Baseball Generates Hope

"It breaks your heart. It is designed to break your heart. The game begins in the spring, when everything else begins again, and it blossoms in the summer, filling the afternoons and evenings, then as soon as the chill rains come, it stops and leaves you to face the fall alone." - A. Bartlett Giamatti, "The Green Fields of the Mind," Yale Alumni Magazine, November 1977

As March turned to April and spring training ended as the regular season began, baseball has started anew.

More than a week into the season, the games have been filled with special moments. Casey McGehee's walkoff HR for Milwaukee enraptured that Brewers home crowd on opening day at that stadium. Arizona had a 13-run inning against Pittsburgh, who surprised the world by winning its first series against the L.A. Dodgers, a squad that made the postseason a year ago. There was C.C. Sabathia throwing no-hit ball for 7 2/3 innings against Tampa Bay and Jason Heyward of Atlanta beginning his major league career with a mammoth home run. Jason Kubel christened Target Field with the stadium's first ever HR and the Detroit Tigers rallied from a 7-1 deficit and won 9-8 on a wild pitch in the bottom of the ninth against Cleveland. Yes, the Tigers won despite leaving 18 runners on base (two shy of the record).

With all the joy in Mudville, baseball fans have also felt the rage of Casey. Disappointment was evident in Boston with its 3-4 start and in Houstin where a 0-6 start almost gurantees that the Astros will be forgotten before June.

Yet, as baseball fans, our hope is carefree. True partisans of teams absolutely believe that their nine will win every day. When that fails, we always have the hope for tomorrow. The next game, the next series and then eventually the next season (right Cub fans) will right the course if somehow our team strays down the wrong path.

Baseball is Americana. It is breakfast in the morning, lunch at noon, or dinner at night. It is with us everyday, whether we are mowing our backyards or cheerfully imbibing at the local taven. Whether it is attending in person, viewing the websites that carry game blogs or gametrackers to games on radio and if you we are lucky, TV, we are drawn to baseball.

Baseball is the fastball that smacks the catcher's pud; the crack of the bat and an outfielder racing for the ball in the corner; the outfielder cutting off a ball and then sending it back in flight to catch the runner moving from first to third. It is the hand signals from coaches that tells players to hit and run, steal or take a pitch. And, baseball is the father and son playing catch and then going to the ballpark for the magical environment of the game. Baseball, too, is the roar of the crowd, which regenerates every inning of every game.

Baseball is a game that surely tests our heart and soul. The game is full of challenges that can try our soul and of opportunities that lift us up.

Everytime I tune in Tigers baseball, I get charged up. It makes me feel good to hear my favorite team play. It also reminds me of those that I miss like Ernie Harwell and Sparky Anderson. Whitaker and Trammell...Kirk Gibson...Al Kaline and Mickey Lolich. And, reminds me of those I appreciate today such as Justin Verlander, Maggs and Miquel Cabera as well as Derek Jeter and Joe Mauer, Albert Pujols and Mariano Rivera. When my team, the Tigers, win, I am esctatic, no matter where I am at - home, work or elsewhere.

With the joy, we, too, encounter disappointment. No team wins them all. But whether winning or losing, the longer the game goes allows us to hope for that great rally or that walk-off shot to the moon or that our stopper serves his role.

While Giamatti talked of disappointment with the coming and going of the game, for me, my spirit is renewed with America's national pasttime. For me, the baseball is defined through its whirlwind of hope. The anticipation of something good and the hope that Casey will not strike out but make a game-winning hit.

Baseball is back and when it ends this fall, whether I have a team in the Series or not, I know that the days and nights of baseball have captured my heart and renewed my spirit in believing anything is possible (Yes, even in the Cubs winning the World Series).

Can Cinderellas Dance in the Sweet Sixteen?

Everybody loves Cinderella. And, in college basketball's biggest dance, Cinderellas are everywhere, showing their lucky charms for all the world to embrace.

