by John Walters

And a Medium Happy 10th to this guy as well. How could we forget?

 

Starting Five

Walkup and Take a Bow

I know that Stephen F. Austin lost (on the Verne L. Equinox, no less). And I know who beat them (a school I have, on occasion, been accused of being partial to). But it was impossible not to cheer for the Lumberjacks, for their outstanding coach, Brad Underwood, and for their mascot-in-a-purple-jersey, Thomas Walkup.

The 6’4″ senior with the marble physique was the most impressive player I saw all weekend, and a good egg, too. Here’s Juliet Macur‘s terrific story on him for the New York Times. Stephen F. Austin lost (“Rex wrecks SFA”), but I hope Walkup still gets the cover of SI. He and the L-jacks are what the tourney is all about.

2. The Punked Panthers*

*The judges will also accept ‘The Ecstasy and the Aggie-ny”

Remember Friday night, when Paul Jesperson’s half-court bomb put a dagger in Texas and produced the emblematic photo of March Madness? No? Okay, here it is:

Well, fate is fickle. On Sunday night Northern Iowa led Texas A&M by 12, 69-57, with :44 to play after a layup, and yet somehow the Panthers managed to lose in double overtime. The play-by-play sheet on the final minute reminds me of one of those black box recordings: we know there was a catastrophe, but how exactly did it happen? The Big Lead breaks it down for you here.

Note: At the end of the first overtime Jesperson dribbled up court and attempted another half court shot. Problem is, there were still three seconds on the clock. A tip of the cap for his sense of drama, but he could’ve taken that ball to, at worst, the free throw line and attempted a second game-winner.

3. A Shot of Wiscy

Submitted without comment, other than to ask, “Are we even surprised any more?”

4. He Said What?

As you already know, I’m no fan of political correctness for its own sake (I’m not clamoring for them to rename this tournament Native American Wells, for example, or even Dawn Wells). But when Raymond Moore, the CEO of BNB Paribas Open (i.e., Indian Wells Open) and the tournament director appears at a MEDIA BREAKFAST and then provides these responses, I have to wonder how strong the Bloody Marys that they were serving were. And how many he had. Lay off the Tito’s, Raymond.

In the immortal words of one of my favorite sports people, Geno Auriemma, “What a dope.”

Q. How about the WTA side? Now you are one of the four premier mandatory. Would you like to be set apart from the other tournaments, as well, or are you happy…

“No, I think the WTA — you know, in my next life when I come back I want to be someone in the WTA, because they ride on the coattails of the men. They don’t make any decisions and they are lucky. They are very, very lucky. If I was a lady player, I’d go down every night on my knees and thank God that Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal were born, because they have carried this sport. They really have. And now the mantle is being handed over to Djokovic and Murray and some others. You know, that’s good. We have no complaints. You know, we pay equal prize money. Do all those things. We don’t have any complaints.”

And the following segment which came as part of a general discussion about how if Maria Sharapova, one of the more marketable players around, is out of the game for awhile, and as Serena Williams nears retirement, who will take over as the biggest draws on the women’s tour. It’s a two-part question, the second part gave him a chance to clarify his first statement.

Q: What does it say that there isn’t enough competition for (Serena)?

“Well, you know, it’s just one of those things where one lady has come in and dominated. You know, you can’t provide for that. Serena, as I said earlier, is arguably the best female player of all time. Certainly has always been in the conversation for maybe the top three. Some people may say Steffi Graf, Margaret Court, Chrissie, Martina. I think those are the five. But she’s in there. If she stays healthy and interested, I think she’s going to beat Steffi Graf’s Grand Slam take. But you know what? I think the WTA have a handful – not just one or two – but they have a handful of very attractive prospects that can assume the mantle. You know, Muguruza, Genie Bouchard. They have a lot of very attractive players. And the standard in ladies tennis has improved unbelievably.”By attractive, you mean physically attractive or competitively attractive?

Q: By attractive, you mean physically attractive or competitively attractive?

“No, no, no, I don’t — I mean both. They are physically attractive and competitively attractive. They can assume the mantle of leadership once Serena decides to stop. I think they’ve got — they really have quite a few very, very attractive players.”

“No, no, no, I don’t — I mean both. They are physically attractive and competitively attractive. They can assume the mantle of leadership once Serena decides to stop. I think they’ve got — they really have quite a few very, very attractive players.”

5. Even Don Trump Knows The Wall Will Never Happen

The Great Wall of Drumpf is never going to happen. As I noted on the Twitter last Thursday, simply from a fiscal standpoint, it’s a dopey idea. There are far more inexpensive ways to prevent Mexicans from illegally immigrating to the USA (my idea: one two dozen Tilted Kilt restaurants in the states of Sonora and Chihuahua).

Anyway, here’s John Oliver noting not only how exorbitant the actual costs of building and maintaining the wall would be, but also that many illegals come here by means having nothing to do with that sexy illegal border crossing that makes all the news shows. Good stuff.

Music 101

Suite: Judy Blue Eyes

Sometimes a songwriter opens up a notebook in attempt to write a 3-minute, radio-friendly hit. Other times he or she decides to scribble out an uncategorizable (I don’t think that’s a word, but let’s roll with it) 7-plus minute classic. David Crosby (right) was formerly in The Byrds, Graham Nash (left) was formerly in the Hollies and Stephen Stills (middle) was formerly in the Buffalo Springfield. By the time Crosby, Stills, Nash (and Young, as in Neil Young, who then went solo) formed in 1968, they were a true supergroup. Maybe the very first one in rock.

The song is an ode from Stills to his girlfriend, the gifted and lovely singer Judy Collins. They both knew a breakup was imminent. Collins was actually in the studio when the demo tapes for this song were being recorded. The “Suite” is a pun, since Stills meant the pun “sweet” but the song is also a “suite” in a technical sense. The 1969 tune is an essential piece of rock music history.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMbuJXQCIvo

Remote Patrol

Better Call Saul

10 p.m. AMC

Spoiler alert: I was given 40 minutes on the phone last week with the radiant Rhea Seehorn (well, I was given 20; I stole 20 more), a.k.a. Kim Wexler, for a story. And a little more time with Peter Gould, a co-creator along with Vince Gilligan. Story later this week. It’s a great episode for Kim tonight. Tune in.