When I was in kindergarten, I attended a private school in the Bronx. The school was meant to be a stepping stone for all these kids to get into Ivy League schools. I remember one of my good friends routinely getting into quarrels with his dad (mind you, we were in kindergarten) because his dad went to Harvard and he wanted to go to Yale (Kindergarten!) Me, on the other hand, never wanted to go to an Ivy League school because “they sucked at sports.”

Since I was a wee lad, my sport allegiances have been with non-local teams more often than not. You never think about it but being a fan of a local team has intangible benefit associated with it. It is created by the camaraderie created by fans of a particular team. Very few teams are an exception to this rule, besides the Cowboys and the Yankees no other teams are effectively able to cross state lines. I feel that this rule has become the basis of my transformation into more of a casual sports fan. I don’t need to watch every Avalanche or Redskin game. I always check to see how the Mets and Yankees did, but it’s not on the top of my list. Mostly I like keep abreast of all the major happenings in the sports world in general.

There is one exception though:
Syracuse Basketball

College basketball is by far my favorite sport. The season is the perfect length. The post season is phenomenal, even when your team is not in it. And every year there are about 40 games that don’t involve Syracuse that are still must see games. To be honest I don’t know how I fell in love with the Orangemen, but we have been seeing each other for about 16 years now. Starting in Kindergarten, I would wait patiently for the NCAA brackets to be printed in Sports Illustrated and I would tape it to my door. I’d write in the name of all the winning teams right away, unless Syracuse lost, then I would need to check at least five different sources before I would believe it. Mind you, this was extremely difficult in the age before the internet.

Since I have been alive, every college basketball season except one has ended on a down note. This year was no different. Syracuse was relegated to the NIT after being snubbed by the Selection Committee. Everyone in the country listed Syracuse as the number one snub so that softened the blow slightly, but not by much. (I can admit now that we just weren’t that good. But you’ll never hear me admit it.)

This year when Syracuse was playing Clemson, I still had the giddyness associated with the NCAA tournament. But like I mentioned before, this was the NIT. Unfortunatly for Tara, even though she was not at her computer, I still assaulted her with my thoughts on the game. Almost 200 IMs later I had myself a glog.

