Jason Sandford
Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.
The UNC Tar Heels just kicked Dook’s ass, 83-76. Humiliated Coach Ratface and the Dooksters on their home court, on senior night. Sorry. JJ. Sorry Sheldon. Sorry Melchione.
Well, not really.
Words cannot express how happy I am. Happy to see Coach K pop more blood vessels in his head chewing out the refs, all to no effect. Happy to see JJ go stone cold from three-point land in the second half. Happy to see the Cameron Crazies shut their filthy traps in stunned silence. I could even stomach the unsportsman-like play that I knew would be coming from Dook – I think it was Demarcus Nelson who threw a hand in the face of Tyler Hansbrough right at the end, a typical Dook move. But it was all OK, because you lost, suckas!
Words also cannot express ow happy I am for the young Tar Heels, especially the freshmen. These young guys, 18, 19 years old, lost to Dook just a couple of weeks ago in Chapel Hill. Tonight, they entered the hostile Cameron Indoor Stadium to face the evil fans and Dook again. The young Tar Heels handled the pressure well, coming back from an early 11-point deficit to keep it close.
The teams battled into the second half, but it was clear that the Dookies were emotionally wiped. Yes, they fought back from being 10 or 11 down, but you could just tell that Carolina would hang on for the win. When Hansbrough nailed that three-pointer with the shot clock running down, you had to know things were going to fall Carolina’s way.
So, how bout them Tar Heels! I’m casting my vote now for Coach Roy as national coach of the year. What a job he’s done, taking a group of youngsters and teaching them how to win. This, after Roy’s stars from last year’s national championship team all left to go pro. I’m also seeing Carolina making a good run in the upcoming March Madness NCAA tournament.
And finally, one word on how ESPN covered the game tonight. ESPN had the game in high def; it showed the game with an “above the rim” cam on ESPN2; and had the Cameron Crazy cam on ESPN Classic. Right now on ESPN Classic, I’m watching the 1995 Dook-Carolina thriller, a double-overtime barn-burner with giant swings both ways. The storyline was this: Coach K was out with “back problems” (we all knew he had a mental breakdown after his national championship runs in the early 1990s) and Dook was sucking. With Eric Meek and Cherokee Parks and Wojo, they desperately wanted to beat Carolina. But it was not to be. Jerry Stackhouse and Rasheed Wallace and company would keep Dook in its place.
O yes. How ’bout them Heels!
Plattsburgh State lost in the final game 4-3. I knew you would want to know.
I loved hearing the Dookies fall to the freshman. They aren’t looking (or sounding) much like freshman anymore. When Tyler hit the trey with just seconds on the shot clock, I knew the basketball gods were smiling on our boys. Too bad, so sad J.J. went cold.
YYYEEEEEAAAAAA! Don’t forget FAN LOYALTY as a factor; as observed right here. I wanted to call last night but I didn’t want to jinks the moment. Congrats on your win! And thanks to ESPN for over-the-top coverage. Literally.
Congrats! What an amazing victory. Go heels!
While you guys are watching this, you are missing a great dustup in the State University of New York Athletic Conference hockey tournament. For the second year in a row the Plattsburgh State Cardinals eliminated their arch rivals (nationally ranked) the Oswego State Great Lakers in a semi-final series sweep and are now playing the Geneseo Knights (for the second year in a row) for the conference title – the winner gets an automatic bid into the NCAA Div. III tourney). The series is tied 1-1. Plattsburgh won Friday night, Geneseo won last night. The final is today at 1 p.m. you can listen to it on wiry.com
This was supposed to be a rebuilding year.
Go Cards
You write about the heels?
To steal a line from J.J.- Shocker. Double shocker.
-Kaboom!– rumble rumble rumble and in the pink– Lightnin’ is smiling.