13 Years
It's been nearly thirteen years since I watched an entire college basketball game. Its not because I don't love the sport, or because something like college football holds the place in my life as most treasured sport. Its because thirteen years ago I, and every other fan of Michigan basketball, suffered from something approaching the highest pinnacle of sports heartbreak. There are better people than me who could still muster the strength to watch, but I couldn't.
For every one of us the image of "Webber's timeout" with no timeouts left, down by two, with a little under 20 seconds to play is forever burned into our collective basketball memories. I cried profusely after that game, my Dad doing his best to comfort me. I was thirteen, and for two years the Fab Five Freshman: Chris Webber, Juwan Howard, Jalen Rose, Jimmy King, and Ray Jackson were my guys, my gang all of them immensely talented with a leader in Webber with the character to understand that he was just one guy on a team, and that you needed a team to win it all.
The loss to Duke the year before, when the Fab Five were actually freshman, I took in stride. They weren't supposed to win when they were freshman. Incredibly talented, yes. But you're not supposed to make it to the Final Four, never mind the Championship. Those wins, the whispers of dynasty, that was for next year. In 92 it was just sweet to make it that far. Chalk it up to experience.
93 was going to be our year, and after that.. who knows? We all thought dynasty, though none had the gall to speak it out loud.
I could never bring myself to hate Webber for calling that timeout, or even to pity him. I didn't resent him when he entered the draft and ended the possibility of redemption the following year: could you, as an 18 year old kid handle that level of humiliation? Nobody has the fortitude to stick around and handle that kind of pressure. Its like blowing it with the most amazing girl in highschool; you could stick around and try to make it work or you can move on with life and find another. No, I always wanted redemption for Webber. And in his case it meant heading to the NBA. Chalk it up to experience. You can't win 'em all.
So, I still follow Webber's career for year to year. He's like that best friend from highschool who you don't talk to anymore because you had some falling out that you just can't talk about and make right. You want him to win, to make it, to find the glory you almost shared together. When I moved to NorCal in '95 suddenly Chris Webber was right down the street playing for the Kings, in my town, for a very good team with playoff hopes, and it seemed as it fate was conspiring to bring us back together. But it never happened.
In 2002 in what seemed like the high water mark for the Kings they blew a 3-2 series lead to the Lakers who eventually lost to the "underdog" Pistons. I suppose it was better that the Kings never made it to the NBA finals, and that I was saved making the unfortunately choice of either pulling for Webber to find redemption or for the Pistons to again return to glory (and subsequently destroy the media darling Lakers).
So after '93 I haven't watched a single game of college basketball. March madness rolls around and I tap my foot, attempting to look impatient for Opening Day. Sure, we dated once, but I don't care, it really wasn't a big deal. I'm so like, over her. Look at her. She's totally let herself go. Hasn't had a decent team in thirteen years.
But then something odd happened in the last few months. What's this? We have a team that doesn't suck? Michigan, for whatever reason, despite an amazing ability to turn the ball over a dozen times a game, has a good team that's beat two ranked Big Ten opponents. What's this? They're even ranked in the top 25th right behind the Institution for Degenerates, Date Rapists, and Parole Violators?
I suppose I'm at a point now where I realize perhaps Chris Webber wont ever find redemption, and that there will never be a team like the Fab Five at Michigan or anywhere else for that matter. I'm alright with those facts. Right now I'm just happy that my team (and its been a very long time since I've said that) is starting to win again. Maybe, just maybe, you'll find me in Hoppy's come March watching the old Maize and Blue. Its been a long time, but I hear they've got this kid in the old number 4 who can shoot the lights out. I may have to check them out.
College Basketball | By Josiah Roe | 03:16 PM
Comments
I think you need to start going to Mocs games. Fun with no emotional attachment...
I went last Monday. Awesome.
Posted by: Bill at January 31, 2006 03:40 PM
It broke my heart when the Fab Five lost that game. I felt so sorry for Weber - how could you not? For some reason I was rooting for Michigan that year - don't ask me why since I was not, and am not, a Michigan fan. But after that game, Weber held a special place in my heart, especially when he went on to play for the Golden State Warriors, who were my team (yeah I know they're terrible, but I was loyal to my Bay Area teams).
Posted by: laini at January 31, 2006 05:21 PM
My memories of that day were far different. Seeing my beloved Tar Heels dispatch the Fab Five was a beautiful thing, and I experienced incredible elation that night, much as you must have for the 1997 football team.
Posted by: RobU at January 31, 2006 08:27 PM
My memories of that day were far different. Seeing my beloved Tar Heels dispatch the Fab Five was a beautiful thing, and I experienced incredible elation that night, much as you must have for the 1997 football team.
Posted by: RobU at January 31, 2006 08:27 PM
I'm not a Michigan fan, but I remember clearly the sadness I felt after that game. I was an avid Fab Five follower, and even read the book, The Fab Five (I think it was called that?) by some author I can't remember. There hasn't really been a group that fun to watch since then, in my judgment.
Posted by: Andrew Kaufmann at February 1, 2006 11:53 AM
Ahh...one of my favorite games of all time. Yeah, Dean Smith won in '82 with Jordan, et al but I was too young to enjoy that victory. But then, Spring of '93. The ACC triumphs again, but this time it isn't the deplorable Blue Devils. No, the Tar Heels cut down the nets with one of the most memorable championship games of all time. It was a glorious day.
Posted by: ARoss at February 1, 2006 12:27 PM
GET OVER IT!
As you stated before it was 13 years ago, and why keep bringing things that no one cares about anymore? Do people really care that 13 years ago you were the class geek or that you use to pick your nose? No!
I'm sure that most of you complaining, sports-challenged ninnies out there only push your physical abilities just enough to turn the channel on the remote control. What are you doing to improve the game? Hating I tell you. You sit at your computer bringing up old stuff because your lives are filled with such emptiness. Drink your haterade, get over it and get over yourself. Don't knock that man's hustle!
Posted by: To the Dumbasses at February 1, 2006 06:16 PM
As Ute implies, one man's nightmare is another man's ultimate dream. I remember that win almost as well as the '82 one (I'm old enough that it was very significant as well), though I don't remember the '57 NatChamp for the Heels (though I was born at the time).
As for the "how could you not feel sorry for Webber?" Easy... because he'd just gotten away with one of the most blatant walk no-calls ever seen in college basketball history. He shouldn't have even been in the position to try to make the call... should have been Tar Heel's ball on the turnover.
Posted by: Randy D. Smith at February 2, 2006 12:00 AM
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