(7:17:58 PM): Syracuse is losing 8-9 in the first half
Auto response from Thoops4 (7:17:58 PM): playing basketball….
(7:18:18 PM): I beat u back
(7:19:48 PM): Even if you’re not there I’m still going to IM you
(7:21:28 PM): those SYR jerseys are atrocious
(7:29:34 PM): those jerseys are so stupid
(7:29:42 PM): gray numbers? Really?
(7:29:53 PM): losing 14-18
(7:31:01 PM): Clemson assholes
(7:31:18 PM): winner gets to play in NY next week!
(7:31:43 PM): gross
(7:31:57 PM): their play is matching their jerseys
(7:32:17 PM): they are talking about blonde brownies for some reason
(7:33:21 PM): Clemson is boxing out b4 the shots go up. They box out and the guards are able to drive baseline. It’s Blue Chips
(7:33:37 PM): SYR 14 -Assholes 24
(7:34:59 PM): they just referred to Paul Harris as a man’s man
(7:35:10 PM): and they said that the new jerseys make his guns that much bigger
(7:35:21 PM): down 13
(7:40:40 PM): down 11
(7:41:09 PM): the ball just got blocked and wedged in between the rim and backboard simultaneously
(7:42:53 PM): mom made me mac and cheese
(7:43:22 PM): maybe it will be lucky
(7:43:25 PM): nope
(7:43:34 PM): Rautins just air-balled a three
(7:43:50 PM): you need to teach him how to shoot the three
(7:44:05 PM): down 8
(7:44:41 PM): or they can turn it over
(7:44:58 PM): DOWN 5!
(7:47:23 PM): It’s getting a little out of control
(7:49:12 PM): Nessler needs to stop talking about these blonde brownies
(8:10:27 PM): finally I can finish my thought after being kicked off for years
(8:10:40 PM): when I got kicked off Nessler commented: “Matt Gorman with an easy dunk.”
(8:10:51 PM): he made that easy dunk look so hard
(8:11:00 PM): it was a struggle for him to dunk it
(8:11:35 PM): Now SYR is down 11 at halftime
(8:12:20 PM): Boeheim got a technical foul during half time. More points for Asshole #1.
(8:12:24 PM): fantastic
(8:12:47 PM): they just showed the blonde brownie on TV
(8:12:57 PM): down 13 now
(8:13:10 PM): AHole #1 with 23 points now
(8:13:59 PM): Jesus
(8:14:15 PM): SYR hasn’t touched the ball yet in the 2nd half
(8:15:01 PM): 1 minute 15 has gone by
(8:15:24 PM): SYR just got their first touch
(8:15:24 PM): down 15
(8:15:34 PM): down 13
(8:15:39 PM): Devendorf with 11 points
(8:15:56 PM): that was the most pathetic play ever
(8:15:59 PM): wow
(8:15:59 PM): wow
(8:16:49 PM): first they steal the ball, then while dribbling up court Wright dribbles the ball into the hand of the assholes, easy asshole lay-up
(8:17:01 PM): then they throw away the inbound pass
(8:17:59 PM): the license plate on the car in this commercial is GAH
(8:19:04 PM): down 15
(8:19:12 PM): lets start playing now
(8:19:14 PM): down 13
(8:19:24 PM): Devendorf is going to carry us right now
(8:19:50 PM): he is going to take every shot
(8:19:58 PM): Nichols better step up
(8:21:03 PM): every Clemson inbounds pass from their baseline has to go all the way back to half court. That’s the one bright spot of our game; our inbound defense
(8:21:17 PM): asshole #1 has 26
(8:21:25 PM): SYR down 13
(8:21:52 PM): ok ok down 11
(8:22:13 PM): You’re not really going to read all of this are you?
(8:22:17 PM): it’s like a book
(8:22:18 PM): I’m sorry
(8:22:32 PM): even when your not here I still talk to you
(8:22:46 PM): I could be telling someone else this, but I’m not
(8:24:14 PM): I was going to pack when I got home because I’m ancy
(8:24:18 PM): but I don’t want to leave my seat
(8:24:33 PM): granted they aren’t playing too good with me sitting here
(8:24:35 PM): but they won when I sat here on Monday
(8:24:41 PM): I’m wearing my Gerry McNamara shirt again
(8:25:10 PM): Nessler is impressed by the packed house. Little John holds 10,000
(8:25:20 PM): I don’t see why that is impressive. They had 3000 the other night.
(8:25:55 PM): SYR had 26,000 that same night
(8:26:00 PM): fantastic turnover by SYR. They are getting creative with their turnovers
(8:26:18 PM): 11 again
(8:27:10 PM): of the 10 or so shots this half, Devendorf has 9 of them
(8:27:41 PM): what a Macy’s call
(8:28:23 PM): really.
(8:29:03 PM): we play 35 seconds of solid defense and the assholes throw up a prayer as the shot clock goes off and it goes in
