CBS Sports reports that cunning linguist Shaquille O'Neal is is taking a broadcasting class at Syracuse University known as Sportscaster U, having arrived on Sunday and started school Monday at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications.
We at HHR say there is no doubt he has the potential to go down as the greatest Tweeting 7'1" cockeyed broadcaster in the history of television.
With the Big East Tournament starting this week at Madison Square Garden, arguably the greatest post-season conference tournament gets underway in all of college basketball. (I await the ACC backlash.)
That said, let's take a look back at 10 of my favorite ensemble casts from awesome Big East teams in the last 15 years. By "ensemble cast" I mean a great group of guys that played together at some point on the same team. For example we could cite the Cuttino Mobley, Lamar Odom, Tyson Wheeler Rhode Island squad of the mid 90s.
These are in no particular order and I say the last 15 years because that is far back as I can reasonably discuss. With that I present "the man" - the clear leader of the team, the "best supporting actor" - a great sidekick who was nasty in his own right, and "the big cat" generally a center or forward that was also a beast. Please feel free to comment with your own favorites.
Georgetown Hoyas - 1995-96
The man - Allen Iverson - Before he was tatted up and talkin' about practice, this guy did it all for the Hoyas and for the first time in a while had G-town led by someone other than a center. Best supporting actor - Victor Page - God knows where he is now but the lefty had a smooth jumpshot and took some of the offensive pressure off A.I. The big cat - Othella Harrington - Another southpaw that could clog the middle and score, he eventually made a decent little NBA career for himself.
UConn Huskies - 1995-96
The man - Ray Allen - Ray Ray's jumper was the smoothest thing in the big east that year and let's not forget his off balance floater that dumped the above Hoyas out of the tourney.
Best supporting actor - Doron Sheffer - Saw an increase in Connecticut housewives naming their newborn's Doron and this guy also provided some scoring punch hitting 41% from 3.
The big cat - Travis Knight - Your classic white center that was reliable in college but not great in the NBA. Decent outside shot and he got to play with Ray Allen. I'm bitter from Knight's tenure with the Knicks.
St. John's Red Storm- 1998-1999
The man - Ron Artest - Ron put the Redmen, Red Storm, whatever, back on the map for the first time since the Mullin years. Sadly they are back off the map these days, while Ron has gone on to show he's very talented and possibly insane.
Best supporting actor - Eric Barkley - Just a frosh on this team, Barkley would later become the face of the Johnnies. He, like Omar Cook and a host of others, has vanished.
The big cat - Bootsy Thornton - Really a guard but could play a ton of minutes and took pressure off Artest. It's sad he wasn't big in the league because a name like Bootsy doesn't come along very often.
UConn Huskies - 2003-2004
The man - Ben Gordon - Born in England, he dominated New England for a span and led the Huskies to an NCAA title. He has now been underused in the NBA for reasons only known to Vinny Del Negro.
Best supporting actor - Rashad Anderson - Wins the memorial "Scotty Thurman" award for lights out college shooter who dropped off the face of the earth after college. Also, sported a money beard.
The big cat - Emeka Okafor - Just a beast on defense and in the rebound column while also putting up points at a solid clip. Is now carrying the Bobcats on his oft injured back.
Providence Friars - 1996-1997
The man - God Shammgod - Ridiculous handle on this guy to go with a great name, he may have deferred to the big cat in overall best player status, but he was pretty good.
Best supporting actor - Jamel Thomas - Another member of the Marbury clan strikes, by all acounts Jamel is normal and has had a solid career overseas.
The big cat - Austin Croshere - His NBA career has really revealed his outside shooting, but could do it all for PC back in the college days.
Pittsburgh Panthers - 2002-2003
The man - Brandon Knight - A stellar point guard following in the footsteps of brother Brevin, but with a better build. Seemed to have an eternally injured ankle but still made plays.
Best supporting actor - Julius Page - Another great scoring option on this squad to assist Knight, who wins in a Page vs Page match? I can't tell.
The big cat - Chevon "Chevy" Troutman - Built like a truck, Troutman looks like a poor man's Tyson Chandler but was a physical presence for the Panthers that, as this season has shown, is often their m.o.
