I would very much appreciate it if someone in a fairly big position of power at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation(CBC) could somehow get rid of this whole “While The Men Watch” nonsense. Treating a women’s perspective on sports as an entirely different entity further facilities the absolutely idiotic notion that women who follow sports can only view sports through a limited perspective. I know plenty of women who are hockey fans and are knowledgeable about the game in a way that totally flies in the face of what the CBC apparently thinks they actually are.

Basically, it views women as being fucking idiots in not only hockey, or sports, but any field whatsoever. You wouldn’t do a similar thing dealing with First Nations men people, or black men, or Asian men, so why on earth is totally okay to pull this condescending, insulting, and quite frankly sexist bullshit? It’s almost as if the people at the CBC(i.e. men) who decided that this was a good idea have little to no understanding on how to talk with hockey fans that are women or women in general.

My guess is they don’t, and are completely okay with that. Besides, in their minds, an smart, intelligent woman does not exist.

(Note: While The Men Watch also gets it wrong because it makes the equally moronic assumption that all men like sports. For the record, that is far from the case. But if you wanna protect limited gender roles to the very end, by all means go ahead).

If the CBC had any common sense or respect for women or anything like that, they would axe this crap ASAP and then subsequent fire the imbeciles who came up with such garbage. Maybe they will, maybe they won’t. Who knows.

It’s just disappointing really.

I could have sworn that these is all supposed to be simply games. Just games, right? Games that can, in the space of a few hours, cause to feel every single human emotion that one can possibly go through. Yet despite all of this, these games we play, let’s call them sports if you will, are not inherently supposed to drive us to dark places. Our reactions to results, because this all meaningless in the grand scope of things, are not supposed to evoke evil undertones within us.

But they do.

You don’t need to me to go over the specifics of what happened tonight in Game 7 of the Boston Bruins-Washington Capitals Eastern Conference Quarterfinal series. Washington won 2 goals to 1 in overtime via a goal from fourth-liner Joel Ward. Before tonight, Ward hadn’t scored a goal in the series and only had 6 goals for the entirety of the regular season(he also had not scored a non-empty net goal since Jan.7), so the mere fact that he scored the game-winning goal may have been too much to comprehend for some. That’s understandable. Hockey, especially playoff hockey, has been the provider for some truly unpredictable moments throughout the years. In other words, it’s easy to have a strong reaction to this.

But my God, that does not ever give one the license to resort to horrifying bullshit in order to make sense of it all.

Getting mad at your team losing a elimination game is okay. If you wanna throw around a chair or two, be my guest. I’d rather you do those and many other things that resort to racism. Like this person did. And this person. And this person. And this person. You can find more example of such vileness on display at Chripstory or Black Sports Online but unless you are of an composed composition I doubt you would actively do that without fighting off the urge to beat the living shit out of these scumbags.

Yet, as horrible as these people are, and as horrible as their remarks are, there is no way that we can stop others from going down that route. Racism is an idea, albeit a heavily, heavily flawed one. Ideas are not tangible. We can’t see them or touch them or taste them in any way. And because ideas aren’t tangible, they will ultimately stand the test of time. It doesn’t matter if the specific idea in question is no longer a popular one, it can still be latched onto by a person. All it takes is one person in matters like these, one voice to continue an idea that probably should have been collectively shunned ages beforehand.

There really isn’t a happy conclusion to all of this on my part. Well, not a concrete one. As a ‘Black Man Living In America,” there aren’t too many happy endings when it comes to racism these days lies. Albeit, there is something one can do, and that piece of advice lies in the words of Holly Anderson of Sports Illustrated. Writing yesterday about Nebraska assistant football coach and Grade A homophobe Ron Brown, she not only hit the nail on the head about Brown, but on the overall subject of bigotry in general.

I personally like my bigots loud and proud, acting out in identifiable ways. It makes them easier to detour around.

For now, this is the best I-or anyone else that finds a hatred of “the supposed other” to be disgusting- can do.

The Madness: Kentucky 67-Kansas 59(Kentucky wins 8th national championship)

In the end, this truly was a coronation. Kentucky’s 8th national championship, and first since 1998, was more than just a return to glory, it was a standard-setter. Their 38 wins are the most by a men’s team in NCAA history. That in of itself is impressive, but what elevates this Kentucky team to new heights is the way in which they played. The Wildcats were stacked with a amount of collective talent that trumps that of similarly talented teams in recent memory, such as the 2005 and 2009 North Carolina teams. Plenty of teams have had NBA-ready players on display, but none of them have had the amount of discipline and overall unselfishness that Kentucky has showed this season.