(8:29:39 PM): Make FTs
(8:29:54 PM): Down 12
(8:30:04 PM): with 13 to go
(8:30:21 PM): dagger
(8:30:36 PM): Assholes score then SYR get ancy
(8:30:44 PM): then they run down court and just throw it away
(8:30:53 PM): bah I’m about to go downstairs
(8:30:59 PM): not much faith left
(8:33:06 PM): walking downstairs
(8:34:09 PM): so I can pack and chew some gum
(8:35:11 PM): fantastic SYR gets the ball
(8:35:17 PM): commits an offensive foul
(8:35:39 PM): I think Boeheim’s just going to say F it in a few seconds and go sit with his wife in the stands
(8:36:06 PM): hahahahah Austin Peay
(8:36:20 PM): assholes
(8:36:25 PM): down 15
(8:36:50 PM): stop making threes u sparkling wiggles
(8:36:54 PM): ok 13
(8:36:58 PM): with 10 to play
(8:37:21 PM): how many messages have I sent
(8:37:25 PM): 100?
(8:37:27 PM): 150?
(8:37:35 PM): SYR turnover
(8:37:47 PM): I’m about to turn this off
(8:37:53 PM): we are so terrible
(8:39:37 PM): 15 points
(8:39:47 PM): terrible shots
(8:39:51 PM): plus turnovers
(8:39:58 PM): plus heads up their butts
(8:40:03 PM): equals this is hard to watch
(8:40:16 PM): now I realize y we didn’t make the tournament
(8:40:50 PM): that asshole just dunked the ball so hard he knocked his own contact out
(8:41:24 PM): ostrowe’s training thus far: by the way, my training is going awesome, I just had a big Mac, a cheeseburger and mozzarella sticks for dinner
(8:41:35 PM): my training: complaining about this game
(8:41:47 PM): not to far away from changing the channel
(8:41:57 PM): these recruits we are getting next year better be good
(8:42:05 PM): I wonder if is Harris staying
(8:42:20 PM): if he tried to enter the draft, he wouldn’t be drafted
(8:42:35 PM): he has little to no skills that can translate to NBA talent
(8:42:52 PM): Devendorf on the other hand can drive the hoop and not pass, perfect for the pros
(8:43:06 PM): that’s not saying Harris can pass, b/c he can’t either
(8:45:57 PM): they just commented on Paul Harris’ physique in the new jerseys again
(8:46:25 PM): bah…..
(8:46:33 PM): down 14
(8:46:37 PM): down 16
(8:46:49 PM): my breath smells like potato sticks
(8:47:04 PM): am I at 200 yet?
(8:50:47 PM): Syracuse Line.
(8:50:54 PM): 17 field goals
(8:50:57 PM): 16 turnovers
(8:51:06 PM): that is y we are in the NIT
(8:51:17 PM): if we were in the big dance we would have lost in the first round
(8:51:22 PM): so which outcome is better
(8:51:44 PM): being relegated to the NIT and making some revenue by hosting two extra home games
(8:51:58 PM): or getting to the dance and losing in the first round to long beach st
(8:53:18 PM): hahahahhaahha this asshole just tried to dunk but muffed it and he just hung on the rim and caught his missed dunk and tried to put it back in
(8:53:25 PM): he got T’d up
(8:53:30 PM): SYR down 13
(8:53:39 PM): shooting two free throws
(8:53:44 PM): and then they get the ball back
(8:54:02 PM): Down 9!
(8:55:28 PM): I just made fun of my mom for playing FreeCell
(8:56:40 PM): Nessler on Devendorf dribbling up the court: “he’ll probably shoot.”
(8:56:56 PM): and he does
(8:57:30 PM): down 6!!
(8:58:03 PM): oooo 4 fouls on rivers
(8:59:38 PM): Keep driving at him over and over again!
(9:01:40 PM): down 3!!!!
(9:03:30 PM): clemson has lost two starters to fouls
(9:06:28 PM): SYR has lost Watkins
(9:07:48 PM): Devendorf and Harris are playing like men possessed
(9:09:32 PM): F
(9:09:40 PM): FTs
(9:12:43 PM): Paul u wiggle
(9:13:39 PM): Still down 3
(9:14:30 PM): BS
(9:14:49 PM): That asshole fell down on his own
(9:15:02 PM): not our fault he is clumsy
(9:15:02 PM): down 4
(9:17:41 PM): confusing moment
(9:17:54 PM): the scoreboard says timeout
(9:18:07 PM): nessler said foul
(9:18:20 PM): Nessler is right
(9:18:49 PM): Nichols on the line
(9:19:09 PM): makes the first
(9:19:50 PM): a very quiet 17 pts for him tonight
(9:20:32 PM): down 2
(9:21:49 PM): roberts just fouled out of the game
(9:22:29 PM): bah they ran out of gas
(9:23:31 PM): They showed a lot of heart coming back
(9:23:58 PM): another 2 minutes and they would have won
(9:24:54 PM): Well it was an entertaining season. There is always next year.

