There are some things in life that are more important than WVU sports. West Virginia falls way down the line when it comes to praising God, which is where I was at Tuesday night when WVU and Mississippi State tipped off in the semifinal game of the NIT.
After the service I was able to see the last five minutes, which is honestly all I needed to see. And I can describe it just like this:
Darris Nichols, 2 seconds left, in-bound pass, 3-ball, corner pocket, nothing but net. Game over. Drive home safely.
Nichols‘ last second shot sent Mississippi State packing with a 63-62 victory to advance to a Thursday night match-up against either Clemson or Air Force. I’ll miss most of that game, likely, driving to West Virginia to take care of some business Friday morning.
In recent years, West Virginia has had a love affair with the dramatic. During the 1998 tournament, Jared West his a 3-ball from way downtown to send Cincinnati home in the second round. West, by the way, has recently released a book criticizing the way former coach Gale Catlett ran the program, calling him abusive.
There was the double overtime thriller between Wake Forest and WVU in the 2005 tournament. Last year, there was the last second 3-point fest between WVU and Texas, in which Texas eventually won.
Even if it is the NIT, which West Virginia hasn’t won since the 1942 when the NIT was viewed as the true national championship, I’m enjoying this run. Granted, at the start of the season I would’ve been happy with just a NIT berth after losing 4 of 5 starters from last year. This is like icing ontop of the icing on top of the cake. And it’s so sweet.
For the past three years, or so, my dating life has been spent around the dating market that is the internet. It’s worked for me. I can filter out “lucky contestants” on the “Have You Met Shannon” Game Show without having to step into a bar, deal with competition from half-drunk bar visitors, or the loud noise that comes from a band that should have stopped playing 30 minutes ago.
I can comfortably gander at the dating options while watching a NASCAR race sitting on the couch, drinking a Diet Dr Pepper and eating Frito’s. I’ll let that image sit for a second.
The internet dating game has led to this baseball-like statistics - 0 hits, 0 runs, 10 errors. In other terms, it hasn’t worked for me. If it’s worked for you, that’s great. Good job. For me, no thank you. It seems like with internet dating there is too much pressure from the start to jump into a serious relationship, primarily cause the two of you have talked for a while without really getting to know each other.
So, more recently I’ve allowed some friends to set me up on blind dates. This is a new concept for me. I’ve never done this before and to be honest, I can’t tell you the rules of the game. Is this a dutch thing? Do I pay? Do I dress how I would dress for a regular date? Do I dress casual? Do I pick her up? Do I meet her there? Seriously, I’m about as lost as anything I can think of.
I’m looking forward to it, as it should be fun. But I have no idea what to expect, what to do, or what to say.
Perhaps that is why my other dates have failed miserably.
A little bit of randomness before I decide to head off and get ready for a day that includes count it four legislative meetings. Perhaps Thomas Paine was also thinking of my schedule when he said “These are the days that try men’s souls.”
But at the end of the day includes West Virginia taking on Mississippi State in the semifinals of the NIT. I don’t know a thing about Mississippi State other than UNC’s Tyler Hansbrough’s brother plays for the Bulldogs. So I’m guessing there will be a lot of missed travel calls in the paint today. I’ll be watching the game on tape delay. There are some things that are more important than watching WVU basketball live, believe it or not.
Speaking of Tyler Hansbrough, what kind of collapse was that on Sunday? Give me 24 shots, I’m going to make at least 2. UNC could barely make one and that came during garbage time in overtime. UNC had this game in control and let it slip away with questionable timing decisions and poor shot selections. Again, as I said a few weeks ago, UNC’s inability in the regular season to close out games came back to haunt them. The USC game aside, UNC had a hard time closing out games when teams were on a hot streak at the end of the game. That is a mental toughness issue.
But, your heart has to go out to UNC this day. Not for the play of UNC in the Elite 8, but the death of Jason Ray, the student who portrayed the school’s mascot. From all accounts, Ray was an excellent student and an even better person. Prayers for the family of not only Ray, but also the family of the driver who hit him in New Jersey. Such a sad story from all sides.
Local blogger and columnist Bob Lee Swagger his the story perfectly in his own style. He says:
Was Jason Ray a super all-around great young man because he was hit by a car in a freak accident ….. or because he went to Carolina …. or because he has been “the kid in the Rameses suit”?No.Jason Ray was a great young man because of his family, his friends and maybe mostly because of his own determination and self-discipline to be “an all-around outstanding young man”.In today’s world, that’s a 24/7 job.If he had not been hit by that car, 99.9% of TarHeelNation would not have a clue about him.Or Stephen Gates.Remember him?
