This is the time of year where the real stories start to unfold and we find out who's for real and who the pretenders are. This is also the time of year when commentators, analysts, writers, and bloggers, myself included, eat crow. No one is perfect. If we could accurately predict who's going to win the national championship, Superbowl, or World Series, we wouldn't be doing what we're doing. Most people are too pompous and arrogant to admit when they are wrong though. I'd be willing to be that Michael Wilbon still thinks the Big 10 is the best conference despite the fact that Michigan State, the #3 team in the conference is sitting at 8-8 in conference play. But it's a possibility that with Texas apparently self destructing again, the Big 10 could get 2 #1 seeds in the big dance. Ohio State is a given. But Purdue is playing pretty impressive basketball now. They have Illinois at home and at Iowa remaining. If they can win out, including winning the Big 10 tournament it's a good possibility they could be a #1 seed. A few weeks ago, the #1 seeds were pretty clear, but only a few weeks later it seems that no one wants to claim that precious top seed. For the third week in a row, the top ranked team as well as others in the top 10 have fallen. This weekend saw Duke, San Diego State, Texas, Pittsburgh, and Arizona taken down. After the past few weeks, it causes me to reavaluate a few teams.
I will start with Texas. Up until last weekend everyone, myself included was ready to make them the best team in the country. They were ready to take over the top spot in the polls until a visit to Lincoln. Then for the second Saturday in a row, they have blown a big lead, and lost the game. I have not gone back through every teams schedule yet, but I have looked over a few. One of the reasons everyone was ready to annoint Texas #1 was because of their non conference schedule. But, after most of the season has played out, some of those wins don't look quite as impressive. Illinois and Michigan State are not very big wins now. North Carolina was a good win, but their non conference schedule now consists of 3 ranked teams, and Texas is 1-2 against them. It is possible, that Texas could drop completely out of the Top 10. I don't think they will fall that far, but they are not top 8. That would make them a #3 seed. They had it made. As a #1 seed, Tulsa would be the farthest they would have to travel. At this point I don't think Texas could play their way into a #1 seed even if they win the Big 12 tournament.
Kansas is a touchy one. I have been given them a little respect. I believe they deserve to be where they are. I believe if you look back in my blogs I did say that it's a very good possibility that Kansas will be ranked #1 again before the end of the season. And now it appears that they will be given a second chance to defend that #1 ranking. They will probably be in the top spot in at least one of the polls. But their stay might be as short as the first time with Texas A&M coming to town, and traveling to Missouri, it will be a tough road. If I remember correctly, the last team to beat Kansas at the Phog before Texas this season was Texas A&M several years ago. While both teams are probably in, one loss could put them on the bubble. Another point I'd like to make is that I have never ruled Kansas out of winning the Big 12 regular season title. I didn't give them good odds, but I said it was definately a possibility, and here they are, tied with Texas with one week left in the regular season. Now for the hard part. My biggest criticism of Kansas has been their schedule. Now that the season is winding down it appears their schedule is a little tougher than I game them credit for. While Memphis doesn't appear to be as good of a win now, there are a few that look a little more impressive now. While Arizona is probably going to tumble due to back to back losses in LA this week, they are still a very impressive team on their way to a Pac 10 title. The very next game was UCLA and as of now, are tied with Arizona for the lead in the Pac 10 and put on a pretty impressive show yesterday in the last game at Pauley Pavillion. Another game that sticks out is Michigan. Michigan has come around and most analysts have Michigan in the tournament field. Arizona, UCLA, and Michigan are more impressive wins than Illinois and Michigan State. Those two teams are playing awful basketball right now, and appear like they are trying their hardest NOT to make the tournament. They will get in because they are in the prescious Big 10. A few more wins that I'm not quite ready to call impressive wins, but give them an advantage over other conference foes, i.e. Texas, Missouri, and Kansas State. Only two teams have won AT Lincoln this season, Kansas is one, Kansas State is the other. We will see what happens at Missouri later this week. Missouri has struggled on the road, but is undefeated in conference play at home. Kansas State split with them, and Texas played them in Austin. Then their's Colorado. Something tells me the Pac 10 is getting a good basketball team on the rise. They have some pretty big wins. They swept Kansas State, split with Missouri, and this weekend beat Texas. Well, Kansas swept them. In most seasons that would mean nothing, but Colorado is a very good and improved team this year. So, as it appears now, Kansas has proven they are the best team in the Big XII. Can they put an exclamation point on that, or will they stumble again. Missouri probably has the toughest schedule remaining, at lincoln and Kansas at home. They can not afford to loose both games. They will finish at 8-8 in conference play and might find themselves on the wrong side of the bubble.
