Duke defeats Butler in the rematch, and I meet Bill Cowher

I left Ohio this morning and flew into Philadelphia.  I did that because I needed to be close(r) to New Jersey since I had a ticket for the Duke v Butler 2010 NCAA Championship rematch. 

The line for the game was Duke -14.5 if anyone is curious (i.e. and from the conversations overheard at the Izod Center by the men around me, people cared).

I didn't expect this game to be a close one.  However with Kyle Singler getting into early foul trouble and Duke shooting ice, ice cold the game was a lot closer than more Blue Devil fans wanted. 

Incidentally, I was surprised to see a fairly sizable Butler University contingency.  ****  FYI.  I've seen some of Butler's campus in Indianapolis. and it's beautiful. 

Both teams were tied at 33 at half-time.

With Butler's Gordon Hayward gone (i.e. he matriculated to the NBA), I figured Brad Stevens would have his hands full.  I was right.  As mentioned before, Duke's Kyle Singler ran into foul trouble but towards the stretch in the 2nd half, Duke its rhythm and started to drain shots.  Ultimately, Singler would foul out.  However, the Blue Devils were able to ride Nolan Smith's 24 points and Kyrie Irving's 21 points (i.e. 17 of which that came when it mattered in the 2nd half).

I'm not going to pretend that this game was more interesting than the game I missed (i.e. UNC's upset of Kentucky), but it was a fun game to watch for any Duke fan. 

In addition, it just so happened that I looked across the aisle and you'll never believe who was sitting a couple of rows behind me.  It was former Pittsburgh Steelers' coach, Bill Cowher.  The rumor is that his daughter is dating Ryan Kelly.  I guess that makes Coach Cowher a Duke fan.  EXCELLENT! 

****  FYI.  I never forget a face.  If you're a sports person, actor, singer, performer, politician etc. and you're in the building, I will recognize you.  I am always looking around, and I'm just good like that at picking people out of a crowd.  Trust me.  The list of random "celebrities" that I've run into or had sitting next to or near me at events is outright strange (i.e. Oprah, Tom Cruise, and countless others).

Go Duke!  Duke defeated Butler with a final score of 82-70. 

****  For the gamblers out there, Duke didn't cover the 14.5 points.

THE WIRK

Flight delayed? Just Tweet and watch the 2010 NBA Draft

****  I know I'm late, with this post.  I was on vacation.  That doesn't mean I don't have something to say.

My travel nightmares over the past few days started on Thursday night...

I was at the gate ready to board my flight, when the gate agent got on the intercom to announce that my flight would be delayed.  It just so happens I was talking on the phone when the announcement was going on.  I heard it just fine (i.e. along with the other 100 people at the gate), but some strange lady in orange pants started waving her hands in front of me to try to shush me.  If you read this blog, you also know that I don't like people who wave their hands at me to get me to do or NOT do something.  Regardless, the lady spazzed out again while sitting down an hour later and some other strangers had to help her get some airport personnel to attend to her.  Who knows what the lady's issue was, but at least she had a team of 5 people to handle her.

On Thursday, my flight was supposed to leave Minneapolis around 5:30 PM, but left around 11:15PM instead.  Awesome.  Does anyone even know that Minneapolis/St. Paul Airport had a G Terminal?!?!  I had no idea.  It's faaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaar.  Regardless,  There's nothing anyone can do about a flight delay and this blow wasn't as devastating for me, since it gave me a chance to watch the NBA Draft.  I love the NBA Draft when the draft pool is loaded with talent.  I'm not going to sugar coat it.  In comparison to the 1996 NBA Draft, I think this year's draft pool was relatively shallow. 

1996 was stacked with talent.  As a recap from Wikipedia:

Round one

1. Allen Iverson* (SG) United States Philadelphia 76ers Georgetown-So.
2. Marcus Cambyx (C) United States Toronto Raptors UMass-Jr.
3. Shareef Abdur-Rahim+ (PF) United States Vancouver Grizzlies California-Fr.
4. Stephon Marbury* (PG) United States Milwaukee Bucks (traded to Minnesota) Georgia Tech-Fr.
5. Ray Allen* (SG) United States Minnesota Timberwolves (traded to Milwaukee Bucks) UConn-Jr.
6. Antoine Walker+ (PF) United States Boston Celtics (from Dallas) Kentucky-So.
7. Lorenzen Wright (C) United States Los Angeles Clippers Memphis-So.
8. Kerry Kittles (SG) United States New Jersey Nets Villanova-Sr.
9. Samaki Walker (PF) United States Dallas Mavericks (from Boston) Louisville-So.
10. Erick Dampier (C) United States Indiana Pacers (from Denver) Mississippi State-Jr.
11. Todd Fuller (C) United States Golden State Warriors (from Golden State via Orlando and Washington) NC State-Sr.
12. Vitaly Potapenko (C) Ukraine Cleveland Cavaliers (from Washington) Wright State-Jr.
13. Kobe Bryant* (SG) United States Charlotte Hornets (traded to L.A. Lakers) Lower Merion HS (Lower Merion, PA)
14. Peja Stojaković* (SF) Yugoslavia Sacramento Kings PAOK (Greece)
15. Steve Nash* (PG) Canada Phoenix Suns Santa Clara-Sr.
16. Tony Delk (SG) United States Charlotte Hornets (from Miami) Kentucky-Sr.
17. Jermaine O'Neal* (F/C) United States Portland Trail Blazers Eau Claire HS (Columbia, SC)
18. John Wallace (PF) United States New York Knicks (from Detroit via San Antonio) Syracuse-Sr.
19. Walter McCarty (PF) United States New York Knicks (from Atlanta via Miami) Kentucky-Sr.
20. Zydrunas Ilgauskas+ (C) Lithuania Cleveland Cavaliers Atletas (Lithuania)

I told you that the 1996 NBA Draft talent was deep!

