5. Speaking of, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention brackets tonight. The Selection Show is my favorite non-game, sports event. Love it; always have. Something magical about seeing those brackets up on the screen for the first time. Over the years college basketball has deteriorated in quality more so than any of the other five major sports I follow (NFL, NBA, MLB, NCAA hoops and football). The others ebb and flow in terms of quality and overall product, but college basketball has been on a slow, steady decline for the past 20 years or so. If you ever want to hear my take on why, I can write a novel on it. But instead, I'll explain why I still enjoy it and why March Madness is still must-see for me. First of all, I'm an OU fan. So regardless of the overall product, I enjoy following and rooting for my team/school. More importantly, college basketball offers something you don't get from any of the other sports: an stage for the little guy.
The semi-pro team in El Paso never gets to play the Cowboys in Jerryworld. The Toldeo Mudhens never get a crack in Yankee Stadium. North Dakota State doesn't get to enter into a tournament with Alabama and FSU. But in college basketball, Cinderella is embraced. The little guys rarely go far, but they do get their opportunity. They get their moment. And it never gets old. On Saturday a guy named Peter Hooley has already captured the attention of the sports world. Hooley comes off the bench for Albany. In the middle of this season he left the team for almost a month to visit his ailing mother in his native Australia. A few weeks ago, she passed away. On Saturday, with his team down by two, time running out, and a berth in the Big Dance on the line, a missed shot ricocheted to Hooley at the top of the key. Hooley gathered it and launched a high arcing three pointer that swished through the net with 1 second remaining. Their opponent, Stony Brook, missed a desperation heave as the clock expired and Hooley was mobbed by his teammates and what appeared to be his entire school. The team was wearing patches on their jerseys in honor of Hooley's mother and I imagine the students and Albany fans were well aware of the story as well. It was a goosebump-enducing scene. If you haven't seen it, Google it. As he cut down the nets during the celebration, he pointed to the sky in what I assume was a homage to his Mom-- or maybe even a thank you. Albany and Hooley likely won't last long in the tournament. These teams are normally bounced in the first round. If they are able to pull off the huge upset (and there have certainly been a few 14 seeds to do it), they likely won't advance past the second round. And some may look at that and wonder why it really matter. To me, it matters because that scene at a tiny gym in Albany was a real and raw as you will find in sports. So much emotion. And not to be forgotten is the flip side of this story: the heartache. Stony Brook has never made the NCAA Tournament. They have been to the championship game of their conference tourney four times and they have now lost all four. Hooley's shot is now a viral video for the nation. It is uplifting and inspiring. But for the members of the Stony Brook team, their coaches, and fans, the Hooley shot was a dagger to the heart. They were 1 second away. One rebound away. There are seniors on that team that were so close they could taste it. And just like that, it was ripped away. It was likely the last basketball game any of them will play. And while they don't posses the skill, talent, or potential of the kids at Kentucky or Kansas, way back in their driveways shooting at the hoop in the yard, their dreams were probably the same. College basketball is great because it gives even the most marginal a shot at realizing that dream. I know nothing about Peter Hooley other than what has been reported over the past 48 hours. But I do know that last Saturday will likely go down as one of the best (or at least most memorable) days of his life. Likely similar for others connected with the Albany program. And the Stony Brook program. Now you have 64 (I know 68, but I refuse to recognize the play-in games) teams all chasing the same thing. These teams and players have varying degrees of skill and come from all across the country and the world. It is all one and done. Dreams are realized or shattered on the slimmest of margins. It is riveting viewing even if the actual basketball isn't the quality it was years ago.
And in a ironic little personal twist, my Sooners draw Hooley and the feel good Albany squad in the first round. The general fan always roots for the big underdogs in the early rounds. And with this story gaining traction, Albany will be a sentimental favorite for sure. OU is going to play the role of the Big Bad Wolf here. The Hooley story is fantastic. I sent it my friends and family. I hope everyone reading this takes the time to look it up. But I'm a Sooner. And Hooley and his team stand in the way. His moment was amazing. But it's time to dance and I hope he leaves his glass slipper in Albany.
