These three words that more than any others fill the heart of a too long suffering 24/7/365(6) Cardinal Hoopaholic.
Magic words these days, truth be told, all things considered.
“Last Four In”
My main man, Joey Brackets. Gracias.
I’ve always admired a person who made a career out of their personal obsession. Or their default personality.
Dick Vitale. Even as hard as it was to listen to him after the shtick wore off. But always himself.
Joe Lunardi, who while working in the St. Joseph’s athletic department, started crafting bracket predictions. He’s far from the best these days. But he has the biggest platform at ESPN. Plus he invented the thing, Bracketology, bless him.
(An aside having nothing really to do with the topic at hand, about an other I’ve admired. Met a fellow, who has become a good friend since, about a decade ago at a crawfish boil in New Orleans. A New York lawyer with all the ticks we’ve come to expect from an interesting, engaging fast talker who uses his hands for punctuation.
I was sitting a a community table across from him. He talked. And talked. And . . . kept on talking. I, a man who has been known to dominate more conversations than not, finally reached out and touched his arm.
Says I: “Ya know, I’ve always admired a man who wouldn’t let me get in a word edgewise.”
From such sweet understanding exchanges long lasting friendships evolve.)
OK, where were we?
Joe Lunardi.
He invented bracketology, what we basketball obsessives obsess over even during swimming pool season.
I used to say Joey B was a guy whose yearly relevance ended at 6:00 PM on Selection Sunday, when the real deal was revealed.
Because I’m a guy who grew up when we played baseball in the spring and summer, football in the fall, b-ball in the winter. Specialization hadn’t been invented where volleyballers are working out relentlessly doing specialized exercises year round.
Now we hoopaholics, given the vast amount of info and rumor and innuendo and surmise on the interweb can sate ourselves like, I dunno, Every Single Day. C’mon, “NFL Today” is every day. Insufferable Stephen A. talked about Dak Prescott yesterday, will again today and tomorrow.
(Aside Part Deux: I believe the perfect question for the gang on “First Take” would be, “How good would Lebron be as tight end for the Cowboys?”)
Anyhow . . . when Joey Brackets recently posted his latest update to next March’s selections, my longing soul soared.
There, just above the cut line, along with Pitt, St. Mary’s and Providence sit my beloved former and future top shelf University of Louisville Cardinals.
Cards vs. Friars on a Tuesday in Dayton.
Then on to Raleigh to top the Texas Aggies.
Bring it on.
At this juncture I’ll take it.
* * * * *
Every Cardinal fan worth his/her salt has seen the video.
After a player slipped out of his sneaker during a recent workout, Coach Pat Kelsey stepped and admonished about tying shoes properly.
I recall the stories of how every single season, John Wooden would start the opening day of practice with a lecture on how to tie shoes properly.
Details win.
* * * * *
Then there’s the moment when ever caffeinated PK was asked if he ever stops and takes a breath.
His answer, something to the effect, “Yeah, and I say to myself, I’m the coach of the University of Louisville Cardinals.”
Be still my beating heart.
— c d kaplan