Since the Hoyas are out, we here at the Sermon are left to cheer for the next best thing in the Big East … the University of Connecticut Huskies! After defeating Hampton in the first round of the NCAA tournament at the MCI Center (a game for which many people picked Hampton to win after their stunning upset over Iowa State in the first round last year), a confident Husky team, led by sophomore forward Caron Butler, moved on to face the Wolfpack of North Carolina State. The game was a dog (and wolf) fight until the end, and if you saw the game, you know what we’re getting at. With 47 seconds remaining in the game, Butler went up for a three, and N.C. State first-year guard Julius Hodge was called for the foul. Butler sank all three free throws, but seconds later, N.C. State’s Ilian Evtimov dropped a three to even it out. The Huskies held on and advanced to a familiar spot for them, the Sweet 16. Mark our words, Huskies in the Final Four, because after this year, none of us, and we’re sure none of you, want to cheer for Pittsburgh.
In another close game this week, the New Jersey Nets lost 100-97 to the Cleveland Cavaliers when Lamond Murray caught the ball on an inbound pass and put up a three from the corner with only half a second left on the clock. President of the Nets Rod Thorn said that there was no question that Murray got the shot off in time, but he did question the referee’s decision on when to start the clock. He argued that the clock was started late, saying that it is humanly impossible for a shot like that to come off in half a second. Well, Rod, this wouldn’t be the first time any of us wanted to hang a referee form a tree, would it?
Or maybe we’d rather punch his lights out. Who would be a good candidate for that job? How about Mike Tyson. Personally, we at the Sermon would love to see Mike Tyson fight at the MCI Center. So what is the problem? Washington, D.C. is poor compared to Memphis, Tenn.! Isn’t that great, the nations’ capital is being beat out for a boxing match by Memphis because Memphis can raise more money. Tyson’s manager did say that Washington, D.C. is still in the running, but then again, so is big bad Detroit! To our credit though, the Associated Press said that D.C. is considered attractive. We sure hope so. What do they have in Memphis? Dixieland and casinos? Officials say a decision should be reached by the end of the week. Fortunately, rap “star” P. Diddy is on the case: “Show us the money!”
Baseball is also on the horizon in sports, and our local professional team, the Baltimore Orioles (ha!) will open their season on April 1 against the 26-time World Champion New York Yankees. The Orioles will be playing for the first time in 20 years without All-Star shortstop/third baseman Cal Ripken Jr. We’ll miss you Cal.
Speaking of old baseball players, Tuesday night, with Roger Clemens on the mound, the Yankees pulled off a 5-3 win over Cincinnati in a Grapefruit League game. After the game, Clemens, at 39 years of age, declared that he would be ready on April 1. We’re ready for you, Rocketman.