This year was different.  If you didn't know ahead of time who the #1 (i.e. John Wall) and #2 (i.e. Evan Turner) picks were, then you either don't like basketball or you're stupid.  Like I said, I'm not going to sugar coat it.

Stuck at the airport, I had no choice but to pony up in front of a TV and watch the NBA draft and READ the closed captioning.  After a while that is no fun.  So, with my trust iPhone in hand I logged into my Twitter account to see what people had to say.  I follow some really intelligent people in sports who are in the know, and I also follow some clowns that make me laugh with their 140 character posts.  I sat there and almost accidentally spit out my drink reading the tweets, when the Utah took Gordon Hayward 9th.  I laughed out loud after reading some of the comments when the New Orleans Hornets drafted Kansas' Cole Aldrich at #11. 

As soon as Aldrich was selected one of my friends who I follow wrote that "Chris Paul was as good as gone."  I laughed.  Then the Hornets agreed to trade Aldrich and guard Morris Peterson to the Oklahoma City Thunder for the Thunder's 21st and 26th picks in the first round.  I couldn't wait to see Kevin Durant's face to decipher his reaction to the trade.  Actually, now that I think about it, I follow KDThunderup on Twitter and I can't remember if he reacted or not.  Read into that, what you will.

Interestingly, with the 23rd pick, Trevor Booker was the first senior to be drafted by the Timberwolves.  Read into that, what you will.

During the draft I noticed a post that David Aldridge wrote saying that Rasheed Wallace was going to retire. That was my chance to Tweet that on a day when everyone welcomes rookies to the league, it's always important to remember the veterans!

I haven't read Bill Simmons' NBA Draft Diary post yet.  Like a kid on Christmas, I anxiously look forward to it every year,  Simmons' basketball knowledge is so deep that I use it as a litmus test to see if I still "have it".  If I get lost and don't understand his references, it's a sign that I need to study-up some more.  My brother isn't a formidable opponent, even though he like to think he knows his basketball history ~ he doesn't.  Usually he hits me with some highlights from Simmons' piece and a couple of questions, but since he's in Cape Town this year (i.e. World Cup), I'll forgive him for slacking this year.

John Wall is a Washington Wizard,  Stephen Strasburg is a Washington National.  Donovan McNabb is a Washington Redskin.  Alex Ovechkin is a Washington Capital.  In the course of a few years, Washington DC has become a "sexier" town for athletes.  Now, all Washington needs to do is show the rest of the teams that it can WIN.

THE WIRK

Cinderella's going to the Ball, but I believe Duke will win on Monday

OK - so I went .500 last night.  I was probably the only person (i.e. aside from Magic Johnson, the actual Michigan State coaches, players, staff, and entire state of Michigan) who wanted the Spartans to win.  In the final seconds of the game, I think I actually jinxed them by calling my brother during a commercial break.  I called to ask him to score me a ticket to the finals if Michigan State won, because I'd fly to Indianapolis for a Michigan State v Duke final.  I was going to use Monday night as my chance to finally meet Magic Johnson.  How did I intend to do that?  Not sure really, but trust me ~ I'd find a way to get a quick picture.  With the game down to wire and Butler's players doing their best Charles Smith impressions (i.e. Knicks fans, you know what I'm talking about), I EAGERLY ANTICIPATED that Michigan State would drive the lane STRONGLY and score 2 points and win.  I figured there'd be a firesale of tickets if Butler had lost and I could benefit from the heartache and disgust of all the townies who supported their home team.  Instead, I watched the Spartan end his drive a little early and pull up too soon for a shot.  It looked like he was trying to draw contact, but SHOULD'VE taken another step or two and been more aggressive.  Oh well... 

**** Incidentally, I just checked my Twitter account and according to SethDavisHoops:  I asked Gordon Hayward if he fouled Draymond Green on that last play: "Dude I got his whole hand." Oh well X 2.

"I couldn't care less anymore" was the text I sent my brother when Butler beat Michigan State 52-50.  I figured Magic would hop the first plane back to the West coast, and I wasn't about to haul myself back to Indianapolis to see a Butler v Duke final.

Yes, I anticipated Duke would win on Saturday night.  It was a "given" in my book.  I took in the games at a friend's house and I was the only person rooting for Michigan State and Duke the entire night.  That's fine.  I'm strong in my convictions.

For the 2nd half of the game, we left my friend's house and I casually watched the game on the TV at our local hang out spot.  I didn't see Butler's collision with Zoubek.  I did see Butler on the court in severe pain and Coach Huggins trying to console him.  I saw the image on TV (i.e. without the sound and tried to keep up with the captioning) and immediately was taken aback by how close Huggins' face was to Butler.  Yeah, I said it.  You have to admit it looked creepy.  I read this morning that it was Butler's knee that was injured.  I hope he's alright ~ you never want to see anyone get hurt...  BUT that's sports and the show will go on.

Lastly, I checked my email about an hour ago and my brother informed me that he met and had his picture taken with Rollie Massimino yesterday.  Seriously?!?!  Does he not know me at all?  Now I'm all riled up again about 1985.  What a kick in the face!  Looks like it's time to light another candle for Ewing at my 1985 Georgetown shrine...  Serenity now.

As Dorothy, said "There's no place like home."  So, go ahead, Cinderella, enjoy the ball...  BUT, I still predict Duke will win on Monday.


THE WIRK