Another year in the books, but the chance that next year will be better keeps you coming back. That’s what so great about sports, every year you get a clean slate. But I’ll never forget that one year that ending on a good note. That’s enough to keep me coming back for years to come.

Well the Running Diary of Day 2 was even worse than BP’s attempt. This is what it came out to be:

8:30 Get to work
4:30 Syracuse Loses
4:45 Open Gmail
5:40 Leave work

Oh yea, I went to lunch today late so there were no lines, perfect chance to get my salad right. Nope, I got Subway again. But I also got Sun Chips, thats healthy. Good start Rick.

However, I offer this thought from my bus ride home. We all know how eager Hollywood is turn turn real life stories into movies. Imagine if they start taking very pedantic events and turning them into movies. Remember a few years ago when all those guys lifted a giant rock so that Tiger Woods could hit his shot. They could make a movie about all those guys and how they converged to lift the rock. I bet one of the guys wasn’t going to go that day but at the zero hour got his ticket. And one guy almost went to hang out at a different hole. Then the big rock lifting scene could be in slow motion and then they could give Tiger “Muppet Adult Treatment” where you only see up to his thighs.

To make up for this crappy blog I present:

Day 1:

10:00 I feel like crap, but I am still excited for the Syracuse/uconn game (for the record, I refuse to capitalize uconn like it probably should be). I am running around trying to finish all my work so that I can watch most of the game. But knowing the Piccinich effect, I will be called into an office to do something. I just sent out an email to my bosses to drop a subtle hint, that for that time span I would not like to leave my desk. I’ll do work, but I’m not leaving the cube. Oh the joys of having a TV on my desk.

Gang – I’d like to apologize in advance for any loud noises emanating from my cube between the hours of 2:00 PM ET and 4:30 PM ET while Syracuse is playing uconn. If my poor eating habits don’t kill me, Syracuse surely will.

11:07 The game is not for three hours and I am still complaining about these jerseys that Syracuse is supposedly wearing. They make me furious. Every time I see them, which every time I read anything about the team and today’s game, I start complaining. I don’t even know where to begin with the over/under on number of times I complain. 200? 250?

11:23 I have started eating whatever I can get my hands on

11:28 GQ comes out of his office and says: “This has Nick’s name written all over it. Pinstriped and everything.” He hands me a snazzy NBA All-Star jacket. It’s awesome. Black and pinstriped without any gaudy logos. Maybe I should suggest that Syracuse wear pinstriped jerseys, now that would be awesome.

11:35 These new jerseys are so terrible.

11:36 Best jersey related comment yet:

Overall, Nike’s “System of Dress” deserves not only a failing grade, but probably should be admonished by an act of Congress or a misguided jihadist in a grainy video aired on a forgettable Arab cable television network.

Second place:
[Nike] has also created the impetus for endless conversations starting with the phrase, “Andy Rautins has the torso of a 15 year-old girl.”

Both quotes from: Syracuse Fan House Blog

11:39 For those of your thinking: “Doesn’t he have better stuff to do at work.” Shut up. Here is my justification. I am just using the time that I used to participate in the mail chain to write this blog. Since the mail chain has gone the way of Barbaro, I now have time that I can redistribute to other activities.

11:58 When they say Borat is the funniest movie of the year, are they referring to 2006 or 2007. They are trying to pull a fast one.

11:59 Doug Gottlieb is a tool, but he just said that a loss and Syracuse is on the bubble again, and I agree with him.

12:00 DePaul (who has been characterized as bipolar) kicks off the Big East tournament by playing Mar State (who has been characterized as winded)

12:15 This isn’t the first time this has ever happened, but with the score 8-2, an ESPN graphic just pointed out that Villanova has been on a 8-2 run in the last 4:21. I’m still pissed that Mar State beat Syracuse over the weekend, but their freshman guard, Scottie Reynolds is pretty cool.

12:19 In an unrelated note: I told myself that I have to start eating healthier so for lunch I think I am going to get a chicken salad. Odds of this actually happening: 15-1

12:35 When I have a son or daughter I know they are going to become a Mar State fan 3/4 because on the ESPN scoreboard they appear as “NOVA” and 1/4 to spite me.

12:38 Nice, a stress ball. This is going to come in handy later. I wonder who I’m gonna wing it at if Syracuse losses.

12:53 This is the picture on ESPN’s front page right now. Nichols (center) looks pissed off. Devendorf looks very evil. I don’t know what Rautins is doing with his hand. It looks photoshopped. And that referee, who is clearly not Ed Hoculi, is up to no good. Andy look out.

