Initially, I planned on being done with The Eagle after the end of basketball season, but apparently my one reader was going to be disappointed with that, so here I am. As a compromise, we're introducing a new feature this week: The Ryan Smyth Fact of the Week, where you'll get to read about everyone's favourite new Islander (we here at The Eagle use Canadian spelling when talking about him.)
1. They may never have won the Patriot League, but AU will miss the basketball seniors.
I usually don't write about AU sports in this column, but I have to mention the men's basketball team, which lost a heartbreaker on Sunday against Holy Cross. They may not have had the success that they wanted, but they are a special group of guys who show that success is measured by more than on-the-court contributions, and they have helped make this campus care a little more about athletics.
Andre Ingram is one of the most modest and well-spoken athletes that I have ever met, and served as a great ambassador for this university. He was the heart and soul of the team since he walked onto campus, and is one of the greatest players in recent AU history.
Brayden Billbe may look imposing because of his height and knee-high socks (does he have to special order socks that big?), but like Ingram, he's a friendly guy who was always willing to take the time to talk after the game, even on Senior Night when his parents were waiting for him.
Sekou Lewis may not have started many games in his career at AU, but Coach Jeff Jones has always praised his work ethic, and he admirably stepped up to start several games when the team appeared to be headed for disaster in January.
Finally, how can I not mention Linas, Arvydas, and Paulius, the Lithuanian All-Stars? Brayden complains to me all the time that the photos in The Eagle always are of Linas and Arvydas, but that's because they are cult heroes on this campus. From constant sightings in TDR, or walking around campus listening to their iPods, to their obvious passion for the game (I don't think I've ever seen Linas smile on the court or bench, even when the team won), they have done a great service for a university that likes to pride itself on its diverse population.
2. There will be no "George Mason" this year.
In the midst of Conference Championship Week, people keep wondering what mid-major will make a Cinderella run this year (ESPN's hook to get everyone to watch the CAA Championship game was to get their analysts to claim that it might be Mason again. luckily they lost.) Looking at this year's field, it doesn't look like any team will be able to repeat that feat.
Sure, a couple of low seeds will pull off two upsets and make the Sweet 16 (12s beat fives, then fours all the time), but Mason was special last year. Not only was it a particularly weak field (look at how many teams have impact freshman this year, then wonder what would happen if they were all already in the NBA), but they had the right mix of senior leadership and luck. Obviously, this is all dependent on the brackets, but be wary of picking a Cinderella to go all the way.
3. D. Wade is making a bad choice:
I understand the reasoning behind Dwyane Wade opting to rehab his shoulder instead of surgically repairing it. Sure, the East is weak, Miami is only probably only getting one more productive season out of Shaq, and Michael Jackson has shown us what surgery can do to a famous black man. If this team manages to make the playoffs, there is a good chance that if Wade could play, they make the finals again. However, it is ridiculous for that franchise to allow Wade to mortgage the future for the present. This team is not winning the championship this year, someone from the West is. Wade has the chance to be a special player for at least another decade, there is no way he should be allowed to play again until his shoulder is fixed.
4. I'm already sick of Dice-K.
Let's put it this way: the coverage of Dice-K at spring training has made my constant drooling over David Wright look professional by comparison. One second he's throwing batting practice, the next he is allowing a hit to a kid from Boston College. Do people actually care about this? (Well, maybe sports fans in Boston now that Tom Brady is fathering a bastard) Call me when he pitches a game that matters, or throws one of his delicious Gyro balls (does that come with a side of cucumber sauce, or do we have to pay extra for that?)
5. The Ryan Smyth Fact of the Week:
Last year, a 101-year-old Canadian woman only had one wish for her birthday: to run her fingers through the glorious hair of her favorite hockey player. Smyth complied, bringing her a cake and an Oilers jersey along with his fabulous hockey mullet.
