I feel the same way.
The folks at ESPN sent me a screener of the new 30 For 30 documentary Requiem for the Big East. I poured over it a couple of times now. And while it is incomplete, it is fantastic. Some thoughts on the documentary below.
- It was great seeing it put down on video and told from some of the people that were there the origins of the conference and how it was Gavitt's ideas and hard work that got the whole thing going.
- If you're a Syracuse, Georgetown, St. John's, or Villanova fan, you'll probably really enjoy seeing the various highlights and attention to those teams paid in the film. They book end the movie with shots from the Syracuse/Georgetown 2013 BET game, and they give a good chunk of time to Georgetown's early dominance, Villanova's surprise National Championship over Georgetown, lots of Lou Carnesecca old and current, and Chris Mullins.
- Lou Carnesecca looks old as all hell. But he's clearly sharp and still with it. It broke my heart when he said he wasn't that hurt about teams leaving the Big East except for Syracuse.
- A few talking heads, specifically Michael Wilbon, contradicts the main point in the documentary that football, capitalism, and the league's own success is what broke up the Big East. Wilbon, over a shot of Nancy Cantor, says it was greedy and weak minded school presidents. Judge for yourself.
- The documentary does a really great job of highlighting the important, as it turned out, of the league denying an invitation to Penn State to join. It was probably the first domino falling in terms of the conference breaking up. It just took a while for it to matter.
- It does a great job of showing all the big personalities that dominated the coaching ranks of the early days of the Big East.
- Sorry, no 6 OT talk. No real mention of UConn either to be fair. Despite the fact they won a few National Championships as a member. Jim Calhoun has a few talking head moments, but that's all from UConn. Same for Rick Pitino.
- They talk about the BET but they only talk about some from the early 80's. Obviously there have been some pretty good ones since then.
- There was one moment that really got me. They talk about the death of Dave Gavitt and how the day Mike Tranghese found out about Syracuse and Pittsburgh leaving was the day that he found out Gavitt had passed away. They then cut to Jim Boeheim talking about that and about how it's been his whole life. He clearly fights back a tear. The room I viewed the movie may have been very dusty that day.
- No real talk about Notre Dame, or Tranghese, or especially John Marinatto being competent enough to stop any of the expansion/raiding of the league. No one deserves a ton of blame but Marinatto was totally inept and Tranghese could have taken some other steps.
Labels: Basketball, Big East, Big East memories, Big East Tournament, Farewell Big East, Goodbye Old Friend, Preview
I have to shill for this thing now.
It's conference tournament time again. Where the one team from the league your favorite team is in grants automatic admission to the greatest postseason in all of sports. When your team is in one of the top conferences and is a lock for at least an at large bid, the excitement is still there, but the results are less compelling. Either way, you want your team to win. And while it has been a fun first season in the ACC for Syracuse, I find myself almost like a king without a country. I will miss the Big East Tournament as it was. Syracuse in MSG. It just made sense and I saw three first hand and courtside. Two of which (2005, 2006) Syracuse won. But now I've resigned to the fact that things are different. And I still like Syracuse and college basketball and conference tournaments. So #goacc! Syracuse has earned the #2 seed and will chill until Friday evening. But games will go on starting today. Both John and I filled out an ACC Bracket. Both are posted below for your perusal. I've picked Duke to win the Tournament, while John has picked UNC. I'll be back tomorrow with a review of Requiem for the Big East, which premiers this Sunday at 9:00pm. Also we'll preview whatever matchup Syracuse will face Friday then. It's the week before the most wonderful sports time of the year. So enjoy it kids!
Labels: ACC, ACC Tournament, Basketball, Goodbye Old Friend, Preview, RIP Big East
Syracuse students agree: It would be nice to win the last one.