When ninth-seeded Northern Iowa defeated the top overall seed Kansas, 69-67, the Panthers turned the entire basketball nation on its ear. During this March Madness season, Northern Iowa hasn't been the only Cinderella wearing dancing shoes. 10th-seeded St. Mary's, 11th-seeded Washington and 12th-seeded Cornell are others that have put the whammy on basketball powers. Villanova, Georgetown, Vanderbilt, Wisconsin, Temple and New Mexico, all seeded fifth or better, are back home watching the rest of the tournament on TV and wondering what happened.

These Cinderellas are dancing at a relatively new dance hall. This is the first time in the history of Northern Iowa and Cornell that they have advanced to the Sweet 16. And, St. Mary's advanced to the Elite Eight in 1959 when only 23 teams were in the tournament. So, they too are jitterbugging to a somewhat different song.

Cornell has advanced farther than any previous Ivy League school except Penn, who made the Final Four in 1979. You might remember that team, or not, because the Final Four was dominated by Larry Bird's Indiana State and Magic Johnson's Michigan State teams.

While it is a bit shocking for the basketball world to figure out, these teams are in the final 16 because they play solid basketball and believe in themselves. While we blinked our eyes wondering if what we just saw actually happened, they have kept their eyes open and focused on winning and advancing.

Do any of us really believe they can continue to Cha-cha-cha? Most national experts don't and will pick number one seeded Kentucky to beat Cornell, fifth-seeded Michigan State to derail Northern Iowa and third-seeded Baylor to end St. Mary's run.

Yet, based on the first round, these teams will not go quietly. And, don't be suprised if the Cinderellas continue to dance to the stars.

Remember - Northern Iowa didn't stand a chance against Kansas...but they did. When they upset fifth-seeded Temple, it must have been the perfect storm for the Cornell. But surely, the Big Red wouldn't, couldn't defeat Big Ten power Wisconsin in the second round? Except, they did by dominating the heavily favored Badgers. And, really, nobody thought St. Mary's could tame Big East power Villanova. But...they did, behind the play of their big man Omar Sanham, who is becoming an internet sensation, and timely three-point shooting.

Along the way, these Cinderellas have captured a following that extends far outside their respective campuses and alumni bases. Sanham is being followed on Twitter by national media and fans all over the country. Cornell's team is getting big play in the national press as is UNI, which was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated.

These teams are easy to like. Why? I think because they are a lot like most of us. Nobody has heard of us either but we when we work hard and believe in ourselves, we find success.

Ivy League schools aren't regulars on SportsCenter. Neither is the Missouri Valley Conference champ UNI and St. Mary's of the Big West. But give them credit, they show that they are basketball teams that feature good and timely shooting, solid rebounding and sound defense.

Cornell has one of the best big men in the country in Jeff Foote, who Kansas head coach Bill Self said could play for anyone in the country. And, after 27 and 32 points in consecutive NCAA games, Sanham is in the same category. UNI's Adam Koch was Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year and Ryan Wittman of Cornell is proving to be one of the best players in the country. He was the Ivy League Player of the Year and his dad Randy was a member of Indiana's national title team in 1981. Don't forget about Ali Farokhmanesh, who calls the three-point line and beyond his home. Who? Farokhmanesh, who hails from Iowa City, Iowa, is one of three seniors on the UNI squad. He has ice in his veins and doesn't shy away from taking and making big time shots. He hit the game-winning shot in UNI's improbable first-round win over UNLV and then his three late against Kansas proved to be the difference in that stunning victory.

So, we wonder will the Cinderellas continue to dance? Cornell's chore is a bit tougher than UNI. The Big Red faces one of the traditional powers in collegiate basketball in Kentucky, who probably have four or five players that will play in the NBA. The Wildcats' point guard John Wall might be National Player of the Year. In a best of three series, the favorites probably advance, but in a one-game winner take all, anything can happen.

If these powerhouses blink, they might be another victim of Cinderella's magic. Remember in 1966 when Don Haskins' Texas Western (now UTEP) squad defeated heavily favored Kansas by one point (81-80) and then defeated Utah before upsetting Kentucky's vaunted team, 72-65, in the NCAA finals.