The starting 5 for Kentucky in the majority of this season consisted of National Player of the Year Anthony Davis, Terrence Jones, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Doron Lamb, and Marquis Teague. All of them were highly touted out of high school. What is striking however about this starting 5 is that not one of them are upperclassmen. 3 out of the 5-Davis, MGK, and Teague-were Freshman. In addition, the other two starters, Terrence Jones and Doron Lamb, were only sophomores. Aside from senior Darius Miller, no juniors or seniors featured significant throughout the season. They were the 5th youngest team in all of college basketball. Surely, despite the obvious capability of this team, there would be a breaking point, a moment where raw talent and superior athleticism would not be enough, a second in time where the mental toughness needed to win the close games would suddenly vanish.

That never happened.

At the 10:07 mark of the second half on Monday night, Kentucky went up 16 with 54-38 via three pointer by Doron Lamb(his second in quick succession). However, in the course of the next 8:30 Kansas went on a 19-8 run to dwindle the Wildcats lead to 5 at 62-57. This game, more so than any other game this season, hung on the slimmest of threads. If there was a ever a moment for this young Kentucky team to falter, to slip up, and for Kansas to subsequently take advantage of that, this was the time. Except that time never came.

Instead of capitulating, Kentucky rose to the challenge yet again, as they have done numerous times this season. Anthony Davis made one of his two free throws to make it a 63-57 game. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist came up with a huge block off a Tyshawn Taylor shot then pressure Taylor into a turnover on a shoddy pass which was recovered by Teague(who was fouled). Teague makes both his free throws to extend Kentucky’s lead to 8. Despite Teague missing a 1 and 1 free throw after being fouled by Travis Relaford with 0:35 remaining and Thomas Robinson grabbing the rebound, the game would ultimately be sealed moments later. Elijah Johnson, clearly intimidated by the physical presence of Anthony Davis, traveled after set himself up to attempt a three that would get Kentucky’s lead to 3 but then backed out of it and then took one-too-many steps. Kentucky would get the ball back and ultimately seal the game with two free throws from Doron Lamb after he was fouled by Kevin Young. The clock runs out. The game ends with Kentucky winning by 8. The players run out onto the court, celebrating a triumph that was in a way expected(at least to those associated with Kentucky).

Maybe this was obvious. Maybe this was in fact a given. Maybe it wasn’t. All we now know is that an 8th championship banner hangs atop the rafters of Rupp Arena. It is expected that the most of the starters on this year’s team will turn pro and enter the NBA Draft. While it would not at all be surprising, it would be slightly disappointing. This team has set a standard in college basketball that has not been seen for some time, and to see that standard be continued and taken to another level would be a nice thing to see.

For now, the Kentucky Wildcats are the kings of college basketball. 38 times someone came them, and 38 times someone missed.

The Madness: National Championship Game preview

Everything comes to an end now. There is no tomorrow, no second chances, no extensions. All the hours, all the effort, all the blood and sweat and pure will exerted out will pay ultimate dividends for one, and empty defeat for another. Kentucky and Kansas have reached tonight’s national championship game preview under diametrically opposed circumstances. Aside from Saturday’s 69-61 win against Louisville(which was easily their toughest game of the tournament, if not their whole season), Kentucky has marched on to the final in a relative cakewalk.

The same can not be said for Kansas. Time after time after time after time, the Jayhawks have gotten by under the slimiest of margins. Saturday’s 64-62 win over Ohio State only came to be because Ohio State managed to have a temporary collective brain aneurysm  at the end of the game. Furthermore, Kansas won their previous 3 tournament games against Purdue, Ohio, and North Carolina by a total of 19 points. Nevertheless, Kansas finds themselves on the cusp of their 4 national championship in school history.

A win by Kentucky tonight would, in the eyes of many, be an expected result. As far as sheer talent is concerned, they have been the most exemplary team in this tournament in that regard. Potential first-round NBA draft picks such as Anthony Davis, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, and Terrence Jones are just a mere part of a Kentucky team that, if victorious, will cement their place in history as being one of the best teams in school history, if not the best. Yet a Kansas win here would, depending on who you talk to, be considered either a huge upset(given the aforementioned description of Kentucky) or a mere surprise.

It’s funny. We collectively go apeshit over the alleged “madness” that takes place during this time of year. Upsets. Cinderella stories. Results that are so shocking, so beyond all relatively thought, that barely anyone could have possibly conjured it up in the first place. But at some point, the craziness stops and the giants survive(well, not all giants) and we are left with matchups like this one. Seismic matchups, between two teams with histories that are beyond storied. There will be an addition to history tonight. But who will be the ones to seize it?

The Madness: National Semifinals Preview

There are no minnows here. No Cinderellas. No surprise stories. There are only giants that remain. 68 teams started this journey with one goal: To win a national championship. 64 have gone. 4 remain. And what a 4.