Syracuse Orangmen - 2002-2003
The man - Carmelo Anthony - Only took one season for 'Melo to get Boehim that elusive NCAA title, the rest (as you know) is history. He's had a nice little run in the NBA. Best supporting actor - Gerry McNamara - A few seasons before Gerry single-handedly willed the Orange through the Big East tourney and into the dance, but he was gunning threes even in his first year. The big cat - Hakim Warrick -His tea bag dunk on Royal Ivey puts him on hallow ground forever, and I believe he blocked the shot to secure the title game win, so double bravo, Hakim!
Seton Hall Pirates - 1999-2000
The man - Ty Shine - Took over for an injured player (see below) to help spur this squad on to the Sweet 16. A year later, newcomer Eddie Griffin would say, "Let's have a punch fight. I go first."
Best supporting actor - Shaheen Holloway - Love what this guy did a few years later with Cohen's Optical in the Jersey Shore Basketball League. Was a leader on the Pirates' team until an ankle injury hurt him.
The big cat - Darius Lane - Just a hustler, could can the medium range J and provided some toughness down low for a guard-orientated team.
West Virginia Mountaineers- 2005-2006
The man - Mike Gansey - Transferred in from St. Bonaventure and did wonders as a driver and perimiter player. Really made the squad one of the fun teams to watch over the years.
Best supporting actor - Patrick Beilein - The coach's kid, he brought the pain from downtown. Able to stretch the D and nailed a host of outside J's in a shoot happy situation.
The big cat - Kevin Pittsnogle - Now a little over his playing weight and teaching grammar school in the boondocks, he was a fan favorite for the Mountaineers. A big man who could also bury the big shot from deep.
Villanova Wildcats - 2005-2006
The man - Allan Ray - A solid scorer who became a household name on the Villanova scene along with the two others on this list. Damn him, however, for helping defeat the Monmouth Hawks in the 2006 Big Dance.
Best supporting actor - Randy Foye - Could also have been tabbed "the man" as he was equally important to the success of these Wildcats. They perhaps didn't reach their total potential with this solid group.
The big cat - Will Sheridan - The next in a line of lanky athletic big men to roam the middle for the Wildcats.
Note: Shoutouts to the Kerry Kittles era at Villanova and the John Wallace era at Syracuse.
Like many Trenton-area sports fans, we watched Hamilton native Kevin Johnson's progression from All-State high school quarterback to his position battle at Syracuse with Donovan McNabb to his conversion to wide receiver and being drafted by the Cleveland Browns.
For a good five year stretch, his #85 Browns jersey stood proudly in Quakerbridge Mall beside Eagles and Giants greens and blues.
And then, it was gone. The jerseys and the player.
Despite being the Browns' leading receiver since being drafted, his inablity to coexist with then-coach Butch Davis lead to his being cut by the team, and subsequent downfall from NFL stardom.
While at first the transacton perplexed football fans, and fueled rumors that he would soon be an Eagle, stints with the Ravens, Jags and Lions proved unfruitful and Johnson, now at age 32, has been out of the game for 3 years.
The best idea anyone had was that he punched his ticket out of the League for being a malcontent.
Thus, I found it disheartening as he channeled his inner Al Bundy to pen a piece for this year's 50th Anniversary of the Hamilton HS West (Johnson's alma mater)/Steinert High School annual Thanksgiving Day game:
I cannot help but smile and laugh thinking of the “We’ve got Kevin, Yes we do, We’ve got Kevin, How about you?” chanted by the Hamilton fans in my senior year or the importance to my teammates and I that we win every Thanksgiving Day game.
His humble reflection on family, tradition and community brings this once bright, shining star back to earth and leaves some locals wondering, "What the hell happened to his guy, that, only a decade after his being on top of the world, he's sitting in Trenton with the rest of us this holiday?"
Over the next several weeks, HHR will be interviewing 20 and 30-something-year-olds in various careers in professional, amateur and collegiate sports to get a take on how they broke into their respective industries and to offer tips how ambitious sports-related job seekers might do the same.
