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March 17, 2006
My mother always became upset with me when I practiced the piano as a child.I would play one song over and over and over again - to the point where I became so upset that I would start crying and never want to play it again.There was a reason for this. If I made a mistake - one mistake, any mistake, no matter how perfectly I had played the first part - I started at the beginning and tried again.And so I hated it. Piano playing seemed so unfair. No matter how much I practiced, I would still make errors. And no matter how perfect I played the first two pages, one mistake could ruin it all.In many ways, Kansas faces the same challenge tonight in the NCAA tournament as I did so often as an eight-year-old.One misstep, one missed shot, one missed note - and an entire year's worth of work could be ruined.I have to admit it. I won't enjoy it much when Kansas tips off against Bradley tonight.Now, don't get me wrong - it's not that I doubt the Baby Jays, or fear the Braves, or anything of the sort. It's just, as a fan, the toughest part of March Madness to stomach is when your team has to put its entire season on the line.I've learned the best part of the opening rounds is not watching Kansas. It's watching Northwestern St. - a team that usually only seen on a Bill Snyder football schedule - shocking Iowa with a miracle three from the corner. It's about cheering for the underdog - the no-name school from nowheresville - and remembering exactly where you were and what you were doing when Valparaiso's Bryce Drew dived on the floor and you celebrated along with him.That's the great part about the first round - no one gets a bye. Anyone, literally, can lose.Which is exactly the problem when your team is in the tourney - it is just as susceptible as any to becoming the next big upset and the game that becomes the conversation at water coolers across the nation.Though the first round is my favorite by far, my favorite memories have rarely been from KU games.I can remember being proud when a less-talented Kansas team took down DePaul in 2000.Other than that, it seems that the Jayhawks' first rounds have been more about pulling hair than bringing satisfaction.Utah State, Holy Cross, and Bucknell are all recent reminders of games that bring up more memories of television-set yelling, than opening-round celebrating.I guess the tournament's only fun when someone else's team gets a scare from a team with nothing to lose.Let's be honest. The first round for the Jayhawks and their fans are a lot like a piano recital - though you've prepared hard for it and have looked forward to it, you just feel a whole lot better when it's over with.Come 8:30 tonight, don't expect me to say much - or even to smile at all.I'll save that for after the recital, when Kansas has hopefully made it to the Round of 32 and avoided all the mistakes my childhood fingers couldn't.
Comments
FearandLoathing2 (anonymous) says...
KU basketball is over. Let the memories flow from times past. Firsy of all. Bill Self was a complete idiot for accepting the KU head coaching job. He left a program which was headed for the top 4 for the next three years. He sold out Illinois and came to a Kansas program which is now destined to lose for the next ten years. KU basketball is over. There are no championship teams or even remote contenders for the next decade. Fire Self and shove him back to reality. Wichita State beats KU 9 times out of ten. Self is a money grabbing fake. There are no high profile recruits coming to Kansas within the next ten years. Hopefully, this town full of students driving Daddy's cars while talking on cell phones will dry up. This is the end. KU basketball glory no longer exists. Roy Williams knew what he was doing and he left all of you for what you are. Idiots.
March 18, 2006 at 12:49 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Phogdog (anonymous) says...
Thanks, FearAndLoathing. Another genius heard from...
Nice post, Jesse. The Dance is a two-edged sword. It's great to compete, but if we don't win it all (and even the best schools almost never do), we have to endure the vitriol of those who envy our success and relish our failure.
It's ALMOST, but not quite, not worth it.
March 18, 2006 at 1:55 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
cwrist (Chris Wristen) says...
The nice thing about fearandLoathing2's post is that he saved everybody the trouble of reading the phog.net message boards by condensing all of the posts on that board into one neat and tidy paragraph. Plus, just like most of the posts on that board, it leaves out any rational thought or analysis. Glad he saved me some time.
Jesse, you make a good point about the entire season being valued only by how a team does in the tournament. It's rare that Whitlock writes a good column anymore, but his columns yesterday and today were about this same topic, and I agree with it. Yes, KU's early exit from the tournament was disappointing, but that should not diminish how much this team improved throughout the year and how much it accomplished. A regular-season co-championship and Big 12 Tournament title are impressive accomplishments -- especially for a team so young. For my thoughts on this issue, read the latest All in the Wrist blog. But I think you're right-on Jesse.
March 20, 2006 at 2:38 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )