AJC > Sports > Tech > Blog > Archives > 2006 > November > 17
Friday, November 17, 2006
Forecasting a 20-win season
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I’ll stick with basketball today, and then a little sidelight.
I’m going to be very surprised if Tech doesn’t win at least 20 games, and perhaps 22 or more, because I think the Jackets have every ingredient: perimeter offense, post game, defensive ability, a point guard, and heart.
Now, I’m not saying all this is tried, true or proven. Tech obviously will be tested more than so far, almost certainly as soon as Maui. But I think they’re a solid two-deep or better at every single position (I’m counting some players in multiple positions, like Peacock at center and power forward).
And for the record, I think Lewis Clinch is the most underrated, or least appreciated, player on the team. More to come from Maui; I get there Sunday.
I hated Bo Schembechler when I was a child. That was part of the curriculum growing up in Columbus, Ohio, as I did in the ‘70. Hated him. And his team. And the “M” on his hat.
But then as a child, everything in the world of sports that I didn’t like, I hated, to use a word and emotion I rarely seem to use anymore. Loathed Ali. Despised the Yankees. The Redskins. The Celtics.
Mostly Michigan, and Bo.
It seems very strange to think back on all that now, and not just because Schembechler died Friday. I’ve reflected on these ancient emotions before. Yeah, I was a kid, but it’s so foreign to think about how personally I took things when I was a lad.
I still have some favorite teams, none pulling at my heart more than Ohio State, and pull for them. But when they lose, I don’t feel resentment, or anger, as I once did. Sometimes, I’m indifferent (never with the Buckeyes), sometimes I’m disappointed. I never loathe anymore, at least not teams, athletes or coaches.
I respect, or I don’t. That change came years ago, most notably in the latter years of Ali’s career, when I began to appreciate what he meant to his sport, to society, even if some of it was circumspect in the eyes of others. My love of Joe Frazier didn’t wane; my appreciation of Ali simply grew because of his drive.
Same with Schembechler. He had that passion to the day he died, railing about Ohio State to the end. In a way, it was humorous, and I smiled a few times this week reading his comments. Some might construe his attitude toward the Buckeyes as hatred. It wasn’t. It was respect. It was about wanting to compete at the highest level, and win. We all have certain measuring sticks that matter most. To Bo, that measuring stick was most important, just as Woody Hayes cared most about beating Michigan.
I’m not saying I teach my children to approach rivalries, or competition, like Woody and Bo did, but I won’t teach them not to go about life this way, either. I suspect their surroundings, and upbringings, won’t produce fuses like Woody and Bo had.
The best thing about Bo, whom I’ve heard many tales about over the years from former coaches, players and fans, was that he was genuine. I’ll take genuine every time, temper or not. That man was the real thing, no gimmicks, no manipulation (although he was prone to gamesmanship). What more can you ask for?
Rest in peace, Bo. And say hi to Woody, another genuine — and bombastic — article.