Today, we interview Bernie Kim, 28, Graphics Producer for Fox Sports Net's Best Damn Sports Show Period. A former sports radio radio call screener, Bernie now lives the high life in LA, regularly rubbing elbows with some of Hollywood and professional sports' most recognizable stars. Name: Bernie Kim Age: 28 Position: Graphics Producer Organization: Best Damn Sports Show Period, FSN College Major: Broadcast Journalism Prior Sports-Related Experience:WNST radio Baltimore, sports talk show producer, also got sound at Orioles games for different radio shows
Let's get these first two out of the way off the bat:
Does everyone's title there start with "Best Damn" and end with "Period" (ie Best Damn Graphics Producer Period)?
For some people yes. For me it's probably "Just OK Graphics Producer Ellipsis."
Do you have to go through the awful task of selecting the right pictures of hot chicks? If not, who does?
I do have that task when it's necessary. Great use of a college education. Every year when we do our "Smoking 16" contest to find the hottest woman, I find the stills we use on air. I fought to get Minka Kelly from Friday Night Lights onto the list two years ago, but a bunch of people didn't know who she was. Then I picked a bad photo of her and got a lot of heat for picking someone who didn't seem worthy of the contest. But she has since been involved with Derek Jeter, validating my choice, since Jeter only dates one of the 16 hottest women in the world?
Graphics Producer sounds a bit vague. What does the position entail and, if it is anything like the name implies, what sort of graphics background do you have?
I oversee the images and graphical elements that go on-screen. If you watch the show, there are elements like title cards for bits, quote boards, locator maps that I have to create on a day we tape the show. I don't actually physically create any graphics, but I give my ideas to our graphic artist and our graphic operators create on screen elements. I don't have a graphics background, but I have a creative enough mind to come up with ideas that our artists can execute.
That's only part of what I do on the show. Our bosses are good about having us do all kinds of work for the show. I also segment produce guest segments every week and write comedy bits.
How did you land the job at BDSSP and what prerequisites was the show looking for in the hiring process?
I had wanted to work for the show after graduating from Syracuse in the winter of 2001. Then in January of 2002, a friend of mine hired me to be a runner for the US Figure Skating Championships in LA for ABC Sports. It was only a few days of work, but while I was in LA, I did a little networking to see if I could make contacts at Fox Sports Net. I got some names of Syracuse alums in LA from our alumni directory and cold called. One of the alums gave me the name of a guy at Fox Sports who gave me the name of a producer at BDSSP. I emailed him and he told me there weren't any jobs available but to keep in touch.
After that, I ended up moving to LA permanently. I found out that a former classmate was interning at BDSSP. A few more things clicked in place and I was called in for an interview. It turns out that the producer who I had previously been in touch with also passed along my name for the position. That helped the cause.
The guy who interviewed me for the position, Jason Cahill, was also a Syracuse guy and I later found out the Syracuse connection helped get me the interview. I had a strong resume for a guy not far removed from college, so they gave me a shot. After a few months of being a freelance researcher for the show, they hired me full time.
Take us through a typical day, if in fact there is such a thing, in your position. How involved are you with the everyday creative direction of the broadcast?
On a show day, I'll get in at 8 AM. I'll check various web sites for sports news and topics to discuss on the show. We'll have an early morning editorial meeting where we figure out what we're going to open the show with -- usually two or three topics. Because we rely on guest hosts to give BDSSP a fresh perspective, we have to remember to cater the discussions to that show's panel.
The most entertaining part of the day is the talent lunch meeting. All the hosts, guest hosts and a few producers meet for about a half hour to talk about the show. Inevitably someone tells an amazing behind-the-scenes story of their playing days. The guys speak freely and uncensored, and a lot of the stuff won't, and frankly can't, make air. But if it did, I guarantee BDSSP would be the most popular sports show on television. The running joke in our office is the talent lunch meeting should be the show.
Tell us about the concept behind the BDSSP Podcast. What are your expectations for the show? Who were your favorite guests?
