Monday, March 09, 2015

I Believe That We Will Win



I don't have the words to do that game justice. It was as good a college basketball contest as I've seen, two solid teams throwing haymakers. Our Tribe just wouldn't die. They're as tough mentally as any Tribe team, ever.

For the second year in a row, and the fourth in the past eight, William & Mary stands one game from the NCAA Tournament. The Wrens face preseason conference favorite Northeastern this evening for all the mid-major marbles. In general, we're a superstitious sort, but y'know what? That hasn't worked for us when it comes to the Tribe. So we say 'Fuck you, Jobu', we'll do this ourselves.

We're gonna win, dammit. Northeastern is good, but they're not great (just like us). We beat them handily in Williamsburg, while they returned the favor in Boston. The Huskies hammered us on the boards in both games, something that's not likely to change tonight. Vegas will likely install the 3rd-seeded Northeastern as favorites. But it's not about analysis at this point.

It's about fate. And it's our time to win, to fling this fucking monkey to the ground, to kick the damn ball out of Lucy's hands, to see our name announced next Sunday on CBS. (If the Selection Committee would see fit to put us in Columbus, Pittsburgh, or Jacksonville, we'd be much obliged.)

Tony Shaver's gonna play the part of Herb Brooks tomorrow.



Ignore the details, because they don't matter. Northeastern isn't the USSR (though the do wear red). We wouldn't lose nine of 10 to them - it'd likely be 5-5. And the game tonight is basketball, not hockey. Great moments, though, are made from great opportunity.

So a bunch of kids is going to go out tonight and do something that nobody's ever done before, that generations of people might've considered impossible, or at least highly unlikely.

Do you believe in miracles?

61 comments:

Danimal said...

No line on my site at the moment.
I am rooting for you 'burgers, but am concerned with your team's ability to get up for tonight's contest after last night's barnburner.

Squeaky said...

Love the fact that if you google futile superfans G:Tb is number one and two; and five of the top ten.

Squeaky said...

Who all is going to the game? Mac is supposedly trying to make it to Bmore. Lauren is definitely going since she lives in town.

TR said...

When you're alone on the commode, it's fun to sing Thorogood's "I Drink Alone" as "I Shit Alone," especially if you know enough lyrics and try to rewrite some lines.

Hypothetically, of course.

Clarence said...

Need a quick TV rec. Big den one died. Looking to buy a 50"+ TV. Still have a Samsung upstairs that I really like. Need one downstairs that is as good.

Best brands?
Plasma Vs LED LCD etc
I have Apple TV. Don't need a smart tv, right?
Other such factors

Thanks, Gheorghies.

Marls said...

Samsung or Vizio. Plasma is dead.

Shlara said...

I too am concerned that the guys are going to be mentally drained after last night.

But, if tony plays the clip of the last :30 from last year's championship game--that should help.

And, I hope he sends them out to the court with a Norman Dale, "I love you guys" speech

Clarence said...

Thanks, Marls. We got the Samsung.

Squeaky said...

Clarence, get the Samsung without the smart hub/TV. You are running everything through Apple TV so you don't need it. Bonus the TVs without the 'smart' part are cheaper.

If you can find a Pioneer Plasma get it. The pictures are better. But Marls is correct no one makes them anymore.

rob said...

this is what tony told them after last night's game. it's awesome. i'm all goosebumpy:

https://instagram.com/p/z-0Q5FO_11/?utm_source=partner&utm_medium=embed&utm_campaign=video

"bring history here" is going down in the annals when we win tonight.

zman said...

We put zson in pull-ups for the flight and it appears he is completely un-toilet trained now. He's been awake for 2.5 hours and pissed himself 7 times. zwoman is weirdly terrified of dehydration and keeps asking him if he needs juice. Family vacation!

mayhugh said...

I love watching that .gif. I must have watched 6 times in a row just for the reaction of Hofstra's #1.

This is a team of destiny. Everyone is mentally and physcially refreshed. Tarpey's left ankle completely healed overnight. This is the year. I believe.

TR said...

"Going down in the anals"

Mark said...

Belated congratulations to Danimal's North Florida Ospreys on their first NCAA bid.

T.J. said...

lol ^^

Dave said...

tone question: is all this rooting for w&m ironic, sincere, or somewhere in between?

is this game on tv/internet tonight?

Whitney said...

Other than TR, I think our fandom for Tribe hoops is 100% sincere.