I still refuse to give Duke the respect they are getting. Kansas State and Michigan State are not good wins. Both of them are bubble teams who didn't live up to expectations. I don't think they are worthy of a 1 seed.
Pittsburgh is the wild card. They play in the very EVEN Big East. They dropped another one today at Lousiville. They are a better team than their record shows. They will probably drop because of the loss, but strength of schedule should be factored in.
Ohio State is probably the only team that might take the top spot over Kansas. While they are a good team and deserving of that top spot, their schedule, not near as tough. The only good win in non conference play is against Florida. The Big Ten is not as good as people think they are. There will be 3, possibly 4 teams out of this conerence get in with sub .500 conference records. I've watched Michigan State and Illinois play recently, and they look, just bad. When they played each other, it looked like both teams were trying to loose the game, not win. Michigan State is 16-12 overall. They are barely above .500. How can you put them in??? Colorado is 18-11 and have better wins than MSU and deserve that spot more.
Should BYU or San Diego State get a #1 seed? Absolutely not. I don't want to take anything away from either team, but I'm sorry, the competition in the Mountain West is nothing like the Big East, Big 10, or Big XII. BYU only played 2 good teams in non conference beating Arizona, and loosing to UCLA. SDSU doesn't even have that and got swept by BYU. I just don't think either team has the resume to be a #1 seed.
I still think 3 of the 4 are still #1 seeds. Kansas, Ohio State, and Pittsburgh I still feel are worth of a #1 seed. That forth spot is still up for grabs.
I think it's safe to say the landscape of college basketball is completely different now than it was at the beginning of the season. Some teams have self destructed and other teams have rose to the occasion. It should make for an interesting last week of basketball, leading up to the conference tournaments.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Friday, February 25, 2011
The Fan Experience - Part II
I've decided to write a sequel to my post about my experience at two basketball games. Since attending the Indiana Pacers game, I have now attended an event from all three major sports, NFL, NBA, and MLB. So I've decided to compare the three and come up with the best experience between the 3.
I will start with the NFL experience. I along with my father, brother, and cousin attended Texas Stadium to see the Kansas City Chiefs take on the Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving Day. This is hard to compare to because this game took place in 1995. The Chiefs traveled to Dallas in what they hoped would be a Super Bowl preview. The Colts and Chiefs kicker Lin Elliot had the final say in the matter, but that was much later. I remember walking into the stadium and seeing the field for the first time. That "wow" feeling will remain with me forever. As kickoff approached, the stadium filled up. What was surprising to me is how well both teams were represented. Texas stadium had two levels. The lower level was mostly blue for the Cowboys, and the upper level was mostly red in support of the Chiefs. Our seats were VERY good. My uncle had got us four tickets from a friend of his. Problem was they were two tickets together in seperate locations. My brother and cousin sat in the lower level, on the Chiefs sideline towards the corner of the endzone. My dad and I sat in the lower level in the middle of the field on the Cowboys sideline. I remember sitting there surrounded by cowboys fans. I remember a small group of Chiefs fans sitting behind us that were, let's say, supporting their team. My dad and I sat quietly, thinking it wise to not say too much being surrounded by the blue. Another memory that stands out is the crowd chanting "MOOOOOOOOOSE" when Daryll "Moose" Johnston touched the ball or made a play. I remember Justin asking why the crowd was "BOO"ing him, as it did sound like that. But it was a good game, coming down to the wire. That is the only NFL game I have attended and that was over 15 years ago. Troy Aikman and Steve Bono were the quarterbacks. Jay Novacek was the tight end for the cowboys. While it was pretty amazing to see one of the greatest Cowboys teams in history, featuring Troy Aikman, Emmit Smith, Michael Irvin, Deion Sanders. It was a long time ago, and left a very memorable impression on me. The NFL has come a long way since then. That was only one game. While it might be hard to find a better fan experience than Texas Stadium on Thanksgiving Day, I'm sure there are. Some people say the NFL best fan experience, and they may be right.
Last night in my blog I talked about attending an Indiana Pacers game versus the Detroit Pistons. What stood out in my mind more than anything was the magnificent venue, Conseco Fieldhouse. It's a very modern building nestled into the downtown landscape. Anyone wanting to build new stadiums often want to build in the downtown of the respective city. Well, the architects, designers, and planners got it right here. Every new facitlity should model itself after Conseco. My biggest fear with any downtown facility would be parking and coming and going. Conseco has a parking garage right across the street for a resonable rate you can part in an enclosed garage and walk across a a walkway into the Entry Pavillion without having to enter the elements, rain, snow, wind, etc. The other plus for me was the "Star Power". There were several players on both teams with big name players that you hear about all the time, watch on Sportscenter, and watched in college not to long ago. They put on a pretty impressive show. But the downside for me was the lack of attendance. Probably half the magnificent arena sat empty. So it's hard to judge this experience. I'm sure it would be a completely different and electrifying atmosphere if the Pacers were a top team and playing someone like the Knicks, Heat, Bulls, Lakers, etc. It was a good game, and very entertaining. And you don't get a much better ending than Brandon Rush taking a pass from Danny Granger and dunking it with authority taking back the lead with just a few seconds to go. But I would have to give it an incomplete because I know there are much better environments than this and would lead to a better grade.
The third is an MLB game. I have had the opportunity to attend two different venues, unlike the NFL and NBA. I have been to see the Kansas City Royals on many occasions. I have also been to Coors Field once, to see the Rockies take on the San Francisco Giants. I remember going to my first Royals game. We were kids and a good friend of the family got us tickets to see the Royals take on the Chicago White Sox. My brother was a White Sox fan at this time, so it would be pretty cool. We were all SO excited and couldn't wait to go. We wanted to get there early and get some autographs but we didn't get there in time. It was still a fun game. I remember getting a foul ball his right to us, and it his the concrete under one of our seats and bounced up and hit the bottom of the seat and rolled away. It's everyone's dream to get a foul ball hit to them. The ball rolled away and someone else got it, but that's the closest i've ever been to getting that precious foul ball. Some people go years without even getting close to a foul ball, and we got that close on our very first game as kids. I have been back to Kauffman stadium several times. Every time has left a lasting impression on me. My most recent visit was to see the Royals take on the Minnesota Twins. Luke Hochevar pitched a good game, and got out of a few jams. Still having plenty left, then Royals manager Hillman decided to pull him, and on the VERY next pitch, the relief pitcher gave up a 3 run homerun, tieing up the game. The Royals eventually lost in extra innings. But what I love most about going to a game is the electric environment. Every time I go, I just feel so alive and greatful to be there. It is hard to describe the feeling I get. It is a feeling I did not experience at the NFL or NBA game. The downside is the lack of support the Royals receive, much like the Pacers. I attended a game on Labor Day weekend several years ago. This was a Saturday night, and they were taking on the Chicago White Sox. The Sox were the defending champions, having won the World Series the year before. Our seats were behind the White Sox dugout on the 3rd base side, so we were around many other White Sox fans. During this game there were a handful of great plays by Royals fielders, worth of being and ESPN "Webgem". Yet there were more and louder cheers for the White Sox. The visiting team's fans supported their team better than the HOME team Royals fans did. As a deep down Royals fan this really bothered me. But it was still a pretty good game and an amazing feeling. I still got the wow feeling I can't explain despite all this. I have decided that if it feels this awesome and amazing to attend a Royals game at Kauffman Stadium, how would it feel to attend a Cubs game at Wrigley? A Red Sox game at Fenway? A Cardinals game at the Busch? A Giants game at Pac Bell? (yes, I know it's AT&T park now, but which name sounds better?!?!)? or a Dodgers game at Dodgers Stadium? If I felt that good about attending a Royals game, I can't imagine the feeling I would get walking onto the Wrigley Field Concourse. With my current location I am only 2.5 hours from Cincinnati and 3 hours from Chicago and St Louis. I am hoping before the summer to attend a few more games and get a better analysis, so stay tuned for that.
Those that know me, know about my passion for baseball. Between my passion for the game, the feeling I get, and my knowledge of the game, I feel pretty confident in saying my MLB experience was the best of the 3. I don't want to take anything away from the NBA or NFL. If I were offered tickets to Arrowhead Stadium to see the Chiefs, or Madison Square Garden to see the Knicks, I certainly wouldn't turn them down. But I still prefer the baseball experience. It's tought to beat.
