Jan. 5, 2009
Well, as I sit here in the Windy City, disappointed that temperatures have dropped back into the single digits, but more upset because a 29 game win streak at home has come to an end, it doesn't really help that many of the Wrigleyville passers-by are sporting Notre Dame sweatshirts, jackets, knit ponchos (they are big out here in the Midwest), hats and the like. You totally thought I was going to end that sentence positively didn't you? Sadly, I speak the truth. Out here in the Second City, the Irish are essentially the default team that everybody cheers for if they have no allegiance to any other school, association, company, religion, etc. It's pretty ridiculous when someone's response to the question of why they are a Notre Dame fan is "the colors are nice." I guess this situation happens with a lot of other big city schools, but Notre Dame isn't even in Chicago. Heck it's not even in Illinois! At least with the Cubs and the Bears, you can point to geography has your reason for aligning yourself the way you do, even if you are unsure which sport corresponds to which team.
Regardless of what comes to mind for you when you hear "cheer cheer for old Notre Dame" - it may be Sean Astin and his brilliant portrayal of Rudy Ruettiger, the vertically challenged steel mill town boy with endless drive, or perhaps (for some reason) its Gene Hackman as Coach Norman Dale and his words to his Hickory High School Hoosiers team during the last moments of the state final, "Now, after Ollie makes the second foul shot…and you will make the second foul shot" - I personally am reminded of the following: February 9th, 2002, K-Braswell v. Chris Thomas, and a Big East record 4 overtimes.
I had just finished practice down in McDonough when I thought I should head over to the Verizon Center (at the time still affectionately known as the MCI center since the merger had not yet been approved by the FCC) to catch the second half of the boys game and see if the Irish and their freshman sensation (Thomas) were really as talented as Dicky V and various other ESPN analysts had said. Upon arriving at my Dirty South (that's New South to those of you who did not have the pleasure of calling it home) dorm room, I decided to stay in and watch since I thought the game would be over by the time I made it to the arena (and I didn't want to wait…endlessly in traffic). In retrospect, this was probably a good decision, as the number of profanities that escaped my mouth in the next 2 HOURS of play was quite high…sorry mom and dad. Despite Mike Sweetney setting a career high in scoring and rebounding, with 35 points and 25 boards, Wesley Wilson's career high 26 points, 7 rebounds and 5 blocks, Braswell's double-double in points and assists, and chances to win at the end of 3 overtime periods, the Irish outlasted our boys with a 116-111 victory in the highest scoring game in Big East history.
It was not our finest hour, to say the least, and we would get dealt another overtime blow about a month later that would bring a less than stellar season to an end. Still, to close this chapter on a positive note, the three aforementioned Hoyas did make the cut for the NCAA's 2001-2002 final statistical list. Hey, I had to find a bright spot somewhere.
Don't worry guys. I would not end my inaugural blog entry on a sour note. Thanks to our previous blogger and fearless leader, Mr. Hawkes of Generation Burton, I also think of a far more pleasant occasion involving Coach Mike Brey and the Irish when reminiscing: March 9th, 2007, 52.5% from the floor, 33.3% from behind the arc, an astounding 85.0% from (shout out to Rick Chvotkin) the charity stripe, and of course a Jeff Green pull-up jumper with 13 seconds to spare. To be honest, I cannot recall where I was at when Jonathan, Jeff, Roy, DaJuan and Patrick Jr. (with Sr. watching) rocked Madison Square Garden and advanced the Hoyas to the Big East Tournament Championship for the first time since 1996, as Mr. Hawkes mentioned. What I do remember, however, are 1) the wide variety of drunk-dials and texts I received from those that attended the game 2) the indoctrination of the ROY, ROY, ROY chant and 3) the various YouTube videos that were posted after we ended up clinching the Big East title that year.
So then what do we have in store for this year's trip to South Bend (home not only to the Irish but also celebrity Vivica A. Fox, just thought you all should know)? Well, of course there is Luke Harangody, last year's Big East Player of the Year who had 28 points and 14 rebounds in the Irish's loss to the Red Storm of St. John's this past Saturday, and is averaging just about 20 and 12 respectively this season. As the Chicago Tribune states, "Harangody's strength lies in not looking too far ahead, narrowing his perspective and addressing a game or possession like a bull with a spear in its hide." In addition to Monroe keeping Harangody in check down low, Hoya guards Freeman and Wright need to pay attention to Kyle McAlarney , another 2007-2008 first team Big East honoree who set the Notre Dame single season three point record as a junior. The complementary play of these two veterans will be tough to handle, but I am pretty sure our boys are up for the challenge.
Unfortunately, I won't be able to make the hour and half drive on the Indiana Skyway (although I know a bunch of Chicagoans will) to see Touchdown Jesus and the rest of the Notre Dame campus, but luckily ESPN made the right choice to broadcast this solid match up and I can watch it, similar to the 02/09/02 contest, from the comfort of my own home. Check out the details below, and don't be late…or your might get Harangodied.
Time/Location: Monday January 5, 2009 @ 7:00pm EST - South Bend, Indiana (The Joyce Center)
TV:ESPN
Radio: WTEM 980 (Rich Chvotkin), 92.7 FM, 94.3 FM
Signing off from Chitown,
Christina Besozzi - COL '05
Proud Member of Generation Sweetney