It's on NBCSports. Can't imagine you get it.

mayhugh said...

TR said he would get on board when they made the finals. I expect full support, and possibily some face painting, out of him tonight.

zman said...

I would prefer the tribe to lose tonight. Once we make the tournament there's nothing novel about our BB team.

Whitney said...

Shut it, Zman. May Siegfried and Roy's tiger bite your arm off.

Dave said...

i have nbc sports! my kids just helped me find it. i think i will root sincerely for as long as i can, and then perhaps switch to ironic rooting if things look bleak.

Dave said...

which is correct: "a bunch of kids is" or "a bunch of kids are"? internet says both are acceptable but "is" sounds weird.

Clarence said...

Is

Idiot

Marls said...

It's a single bunch.

Danimal said...

Must be density...heard 7 Mary Three on the way home from.work

Dave said...

With "a bunch," you can use a singular verb or a plural verb. Because "us" is right next to the verb, it is more comfortable to use the plural verb "are" with it.
language is a river, grammar nazis . . .

With "a bunch," you can use a singular verb or a plural verb. Because "us" is right next to the verb, it is more comfortable to use the plural verb "are" with it.

"Bunch" is like "variety" or "percentage." It's confusing to know which verb to use. See these postings for others' opinions:

http://thegrammarexchange.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f...296097462#8296097462

http://thegrammarexchange.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f...336027545#3336027545

Dave said...

i copy/pasted that, obviously. i don't want any of the grammar nazis to accuse me of plagiarism.

zman said...

RIP Biggie

http://nypost.com/2015/03/06/restaurant-offers-notorious-b-i-g-inspired-menu-on-death-anniversary/

zman said...

I think the singular "is" is ok if you want to sound European or like a soccer fan.

Dave said...

is rob at this game?

mayhugh said...

Tribe looks like they have no legs early.

mayhugh said...

NOt the start I was hoping for.

Dave said...

the tribe is on my TV! in HD!

Dave said...

w&m offense seems stolid, and i don't mean that with any positive connotation. is this what they do? repeated high screens until a skip pass is open and they chuck a three?

Clarence said...

The defense is now what is plaguing them.

And hey, guys, if double OT wears you out too much to run the next day, maybe don't come to the tourney. Suck it up.

Clarence said...

As usual, awesome insights from our guys on the scene. They don't call them best color men in the game for nothing.

rob said...

we got this, boys

rob said...

strong lammie showing tonight: marls, teej, jerry, cliffy, bernie, wainrude, denny, bryden, fogger, fish, among others.

Clarence said...

There we go

Danimal said...

Fogger as in Brian from incester?

Clarence said...

I don't think we got much except another batch of disappointment.

Dave said...

bryden?

Squeaky said...

Turned the game at halftime and was what the hell. Like the start of the second half.

mr kq said...

You take that factory of sadness elsewhere, mister. We (we?) can do this!

My robot password was just Robyl!

Shlara said...

I think we all need to take a deep breath and relax--especially the guys in the arena.

They have to be feeling all of our desperation and anxiety and it doesn't help make baskets.

Clarence said...

I think all the relaxation in the world won't slow Northeastern down. They aren't missing.

Squeaky said...

We need to start subbing in the Nicks.

Dave said...

it may be time for desperation and anxiety

Marls said...

This one is over. Damn shame. Love this team. They just had no legs left tonight.

rob said...

welp

zman said...

My hotel is two blocks from the spearmint rhino, which oddly abuts an ironworks. It looks pretty rundown from outside.

Dave said...

are you in vegas?

Clarence said...

What gave it away, Detective Dave?

Donna said...

Did y'all leave?! Or are you holding your breath?

TR said...

One more reason to hate Boston... (besides Paci)

Shlara said...

I'm so sad for our team...especially Marcus.

TR said...

Marcus' floor is a good career in Europe, right?

(Assuming he doesn't want to be a Lil Wayne impersonator).

T.J. said...

So. Frustrating.

zman said...

Sorry guys. If you want to feel better about the tribe, I took zson to a petting farm that had two really tame deer who really liked zson and now he has a weird red mark on his back that looks like a Lyme disease symptom. The internet says it takes three days for the lesion to develop but I'm still not thrilled.
#lousydadoftheyear

rob said...

as it turns out, we did not win

TR said...

The NCAA tourney losers' club may dwindle to four tonight. St. Francis of Brooklyn is in the finals of their conference tourney.