We are just trying to keep up with the times, so one of our producers, Jason Cahill pitched the idea for a wrap-up show and it got approved. We don't think we're going to break any iTunes records but it's been a pretty cool experience so far.
The best guest has probably been Gary Payton. He just says what he's thinking with no filter. We were lucky enough to have The Big Show come in studio for a recent podcast. I could use his wedding ring as a belt.
Word is that you were the force and face of some of the show's most memorable vignettes, including the widely acclaimed and circulated BDSSP's Lazy Saturday Draft Day video. Tell us about that and working with the stars in the video.
(there were actually 2 incarnations of this, one in 2006 and one this year)
That was an idea from a producer, Clif Dunn, at a short-lived show called "ESPN Hollywood". I left BDSSP for 6 months to work at that show. When I was there, Lazy Sunday had just come out and Clif asked if I wanted to write a parody of the bit. Well, I wrote a handful of lines and pitched it and it got shot down. Then the show got cancelled, and I got hired back at BDSSP and pitched it again. They loved it but wanted famous athletes to do the bit. After tossing around names and not finding any takers, they just had me do it. I chose Jason Cahill as the co-rapper -- after all he did hire me -- and we shot it in a few weeks.
I just wrote a bunch of lyrics and luckily Reggie Bush came in studio and said agreed be in it. And for some reason NHL commissioner Gary Bettman decided to join in and he really got a great reaction from his one shot.
They asked me to write another version again this year and to incorporate the rookies that were coming in studio. All of the guys were really cool and happy to be in it. I was stoked that Darren McFadden put on a wig for us and tracked a line.
Then when Kim Kardashian was scheduled to be on the show, I knew we had to put her in the song. I wrote a few lines about her butt and a little reluctant to ask here to be in it but she was so cool about it. She even helped direct her shot. Now I can say I'm in an internet video with Kim Kardashian!
Throughout its existence, BDSSP has had number of big name professional athletes and personalities hosts (as well as eye candy). What is it like working with them? The on-air personalities' relationship with staff?
It's a very good relationship. Chris Rose is a total professional and makes every producer's job easier. John Salley is hilarious, Charissa Thompson is very easy to work with. And even before them, everyone, including Tom Arnold, was great. Has the staff ever posed any strange and/or unusual requests to you?
Nope. (Finally a short answer!)
You seem to have had a hand in a lot of various creative elements of the show. Of which are you most proud?
The rap videos were great. I wrote a skit for Chuck Liddell parodying Fight Club right before his fight with Rampage Jackson. That was a blast to do and the first bit I ever directed.
One thing that got be really pumped up is when a joke of mine made Sports Illustrated. We put Gary Payton in a lie detector and asked him, "Would he get a sex change and play in the WNBA for $100 million?" He said, "Yes," and it was registered as the truth. A week later the question and his response got a blurb in SI. It was the first time I felt like a made a mark on sports culture. Not that it was water cooler talk in every office, but SI is the preeminent sports magazine and I created something that they printed. Plus, when I originally pitched the question it got shot down by one of our producers, and so the SI mention was good vindication.
Syracuse is renowned for its Communications Department. Did you find having the University on your resume helped open doors that others without the "S" on their degree might not have had the luxury.
It absolutely helped. I wouldn't have this job if not for the connections I made through Syracuse. Many, once in college, find tons of majors they never even knew existed until they got there. In your experience, can you name a job in the sports media world that you never knew existed until you got into the pipeline?
Not really, going to Syracuse gave me a good idea of what to expect.
How would you compare your work in radio with that in television?
Radio is OK, but got a little monotonous. It was a good starter job for me.
How did you get the WNST gig and what were your reasons for moving on?
They hired me to phone screen for one of the talk shows and I also ended up going to Oriole Park and getting sound after home games. They knew it was a short-term gig for me and that I wanted to move out to California. To be honest, I think I got fired.
They never said, "We're letting you go," but I wouldn't have cared if they did. I needed a change. TV has been incredibly rewarding and 500 times more fun.
What are your ultimate career goals?
I'd like to run my own show one day, but I have yet to find my inspirado for an original show. Short term, I just want to keep learning everything I can about the TV business.
