So today it’s exceptionally tempting to talk about the plethora of games currently being played. Lest I be unclear, “games” such as…
- Hillary’s uncanny defense of a private email account.
- The rhetorical ping pong between the Executive and Legislative branches on who has the constitutional authority to negotiate foreign treaties. Or…
- How (un)pleased the administration is with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu winning a 4th term…
Oh, the games people play.
Sometimes, it seems, with all due respect, intelligence doesn’t extinguish the game-playing; it only makes us use bigger words when we play. Hence, let’s instead focus on the onset of this year’s “madness” — moving from the hardheartedness of Washington to the hardwood of NCAA basketball. After all, there are so many diverse entities and aspects to focus on…
From the perennial Tigers and Bears to multiple Bruins and Bulldogs… From the Utes, Rams, and Ducks — while I continue to ponder the ease of a duck playing basketball…
I wonder, too, what exactly a Hoosier is — although perhaps others would wonder about my precious, beloved Boilermakers (… Boiler up… always… wait… aren’t Boilermakers actually still Hoosiers?)
From Cavaliers to Chanticleers, excellent names abound, as arguably evident in those intimidating Anteaters out of UC Irvine.
Shockers will shock. Lumberjacks will lumber. Tell me: what does the color Crimson do?
We’d be amiss not to mention the Great Danes from Albany or Xavier’s far more than three Musketeers. There are also Friars and Flyers and Mustangs and Mountaineers.
For the record, Terrapins are turtles, and the Irish are one of the seemingly few allowed to keep “Fighting” in their name.
Too bad, though, that Manhattan’s Jaspers were ousted in “The First Four,” the NCAA’s catchy play-in game system (note: see “NCAA Attempt to Make More Money”). We still, though, have North Florida’s Ospreys to root for. Go Ospreys, go. (Oh, wait… they lost in that money making attempt, too… dang it…)
Of course, we have our more familiar Buckeyes and Badgers, Cardinals and Cowboys, along with those Sooners and Spartans. Don’t forget the Bearcats and Blue Devils, Colonials and Crusaders, in addition to the Razorbacks and Red Storm. Perhaps neither will be bested by any Terrier or Tarheel — or even Aztec or Aggie (… uh… what really is an “Aggie”?).
So there’s no Dasher or Dancer but still Panthers and Pirates… Eagles and Rebels… also, on Cyclones, Huskies, and Leopards — not to omit the blossoming Beta fraternity, represented by the Bulls, Bison, Blazers, and Broncos. Don’t forget the birds — the Hawkeyes and Jayhawks — nor the wilder Cougars, Longhorns, or Valvano-less Wolfpack. It’s inspiring how NC State legend, Jim Valvano, still makes so many of us smile.
Wait… did I neglect the Wildcats? Far more eyes than super fan Ashely Judd are on those ‘Cats from Kentucky, although Wildcats also freely roam from Arizona, Davidson, and Villanova. Go ‘Cats, go (… good thing they’re not playing the Ospreys…).
Oh, the games people play.
Respectfully…
AR