I will start with the NFL experience. I along with my father, brother, and cousin attended Texas Stadium to see the Kansas City Chiefs take on the Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving Day. This is hard to compare to because this game took place in 1995. The Chiefs traveled to Dallas in what they hoped would be a Super Bowl preview. The Colts and Chiefs kicker Lin Elliot had the final say in the matter, but that was much later. I remember walking into the stadium and seeing the field for the first time. That "wow" feeling will remain with me forever. As kickoff approached, the stadium filled up. What was surprising to me is how well both teams were represented. Texas stadium had two levels. The lower level was mostly blue for the Cowboys, and the upper level was mostly red in support of the Chiefs. Our seats were VERY good. My uncle had got us four tickets from a friend of his. Problem was they were two tickets together in seperate locations. My brother and cousin sat in the lower level, on the Chiefs sideline towards the corner of the endzone. My dad and I sat in the lower level in the middle of the field on the Cowboys sideline. I remember sitting there surrounded by cowboys fans. I remember a small group of Chiefs fans sitting behind us that were, let's say, supporting their team. My dad and I sat quietly, thinking it wise to not say too much being surrounded by the blue. Another memory that stands out is the crowd chanting "MOOOOOOOOOSE" when Daryll "Moose" Johnston touched the ball or made a play. I remember Justin asking why the crowd was "BOO"ing him, as it did sound like that. But it was a good game, coming down to the wire. That is the only NFL game I have attended and that was over 15 years ago. Troy Aikman and Steve Bono were the quarterbacks. Jay Novacek was the tight end for the cowboys. While it was pretty amazing to see one of the greatest Cowboys teams in history, featuring Troy Aikman, Emmit Smith, Michael Irvin, Deion Sanders. It was a long time ago, and left a very memorable impression on me. The NFL has come a long way since then. That was only one game. While it might be hard to find a better fan experience than Texas Stadium on Thanksgiving Day, I'm sure there are. Some people say the NFL best fan experience, and they may be right.
Last night in my blog I talked about attending an Indiana Pacers game versus the Detroit Pistons. What stood out in my mind more than anything was the magnificent venue, Conseco Fieldhouse. It's a very modern building nestled into the downtown landscape. Anyone wanting to build new stadiums often want to build in the downtown of the respective city. Well, the architects, designers, and planners got it right here. Every new facitlity should model itself after Conseco. My biggest fear with any downtown facility would be parking and coming and going. Conseco has a parking garage right across the street for a resonable rate you can part in an enclosed garage and walk across a a walkway into the Entry Pavillion without having to enter the elements, rain, snow, wind, etc. The other plus for me was the "Star Power". There were several players on both teams with big name players that you hear about all the time, watch on Sportscenter, and watched in college not to long ago. They put on a pretty impressive show. But the downside for me was the lack of attendance. Probably half the magnificent arena sat empty. So it's hard to judge this experience. I'm sure it would be a completely different and electrifying atmosphere if the Pacers were a top team and playing someone like the Knicks, Heat, Bulls, Lakers, etc. It was a good game, and very entertaining. And you don't get a much better ending than Brandon Rush taking a pass from Danny Granger and dunking it with authority taking back the lead with just a few seconds to go. But I would have to give it an incomplete because I know there are much better environments than this and would lead to a better grade.
The third is an MLB game. I have had the opportunity to attend two different venues, unlike the NFL and NBA. I have been to see the Kansas City Royals on many occasions. I have also been to Coors Field once, to see the Rockies take on the San Francisco Giants. I remember going to my first Royals game. We were kids and a good friend of the family got us tickets to see the Royals take on the Chicago White Sox. My brother was a White Sox fan at this time, so it would be pretty cool. We were all SO excited and couldn't wait to go. We wanted to get there early and get some autographs but we didn't get there in time. It was still a fun game. I remember getting a foul ball his right to us, and it his the concrete under one of our seats and bounced up and hit the bottom of the seat and rolled away. It's everyone's dream to get a foul ball hit to them. The ball rolled away and someone else got it, but that's the closest i've ever been to getting that precious foul ball. Some people go years without even getting close to a foul ball, and we got that close on our very first game as kids. I have been back to Kauffman stadium several times. Every time has left a lasting impression on me. My most recent visit was to see the Royals take on the Minnesota Twins. Luke Hochevar pitched a good game, and got out of a few jams. Still having plenty left, then Royals manager Hillman decided to pull him, and on the VERY next pitch, the relief pitcher gave up a 3 run homerun, tieing up the game. The Royals eventually lost in extra innings. But what I love most about going to a game is the electric environment. Every time I go, I just feel so alive and greatful to be there. It is hard to describe the feeling I get. It is a feeling I did not experience at the NFL or NBA game. The downside is the lack of support the Royals receive, much like the Pacers. I attended a game on Labor Day weekend several years ago. This was a Saturday night, and they were taking on the Chicago White Sox. The Sox were the defending champions, having won the World Series the year before. Our seats were behind the White Sox dugout on the 3rd base side, so we were around many other White Sox fans. During this game there were a handful of great plays by Royals fielders, worth of being and ESPN "Webgem". Yet there were more and louder cheers for the White Sox. The visiting team's fans supported their team better than the HOME team Royals fans did. As a deep down Royals fan this really bothered me. But it was still a pretty good game and an amazing feeling. I still got the wow feeling I can't explain despite all this. I have decided that if it feels this awesome and amazing to attend a Royals game at Kauffman Stadium, how would it feel to attend a Cubs game at Wrigley? A Red Sox game at Fenway? A Cardinals game at the Busch? A Giants game at Pac Bell? (yes, I know it's AT&T park now, but which name sounds better?!?!)? or a Dodgers game at Dodgers Stadium? If I felt that good about attending a Royals game, I can't imagine the feeling I would get walking onto the Wrigley Field Concourse. With my current location I am only 2.5 hours from Cincinnati and 3 hours from Chicago and St Louis. I am hoping before the summer to attend a few more games and get a better analysis, so stay tuned for that.
Those that know me, know about my passion for baseball. Between my passion for the game, the feeling I get, and my knowledge of the game, I feel pretty confident in saying my MLB experience was the best of the 3. I don't want to take anything away from the NBA or NFL. If I were offered tickets to Arrowhead Stadium to see the Chiefs, or Madison Square Garden to see the Knicks, I certainly wouldn't turn them down. But I still prefer the baseball experience. It's tought to beat.
Conclusion to "The Fan Experience"
I started this two part series last night about attending a small division III basketball game and the Indiana Pacers. I talked last night about the Wabash Little Giants and how awesome the experience was in the small high school like gymnasium. From the Chadwick Crazies to the well desciplined coaching style of the retiring coach, Mac Petty. He is what most coaches should aspire to be. He is firm but understanding. Disciplined, yet easy going. The players and fans love him. I wish I would have done more homework and attended a few more games.
Last night I had the opportunity to see the Indiana Pacers rematch against the Detroit Pistons. In the first matchup last week the Pistons won a close game in overtime. So, this was built up to be a good game. Would it live up to the hype??
And the answer is, not really. That's not to say it wasn't an entertaining game. Conseco Fieldhouse is a great venue. Located in the heart of downtown Indianapolis just blocks away from the magnificent Lucas Oil Stadium. Coming into downtown on I-70 Lucas Oil Stadium, the host for Superbowl XLVI next year, sticks out like a sore thumb. That's not a very good way to put it, because it's a beautiful building. Driving by, you can't miss it. Conseco Fieldhouse kind of blends into downtown. It is what a downtown venue should be. It's nestled into the landscape, yet a beautiful building. Unlike Lucas Oil Stadium, you can't see it until you are right on top of it, then out of no where, WOW. After being in downtown Chicago the biggest drawback is parking. Some downtown venues don't figure parking into the occasion. We had to park over a mile away from Coors Field for a Rockies game. If you go to the Sears Tower in downtown Chicago, parking for one hour will cost you a whopping $22. The longer you take, the more it will cost you. Well, let's say parking at Conseco is a lot less of a headache. You can park in a garage, out of the weather and elements for only $12, and walk across a walkway above the street right into the Entry Pavillion. No fighting the rain, snow, wind, etc. The inside of Conseco is even more beautiful than the outside. As you enter the pavillion there are lots of people, and to someone like me that does NOT like crowds, it's kind of a scary feeling seeing all those people. But as you come down the steps they keep the people moving in a very efficient and painless manner. As you enter the main concourse you pass a small food court gift shops on your way to your seats. One of the most disappointing things for me was the lack of attendance and support. As is the case with most teams, when they are in a down year, people don't go out to support their team. A perfect example of that is the Kansas City Royals. As tip off grew near, over half the seats in the magnificent arena sat empty. That was probably the most disappointing thing for me. I bet when that place is full, it is an energetic, fun environment that's tough to beat. As I thumbed through the program we were given. Yes, given, did not have to pay for. Most places you have to pay over $5 for one. I recognized quite a few names just on the Pacers roster alone. Probably half the roster I remember whatching play in college not to long ago. The Pistons had a few recognizable names as well. Larry Bird has built a talented young team, and if he can find the right coach and get these guys to gel, they will be better than the Knicks, Bulls, Celtics or Heat. Next comes the starting lineups. The intro and starting lineup for the Bulls of the 90's is hard, if not impossible to top. The lights go out, the song "Sirius" comes over the PA, and the enthusiasm of the PA announcer, and I don't care how many stars you put on one team, it will never top the Chicago Bulls of the 90's. While it didn't come close to that, it was pretty impressive, and still gave you that "WOW" feeling. Most of the first quarter was pretty tight, but the Pacers took a commanding lead. During this run was a pretty impressive, behind the back dunk by forward Josh McRoberts. He had another pretty impressive one handed dunk late in the game. But what stood out the most to me was Tyler Hansbrough. I remember watching him play at North Carolina. He was one of the best college players of his time. Danny Granger is the core of the team, and the captain, but watching this kid was a real treat. My comment throughout the game was "that guy is EVERYWHERE." That comment is probably an understatement. Often he came from no where to get a rebound, or a steal. And this wasn't a few times. It was all the time, throughout the whole game. Through the middle of the fourth quarter the Pacers appeared to be on cruise control, avenging the loss the week before with ease. But the Pistons didn't go away without a fight, coming back and making it a tight game in the end. But the Brandon Rush of the Pacers had the final word taking a pass from Danny Granger and dunking it with authority. It was a nice statement to end the game with. Of all the "alley oops" and dunks in the game, that was probably the most impressive dunk of the game. While the game itself was pretty entertaining, the presentation left a little to be desired. It was too easy to get distracted. There was WAY too much going on. From the t-shirt launcher, to the Pacemates, to the trampoline dunking show, during every time out there was something to watch. It wasn't just during timeouts. Something was always going on, and you start watching then suddenly you look down and they've been playing for 30 seconds or so. Summing up, the "Star" factor, and the magnificent venue were a plus, but the lack of attendance and too much going on were a minus. All in all, it was a good experience. For what little I paid for the ticket, it was a very enjoyable experience and well worth the money.