What's the most rewarding part of your current job?
I'm an entertainer at heart, so knowing that people are enjoying the product I'm putting out there is incredibly rewarding. When we had studio audiences, I would stand in the studio when one of my comedy pieces was being aired. I loved watching the reaction of the crowd.
I also produced one of our Top 50 shows, Top 50 Bizarre Plays. I was out at a bar having dinner and it was on one of the screens. A few of the guys were sitting at the bar glued to the show, chuckling and talking about the plays. That made all the hard work worth it.
Biggest perks?
Getting to meet so many people I grew up watching or currently do watch. The first day I worked at the show, I sat next to Emmitt Smith back stage. Because of Best Damn, I've partied on a boat with John Daly, done the Carlton Dance for Alfonso Ribeiro, and did the Ray Lewis dance for Ray Lewis. That last one was a full performance including a song I wrote for the Ravens. He was laughing so hard I think he was crying. I also think he was slightly afraid I would stalk him.
Anything you would have changed during college to better prepare you? Relevant courses or internships you'd recommend?
I didn't know runner positions were available until after college. Any time a network covers a game or event, they'll hire runners to do gopher work. It's a great way to get your foot in the door and build the resume. I wish I had done that while I was in school.
What advice would you offer those looking to follow in your footsteps or even break into sports television in general?
Keep yourself busy doing relevant work. Having a good GPA is nice, but when you're applying for a job the first thing you want any possible employer to see is work-related experience. Use any connections you can to break into a company. And be eager, but don't be pushy or annoying. Finally, how has PJ's Jacket been affected by your move to LA? Was this a move to follow in the footsteps of the great Motley Crew and Skid Row and break into the LA music scene?
The physical unit of PJ’s Jacket might be over, but the spirit will never die!
A week ago today, the chief was on Capitol Hill as Coaches vs. Cancer joined "lawmakers, cancer survivors and the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network on Capitol Hill 'to demand that Congress pass legislation regulating tobacco products and boost the federal investment in cancer research, prevention and early detection programs after five years of flat or cut funding.'"
Here's a shot of 'Cuse's Jim Boeheim, UConn's Jim Calhoun, Alabama's Mark Gottfried, US Senator Ben Cardin of Maryland, Maryland's Gary Williams and Temple's Fran Dunphy.
Today, Alabama's Mark Gottfried, Connecticut's Jim Calhoun, Syracuse's Jim Boeheim, Maryland's Gary Williams and Temple's Fran Dunphy "will join with lawmakers, cancer survivors and the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network on Capitol Hill "to demand that Congress pass legislation regulating tobacco products and boost the federal investment in cancer research, prevention and early detection programs after five years of flat or cut funding," according to a release by the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network."
As part of Coaches vs. Cancer, the gentlemen will be on the Hill at 8:30 a.m. CT at Russell Senate Park, Swamp Press Area.
the chief will be on hand to gather intel and photographic documentation.
Loyal reader and fellow Card fan Neil had tickets for last night's Louisville v. Syracuse game at Freedom Hall. Since we have a couple other Card fans who visit HHR, along with some Syracuse fans, ol' Rev put together a running diary of last night's events at the Hall:
Pregame: Neil and I wait in line for a beer. A $4.75, 16 oz. beer. Folks, that's a steal. Not only does it make the game enjoyable, but it's help turn Louisville into one of the most profitable athletic programs in the country.
This is they seven o'clock game, so I'm thinking we'll have an A-list announcing crew. And I'm right - Bill Raftery is in the house. It's too bad I'm not watching at home because I love his commentary.
Tipoff: The Cards and 'Cuse come on the court for the tip. Damn, 'Cuse looks big ... that's a whole lot of orange-colored fabric out there ...
20:00: ... and 'Cuse wins the tip. They pump the ball into the middle, but blow a bunny layup. Cards on the break - and promptly Earl Clark records the first bucket of the game. 2-0 Cards.
18:30: The Cards defense looks good in the halfcourt, forcing a confused offensive possesion by the Orange. Cards come down the court, and its .... THREEEEE, Mc GEEEEE!!!! 5-0 Cards.
