Jerusalem, Israel, April 2,2011 - 2:15 A.M.
A man leaves the Citadel Hotel and walks out into the warm Israeli night; he seems to be in a hurry. CIA, Moussad, 007? No it is a 65 year old American Psychologist named Steve Eliot who is headed for "Mike's Place", the only bar or hotel in Jerusalem that has the TV station covering the Final Four. Eliot approaches the bar to find about 100 American and Israeli college students outside drinking and partying. He goes inside and asks if the Final Four is on. The owner guides him downstairs to a bar where there is a television with the Butler-VCU game on;no one else is watching. Eliot sits at the bar and becomes engaged in conversation with the bar tender who convinces him to start drinking shots of 25 year old special reserve Bourbon. The bar tender is a young, interesting Israeli and between the bourbon shots and the conversation Eliot is half watching the Butler game and not noticing that by 4:00 he is the only patron left in the bar. As UCONN and Kentucky take the floor the owner comes over to Eliot and tells him he is closing the bar because there is no one else is there. Eliot's attempt to pay "whatever it takes" to keep the bar open is rebuffed and he leaves Mikes and frantically walks back to his hotel hoping to get the game on live computer feed which he does.
Monday night, Eliot is at a hotel on the Dead Sea. At 4:00 A.M. he goes to the totally darkened lobby and watches the Championship game on live computer feed. As time winds down Eliot is elated but also wishing he was watching the game with a group of his followers. At 7:00 A.M., he stumbles back to his room for an hours sleep before the guide picks he and his wife up at 9:00.
How can we explain what some people might think is insane behavior on the part of Eliot, by all acoounts a very reasonable man,professionally successful with a lovely wife and family. Simple, Eliot is a FAN, and a true fan will go to any length to watch their team play a critical game.
As I sat down to write my final blog of this amazing season I realized it would be superfluous to write a lengthy analysis of the the Huskies amazing run. Two weeks ago, I read an interesting Op Ed. piece in the NY Times by David Brooks. In this era of incredible technological advances and neuroscientic study of behavior, Brooks made the point that rationality and science does not sufficiently explain certain behavior. Specifically, we can now study with accuracy the electrical and neuro-chemical activity in the brain that accompanies certain thoughts, feelings and behaviors; however, as Brooks so aptly points out this still doesn't explain "MacBeth." The same goes for the Huskies winning the National Championship; I could analyze it from every angle but it is still not an adequate explanation for the magical run to the championship. Instead, I will just give some random thoughts which I think are pieces but not the inexplicable whole.
- Kemba Walker is even better than anyone, except perhaps Jim Calhoun, thought.-
- Although neither player could be described as lights out players both Roscoe Smith and Charles Oakwandu improved significantly, particularly on defense, as the season progessed. In the "Big Dance" the Huskies interior defense became virtually impenetrable.
- This was Calhoun's best defensive team in a long time- blowhard Clark Kellogg notwithstanding, shutting down Butler's offense was an incredible accomplishment.
- Why didn't Arizona, Kentucky, or Butler alternate match up zones with their man to man defenses. This baffled me because match up zones accounted for at least 6 of the Huskies league losses and Walker simple cannot be stopped one on one. The Huskies were an incredible 22-0 in non-conference play.
- Calhoun will not retire. He has a good nucleus and still loves to coach. He reminds me of Jimmy Connors who continued to play to the ripe old tennis age of 39 because he just loved the game- he did not have to win to enjoy himself. I think, despite Calhoun's great record, the same goes for him. He loves the relationship with his players and still loves to compete.
Personally, I consider this a good year as we added 5 or 6 new enthusiastic and knowledgeable fans to the blog. I started the season unsure if I could continue but got swept up in the excitement of this Husky team. How will they be next year? Who knows as they do not have a highly rated recruiting class. I do believe, however, that somewhere there is someone in a gym, alone, at midnight, shooting jumpers who Calhoun will find.
Until next year remember "You Heard it Here First"
Steve
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10 comments:
Steve,
An inspiring tale of a true Huskies' fan and an insightful, well-crafted analysis of one of the runs in college b-ball history. Kudos on a great year of reporting.
Andy
One of the "best" runs in college b-ball history
great blogging. It was an incredible, incredible year. Every year I have hung a UCONN Huskies clock outside my office in March, and every year have had to take it down at some point. This year it stays up for a while.
I can't wait until next year!
Steve: I have been a loyal reader for the past few years and will continue to be going forward (David Campbell Allen introduced me to your blog). My only criticism over the past would be that you seemed to be overly critical of - and not acknowledge the GREATNESS of Jim Calhoun. For two-and-a-half decades he has been both our architect and helmsman. Your most recent authoritative entry was fantastic. Keep up the great work.
J. Scott Scherban
Scott, thanks for your comment and I do think it is a fair criticism that I have been overly critical of Calhoun. No one is perfect; I have always felt there is no such thing as a selfish Husky player, the team never gives less than 100%, they consistently play the best man to man defense possibly in the country and their transition game is great. those are tributes to Calhoun. I also saw this year, more than ever before that Calhoun is very good at developing talent.
He made a believer of me this year. I appreciate your comment and I welocme disagreement with or criticism of anything I say.
Steve
I too have to make a mia cupa on Calhoun. I said last year consistantly that he was over the hill & should retire before he ruined his legacy. How wrong I was! His coaching & motivating this year were superb. A fantastic job & yes I think he'll return next year even though Walker has opted out. What does everyone think about that decision. How many players get a chance for back to back NCAA titles? With Walker UCONN had a great chance, without I'm not so sure but it will be a fun year.
PS: I look forward to a rematch between Bucknell & UCONN in the Sweet 16 next year since we will be a 12 seed & UCONN a 5.
Walker made the right decision for himself and Calhoun supported it 100%. He is a high first round or lottery pick and if he stayed he could conceivably hurt his stock which is very high now.
Steve
great great story! The lengths and persistent determination of finding a place to experience the history these huskies made! This wasn't the prettiest of games, but it's what great teams do, find a way to win even when you don't have the best nights shooting. their defense was magnificent, the way oriakhi protected the paint and forcing butler to take difficult shots. This immaculate run in the tournaments, the leadership kemba brings with his teammates and the ability for the teammates to step it up was magical and couldn't be scripted. Although kemba isn't returning, I am excited to see what Lamb can do to take on this challenge Kemba had and like you said somewhere calhoun will find the right mix, the right people and have his players ready for a new challenge.
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