Wednesday, March 31, 2010
The Final Four and Other Thoughts...
Well, once again my teams fell short in their bids to earn a trip to the Final Four in Indianapolis. Last Thursday, Xavier lost in double overtime to Kansas State in what many consider the best game of the NCAA tournament this year. The following night, Ohio State lost a heart breaker to Tennessee when Evan Turner was fouled attempting to shoot a game tying 3-pointer as time was expiring, unfortunately, the referee missed the foul so Turner didn't get a chance to shoot the 3 foul shots that could have sent the game into overtime. Don't believe it was a foul? Watch the replay, I did. The Tennessee player is leaning into Turner and he may have hit the ball but he also hit Turner's arm and body, as well.
So who do I root for now? Butler of course. A win by Butler gives other smaller schools hope. A win by Butler tells programs like St. Joe's, Xavier, Dayton and Northern Iowa that you don't have to be from a big name conference to compete for a national title. More importantly, it tells high school players that you don't need to go to Duke, North Carolina or Kansas to have a chance to win a championship ring. So let's go Bulldogs, here's one basketball fan who is hoping your storybook season ends with you winning a national championship in your own hometown.
I heard today that it is very probable there will be a field of 96 in next year's NCAA tournament. To that I say, why? You have the greatest event in all of sports, why screw with it? Why dilute the field? I'm sorry but the #66 team in the country does not deserve a shot at the NC. (More importantly, they'd have no shot of winning, either!) Dick Vitale thought it was a travesty that Virginia Tech didn't make the field of 65; they couldn't even make it to the final four of the NIT. You have an incredible product NCAA, don't let greed lessen it's appeal.
One more thing regarding college basketball; they need to do something to improve the quality of officiating. Allowing 60 year old, out of shape men who can hardly run up the court attempt to control a game being played by some of the greatest athletes in the country is simply not acceptable. They miss calls, whistle fouls on what they think they see as opposed to what actually happens and in games that typically come down to the final possessions of the game it's not fair that kids have they hearts ripped out because of the officials incompetence. Give some of these guys like Timmy Higgins and Joe DeMayo a life time achievement award and send them off to pasture. On the other end, put together a 'referee institute' and train younger, in shape individuals to officiate NCAA games. Have specific guidelines which the referees must meet before they are able to call games; simple guidelines like being in shape, being able to run without limping, 20/20 vision and the 'onion's to call a foul no matter what the situation is in the game. A play that's a foul for 39 minutes should not stop being a foul when the game is on the line. There are some good referees out there but the ones who you know by name typically aren't; you referee should go unnoticed. It's hard not to notice Tim Higgins waddling up the court blowing call after call.
I picked Judd up from UD last night and Aaron is on his way home from St. Louis as I type so our whole family will be together through the Easter holiday. It will be great to have everyone home - I miss having the boys around and while I know they'll drive Abbey nuts while they're home, deep down she'll enjoy having them around, too.
Finally, I'd like to say thanks again to everyone who has reached over the past week to offer their thoughts, prayers and support. I'll start my maintenance rituxan treatments on April 6 and it's very comforting to know you have the support of so many wonderful family members and friends. I'm also very close to hitting my $4000 fund raising goal for my upcoming cycle ride; thnks to everyone who has made a contribution to this very important cause. It was fund raising events sponsored by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society 20 to 25 years ago that led to the development of Rituxan which is the most effective drug at treating follicular lymphoma. Who can say what our fund raising efforts will lead to but I know we are getting closer to finding actual cures everyday. It will indeed be a wonderful day when we can actually say we can cure all blood related cancers.
Have a wonderful Easter!
Vince
So who do I root for now? Butler of course. A win by Butler gives other smaller schools hope. A win by Butler tells programs like St. Joe's, Xavier, Dayton and Northern Iowa that you don't have to be from a big name conference to compete for a national title. More importantly, it tells high school players that you don't need to go to Duke, North Carolina or Kansas to have a chance to win a championship ring. So let's go Bulldogs, here's one basketball fan who is hoping your storybook season ends with you winning a national championship in your own hometown.
I heard today that it is very probable there will be a field of 96 in next year's NCAA tournament. To that I say, why? You have the greatest event in all of sports, why screw with it? Why dilute the field? I'm sorry but the #66 team in the country does not deserve a shot at the NC. (More importantly, they'd have no shot of winning, either!) Dick Vitale thought it was a travesty that Virginia Tech didn't make the field of 65; they couldn't even make it to the final four of the NIT. You have an incredible product NCAA, don't let greed lessen it's appeal.
One more thing regarding college basketball; they need to do something to improve the quality of officiating. Allowing 60 year old, out of shape men who can hardly run up the court attempt to control a game being played by some of the greatest athletes in the country is simply not acceptable. They miss calls, whistle fouls on what they think they see as opposed to what actually happens and in games that typically come down to the final possessions of the game it's not fair that kids have they hearts ripped out because of the officials incompetence. Give some of these guys like Timmy Higgins and Joe DeMayo a life time achievement award and send them off to pasture. On the other end, put together a 'referee institute' and train younger, in shape individuals to officiate NCAA games. Have specific guidelines which the referees must meet before they are able to call games; simple guidelines like being in shape, being able to run without limping, 20/20 vision and the 'onion's to call a foul no matter what the situation is in the game. A play that's a foul for 39 minutes should not stop being a foul when the game is on the line. There are some good referees out there but the ones who you know by name typically aren't; you referee should go unnoticed. It's hard not to notice Tim Higgins waddling up the court blowing call after call.
I picked Judd up from UD last night and Aaron is on his way home from St. Louis as I type so our whole family will be together through the Easter holiday. It will be great to have everyone home - I miss having the boys around and while I know they'll drive Abbey nuts while they're home, deep down she'll enjoy having them around, too.
Finally, I'd like to say thanks again to everyone who has reached over the past week to offer their thoughts, prayers and support. I'll start my maintenance rituxan treatments on April 6 and it's very comforting to know you have the support of so many wonderful family members and friends. I'm also very close to hitting my $4000 fund raising goal for my upcoming cycle ride; thnks to everyone who has made a contribution to this very important cause. It was fund raising events sponsored by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society 20 to 25 years ago that led to the development of Rituxan which is the most effective drug at treating follicular lymphoma. Who can say what our fund raising efforts will lead to but I know we are getting closer to finding actual cures everyday. It will indeed be a wonderful day when we can actually say we can cure all blood related cancers.
Have a wonderful Easter!
Vince
# posted by Vince Hopkins @ 6:57 PM 