17:59: Jim Boeheim has that bad seafood look on his face, hands on his hips. Hoping that look continues for another 35 minutes or so.
17:22: Syracuse scores in the halfcourt, but promptly yields another Andre McGee three at the other end. 8-2 Cards.
17:10: Dontae Green has the answer - 3 for Syracuse. Let's hope he doesn't explode tonight. 8-5 Cards.
16:13: The home crowd is still filing into Freedom Hall. For a nationally televised game and first place in the Big East on the line, I'm surprised by the relative lack of passion or concern.
15:45: Syracuse goes to the line and hits a free throw. 8-6 Cards.
We go to the under-16 timeout and the cheerleaders start to go crazy, throwing T-shirts into the crowd emblazoned with the logo of a local grocery chain. For a home crowd not that interested in the game, people are clawing for these cheap T-shirts they'll probably never wear. Never ceases to amaze.
15:15: Syracuse breaks the Louisville press, get an easy dunk - and a foul on David Padgett! Free throw good, 9-8 'Cuse.
14:59: Derrick Caracter enters the game for Louisville. He looks like a refrigerator. Seriously, wheel this guy in on a dolly. Still no help, 'Cuse scores again - 11-8 'Cuse.
14:34: THREEEEEE, SO-SA!!!!! We're tied at 11.
12:30: During a time-out, we're encouraged to visit rickpitino.com. Probably a whole site devoted to media double-speak and fashion tips on how to wear white linen suits on national TV. Cult of personality is alive and well in Kentucky.
11:11: Sloppy game to this point - neither team seems to know what they're doing out there, so mercifully we go to the under-12 timeout.
Unfortunately, during the under-12, we learn during a public service announcement that 41% of all babies born in Kentucky are born to unwed mothers. I am flabbergasted.
Kentucky. Doing our best to bring the third-world to America.
10:35: The refs blow an obvious goal-tending call against Syracuse. Pitino explodes off the bench, waving his arms like an electrocuted madman to no avail. The Orange extend their lead to 17-14.
9:00: Three-point specialist Will Scott enters the game for the Cards. He promptly misses a 3 to tie the game. Since he's worthless on D, Syracuse is now playing 5 on 4 in the halfcourt.
8:10: Syracuse brings the ball up against the Louisville press with obvious difficulty, alternately carrying the ball and portraying some form of the Olympic triple-jump across the halfcourt stripe. Neil senses a Big East officiating conspiracy; I concur.
5:45: Great sequence: Caracter gets a tough rebound in traffic and puts the ball back up for 2. The Cards press rachets up a notch, forcing a 10 second violation against the Orange. DC closes it off with another putback, putting the Cards on top 22-20.
Coach Boeheim has that sour look on his face again. Timeout, Syracuse.
4:14: UofL's press is still causing major problems for the Orange. They barely get it across halfcourt, and then kick the ball around in the halfcourt for a shot clock violation.
2:56: The Cards are collecting a lot of small change fouls, keeping the Orange within striking distance. 2 'Cuse FT's are good, 24-22 Cards.
2:04: And in a recurring theme, it's another Louisville foul and Syracuse trip to the line. Two more FT's tie the game at 24. In all, Syracuse has shot 13 out of 17 from the line in the half. It's beginning to look like one of those terribly officiated Duke vs. anyone-in-the-ACC games.
49.4: Finally, a foul against SU and a well-deserved Bronx cheer for the refs. Juan Palacios hits two FT's for the Cards, putting the home team up 26-24.
20.0: But the good times don't last - Paul Harris comes back down the court to answer for the Orange with a 2 of his own. Jerry Smith misses a shot at the buzzer, and the teams go into halftime tied at 26 a piece.
Halftime: Freedom Hall is one of the great college basketball arenas in the country and a great place to watch a game (see $4.75 beers earlier). However, it is over 50 years old and definitely showing its age.
And like any good arena built in the 50's, it seems like it has exactly two restrooms, one on either side of the facility. All the desperate looks on the faces around me, it looks like a UN refugee camp trying to break through the gates here.
