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April 8, 2008 |
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One of the best title games ever? KU better believe it
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SAN ANTONIO -- Holy crap. How many times did you breathe into a paper bag during that one?
In a tournament that was sometimes stale, in a postseason that featured more blowouts than picture-perfect moments, Kansas and Memphis treated us to one of the great games in a generation. Daggers, onions, drama, what in the mofo was that? All of the above apply. I wanted to scream like Gus Johnson. I did scream like Gus Johnson. Screw Remember the Alamo. This was Remember the Ala-Mario. The Jayhawks saved the tournament. In the blink of a Mario Chalmers shot, it went from bland to grand. Beauty is in the eye of the viewer, but this game should go down -- no, must go down -- as one of the top three or four championship games of all time. One day, because of the heart Kansas displayed, and the big shot Chalmers used to send the contest into overtime, this game might be seen as one of the best title games in any sport, at any time. It's been some time since we saw a team fight on each possession the way the Tigers and Jayhawks did. Afterward, the Kansas players gathered on center court following their 75-68 victory, hugging and dancing. Some of them sprinted into the stands, not knowing where to go or what to do, or even who to hug. Others looked up at the falling confetti and just raised their hands high. There was a moment when Darnell Jackson grasped his head with both hands and shook it in disbelief. It reminded me of that famous postgame scene with Tom Brady after the first New England Patriots Super Bowl. The Jayhawks must have known what had just happened. They took part in a game that will be remembered as one of the best in perhaps many decades. "You couldn't have written it any better," said Kansas' Russell Robinson. "It's great. Great effort. Both teams came out and played. We let it out there on the line. It was two teams out there competing, you know. Like I said, there's no way you can write it better." The only thing missing was a guest appearance by Gene Hackman and Wesley Snipes and someone yelling "Cut! Print it!" |
Late in the game, Bill Self actually used the phrase: You just got to believe. It doesn't get any cornier than that, but damn if it doesn't fit the script.
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If it weren't for the masonry and cement-ship of the Memphis Tigers, who's AND 1 style finally met its match, this game would've been practically perfect.
As it was, it was better than this year's Super Bowl, NBA Finals or World Series. It was a splendid piece of entertainment.
Who knows what will happen to the Kansas program form this point forward. Self is probably done as coach and will likely leave town with a truckload full of cash. Kansas might lose a slew of players to the NBA. The Jayhawks might never get here again, I don't know.
What I do know is that during the Final Four the Jayhawks stood for everything I like about college basketball. They played hard, they didn't whine and they respected one of the core principles of the sport: You must make your free throws in big spots.
On television, the poor Memphis foul shooting and the offensive lapse by Kansas in the second half may have made the game appear less spectacular than it was.
At the game, with 43,257 people screaming at the top of their lungs, at times it was like watching a street fight, in other moments the two offenses stormed back and forth.
Over the next few days and weeks there will be debates over where this game figures historically. Is it among the top 10 or five or even much higher?
For my money, I'd stick this right in the top three.
What a game.
What an all-time game.