Kentucky, Kansas, Louisville, and Ohio State have all gotten here under varying circumstances. Kentucky, the favourite heading into competition, had a realtively easy time of in the South Region, winning all four of their games(Western Kentucky, Iowa State, Indiana, Baylor) by double digits. Ohio State meanwhile, had to claw and fight their way past Syracuse in the East Regional Final by a 77-70 margin to advance to the first final four since 2007 and their 11th in school history. Kansas had three consecutive nailbitters against Purdue, NC State, and a depleted North Carolina side to get to New Orleans. And lastly, Louisville-the only team that could possibly be considered a “surprise” team- defeated Michigan State in the Sweet 16 and came back from being down by double digits on five separate occasions in the second half of the West Regional Final against Florida in a 72-68 triumph.

Like I said before, there are no minnows here. Only giants. After tonight, two giants will be stricken. Who they are is anyone’s guess.

The Madness:Sweet 16(Part II)

We almost saw something special. Really special. Special and unbelievable and astounding and logic-defying, even for this time of year. But this time, the shoe didn’t fit. The magic ran out. The dream came to a close.

Ohio was that close. Unfathomably close to becoming the first 12 and lower seed to beat a #1 seed in the NCAA’s. But they fell just short of defeating #1 seeded North Carolina in overtime of their Midwest regional semifinal, 73-65.

In theory and on paper, this should have been a cakewalk for the Tarheels. North Carolina’s pure, unadulterated talent(regardless of starting point guard Kendall Marshall being injured) alone should have been good enough to beat Ohio by at least early double-digits.

Or at least that’s what most of us told ourselves.

For 40 minutes, Ohio would not go away. They did not back down. They were not at intimidated by the allure of North Carolina, although you would not blame them one bit if they were. For what they lacked in talent per se that sure as hell made up for it in spirit, endeavor, and sheer belief. All of that paid off late in the game, as they took their first lead of the contest at 54-53 with 4:35 left.

And yet somehow, Carolina did enough to make it to overtime. It boggled belief really, considering that aside from a few stretches in the first half, they were totally and completed outplayed by the Bobcats. The offensive setup, minus Marshall, looked lost and totally unaware sometimes. Harrison Barnes one of Carolina’s star players, was absolutely atrocious on the evening, starting out 1-16 from the field(ultimately finishing an equally putrid 3-16). Apart from Tyler Zeller(20 points, 23 rebounds) and, um, Reggie Bullock(17 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assist), there was not a single player for Carolina that looked even close to being at their best. But as previously mentioned, the game somehow went to overtime.

Ohio’s Walter Offutt made a game-tying layup with 25 seconds left and was subsequently fouled by Stillman White, sending Offutt to the line to potentially give Ohio a 64-63 lead. A lead that, given the offensive torridness of Carolina, seemed like a surefire one.

But he missed.

Offutt would later steal the ball from Harrison Barnes on the ensuing UNC posession, giving it to D.J. Cooper, who made a half-court toss that narrowly missed going in. To extra time they went.

The overtime period was, to put it nicely, perplexing. North Carolina did not look at ease(continuing an ugly trend that had manifested itself earlier in the game). Ohio on the other hand, simple stonewalled. They went 0-6 from the field in overtime, with their only points coming through two free throws via Nick Kellogg. It was that temporary lull from Ohio which ultimately was their maker.

North Carolina is off to play fellow tightrope artists Kansas in Sunday’s Midwest regional final. Ohio is going home, but they dare not find reason to hang their heads low or have their spirits dampened. They gave it their all against the toughest of adversaries. Sometimes, the best you can do is good enough. This wasn’t those times.

The Madness(Sweet 16: Part I)

They will never say that revenge was on their minds. They will never say that they went out tonight to avenge that Christian Watford three pointer. But you had to feel that deep down, within the inner most depths of their own subconsciousness, Kentucky didn’t just want to beat Indiana last night, but beat them in style.

That sorta happened.

Indiana were no pushovers by any stretch of the imagination, shooting 52% from the field overall and hanging 90 on the Wildcats(being only the eighth team to score 70+ points on the Kentucky and the first to put up 80 or more). All 5 of Indiana’s starters were in double-figures. Yet given all of that, despite Indiana clearly giving their very all, it was not enough to beat Kentucky last night.

As good as Indiana was, Kentucky was slightly better. Yes, Uber-Freshman and unibrow enthusiast Anthony Davis had-at least by our insane standards-a quiet game(9 points, 12 rebounds), and yes, he did spent 14:04 of the first half on the bench in foul trouble(which was a big reason as to why the Hooisers had 47 points at the interval) but those occurrences were ultimately not significant enough to put a damper onto Kentucky’s chances of winning.