It takes a good 15 minutes to get through the restroom because apparently everyone else has discovered the $4.75 beers. I wouldn't dwell on the restroom story other than to note that as I am walking out, some brave soul with a blue "I AM WILDCAT" shirt comes walking in. Judging by the reception he receives, I'm assuming a fistfight is about 0.3 seconds away from taking place.
... Back to the Game: We open the second half with more of the same sloppy play with missed shots on both ends. Seriously, both teams must be shooting below 20% for the game. Not good.
16:30: After a made bucket by UL, Jerry Smith hits a three for for the Cards. The lead is 31-26. Freedom Hall is starting to shake ... and we get our first big C-A-R-D-S cheer of the night! The 'Cuse better not let this thing get out of hand.
16:15: Spoke too soon - Paul Harris drives against Padgett, scores the bucket and gets fouled. Just when it looked like the Cards might be making their run, we're back to a two-point game, 31-29.
13:30: U of L's press continues to cause problems for the Orange - they look like they're playing way faster than they want to. Cards keep scoring, extending their lead to 41-36. Paul Harris looks frustrated - off comes the orange headband.
11:55: It's the Louisville Lady Lacrosse team! And they have t-shirts for the crowd! Seriously, I give the U of L athletic department a lot of credit for helping to clothe thousands of Kentuckians tonight.
11:30: Caracter forces a Syracuse turnover at halfcourt! He throws it right to ... ugh, Syracuse guard Jonny Flynn who calmy buries a three from Reggie Miller's tittie. It's 41-39. It's beginning to look like upset city on Big Monday.
10:00: Cardinal freshman Preston Knowles enters the game. He hounds Flynn into a 'Cuse turnover, passes ahead to Edgar Sosa ... and buries a three of his own! After two free throws the previous trip, the lead is back to 46-40.
8:30: Highlight of the evening: Terrence Williams breaks out down the left wing, crosses over to the right, and throws down monstrous dunk over Dontae Green in transition! That one is definitely going up on the top ten plays of the night. Grown men are jumping out of their seats as Freedom Hall gets as loud as it has been all night. Boeheim quickly calls for a timeout, but this place is rocking.
8:29: C-A-R-D-S! C-A-R-D-S! C-A-R-D-S!
7:00: Referee Jim Burr whistles Derrick Caracter for a foul 30' away from the play. The boo birds have returned for the referees. Meanwhile, Syracuse has rebounded from the mental shellacking of the Williams dunk and trimmed the lead to 50-44.
5:30: Greg Paulus must be wearing a Syracuse jersey tonight, because the Orange defender just flopped pathetically just like the esteemed and aforementioned Duke "actor". Jerry Smith gets whistled for a charge, easily the worst call of the night. Referree Jim Burr doing his best to keep this game close. He needs a security escort out of this place tonight.
3:45: Caracter gets dunked on inside. Coach Boeheim nods approvingly. It's 52-48, and I'm officially nervous. I tell the Syracuse fan in front of me that I'm glad Gerry McNamara no longer has any eligibility. He laughs maniacally. Pitino calls a timeout. We need a play.
3:37: The play doesn't work. 'Cuse scores again, 52-50. Bad thoughts are running through my mind.
1:30: The Cards come down in the halfcourt and work the ball around the Orange zone. Terrence Williams is open on the baseline from 12 feet ... and he buries it! A sigh of relief from the crowd, 54-50 Cards.
0.50: Now a steal! Cards come up court, go inside out ... and find a wide open Andre McGee for three!!! 57-50, and that's the ballgame!
33.9: Syracuse hurriedly runs it up court, loses the ball, and Jerry Smith coasts in for an uncontested dunk. Cards up, 59-50!
13.1: Apparently realizing the line on the game is UofL -10, Syracuse hands another gift turnover to the Cards, and it's another Jerry Smith dunk. Now 61-50. The miraculous 9-0 run has saved the game and covered the line. A lot of red-clad people are very happy in here.
Next up, Cards at Pittsburgh. See you all on Sunday afternoon.
