Vanderbilt: 72 - SMC: 70
It’s hard to emotionally invest oneself in a team that is not one’s own. We grow up in households that are “true blue” or “bleeding red” and teach us where our allegiances lie. Or we find ourselves in close proximity to a school or team, making it much easier to attend games and thus become a part of the team. In essence, our fandom comes from a mixture of socialization and access. It’s what explains my desire to consistently watch the losing Lions (socialization) and my intense passion for all things Golden Grizzlies (access). I hesitate to say that the two parts of this thesis are connected because, at least in the case I was given, I did not need to be socialized into liking the Grizzlies. However, the two are related in the sense that it is harder to access out-of-market or small-time teams without socialization. The obvious example is the young child who grew up in a Miami Dolphins household in Detroit, Michigan because the father grew up in Miami (therefore the father, a die-hard Dolphins fan, will take extra steps - perhaps purchasing an out-of-market TV plan, listening through the radio, planning trips around Dolphins home games - to provide access to the household).
What’s more interesting to me, though, than exploring this subsection of the thesis is the thought of becoming a fan of a team with no socialization or access. Prior to the advent of the Internet and television, the only likely way this could be achieved is by scanning box scores and “picking a team” to root for in a far away land. I suppose access could come into play if one were to go to a hometown ballgame to see the opposing team, but if anything this would happen once or twice per season, pending the sport. Nowadays, with amazing sites like justin.tv, channelsurfing.com, and (more legit options like) espn360.com or a good old satellite package, investing in a team has become a lot simpler.
But there are times where even these new innovations limit us from accessing these teams. Case in point: Saint Mary’s College of California, or the Gaels. SMC was a team that I loosely followed last year because of one player, Patty Mills. I did not even get a chance to watch him until the West Coast Conference tournament and then the NIT because of limited access (and a hand injury that put him out the game for a while). He was amazing, and better yet, the facility he played in was exactly what I loved about college basketball: small enough to be intimate, yet large enough to look legit on televison. Moreover, their fans are truly dedicated and thoroughly interested in their basketball program. And they are exciting! They play a quick brand of basketball, led by speedy guards who have, oddly enough, always had a few more than capable big men in the paint.
With Mills gone, I wasn’t sure if there would be much reason to follow SMC this year. However, they were lucky enough to be featured in the 2am spot of the ESPN 24 Hoops Marathon against an always lively San Diego State team, and they absolutely killed it. Mickey McConnell became my new three-point shooting hero (surpassing the now defunct Erik Kangas), Omar Samhan showed me what a big man can do in a small conference, and Dellevedova proved that the Aussie connection is still alive and well in Moraga. Since watching that game, I have longed to watch the team again, but once again ran into access problems. So I took it into my own hands, and I listened to their latest game against SEC mid-runner Vanderbilt on the radio via the Internet. I could hear the excitement in the small facility as SMC came back from a 14 point deficit to get it within two by the closing possession. The radio will never replace being able to see the actual product, as was the case in the final seconds when SMC failed to convert on a three-pointer to win the game. The radio man did a fine enough job giving me the play by play, but it was the crowd reaction that truly told me that SMC had just lost to a major conference team by just two points. In that moment, I was sad. Perhaps not as much as that I feel after a loss of my “own” team, but I felt for the Gaels and their fans. It was in this moment that I had realized I had made an emotional investment, and I too could be considered one of them so long as I sustain this.
Never a fan of west coast hoops, this may be the year I finally convert in an effort to keep tabs on some WCC favs, but SMC specifically. Let’s go Gaels.
Moral of the Story: Actually go to class, if you don’t you’ll end up pissing everyone off. And then they will blog about it, which ultimately will have limited to no effect on whether the #3’s steal their seat again. But they will still express their angst via tumblr.
- This is a great post, especially your use of “ho,” definitely did not see that coming. This morale is also why the rest of the Brocago group (minus Craig maybe?) annoys me so much.
This photo is amazing.
In life we are often told to rely on The Network. The Network is a large entity, filled with a variety of people displaying various traits, most of which are maddening to this writer. There are those who siphon the resources of The Network without giving back. They are free-riders, the ones who hope to use this tool only to their advantage. They are leaches, the worst kind of parasites. The very language they use is so disgusting, their word means nothing. They don’t talk down to you, they talk away to you. They stop to get the information they need, but their eyes are never focused on the person. The eyes are shifting instead, looking for the next gold-plated name tag with a powerful title. Names mean nothing in this context. Names only become important when used to namedrop. These are the worst. Their presence in The Network is never earned.