Maybe one of these Cinderellas will also find that ultimate success. Or, perhaps they are the next George Mason, the biggest of all Cinderellas that made the 2006 Final Four after upsetting Connecticut.

I hope the Cinderella(s) continue to dance all the way to midnight.

My Picks
I like Northern Iowa to defeat Michigan State and St. Mary's to upend Baylor. Cornell will have its dream come to an end in a loss to Kentucky. But, remember, I picked Kansas and Villanova to make the Final Four.

This and That About NCAAs
~ Duke has not defeated a team seeded higher than fifth in the regional since 2001.
~ 11 conferences have teams in the Sweet Sixteen.
~ Cornell's 20-point win over Wisconsin is the biggest margin of victory for an Ivy League school since 1970.
~ UNI will make its first-ever appearance in the Sweet 16. It will also be the first Missouri Valley Conference team since Wichita State in 1981 to advance to a regional final. Wichita State defeated Kansas, 66-65, before losing to LSU, 96-85, in the regional final.
~ Xavier and Michigan State are the only two teams in the men's tournament to reach the Sweet 16 three straight years. MSU's Tom Izzo is the only coach to lead his team to the Sweet 16 three straight times as Xavier has had two different coaches.

Coyotes, Jacks, Vikings Have Success on Hoops Floor

Local basketball hounds have to be eating up the success this year. Check out some of that success here --

SDSU women's basketball team (21-10) advanced to the NCAA DI Women's Tourney (we find out who they play Monday) for the second straight year. The Jacks defeated top seed Oral Roberts in overtime as they continue to dominate the Summit League Conference Tournament. They are 4-0 in two seasons with two consecutive titles.

The USD men's basketball team continues to roll with its first-ever Great West Conference title that sends them to the College Insider's Tournament. The CIT is similar to NIT in that DI schools not invited to the Big Dance have a chance to continue their seasons. The 16-team tournament kicks off Tuesday. The Coyotes own a 13-game winning streak (second best active streak in DI - tied with Wofford - and second to Butler's 20 game streak). In the opening round of the CIT, the Coyotes, 22-9, will play Creighton (16-15) at 7 p.m. on Tuesday at the Civic Auditorium in Omaha. USD plays the Bluejays for the first time since 1968 with Creighton owning a 47-11 overall advantage.

Tonight I found out two former NCC schools, Augustana and St. Cloud State, will meet in the NCAA Division II Central Regional Men's Tournament.

You have to love this March hoop madness. Let's go nuts.

A Little "Madness' Means Memories

They call it "March Madness." And, even before the NCAA DI Road to the Final Four Tournament gets started, the "madness" has taken root.


Evan Turner's 40-foot game-winning shot that lifted Ohio State to a last second win in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament was one example. The freshmen helped the top-seeded Buckeyes defeat rival Michigan and showed why he is a national player of the year candidate.


In the first round of the Big East Tournament, we watched Georgetown topple top seed and 4th ranked Syracuse. That was followed by Marquette 6-for-6 3-point performance in the second half against 10th ranked Villanova. Marquette's Lazar Hayward hit a crucial three down the stretch that kept alive the school's bid for its first-ever Big East title. Not to be outdown, Notre Dame's big defensive effort led to their upset of Pittsburgh. Then there was John Wall's 23 points and nine assists to help Kentucky turn back a game and upset-minded Alabama squad. A day later, Marquette and NotreDame had their conference runs end but it didn't detract from the optimism and hope that those earlier wins generated in the team, fans and observers around the country.


In the Summit League, we witnessed unbelievable basketball in both the men's and women's games. For some schools like North Dakota State, it was a hard luck weekend. Each of their men's and women's teams lost by one point in overtime. For others, like the SDSU women's team, there was exhiliration after a heart-stopping overtime win in the finals which gave them a second straight bid to the Big Dance. And for another school, Oakland, it meant expectations were reached as this team, dominate all season, rolled through the tournament to gain its entry into the spring's biggest sporting event.

As this weekend unfolds and conference tournament champions get a bid to the big show, the energy and spirit of players, fans and others will be high across the country.

