Just like many of you, I am suffering from NCAA March Madness withdrawls.
Every night I dream of a new game, and every night we have to overcome a new obstacle.
Now, almost all of our games are played in Providence RI, the town that has officially adopted us.
Last week, with Omar in San Francisco doing another KNBR interview, the team had to rely on Ben Allen to plug up the middle. Mickey’s 30 ft swisher at the buzzer made the ESPN highlights. We are not forgotten in the Bay Area. 49,000 crowded into ATT Park in San Francisco to break the Guinness book of records for most people ever to watch an NCAA basketball game outdoors on a big screen. SMC officials noted that there probably would have been more if it wasn’t for the rain.
Most of our games continue to be in Providence, but last night we hosted California at Berkeley. Providence fans brought plates of gourmet spaghetti all the way across country for the pre-game alumni party, attended by 8,900 delirious alums. Led by an aging grey haired alum with a magnificent Santa Claus beard, they sang The Bells of Saint Mary’s over and over and over again while parading into the auditorium holding candles.
Tomorrow night we will be back in Providence for another semi-final matchup. The Gaels will be missing two starters. Mickey McConnell is in Tempe Arizona at First Ball Throw Out Training School (FBTOTS) and Omar is suffering from growing pains, so the team will start all five Aussies. But that seems to be a good match up against Cornell. Coach-For-Life Randy Bennett, wearing a half-black mouthpiece, announced that he has another secret up his sleeve.
But I'm tossing and turning. We need to be at full strength for that big game next week against Butler.
