Memphis Roar

It is March 19, 2009; the day of reckoning…the day the NCAA Tournament begins.  The next 2-3 weeks will be filled with excitement, nervousness, euphoria, sadness, anger, and joy.  All 6 adjectives can be and will be molded into a singular, descriptive word:  MADNESS!!!!

 This year’s “spring classic” includes two great ingredients:  big name coaches and big time players.  Potential coaching matchups of Jamie Dixon vs Rick Barnes, Bruce Pearl vs Coach K (yes…that’s right…I didn’t feel like looking up how to spell his dad burn name!), Tom Izzo vs Rick Pitino, Bill Self vs Bob Huggins, John Calipari vs Jim Calhoun,  Roy Williams vs Jim Boheim, and the return of Tubby Smith and whoever his squad matches up with.  Put that with the big-time talent of potential  POY Blake Griffin, “Psycho T”, Ty Lawson and his big toe, “the man who can just go” Jonny Flynn, DeJuan Blair, Mr. Thabeet, Terrence Williams, DeMar Derozan and Memphis’ beloved Tyreke Evans, Antonio Anderson (A.K.A Double A), and Robert Dozier.

For us Tigers fans, this year has a different feel than last year.  One year ago, the whole known world discovered how talented and explosive those Tigers were during the tournament.  Fifty-two weeks later, it’s become a known fact that this year’s Tigers are dominant.

It’s scary how close this is becoming a factual statement, considering the increased amount of love we are getting from columnists from ESPN and CBS not named Doug Gottlieb.  Jim Rome, Michael Wilbon, Hubert Davis, Bob Ryan, Jay Bilas, and good ol’ homer Woody Paige have intelligently selected Memphis to make it to Detroit or making Detroit Rock City our own personal dance floor that glorious Monday night.  Even coaching legend Bob Knight pegged us as the most dangerous team in the dance; quite a complement from one of the biggest basketball traditionalist ever. A year ago, we were chosen by most “experts” to be the first #1 seed knocked out; amazing what one year will do.

With first round of the dance approaching at a rapid pace, I can visualize John Calipari rubbing his hands in true Mister Miyagi fashion, preaching to his young troops about how the selection committee disrespected them and their work ethic by handing them a shiny #2 seed, rather than the more respected #1 seed.  He knows he’s not going to be held responsible for the embarrassment his team will bring upon their opponents.  

In the wild, a tiger is normally an animal that likes to walk and hunt alone. When confined to restrictions and put in a cage, tigers form groups often known as streaks or ambushes. Can you visualize Coach Cal pacing back and forth in front of a cage, grinning and quietly chuckling, thinking about how the selection committee and dozens others claim the Memphis Tigers are only better than their conference?? You can bet your bottom-dollar Calipari emphasized this, motivating his hungry streak of Tigers to put that chip on their shoulders and dare someone to knock it off! When the clock strikes 12:25 est, John Calipari is going to unlock that cage door and let these Tigers run and fight with everything inside of them for everything they stand for.  To quote a certain, well known sports figure, ” You betta get your popcorn ready…haha…it’s gonna be a show.” I can only imagine that this ambush of Tigers will begin to be called by another name; a nightmare.