The question is, if the Little Giants and Pacers were playing at the same time on the same night, which would I rather go to. That is a tough arguement to answer. It's not very often that you get to see star players like Darren Collison, Danny Granger, Brandon Rush, Tyler Hansbrough, Ben Wallace, Tracy McGrady, Tayshaun Prince, and Richard Hamilton. Conseco Fieldhouse is a great venue, and will probably be rocking in a few weeks when the Big 10 tournament comes to town. But it's hard to beat that "hometown team" in an old school gymnasium. Chawick court is a pretty impressive venue in it's own right, and is literally just up the street, within walking distance. I enjoyed myself at both games and it's hard to choose which is better. While they were both basketball games they are at opposite ends of the spectrum. But I would give the edge to the Wabash Little Giants. It was a great feel. It made me feel like I was watching a professional team in an "Old School" high school gymansium. I don't want to take anything away from the Pacers, but I think I would prefer to go up the street and support the local team. These programs may not have a Tyler Hansbrough, or a Tracy McGrady, but they have a different importance. It gives guys like that an opportunity to play the game they love, showcase themselves and hope that a scout sees something in them, while still able to get a good education. And at the end of the day, isn't that what's more important, education?? These smaller schools often offer a better education than you would get at a Purdue, or an Indiana. In the end though, both venues were a great experience for a fan.
Last night I had the opportunity to see the Indiana Pacers rematch against the Detroit Pistons. In the first matchup last week the Pistons won a close game in overtime. So, this was built up to be a good game. Would it live up to the hype??
And the answer is, not really. That's not to say it wasn't an entertaining game. Conseco Fieldhouse is a great venue. Located in the heart of downtown Indianapolis just blocks away from the magnificent Lucas Oil Stadium. Coming into downtown on I-70 Lucas Oil Stadium, the host for Superbowl XLVI next year, sticks out like a sore thumb. That's not a very good way to put it, because it's a beautiful building. Driving by, you can't miss it. Conseco Fieldhouse kind of blends into downtown. It is what a downtown venue should be. It's nestled into the landscape, yet a beautiful building. Unlike Lucas Oil Stadium, you can't see it until you are right on top of it, then out of no where, WOW. After being in downtown Chicago the biggest drawback is parking. Some downtown venues don't figure parking into the occasion. We had to park over a mile away from Coors Field for a Rockies game. If you go to the Sears Tower in downtown Chicago, parking for one hour will cost you a whopping $22. The longer you take, the more it will cost you. Well, let's say parking at Conseco is a lot less of a headache. You can park in a garage, out of the weather and elements for only $12, and walk across a walkway above the street right into the Entry Pavillion. No fighting the rain, snow, wind, etc. The inside of Conseco is even more beautiful than the outside. As you enter the pavillion there are lots of people, and to someone like me that does NOT like crowds, it's kind of a scary feeling seeing all those people. But as you come down the steps they keep the people moving in a very efficient and painless manner. As you enter the main concourse you pass a small food court gift shops on your way to your seats. One of the most disappointing things for me was the lack of attendance and support. As is the case with most teams, when they are in a down year, people don't go out to support their team. A perfect example of that is the Kansas City Royals. As tip off grew near, over half the seats in the magnificent arena sat empty. That was probably the most disappointing thing for me. I bet when that place is full, it is an energetic, fun environment that's tough to beat. As I thumbed through the program we were given. Yes, given, did not have to pay for. Most places you have to pay over $5 for one. I recognized quite a few names just on the Pacers roster alone. Probably half the roster I remember whatching play in college not to long ago. The Pistons had a few recognizable names as well. Larry Bird has built a talented young team, and if he can find the right coach and get these guys to gel, they will be