Day 75 – Did you see that Basket?

Sunday April 4, 2021

If you ask, “What basket?” You didn’t see it. But don’t worry they will replay that shot a thousand times, at every March Madness, every clip of great moments in sport. Don’t worry.

I realized what a wonderful special moment I was in. I haven’t enjoyed a moment in sport like this since Tiger was on his tear and I’d turn on the TV on Sunday afternoon to see him play a final round like no other.

The game in question was the last game of The Final Four: UCLA versus Gonzaga. Gonzaga was undefeated. It had been ranked #1 or #2 all season long. Clearly, Gonzaga was going to win going away. Just like Bayor had dispatched Houston in the earlier Final Four game 78 to 69. UCLA had been streaky according to the experts. They were thought to not have played that many games. Although they had, playing two less then the average for this year. It was their up and down inconsistent play that made folks question if they should even be in the Final Four. Some may have turned off the game knowing it would be a twenty point blow out or more. 

Before the game Charles Barkley said that UCLA had to slow the game down because they couldn’t run with Gonzaga. Kenny Smith said they had to challenge the three point shot. Both were right; both were wrong. Sir Charles said that if the game went above 65 to 70 points UCLA would get enough possessions to win. They scored 90.

It was the toughest, full contact, game I have ever witnessed. The punishment that each team and every individual player took was remarkable. It looked at times like a playground pickup game with chain-link nets, except on a level unseen on any play ground.

Baylor was behind with seconds left. They tied with a two point under the basket play against Gonzaga’s big man: 3.3 seconds left. 

The ball is heaved to Gonzaga’s top player and #1 in the nation, Suggs, who gets the ball at their 3 point area. He takes three dribbles and crosses mid court and is halfway to the 3 point line. One second left he stops, jumps, shoots. It wasn’t a desperation heave. It was a shot. A thing of beauty. High in the air. Gorgeous arc. Time expired. The backboard lit up orange. The ball hit the backboard just about the iron support and went in without touching the rim. It was a thing of beauty.

You’ll see it. Don’t worry. You’ll see it.

I especially liked Charles Barkley’s commentary. He’s calmed down a bit. His analysis and his knowledge: not only of how the game is played and should be played, but his history of games past is epic. To listen to him breakdown a game: what has happened, what needs to happen, what are the keys to victory or defeat is remarkable and refreshing. 

It will be hard for the #1 and #2 teams in the nation to match on Monday what I saw yesterday.

In other news: Matt Gaetz’s epic idiocy continues – shocking. Republicans are continuing to not like anything that Democrats are trying to do to help the country and they have no ideas of their own, only platitudes and dire warnings – again shocking. The country continues to get vaccinated and we can almost see the end – provided people aren’t idiots. Wear the damn mask.