1:03 Do I like how ESPN refers to the NBA as “the association.” Good question……

1:07 I have stepped out to lunch. Will I get a salad? Time will tell.

1:29 OK OK Shut up. I didn’t get a salad, but I have a perfectly good reason. First off, Rockefeller Plaza + Lunch Time Rush + School Trips + Precipitous Weather Conditions = Ridiculously Large Lines. I hate lines, especially when I am hungry. This is why I normally go to lunch at 2:30. The line at the salad place was huge, and in addition to the length of time it would take, I don’t know how to order a salad. It would step up to the plate and be more frozen than Carlos Beltran in game 7 last year. I don’t need to make a fool of myself or ruin the assembly line process for everyone else. Then of course due to the lines my three indoor backups were also thrown out the window. I settled for pizza. I’m going to turn into a pizza one day. Oh yea, I also got an Auntie Anne’s Pretzel to help me survive all the walking.

1:47 After all my rambling, this game has gotten close. Mar State is only getting points from Reynolds and Sumpter……..PS Jason Chandler just made one of the best reverse layups I have seen in a while

2:12 And Mar State rides out a victory with the help of their tremendous free-throw shooting. Best in the conference and it showed today. Very similar performance to the one that beat Syracuse on Saturday.

2:19 Jon calls me into the office. The Syracuse game is slated to start in about 20 minutes. Piccinich Effect strikes again.

2:39 I make it back just in time for the tip. And also a pleasent burst of 5 mail chain emails. My headache is reaching epic levels. Hopefully the Syracuse jerseys don’t make it worse.

2:45 The jerseys haven’t made me puke yet. Most of the guys wised up and got the jersey a size to big. Watkins is the only one wearing a tight one. I think Nike exagerated the tightness on their website. I still argue that the jersey’s look stupid. They also have stupid silver stripes on the back of the shoulders.

2:48 Syracuse starts 1-9 and I am blaming the jerseys. They are hitting part of the backboard I didn’t even know existed.

2:59 The jerseys still suck. They aren’t that tight, but they look stupid.

3:07 Harris getting kicked in the junk leads to a fast break dunk.

3:13 I’m trying to remember someone saying: “This is going to be a very good team in the years to come” about Syracuse. I don’t think it has ever been said. When Carmelo was there everyone knew he was leaving after one year. This year everyone thought we would be terrible and then Nichols and Rautins surprised everyone. Every year one player steps up and becomes a go to guy. It’s great, never a favorite, never a bottom dweller, I love it. Makes life exciting.

3:18 Good 35 seconds of scanning every Syracuse player up and down to show-off their jerseys. Huge three by Nichols.

3:20 Syracuse is playing good for the time being, they are now down by one. I blame the jerseys. They just played that Bud Light Super Bowl commercial with the monkies. It still sucks.

3:29 Between AIM, the stress ball, and work I have managed to control my screaming

3:46 Championship Week presented by Dick’s Sporting Goods brings you the Big East Championship Presented by Aeropostale. Thats the name of this program.

3:58 Nichols “sinks a three to the delight of the orange clad partisans”

4:01 I want Bill Raftery to narrate my life. He emphasizes the last word of every sentance. It’s great. Nick today woke up at FIVE FIFTY THREE! Rick is about to leave Springfield, and there is Tara, he leans in for the KISSSSSSS Etc etc….

4:18 Time to relax a bit SYRACUSE 62 – uconn 48. Of course if I rest too much uconn will come back. Oh wait nevermind, uconn traveling violation leads to technical on Calhoun.

4:21 Calhoun gives a foul call on Syracuse a sarcastic applause.

4:25 I don’t know how much Aeropostale is paying to sponsor the Big East Tournament, but you would think it would be enough to get them a bigger presence in the logo plastered on the floor. Granted they are all over the rest of the arena, scorers table, and jumbotron but still…

4:46 Solid second half for the Cuse leads to a good win. uconn seemed sluggish and those old jerseys they were wearing really was a disadvantage. Now I can continue the day in a good mood. The running diary will make it to day 2!