It is disgusting to me that people could get to this point. It is perhaps why I shun the life of the corporate businessman or politician. But The Network has a shiny facade. It’s about who you know, we’re told, and The Network puts the “who” in that phrase. I’d rather get by on my innate and learned skills and abilities, and meet and develop relationships with people based on a common interest, passion, or desire. The day I attempt to get to know someone because of their job title or position in life, and not who they are and what they did to achieve that title or position, will be a sad day. But I promise I’ll be fighting to ensure that day never comes.
Got A Man Crush: Jay-Z
It seems like I go through musical infatuations. In High School it was The Shins for a little while. That transitioned into liking a trashier sound found in Kings of Leon. That one was HUGE, and I hate to jump on the Kings of Leon Are Sellouts Bandwagon!, but I am, even though they deserve the success they have found. But no matter what, I will never hit next on an older song. After that the Music Crush Top Spot wasn’t held by anyone/group in particular. That emotional void was filled by various mix CD’s with bands that go by Dear & The Headlights, Midlake, Maps & Atlases, Portugal. The Man, Look Mexico, and Brand New.
Then came the year 2009 with some incredible music/album releases! Groups with the names of Animal Collective, Grizzly Bear, Phoenix, Dirty Projectors, and Andrew Bird made the soundtrack of my summer. In that mix, you may notice how there isn’t much Hip-Hop.
Don’t get me wrong, I love some good Hip-Hop. Rappers from Jay-Z to Talib Kweli to Lupe Fiasco. Pe’s Food & Liquour is a personal favorite album, and Jay-Z is just the man.
This leads into the topic of this post, HOVA himself. Not only is this man an incredibly smart and gifted lyricist, but he’s just an all around great guy. He’s in a great marriage to another one of my favorites, Beyonce! They keep their business out of the eyes of the public, they handle themselves well, and you can tell they really care for each other. And Jay-Z knows a thing or two about music, and the direction it’s heading. He was recently spotted at a Grizzly Bear concert in Williamsburg, and in the before posted video, he knows (along with the rest of us) that the reason “Indie” music is gaining popularity is because of the uniqueness each group can have. Indie bands are pushing the boundaries and changing things up. But back to Mr. J. To conclude, the man sure knows how to dress! Just look at him, that’s one sharp lookin’ fellow, right there.
He’s also big into the NBA, and has become the center of any deal likely to happen involving moving LeBron from Cleveland to Brooklyn during the summer of 2010. To do that takes a man, which Jay-Z surely is.
Going to see this fella play tonight. He plays for the team formerly known as the Supersonics, which in the past I might not have forgiven. However, they have a great nucleus developing, including my man James Harden. Can’t wait.
Too funny.
(via thankyoukurtrambis)
Seems like David Beckham shares the same affinity for neckbeards as Baron Davis.
(Photo by Andrew D.Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
I can’t believe this is David Beckham. Granted, I don’t know too much about the dude aside from he used to be some kind of sexy idol. While I can not excuse the jean jacket, I’m loving the intense neck bard and THE SLEEVES! This photo makes Beckham look like the guitarist of MASTODON or something.
Another cbb blogger profiled Indiana University today. In their preview, they said:
Indiana: The Sequel will be built on the backs of four-year “Band of Brothers”-style classes.
I really like this sentence just like the prior one I posted. First, calling it “The Sequel” and utilizing the capital ‘S’ indicates a rebuilding process. Secondly, using “Band of Brothers” in tandem with “four-year” players really lets me know that these will be special years at IU. They won’t be winning any national championships, but these young recruits understand that this is bigger than themselves. This is about tradition, about being the guys who got the program back on track. While they surely want to accomplish winning seasons and championships, they know their time here will likely spur greater progress and eventually success.
I like this way of thinking and can apply it to a recent experience. As I leave behind my undergraduate university next spring, I can feel good about what I have accomplished while knowing full well there is a lot of room for continued success, growth and improvement. My only wish is that I can leave behind a block in the bigger picture that will be strong enough to support those who strive to build beyond the contributions of me and those who came before. This is truly the single most important thing I care about in terms of leaving behind my institution.
