The snub watch
Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim just completed his 1,000th broadcast interview since the NCAA field was unveiled, on ESPN's Cold Pizza. Two thoughts emerged from it: 1) No one will ever call Cold Pizza the sports version of 60 Minutes. The network has done an amazing job of providing Boeheim a shoulder to cry on the last 16 hours or so, and this interview was probably the worst example. I walked away when the host tried to tie who was on the selection committee from the ACC, and not on from the Big East, with Virginia getting a high seed and the 'Cuse getting left out. Hey, if you're going to openly question a college athletic administrator's integrity, do it to him and not to the whining coach who just lost some recruiting leverage. This all happened, of course, after Boeheim campaigned for an expanded field, the last refuge of the tournament reject. A suggestion: beat Drexel in your own Dome next time and you won't have to worry about it. You know, win your way in.
Speaking of which, Drexel coach Bruiser Flint apparently isn't in the broadcast fraternity of coaches, because he hasn't gotten any airtime that I've seen, and assuredly less than Boeheim has. And, you know, a far stronger case can be made for Florida State and Clemson, but apparently those coaches (Leonard Hamilton, Oliver Purnell) aren't on anyone's speed-dial either. Or maybe they're all taking it like men. One of those two reasons, I'm sure.
Oh, yeah. 2) Syracuse's high-volume griping about a snub that wasn't all that egregious makes them the team Most Likely To Pull a Maryland in the NIT. Boeheim is flipping out over being left out even more than Gary Williams did last year. Remember how "prepared'' the Terps were for the NIT opener? Bad early sign: the Orange play Wednesday against South Alabama (at home, where else) and Boeheim referred to them, on the air, as "South Florida.''
Of course, that's what I get for watching Cold Pizza.
Comments
I really have to disagree with you..I think Syracuse has a HUGE gripe when teams such as Illinois and Arkansas got in over them. When you have 10 wins in the Big East including G'town with 20 wins overall, you shouldn't even be sweating. Maybe Jim B might be getting a little more love than other coaches, but he has earned it with his body of work.
Posted by: Patrick Durkin | March 12, 2007 4:04 PM
Ah, the popular pastime of the intellectually challenged: Boeheim bashing.
Posted by: John Budge | March 12, 2007 4:39 PM
The question that needs to be asked when someone talks about another team being snubbed is " If that team gets in, who is left out"? Frankly, I might have put Drexel in ahead of Arkansas but other than that, I think the committee did a pretty good job.
The committee members each get one vote and I believe the BIG EAST was represented???
Posted by: jls | March 12, 2007 4:46 PM
My feeling has always been that if you whine about not making the tournamment then you didn't do what you needed to to get there in the first place. Boeheim has no one to blame but himself.
Posted by: kaneforgov | March 12, 2007 5:42 PM
How coy. Can't avoid writing an article without playing the race card can you? Shall we refer to you as Reverend Al from now on?
The "One of those two reasons, I'm sure." comment is really unprofessional. Just happened to pick out a couple of other 'coaches of color' who weren't on speed dial or that they're taking it like men. Get a life and try putting together an objective article without your own woeful personal agenda.
Posted by: JR | March 13, 2007 8:38 PM