I have every reason to hate George Mason.
By beating UConn, they assured that I wouldn't win the office pool I was in....where I am currently 2nd and 3rd. Both had UConn going all the way, and if that would've happened.....I'd be champ.
G-Mason also ended the Tar Heels season 10 days ago. That's not cool!!!
But I can't stay mad at ya!
Everyone's brackets are screwed and only 4 teams remain in the NCAA tournament. So why not jump on their bandwagon? Unless you are a UCLA, LSU or Florida fan....you are gonna root for George Mason. Even if you don't think you will be....you will.
This is a team that you STILL forget their nickname [Patriots] or where they play [Fairfax, VA]. Quick, name me someone who plays for Kent State. Well, about 2 weeks ago you didn't know a soul on G-Mason either. Their coach looks like your wife's uncle....or the guy that lives down the street. They aren't from your conference....so you can't hate them cuz of that.
They aren't gimmicky. It's not like they are some three point bombing team. Nor are they that complete weird defense team [though they are one of the best defensive teams in the nation]. They aren't Indiana State in 1979 when one star player carried the team. This is a team of no stars....just hard working guys that never quit.
They never quit. That's why you root for them.
Against North Carolina, they were down 16-2 to start the game. I'm a Carolina fan, and I thought that that start would stomp all over their little hopes and they'd just take it. Not so. They fought back in that half and took a 1 pt lead heading into halftime. UConn had them down early....but G-Mason fought back to get in and ended up beating the Huskies.
They will play in the FINAL FOUR in Indianapolis. Ya know, the same Indianapolis which played host to a similar hoops story....the Milan High School basketball team which was dramatized in the movie "Hoosiers". I fully expect George Mason coach Jim Larranaga to take a tape measurer into the RCA Dome to measure that the rims there are the same back at, well, whatever Mason's home court is. Maybe they'll even run the picket fence for the game winner.
Don't call them a "Cinderella". Cinderella hid her identity a bit from others as to keep on the down low. These kids are having a great time crashing the party. While UConn basically slept walked thru thetournament as if it was a job.....the Patriots have had a mini party everywhere they've gone. This is a team where one of it's best players was suspended for the first round after tagging a Hofstra player in the junk during the CAA semis. This ain't some team of choir boys. The players are interesting.....their coach certainly is....and the fact that no one knew any of these people it is like we are meeting them for the first time.
Their coach has said that he'll do pretty much every media thing he can. In an era where coaches pick and choose interviews to concentrate on the game....their coach is making a point to talk to everyone. They are the toast of the sports world at a time where the sporting landscape is a bit cluttered. Everyone is talking about this.
It is a shame for UCLA, Florida and LSU who all have overcome slights to get here too. It's just that no one cares. Those are big name universities named after their states. George Mason is named after the guy who essentially laid out the framework for our Constitution. Boooooring!
UCLA? Can't root for them. They already got 11 titles....they don't need anymore. Florida? Hey, you guys get to go to school wehre spring break happens every week. LSU? You guys have had Shaq and Pistol Pete. You got history. G-Mason was once in the "Mason-Dixon Conference". The others have had their chances.
We are all George Mason fans now.
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