Consolation Prizes

So, the Cavs beat the Heat tonight 102-90.  There's no Heat in Cleveland in March.  The Witless, the Victim, Queen James missed a three that he had a chance to take two dribbles before because he was so wide open.  Dan Gilbert smiled and the crowd stood and cheered.  But, really, who gives a damn?  I'm not going to go on a rant about how the Cavaliers' meaningless victories somehow throw the cosmic scale out of whack to the point that only a Buckeyes loss can balance it, but...

February 11 - Cavaliers 126, Clippers 119 (ends 26 game losing streak)
February 12 - Wisconsin 71, OSU 67 (next Buckeyes game, 1st loss)

February 16 - Cavaliers 104, Lakers 99
February 20 - Purdue 76, OSU 63 (next Buckeyes game)

March 25 - Cavaliers 97, Pistons 91
March 25... I'm still not calm enough to type it, but you know what happened.

In a Cavs season that has become more about securing ping pong probability than victories, I certainly could have done without those three wins.  In fact, I could have done without all of them, including tonight's, if it had meant a national championship for the Bucks.

I never expected this Buckeyes team to be felled by coaching ineptitude.  Over the course of the season, I spent hours dissecting their game on the floor, nitpicking the scenarios that could ruin the story.  In the end, Matta just couldn't get his head out of his ass both throughout the game (leaving Lauderdale on the bench) and in crunch time (for the love of god, call timeout as soon as Buford touches the ball).  If the players had lost the game, if the seniors had put up their best fight and simply come up short, I could have made peace with the outcome.  Instead, I am left with a dense pit in my stomach and a desire to punch a certain gum-chawing spin doctor right in the mouth.

The real parting gift is the Final Four that we have been given.  #11 VCU tying for the lowest seed ever to reach the Nationals (as an aside my sister went to college with Shaka Smart, weird), the four teams combining for 37 losses (also tying a record), a guarantee of either an 8 or an 11 in the final, all of the #1s long gone and still the most electric player in the country (Kemba Walker) still on the floor.  If this had been any other season, I would be dancing in the streets in celebration of these Cinderellas.  As it stands, I am deep in mourning and will have to build a little momentum going into Saturday to give the games the attention that they deserve.


Thank goodness that the Indians open on Friday.  And come to me tomorrow.  Hope springs eternal.  Let's go Tribe.

Cheers.