the Zags' fan in training.) But I have never been so happy to exit Pleasantville.  

My niece, the youngest Zag fan in the family!

I don't know if you've ever seen the Reese Witherspoon movie or not, but Jimmer Fredette of BYU is straight from that fictional town in my eyes. During the movie, the Pleasantville High School basketball team can't miss a shot; it doesn't matter where the shot is taken from. This was Jimmer the ENTIRE game. People were guarding, the shot went in. Shot taken feet, and I mean FEET, above the arc and it went in. Just passed the ball and immediately went up--it went in. It would have been pretty... if I wasn't a Zag fan. 


All that being said, I'm very happy he's graduating. BYU joins the WCC next year. I look forward to seeing them again, especially without Fredette (and Jackson Emery for that matter).  We'll see them in conference play in January 2012, and am certain (and pray) that it won't be a repeat of this game.

Will the Seed Flower?

That's the question that being a Zags fan I have to ask. For the past 12 years, we've performed underwhelmingly for 68% of our appearances.  That being said, we've performed exceptionally well (75%) of the time we were a number 10 seed or lower in the bracket (lowest being a 12 seed).

Simply put: the Gonzaga Bulldogs are on the top of their game when they are the underdog. I firmly believe we can make to the Elite Eight this year, and it's not just because I'm a Zag-faithful. Even Dick Vitale has the Zags going that far.

The Zags aren't even playing a "new" team in the tourney for their first game. They, in fact, played St. John's the opening round in 2000--a tourney in which they were a 10 seed and went to the Sweet 16.

Matt Santangelo scoring over St. John's in 2000. Photo from azstar.net

Beyond the seed and the team the Zags will play, if you're superstitious--and I am--you can also look at the bracket they are playing in. This year they are in the "southeast" bracket, which in the past was usually referred to as the "south" bracket. The two times the Zags have been in the "South/southeast" bracket, they've also made it to the Sweet 16.

I realize I'm making a great superstitious argument for why my Zags should go far in the Big Dance. But the truth is, out of the four brackets, the Southeast bracket is a wild card. It will truly depend on who plays the best game on which day; not, "they don't stand a chance against that powerhouse." As long as Mark Few brings the young Zags to play, the biggest competition in our bracket is Wisconsin.

So, let the Madness begin and I have my fingers crossed that we indeed see Wisconsin this tourney!

 

Feel Like Dancing!

 My Zags did it again! Mark Few is going to the Big Dance again and I can feel a jig coming on! To say I'm excited is putting it mildly. Last night I about drove my television crazy by constantly turning it back to the game to check the score, and I was thrilled when I could finally celebrate. (I also want to note here that I knew the Zags would continue to dominate.)

The ZAGS!!!!

I know what you're wondering, why wasn't I watching the game. The basic answer: I'm superstitious. The long answer is: When I've been able to watch conference (WCC) games this season, the Zags have lost. Out of conference play, they've won. So, I eagerly waited for score updates and refused to tune into my boys for longer than 8.5 seconds. Superstitious much? Very when it comes to my teams. I will make sure to where the right shirt, shoes, sit in the same chair, and even drink the same type of beer if the moment calls for it.

Posted by GonzagaBulldogs twitter account. The trophy is back home!

Also, last night means I'm not quite as angry that I was traveling this coming Sunday. I was on pins and needles trying to figure out how I was going to watch Selection Sunday while on a plane. Now it's just a question of where in the bracket the Zags are, not are we in a bracket. I will still be eager to see, but I won't be grumpy I can't watch.

All that being said, if (and hopefully when) the Zags make the Sweet 16, I pray they go to Anaheim. Parts of my superstitions will go out the window because I. WILL. be. there.

PS-If you love March Madness, don't forget to fill out your bracket after Selection Sunday!

The End of Dominance?

I watched Gonzaga play (lose to) St. Mary's Thursday night on ESPN2. During the broadcast, they aired a package that looked like it was made by a college student who had just learned how to edit (you know the type: quick cuts, graphics that a 4 year old could do). The package asked if it was the end of Gonzaga's dominance in the WCC. The package irritated me to say the least, because I find it hard to believe that after this season with the Zags' sole senior Steven Gray gone that they won't be back on top. (And I'm not saying Gray's the problem, just noting that he is the ONLY senior.)

These are just a few of my shirts (including one jersey).

Yes, I'm a die hard Zags fan, which means I could be biased (and probably am). I was a Zags fan in diapers listening to my recent Gonzaga Alum father talk about some guy named John Stockton. Then with the creation of the same network responsible for the tragically produced package, I was granted my most memorable Daddy/daughter moments; even now when we're 3,000 miles apart. 


Growing up in South Carolina we weren't able to watch Gonzaga that often, but we always kept track. Then the Zags bested the Clemson Tigers in 1997, and daddy and I could watch and not just discuss the team that we loved. We watched Dan Monson take the Zags to the Dance. I was given tickets for Christmas to see the Zags play live, once was for March Madness and another for the Peach Bowl Classic. Being a true sports fan, these events are seared into my memory--including the fights with a drunk Michigan State fan and the entire Georgia Bulldog pep band.


My love for the Zags is very dear to my heart. I'm a HUGE Daddy's girl and our love for the Zags alone is a bond that I'm sure most girls wish for. I find it very hard to believe, and maybe it is my blind adoration, that one season marks an end of an era of dominance. 


Duke hasn't always won the ACC but they are still dominating. Every team needs a season every 10-12 years to rebuild (most need one every 4-5 years). We have outstanding freshmen who need to get a little more experience. We have that guy John Stockton's son David this year. He's played very well for the most part this season (however, I did want to ring his neck on Thursday for taking an unbalanced 3-point shot with roughly 20 seconds left and no shot clock running). 

Pulled from slumz.boxden.com

I have high hopes for my Zags and Coach Mark Few.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed (and toes and anything else crossable) that we win the WCC tournament, because with our current record I don't know if we will make it to March Madness if we don't. But being a part of the Dance or not, my heart will be in Spokane with my Zags.