Classic ‘Carrier Classic’

America’s pastime is baseball on a chilly October night. It’s traditional and elegant; it’s Joe Buck and the St Louis Cardinals. But America’s present-time is most definitely college basketball. It’s innovative and eloquent; it’s Gus Johnson and the North Carolina Tar Heels.

Where else would you expect the most influential man in the free world, President Barack Obama, watching the biggest game on the opening weekend of college basketball? As only Andy Samberg can put it; on a boat.

The first-ever, ironically named ‘Carrier Classic’ could not have been better.

It pitted two of the most successful programs, Michigan State and North Carolina, led by two of the best coaches in the game, Tom Izzo and Roy Williams, on the flight deck of the ship that accomplished the most successful mission in the US’s fight against terrorism.

The USS Carl Vinson was the ship that took Osama Bin Laden’s body out to sea. It showed genuine creativity and a good-hearted spirit. The 4.5 acre top of the flight deck hosted just 7,500 fans, most of who continue to serve this country. The referees of the game all had a military background. And the players were wearing camouflage-like jersey to smooth out the icing on the top.

The game, although not very close on the scoreboard, but like every other college game it kept you hooked until the very last buzzer. It honored some of the most distinguished and unselfish people the only way they knew how; with a game and what a beautiful game it is.

Shade of Blue

Duke with Coach Krzyzewski and North Carolina with Dean Smith are anything but peas and carrots.

But at this moment in time they are standing together on the same plateau of victories, 879 apiece. They have more wins than Hey Jude has na-na-nas…. looped several times. Smith and K are tied for 2^nd on that long list of prestigious coaches, only trailing Bobby Knight.

Their styles lack the similarities that basketball purists envy; the 2 styles could be said as bluntly as ‘Night and Day’.

Smith had Michael Jordan, K had Christian Laettner. Smith had James Worthy, K had Bobby Hurley. K had Grant Hill, Smith had Vince Carter. K had JJ Redick, Smith had Raymond Felton. And the list goes on and on. Yet they are practically identical in the statistical categories… 11 Final Fours, ACC Titles (Smith 13, K 12) and 1 Olympic Medal each.

Both transformed the game and there is a large disagreement over who the better coach is. And undoubtedly this debate will go on forever. I guess it’s just a depends on which shade of blue you prefer.

[With the probable win tonight against UNC-Greensboro Coach K will only be ‘23’ wins from being the all-time winningest coach in college basketball history… Interesting.]