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Go West, young man! By Brian Murphy Special to Page 2 |
Wheeling my soon-to-be-repo'd Hyundai into the company parking lot Monday morning, I cast a mournful glance at the spot next to mine.
As much as I love my Pac-10 brethren, it is time to take a step back, loosen our collective ties, soak our collective collars in sweat and give a gravel-voiced, hooded-eyelid salute to John Chaney and the blessed Temple Owls. Holy Bill Cosby, baby, these guys are tourney gods. I've got a boy, let's call him "H.B." Dude went to Temple. Gets real emotional about his Owls. I've caught him in a few weak moments during Temple games when the matchup zone is so swarming, he tells me, catch in throat, that for John Chaney, "It's all about saving lives! Dude, do you understand that! IT'S ALL ABOUT SAVING LIVES!" Hey, I'm all for saving lives. What the hell. My sense of humanity is extended today. I'm in a good mood. I'm also all for a matchup zone. And I'm all for Temple over Penn State. It's ALL ABOUT THE REGIONAL FINAL, BABY! 2. Marvin O'Connor While on the topic of Philly hoops ... I will pound a cheesesteak in honor of the cornrowed legend himself any day after watching "Marvelous" Marvin O'Connor lay out 37 on Stanford on Saturday night. St. Joe's was that team you wanted no part of. Bald Italian coach ready with the one-liners. Two little guards who will pants you like you play for the Washington Generals. The Little-School-That-Could pedigree that always kills big school mojo. So, when Marvelous hung 37 on Casey Jacobsen and the boys, and Stanford survived, you had to think the Cardinal are destined. Meanwhile, I pondered getting cornrows myself. Thought better of it. Not a good look for a guy like me. Still, I'll be wearing my St. Joe's "O'Connnor" gamer to the next company picnic. Should get me somewhere with Raquel from Receiving. 3. The Fist Pump is Back You know the only thing that can tear my remote away from NCAA Tourney hoops is Eldrick on the back nine on a Sunday. Dude did not disappoint. While the Pear-Shaped One played his ass off, hanging a 66 on Tiger and forcing Stanford's biggest fan to birdie two of the last three holes, our guy Tiger did it.
And while on the topic of the royal and ancient game, how about a new TV spot: These Girls Are Good. When Annika Sorenstam puts up a 59, you must stop dissing women's golf. You must realize any one of these chicks can clean your golf-betting clock so quickly and effortlessly, you'll be handing over C-notes on the 18th green as if Tony Soprano himself was shaking you down. 5. Gonzaga Basketball We leave this weekend with another image from West Coast hoops. Tell me you can watch Gonzaga play basketball and not fall in love with them. What, you don't like the unfazed treys under pressure? The thigh-burning defense? The head fakes in the post? Come on, America. Get into Dan Dickau, grow your hair out to Greg Brady length and get into the West Coast Renaissance. It's the place to be, baby. Just don't all move out at once. Deal? Brian Murphy of the San Francisco Chronicle writes the "Monday Morning Water Cooler" every week for Page 2. Send this story to a friend | Most sent stories |
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