We will see there is indeed magic in March, even before the dancing begins. It isn't just the coming of the spring that makes our steps a little quicker and our energy higher but it is this college basketball tournament that keeps alive hopes and dreams from young and old alike. We will see young men and women step up and make big-time plays in the face of pressure from all sides. As a result of their play, we will see smiles resonating on friends, parents, alumni and anyone who enjoys the spirit of competition.

Some of those smiles will become tears and frowns. Yet, to others the bustle of the crowd, the screeching sneakers, the intense athletic competition, pep rallies and waves, will only make the smiles brighter. Because...they will be part of magical moments that create unforgettable memories.

Why Country and Flag Waving Matter


When Sidney Crosby scored the game-winning goal for Canada in overtime on the final day and play of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, it stung. That goal, that loss by Team USA to the heavily favored Canadians bite at my soul.

Just a few moments earlier, everything was right because USA's Zach Parise had tied the match with a goal in the final half-minute of play. For those few prideful minutes, I felt a sense of relief with a renewal of hope for a gold medal. I was thinking, perhaps imagining, the Americans waving the U.S. flag, jumping up and down with excitement and feeling the ultimate sense of accomplishment. At that moment, it made me think that this young passionate and aggressive hockey team had quelled naysayers by rolling through the tournament unbeaten and winning the top prize. But the anxiousness of that moment turned to frustration when Crosby slapped the winning shot past Ryan Miller.

That is the way of sport, high expectations and it is over quickly. When you win, you want everybody to know and that means cheering, jumping up and down and in some circumstances waving the flag. When the Steelers won their last Super Bowl, there I was running around my house, yipping and yelling and waving my Terrible Towel. And, yes I stepped outside to let the world know who the best team was. When the USA defeated Canada earlier in the Olympics, I jumped up and yelled for the Americans. I was so proud.

That pride didn't start and stop with hockey for me - far from it. For two weeks I was part of a proud American public who watched a USA team roll up an Olympic record of 37 medals. And, we were equally proud of the efforts of those athletes like Jana Lindsey who didn't medal.

Through the magic of TV, we were able to identify up close and personal with the Apolo Ohnos, Evan Lysaceks, Hannah Kearneys, Bode Millers, Lindsey Vonns and Ryan Millers of the Olympian fame. We call them by first name, even when you have never talked with them. But, they are standing tall representing your country.

When they succeed, you feel their joy and you walk tall and proud. And, in those failing moments, you identify with their loss. While we can't begin to understand what they are feeling, we know they are disappointed, and, so are we.

In a sense watching these games was a lot like checking on my alma mater or my hometown. No matter where I live, I am driven to find out what is happening back home, whether sports, weather, or some kind of local news. When the hometown is doing well, I feel a sudden rush of accomplishment. When they fail, I feel a little sad. But regardless, I keep checking no matter if I am in Brookings or Phoenix.

One's hometown serves as a conduit to our current life and those growing up years. Sometimes, past memories aren't always favorable, like when you are a freshman and running from juniors who are hazing your introduction to high school. Or, when a bully embarassed you in front of a girl you liked. But more often than not, you recall the positive memories of the yesteryear when you won a wrestling match in the final seconds with a full Gym cheering, or you talked with a girl you liked in study hall and felt like your world couldn't get any better, or you shared a tear with a classmate at graduation.

So it is with the Olympic Games. Whether winter or summer, these games draw you in. Maybe it is because they happen every four years, your interest in captivated regardless of what you do or where you are. I think it is because these games represent what is right in sport.

These men and women give everything they have to represent their country. A friend of mine Derek Miles earned his way to two Summer Olympiads. I remember the day, he made the U.S. Team for the first time. A little tear welled up and I was ready to let the world know that this USD grad, this friend was going to compete against the world on the largest of stages.

Yes, it matters that the we have the Olympics and that we can cheer and watch these athletes compete, win, and wave the flag for our country. It gives us a strong, passionate feeling about who we are and why patriotism and pride of country really are important.