Kentucky is a talented enough team that when one player is not 100% involved into proceedings for whatever reason-poor play, foul trouble, etc-there are other players that can take control of the game. In the case of last night, those players were Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Doron Lamb. Lamb had a fine game for Kentucky, scoring 21 points while having 2 assist and 3 rebounds, but it was Kidd-Gilchrist who was the thrusting force behind Kentucky’s efforts. The Freshman from Somerdale, New Jersey had perhaps his best game in a Kentucky uniform with a 24-point, 12-rebound virtuoso display which put him head and shoulders above everyone else on the court.

Coming into the tournament , there were few questions as to who was the most talented team in the field. Clearly as we have seen so far, that team is Kentucky(is as previously advertised). Then again, Kentucky was in this same position two years ago with the likes of John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins, and Eric Bledsoe. That team also went into the Elite Eight with a 35-2 record and as one of the favourites to win the national championship. However, that team inexplicably lost to West Virginia in the East Regional Final. On Sunday evening, the 2011-2012 version of the Kentucky Wildcats will play in the South Regional Final against Baylor. This team is, like their 2010 predecessors, 35-2 heading into said game. Will there be a change in fortune for the Wildcats? Nearly none of us knows for sure. Yet for the Kentucky squad and their fans throughout the Commonwealth, the belief is there that things will be different. 

The Madness(Day 2:Part 2)

Oh, and this happened as well. Crazy huh? Two #15 seeds beating #2 seeds in the same day. Within hours of one another. There was more significant up-endings as well, albeit not to the extent of the aforementioned two:

• North Carolina State beating San Diego State.
• Saint Louis sqeaking by Memphis.
• Ohio beating Michigan(no, not Ohio State, Ohio University).

Mind you, this all happened on the second day of the tournament(Yes, it technically started on Tuesday but no one in the right mind would ever consider the play-in games to be part of the tournament proper. I think). Things can only get better from here.

The Madness: Day 2(Part I)

Well, this happened.

The Madness: Day 1

Coming into yesterday game between #1 seeded Syracuse and #16 seeded UNC-Asheville, the #1 seed came out on top 108 times with no defeats. Syracuse made it 109 undefeated with a 72-65 in yesterday’s second round East Regional game in Pittsburgh. However, said victory came under circumstances that probably was nowhere near as controversial as the previous 108.

There was that lane violation call which, while correct in practice, probably should not have been called in the first place. And then there was the out-of-bounds call that never was, clearly going off a Syracuse player but inexplicably going against UNC-Asheville. And then there was the goaltending call that was so absurd in its wrongness that it boggles belief how anyone with a decent amount of knowledge in basketball could ever consider making that decision.

Yet given all that, it would not be right to suggest that the game was fixed towards Syracuse because that would by the antithesis to the whole notion of “Marech Madness” that the NCAA projectiles at us every year around this time. Also working against the aforementioned notion is John Adams comments after the game. Adams, the NCAA national coordinator of men’s basketball officiating, said himself that the out-of-bounds call that went in Syracuse’s favour was wrong.

None of this though will take away from the reality that we were close to seeing history. Real, live, tangible history. There have been scenarios were the #16 seed came closer than Asheville to beating the #1 seed, but none of those were draped in as much controversy as this one. Which is a shame, because beneath the egregious nature of some referring decisions, it was a tremendous game. Asheville pushed Syracuse all the way to the end, matching them stride for stride for large stretches of the contest. Nevertheless, the talents of Syracuse, more so than any referring decision, eclipsed their counterparts at the end.

And so the wait continues for the ultimate upset, the ultimate underdog triumph. It might happen eventually at some point, whether that be this year or the next. But yesterday’s game was a reminder the possibility, the mere chances of it happening, is not as far-fetched as we think.

Yesterday’s Results

South Region

• #1 Kentucky 81-#16 Western Kentucky 66
• *8 Iowa State 77-#9 Connecticut 64
• #12 VCU 62-#5 Wichita State 59
• #4 Indiana 79-#13 New Mexico State 66
• #11 Colorado 68-#6 UNLV 64
• #3 Baylor 68-#14 South Dakota State 60

East Region

• #8 Kansas State 70-#9 Southern Mississippi 64
• #5 Vanderbilt 79-#12 Harvard 70
• #4 Wisconsin 73-#13 Montana 49
• #7 Gonzaga 77-#10 West Virginia 64
• #2 Ohio State 78-#15 Loyola(MD) 59

West Region

• #5 New Mexico 75-#12 Long Beach State 68
• #4 Louisville 69-#13 Davidson 62
• #6 Murray State 58-#12 Colorado State 41
• #3 Marquette 88-#14 BYU 68