I just finished watching the Florida Gators completely dominate UCLA to win the NCAA men's basketball national title. It was by far the best basketball game I've ever watched. It wasn't so much that it was a flawless game, or that there was any particular standout player, or notable pyrotechnics, so much as it was an extraordinary team effort from a bunch of guys who have skills that fit well together. Taurean Green handles the ball like few others, Corey Brewer is everywhere and always on the ball, Joachim Noah is the CHAMPEEN shot-blocker (7 blocks tonight, a championship record)...outstanding efforts also came from Al Horford and Lee Humphrey.
I know next to nothing about basketball, despite having grown up Hoosier, but the Gators were a great team tonight. I remember well watching games at my high school and college and witnessing the team crumble and re-form as possession of the game changed hands; this was nothing like that. It's not that it was a flawless game, it's more that when mistakes were made, they were acknowledged and then they proceeded to attack the game again with the confidence of victors.
Congratulations, Gators. And thanks; I doubt I'll ever see a better game of basketball. Looks as if ESPN agrees; UCLA was way overmatched.
Fine, Florida deserved to win.
But I doubt I'll ever see a better game of basketball. ??? WTF ???
Only if you never watch basketball again. I saw a dozen better games this very season, if by "better" you mean more competitive. And if by "better" you mean more dominant, more cohesive teamwork, then you obviously have never seen any of dozens of previous NCAA champions, including UCLA ten times. I stopped watching tonight's game because it was obvious that it was, as these things go, betwixt and between - neither truly competitive nor truly dominating, just a game where one team got the upper hand early and retained it. Good for them, but not good watching to a non-partisan fan.
Be happy that your team won. Just don't be ridiculous about it.
Posted by: dr ngo | April 04, 2006 at 12:57 AM
Now, now, if they had been in speedos, Slart would have been riveted ;^)
Posted by: liberal japonicus | April 04, 2006 at 04:10 AM
As always, I reserve the right to be ridiculous.
Posted by: Slartibartfast | April 04, 2006 at 09:23 AM
Actually, it was one of the worst title games I have watched over the last 40 years.
Not to say Flordia didn't play extremely well, for they did. And they may well have beaten anybody they played last night. But as a game (defined as a competitive contest of skill between two opponents) this was not on the top 30 list.
Posted by: john miller | April 04, 2006 at 09:50 AM
Oh, there were problems with the officiating for sure. I saw at least a couple of occasions where Florida walked and it wasn't called, and saw many, many more where fouls were committed (both sides) and not called.
Possibly there were other problems, but I think this sort of gap in the game is a natural by-product of when one team has coaching, conditioning, strategy, team-playing, ability and will to win all come together, and the other team doesn't, quite. It kind of reminded me of the 1996 football national championship game, where Florida faced a very strong Florida State team and had their number. It wasn't pretty, if you're a Seminole.
Posted by: Slartibartfast | April 04, 2006 at 12:38 PM