Basketball Lives, Baseball on the Horizon

So I was sitting around today, channel surfing, and came across a preseason baseball game between the Phillies and the Indians. The Phillies were wearing green jerseys and hats for St. Patrick's Day, and they had a solid following in the stands despite the game being in Florida. I'd say the average age of atendees was roughly 68, but that's Florida for ya. In fact, my grandparents are down there right now.

For a reason that I'll never be able to explain, I was outwardly compelled to watch the game. I can't think of a more meaningless preseason baseball game on a Monday afternoon, but I really wanted to watch the game. I only watched it for a few minutes, as no one else wanted to watch it and we had to get something to eat and run some other errands, but that's when it hit me. I can't wait for Opening Day. Right now I'm living between the March Madness moments and loving it, but America's Pastime is on the horizon and I'm getting anxious. For us Yankees fans, it's time to buy our postseason tickets, pending our pitching staff and stay sober in the bleachers, pending how much we drink before the game. Either way, I can't wait.

Now for some hoops banter. Temple is a 12 seed. St. Joe's is an 11 seed. This bothers me, being that the Owls beat the Hawks in the Atlantic 10 championship game. While I think the committee did a solid job this season, their final decisions are never without flaws. There are some things I'll never understand. I'll chalk this up with "How did Hofstra get snubbed two years ago despite beating George Mason not once but twice in 11 days down the stretch of the season?"Sure, Mason proved they were deserving, but the Pride still got shafted.

As for Temple's seeding, it's like Bob Knight said about how the seeds and locations are overrated and really don't matter. It's all about how teams play. Whether you're a 10, 15, or a 1, you have to beat the best to be the best. Oh by the way, I'm a pretty big fan of Bob Knight being an ESPN analyst. He's frank and honest as always, and he's still rockin a sweater, keepin it real in Bristol. I love when a reader emailed the question, "Who do you think this year's George Mason will be?" He responded with a simple, "I don't see that happening this year, I don't think it'll happen." For about a second Rece Davis didn't know what to say, as he was likely anticipating more of a response, but that's The General.

At a track meet my freshman year, after the tourney had ended, someone saw my Hofstra shirt and said, "Hofstra eh? You guys shoulda made the tournament." I responded with a hearty, "Ah yeah! Thanks man, finally some respect." He then followed that up with a "That way UConn coulda made the Final Four!" I just shook my head and said, "Aw c'mon!" The guy was right, but it still hurt. The only reason I cared about taking interest in the letter Hofstra sent me was because they were in the tournament a few years back with Speedy Claxton. That said, making the tournament is kind of a big deal.

The team I'm keeping an eye on at this point is Pittsburgh. Winning four straight to take the Big East Title isn't easy, and doing it against Georgetown to win it is no cakewalk either. I went to the semifinals Friday night at the Garden. The Panthers had that place rockin and I was lovin it. It was my third attendance of the Big East semifinals, and for the record, no team will ever rock MSG like Syracuse has. West Virginia was no match for the Hoyas, and despite getting a little gased in the game, Pitt got it done with solid defense against Marquette. Pitt tends to enter the dance a little overrated, and while they're No. 17 in the AP Poll, they remain unranked in the ESPN/USA Today Poll. For some unknown reason, I like Pitt this year.

I grew a little concerned for the Pitt Panther mascot though, as late in the second half it was sitting down, with its hands folded over its knees, only politely clapping for 3's and alley-oops. During the first half the Panther was fine, dancing to the band, inciting the Oakland Zoo and jumping all over the place. Don't ask how I noticed this, but I'm that kind of guy. I brought it to my friends' attention, and we began to joke about the Panther having a few too many during halftime. Maybe he/she was eating in the suit. But then again, whoever was in the suit could've been seriously ill. After a half-hearted standing up and light chanting, the Panther made its way arond the lower concourse and out of the arena. Raucous fans were clammoring to shake its hand, reaching out to touch the ailing mascot. The Panther was last seen leaving with its hand on its chest, likely about to throw up. While it gave me and my three friends something to contemplate and laugh about during Pitt's inevitable victory, I hope whoever was in the suit is okay.

This March though, all I really want to see is a No. 16 beat a No. 1. Doubtful, I know, but I'm a pipe dream enthusiast.

Now for the NBA. Denver beat Seattle Sunday night, scoring 168 points. 168! This was all done in regulation. Every player that reached the court scored for the Nuggets, and eight scored double figures. Marcus Camby had a triple double, and the Nuggets rolled on the Sonics for the second time this year. Seattle dropped a 42-point contest to Denver in February, giving up 138. Both games set records for points in regulation this season. They're not exactly in the catbirdseat though, currently ninth in the Big Bad West. As for Houston, I previously blogged that they would likely cool off when the met the Hornets, and that they weren't the best in the West. As Yukon Cornelius said in Rudolph, I changed my mind! T-Mac's Rockets are currently the No. 1 seed in the West, again, without Yao. Maybe that's the key for their success, like the NY Football Giants without Shockey. Only time will tell, but watch out for the Rockets. They've rattled off 22 straight wins, and they face Boston Tuesday. I can't wait to channel surf between that and the Coppin State-Mt. Saint Mary's play-in game. Can you feel that? Basketball is all sorts of alive right now.