Syracuse travels to Hartford to take on the University of Connecticut for the last time as a member of the Big East Conference. While the XL Center is certainly not the best arena, it's as good a place as any (except for maybe Madison Square Garden where Syracuse has played UConn more than any other team in the league) to end this thing. Connecticut isn't eligible to be in NYC this year for the BET so this is guaranteed to be the final conference meeting between the two. And it should be a fun one. Syracuse has James Southerland heading on the road again, where Syracuse, on average, scores 14 more points with Southerland in the lineup. Syracuse desperately needed a more consistent outside shooting threat to not only pull defenders out, but keep Syracuse scoring when other teams gain momentum. What also bodes well for Syracuse is they are a better rebounding team. If Syracuse can get rebounds then they should win the game. UConn is 4-0 in Big East games when they outrebound their opponent. Attacking the glass is the key for Syracuse in this game. UConn is led by guards Shabazz Napier (17.2ppg) and Ryan Boatright (15.8ppg). While both players are good, and both are playing well lately, those caliber players should score a ton against Seton Hall, which they did. What is more telling is the fact that both players have struggled against Syracuse in the past, including all three games they lost to Syracuse last season. Moral of the story is that they will make shots, and rotate the ball to get open looks, making Syracuse defenders run all over the court to try and cover them. They will shoot a lot of 3s and if they make them it will be a tougher game for Syracuse than if they miss a whole bunch like they did last season. Syracuse allows 0.68 points per play, the lowest in Division 1. That will put the onus on Connecticut to score and keep scoring. What also bodes well for Syracuse is the Connecticut loss of Enosch Wolf who is suspended indefinitely with legal issues. That makes a thin bench for the Huskies. While I think UConn will be in this game in the first half, and maybe even take a lead into the locker room, I don't think they can sustain the continued outside shooting to be able to open the zone up and get easy inside looks. Syracuse should come ready to play and has the talent back on the court to put this game away in the second half. Initially I would have picked the home team in this one, but now that Southerland is back in the lineup and we have seen what Syracuse is done in the past two games in getting back to strong defense and, more importantly, good offensive shooting performances, I a picking the Orange. Syracuse wins this last conference match in Hartford by 13. This game is available nationally on ESPN at 7:00pm. While I don't think this game will go into overtime I kind of want to see it not only for old time sake, but to piss off the Carolina and Duke fans waiting for their game to start at 9. For one last time... UConn... U SUCK!
Also, check out my contribution to The UConn Blog's annual Syracuse Hate Week here. It's been a tradition so it's fitting that I'm there until the end.
Also, check out my contribution to The UConn Blog's annual Syracuse Hate Week here. It's been a tradition so it's fitting that I'm there until the end.
Labels: Basketball, Big East, Goodbye Old Friend, Preview, UConn, UConn USuck
Brent Axe and some other blogger.
After countless hours on the air at Syracuse's The Score 1260am "On The Block", and all those hours being simulcast on Time Warner Cable, Brent Axe is leaving his show. While he's not traveling too far (becoming a "community engagement specialist" at Syracuse.com) he still won't be on the air every day like he was. And so, because of that, we say congratulations on many stories broken, interviews given, callers taken, e-mails read, and opinions broadcast. So we just wanted to take a few seconds here at Orange::44 to say thanks for all the entertainment and for inviting me on the program the many times over the years to talk sports or the law. And also for all the times in person and on the phone we talked about sports and other things. We look forward to still seeing you around the Dome and maybe one of these days at the bar to buy you that beer. But the radio listeners, Mookie lovers, and advocates of MANTOMAN defense have all lost. But at least you won't be leaving completely and we wish you nothing but the best.
Labels: Axeman, Business Ethics, Congratulations Are In Order, Good News Everyone, Good Reading, Goodbye Old Friend, Journalism
Matt Glaude, who many of you may simply know as "HoyaSuxa," announced today that his popular blog of the same name has reached the end of its road.
Orange::44 was the original brainchild of the genius that is The Glaude. Without him, Brian and I would not have been able to carry on the tradition. So, we certainly owe a lot to him. We were, of course, excited when he decided to devote an entire blog to making fun of Georgetown, or, whatever it is that he did over at HoyaSuxa. I probably visited HoyaSuxa more that I did this blog (maybe because I knew when new content was here or not). But truth be told, Matt just has a way with words, a way to be funny by being simple, yet sophisticated. We'll miss the Daily Affirmations, the "... Is A Fine University," the self-depreciating bets, and the dossiers on the "Princeton-style Offense." Thankfully, Matt's knack at internet prose will not go untapped; he'll still be on twitter @HoyaSuxa, as well as writing for CollegeCrosse, your one-stop shop for all things college lacrosse.
To Matt, a very heart-felt thank you and best of luck from Brian and John at Orange::44. We'll continue to try our hardest to be even as good as you on a bad day.