better than the Knicks, Bulls, Celtics or Heat. Next comes the starting lineups. The intro and starting lineup for the Bulls of the 90's is hard, if not impossible to top. The lights go out, the song "Sirius" comes over the PA, and the enthusiasm of the PA announcer, and I don't care how many stars you put on one team, it will never top the Chicago Bulls of the 90's. While it didn't come close to that, it was pretty impressive, and still gave you that "WOW" feeling. Most of the first quarter was pretty tight, but the Pacers took a commanding lead. During this run was a pretty impressive, behind the back dunk by forward Josh McRoberts. He had another pretty impressive one handed dunk late in the game. But what stood out the most to me was Tyler Hansbrough. I remember watching him play at North Carolina. He was one of the best college players of his time. Danny Granger is the core of the team, and the captain, but watching this kid was a real treat. My comment throughout the game was "that guy is EVERYWHERE." That comment is probably an understatement. Often he came from no where to get a rebound, or a steal. And this wasn't a few times. It was all the time, throughout the whole game. Through the middle of the fourth quarter the Pacers appeared to be on cruise control, avenging the loss the week before with ease. But the Pistons didn't go away without a fight, coming back and making it a tight game in the end. But the Brandon Rush of the Pacers had the final word taking a pass from Danny Granger and dunking it with authority. It was a nice statement to end the game with. Of all the "alley oops" and dunks in the game, that was probably the most impressive dunk of the game. While the game itself was pretty entertaining, the presentation left a little to be desired. It was too easy to get distracted. There was WAY too much going on. From the t-shirt launcher, to the Pacemates, to the trampoline dunking show, during every time out there was something to watch. It wasn't just during timeouts. Something was always going on, and you start watching then suddenly you look down and they've been playing for 30 seconds or so. Summing up, the "Star" factor, and the magnificent venue were a plus, but the lack of attendance and too much going on were a minus. All in all, it was a good experience. For what little I paid for the ticket, it was a very enjoyable experience and well worth the money.
The question is, if the Little Giants and Pacers were playing at the same time on the same night, which would I rather go to. That is a tough arguement to answer. It's not very often that you get to see star players like Darren Collison, Danny Granger, Brandon Rush, Tyler Hansbrough, Ben Wallace, Tracy McGrady, Tayshaun Prince, and Richard Hamilton. Conseco Fieldhouse is a great venue, and will probably be rocking in a few weeks when the Big 10 tournament comes to town. But it's hard to beat that "hometown team" in an old school gymnasium. Chawick court is a pretty impressive venue in it's own right, and is literally just up the street, within walking distance. I enjoyed myself at both games and it's hard to choose which is better. While they were both basketball games they are at opposite ends of the spectrum. But I would give the edge to the Wabash Little Giants. It was a great feel. It made me feel like I was watching a professional team in an "Old School" high school gymansium. I don't want to take anything away from the Pacers, but I think I would prefer to go up the street and support the local team. These programs may not have a Tyler Hansbrough, or a Tracy McGrady, but they have a different importance. It gives guys like that an opportunity to play the game they love, showcase themselves and hope that a scout sees something in them, while still able to get a good education. And at the end of the day, isn't that what's more important, education?? These smaller schools often offer a better education than you would get at a Purdue, or an Indiana. In the end though, both venues were a great experience for a fan.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
The Fan Experience
The past 2 nights I have been treated from one end of the spectrum to the other. Tuesday night I went to watch a local small college game, and tonight went to see the Indiana Pacers rematch the Detroit Pistons. They both have their draws and setbacks. If both were on the same night and I had to choose between the two, I bet you'd be surprised by my choice.
