Memorial Day Weekend is upon us. Just in case I get on a rampage tomorrow and forget...I hope you and yours have a great weekend. I'm going to have a great weekend. I'm going to play golf, drink beer, watch the Cubs, watch the Indy 500, and do the other normal things that Memorial Day brings to us.
However, this year, Memorial Day Weekend is bringing an event that for some reason, isn't getting the publicity it should. In every other year, I would talk about the Indy 500...as it goes completely under appreciated as the greatest American racing event. This year, the case (no pun intended) is different.
If this blog was created a year/year and a half ago or so, this topic wouldn't be covered given the disclaimer. This weekend, it's about sports, not courtrooms, allegations, or hookers...well, at least not yet.
Does anyone know who the number one seed in this weekends Collegiate Lacrosse Semi-Finals tournament is? Not Johns Hopkins, not Syracuse, not Virginia...it's DUKE. The Duke lacrosse scandal will be something that most of us will never forget. Unfortunately, because of us never forgetting, those players involved will never get out of the shadow of the incident, regardless if that hooker couldn't end up putting a case together or not. What is happening though is that Duke has been a dominant force in lacrosse this season and all things considered, they should be commended.
I don't know much about lacrosse. If I didn't play baseball in high school, I probably would have played lacrosse. That being said, I do know a lot about trust, teamwork, character and drive. Coming back from what this team went through last year to even compete is miracle in itself. All sports are emotional, and the Duke Lacrosse team doesn't have any of the three former defendants on its roster...but overcoming the adversity brought upon them and the team is what is making this year exciting.
After having last season wiped out, junior Zach Greer has posted 63 goals leading into the weekend for the number one Blue Devils. They face Cornell Saturday in a semi-final match.
Finally, coach John Danowski deserves something. Some sort of national recognition beyond Duke and beyond collegiate lacrosse. What his program had to go through, and where they are now, regardless of how much talent they have, would be like Phil Jackson coaching a team of 5 Don Imus' to a NCAA Women's Basketball National Championship, after overcoming ridiculous and unnecessary adversity to restore what the players are really there to do: play and win games.
Maybe Coach Danowski should be nominated for an ESPY. P. Diddy would probably present him the award if he won. Or maybe...(ok, putting someone else there would have been way to low of a blow...you can ask me about it though). Either way, tune in and watch for the Duke Blue Devils on Saturday. And root for them. Everyone in America should be rooting for these kids after what was taken from them last season.
2 comments:
Why should John Danowski get anything? What about Coach Pressler? He recruited all these guys, begged the incoming frosh to come even after he was fired, and stands to get nothing if the Dookies win it all. John Danowski is in the right place at the right time. Nothing more. He'll get to see his son win the Tewaaraton next week and that's about all he deserves. Go Red.
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