And don't forget, he's a hell of a dancer:
Labels: Goodbye Old Friend, Matt Glaude, The Glaude Dancing
A great run.
Today, Matt McClusky hosts his final radio program for WNER1410. I just wanted to say a few words of thanks as well. It's been a long road for Matt and he's been great at putting together a great show for his listeners, as well as Syracuse fans. Not only that, but he did what all good radio hosts do. He connected to his local audience by covering various games locally, and making sure that national teams got equal time with the high schoolers there. And he covered them and Syracuse well. He also gave all us bloggers a chance to be heard. Let's face it, bloggers are more informed and have their finger on the pulse of their teams than most. On top of that, he let me on the radio to talk about lacrosse of all things. And on the regular. No greater than almost immediately after the 2009 Lacrosse Championship from Foxboro. And we've talked about football and basketball too, including his big football preview every year for the Orange.
And now he's heading on to bigger (allegedly better) things. But before he goes I wanted to say thanks for having me on all those times. It was always fun and enjoyable and nothing but nice and easy to work with. Since he's leaving the radio waves we might have to have him on a podcast or two in the future. And of course if he ever makes it down to Syracuse when we're there the first round is on me. Best wishes to Matt and his family in the future. I'm sure he'll be wildly successful in the next chapter of his life.
Labels: Audio Euphoria, Goodbye Old Friend
Well, they say that all good things must come to an end. Sadly, my colleague and the founder of Orange::44 will be moving on to greener pastures. While his reasons for his departure are more than valid, I cannot help but feel a little sad. I have known Matt for over seven years now, and he is clearly one of the people I looked up the most to during my freshman year on the hill. He then saw enough faith in me to allow me to join this notebook, and while I had some rough starts, I feel I have carved out a successful and entertaining niche in the Syracuse Blogosphere. While we are most likely not the best, we were the first. Specifically, he was the first. To be able to join one of the most talented, creative, smart, and funny writers I have ever known was my privilege, and I wish him the best of luck doing what he wants to do.
So where does this leave you and me. You might be a little sad, upset, maybe even asking “why me?” You could be saying “why did Orange::44 pick like the worst time for they to lose their best talent?” Well fret not. I am still on the job. I will try to carry on the tradition here of chronicling the daily disaster of Syracuse Athletics. I may have to take a sabbatical now and then, as I am still in grad school, but I do not plan on going anywhere. I may even have to pay it forward and see if some of my friends want to play reporter/cynic/Debbie Downer/pundit. Either way, there will be new and traditional content appearing here in the future.
I am declaring a day of mourning for the UMass recap on account of the departed. I will return this Sunday with the Tulane recap. Again, I have several articles rolling around my head and when I have a little time after classes end for the semester (maybe, as I will be studying for finals like a mad man), there will be plenty to chew over and comment on.
Please be sure to select any of the links to Matt’s new site. It will be his glorious return to the stats and crisp objective analysis that he built his reputation on. I know I will enjoy. Until next time, I look forward to your continued comments, feedback, and commiseration that makes us all Syracuse fans.
So where does this leave you and me. You might be a little sad, upset, maybe even asking “why me?” You could be saying “why did Orange::44 pick like the worst time for they to lose their best talent?” Well fret not. I am still on the job. I will try to carry on the tradition here of chronicling the daily disaster of Syracuse Athletics. I may have to take a sabbatical now and then, as I am still in grad school, but I do not plan on going anywhere. I may even have to pay it forward and see if some of my friends want to play reporter/cynic/Debbie Downer/pundit. Either way, there will be new and traditional content appearing here in the future.
I am declaring a day of mourning for the UMass recap on account of the departed. I will return this Sunday with the Tulane recap. Again, I have several articles rolling around my head and when I have a little time after classes end for the semester (maybe, as I will be studying for finals like a mad man), there will be plenty to chew over and comment on.
Please be sure to select any of the links to Matt’s new site. It will be his glorious return to the stats and crisp objective analysis that he built his reputation on. I know I will enjoy. Until next time, I look forward to your continued comments, feedback, and commiseration that makes us all Syracuse fans.
In his honor, and as a somewhat fitting tribute, one more crying child for the season.
Labels: Goodbye Old Friend