Wabash College is a small men's school here in Crawfordsville. They compete in the NCAC (North Coast Athletic Conference) in Division III. The Wabash Little Giants are ranked #16 in men's division III. Wooster College is at the top of the NCAC and ranked #5 in the country. And the #2 seed Wittenberg, and Wabash's next opponent was ranked #17 but dropped from the rankings. At 19-5 the Little Giants are the 3 seed in the conference tournament. So this conference plays some pretty good basketball. I've been here for a few months now and had no idea what was going on literally up the street from me. While at a dinner the other night, a group of us were talking about college basketball, from the Kansas State upset of Kansas, to the Purdue/Indiana rivalry. Someone asked if I had been to watch Wabash play yet. He proceded to give me a little background, and it sounded interesting, so I decided to check it out. Wabash regular season games are free admission. They charged the other night because it was a conference tournament, but I was not disappointed. A little more background about the team, Mac Petty, their head coach of 35 years is calling it a career after this season is over. During that time he guided the 1981-82 team to a Division III National Title. At the final regular season game they payed tribute to him by renaming the court, "Petty Court". After attending the game, I could see why he was so well respected. The Wabash Little Giants squared off against the Kenyon Basketball Lords. Chadwick Court is very similar to a high school basketball court. It is small and you are right there close to the action. There isn't a bad seat in the house. They started off with a choir singing the National Anthem the way it's supposed to be sung. No extra, personalization of it. Those that know me, know that's a big pet peve of mine. Then it's right into the action. From the beginning of the game you could tell Mac Petty's footprint on this team. They were a very well disciplined team. They took good control of the ball. Several times in the opening half Kenyon just seemed out of control. They weren't as disciplined. But what impressed me the most about this team was their rebounding. They crashed the boards every single time. Kenyon RARELY got a second shot because Wabash dominated the boards. At one point in the second half Wabash kept possession of the ball for over a minute and a half, getting to the end of the shot clock twice, then crashing the boards. It's rare to see a team keep possession for the entire 35 seconds of the shot clock, let alone one minute and 30 seconds. It was a very impressive win, and made a statement how good this team can be. In this day in age, tv has taken over college and professional sports. TV has done wonderful things for sports, but after attending that game, can see why Phil Jackson thinks tv ruined basketball. It was refreshing to watch a game without having to cut away for a tv timeout. It was a good game in a great environment. The Chadwick Crazies were entertaining, from yelling their support, to their taunting the other team, to their "Ode to Mac Petty" song. Wabash basketball is a gem surrounded by bigger names and schools. In an area that is dominated by Purdue and Indiana, you don't here anything about this very good, nationally ranked team. I am disappointed that I just heard about it the other day, only able to attend one game. I wish now that I had done a little more homework and been able to soak in a little more of Wabash basketball.
To be continued...
Tune in tomorrow night for the conclusion of "The Fan Experience"
Wabash College is a small men's school here in Crawfordsville. They compete in the NCAC (North Coast Athletic Conference) in Division III. The Wabash Little Giants are ranked #16 in men's division III. Wooster College is at the top of the NCAC and ranked #5 in the country. And the #2 seed Wittenberg, and Wabash's next opponent was ranked #17 but dropped from the rankings. At 19-5 the Little Giants are the 3 seed in the conference tournament. So this conference plays some pretty good basketball. I've been here for a few months now and had no idea what was going on literally up the street from me. While at a dinner the other night, a group of us were talking about college basketball, from the Kansas State upset of Kansas, to the Purdue/Indiana rivalry. Someone asked if I had been to watch Wabash play yet. He proceded to give me a little background, and it sounded interesting, so I decided to check it out. Wabash regular season games are free admission. They charged the other night because it was a conference tournament, but I was not disappointed. A little more background about the team, Mac Petty, their head coach of 35 years is calling it a career after this season is over. During that time he guided the 1981-82 team to a Division III National Title. At the final regular season game they payed tribute to him by renaming the court, "Petty Court". After attending the game, I could see why he was so well respected. The Wabash Little Giants squared off against the Kenyon Basketball Lords. Chadwick Court is very similar to a high school basketball court. It is small and you are right there close to the action. There isn't a bad seat in the house. They started off with a choir singing the National Anthem the way it's supposed to be sung. No extra, personalization of it. Those that know me, know that's a big pet peve of mine. Then it's right into the action. From the beginning of the game you could tell Mac Petty's footprint on this team. They were a very well disciplined team. They took good control of the ball. Several times in the opening half Kenyon just seemed out of control. They weren't as disciplined. But what impressed me the most about this team was their rebounding. They crashed the boards every single time. Kenyon RARELY got a second shot because Wabash dominated the boards. At one point in the second half Wabash kept possession of the ball for over a minute and a half, getting to the end of the shot clock twice, then crashing the boards. It's rare to see a team keep possession for the entire 35 seconds of the shot clock, let alone one minute and 30 seconds. It was a very impressive win, and made a statement how good this team can be. In this day in age, tv has taken over college and professional sports. TV has done wonderful things for sports, but after attending that game, can see why Phil Jackson thinks tv ruined basketball. It was refreshing to watch a game without having to cut away for a tv timeout. It was a good game in a great environment. The Chadwick Crazies were entertaining, from yelling their support, to their taunting the other team, to their "Ode to Mac Petty" song. Wabash basketball is a gem surrounded by bigger names and schools. In an area that is dominated by Purdue and Indiana, you don't here anything about this very good, nationally ranked team. I am disappointed that I just heard about it the other day, only able to attend one game. I wish now that I had done a little more homework and been able to soak in a little more of Wabash basketball.
To be continued...
Tune in tomorrow night for the conclusion of "The Fan Experience"
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