Category: Indiana University Hoosier (I.U) Sports (Page 26 of 31)

Indiana University Hoosier athletics

Old Sport Shorts: That’s How The Ball Bounces #950

May 23, 2019 / mikeljohnston1 / 0 Comments

I happened to be watching the HBO series Deadwood, when I turned over to the BIG 10 baseball tournament from Omaha’s T.D. Ameritrade Stadium. It reminded me of last year’s trip to the College World Series where I watched the Oregon State Beavers outlast the Arkansas Razorbacks for the NCAA National Championship. The winner of the BIG 10 double-elimination tournament is an automatic qualifier for the NCAA tournament and provides a gateway to eventually go to Omaha this year. I.U. won the outright regular season BIG 10 title and finished 24th in the nation, so elimination in this tournament does not necessarily mean their overall chances are over, but will definitely affect their seeding and perhaps home field advantage.

Perhaps my recent viewing of Deadwood was a premonition of the lack of hitting the team would experience. It’s been “dead wood” in Omaha so far, or should I say aluminum, considering the “Silence of the Bats.” The ball is not bouncing out of the park, as has been the case all year. Team I.U. leads the NCAA Division 1 schools with 90 home runs this year. They lost game one against 8th seed Iowa 4-2 and are in danger of elimination as I watch this afternoon in the loser’s bracket against #4 seed Minnesota. So far, they are “0 for Omaha” in home runs, with only 7 hits yesterday and 3 today, coupled with 5 overall errors. There are still two at-bats for the Hoosiers yet to go, but the Golden Gophers are threatening in the top of the 8th. Let’s see if the ball bounces differently from this point on?

As I switched away from the BIG 10 action (or lack of) in Omaha yesterday, I was hoping for better results from the Cubs and the White Sox last evening. In baseball, after a loss, you don’t have to wait long for another opportunity. I have multiple favorites on both the college and Major League levels, so turning to another channel can often change my luck. The Cubs assured themselves of at least a series tie with the Phillies after an Albert Almora Jr. grand slam. Because of the way the ball bounces in baseball, I do not expect a “W” in every game, but winning or tying each respective series is the key to success over the long season.

The Cubs have been hot in May (14-6) after a slow start this year. The Phillies are also on top of their division, so it’s a formidable match-up at Wrigley Field, where the Cubs have already scored three in the bottom of the 7th to get within striking distance. On another channel, Indiana did not score in the 8th, but staved off another big inning by the Gophers, holding runners off second and third with nobody out. Unfortunately, the top of the 9th was another multi-run disaster, as Minnesota’s 9 overall runs are the most that this I.U. team has given up to any BIG 10 opponent this year. Flipping back to the Cubs, they are still down 8-6 to Philadelphia after the 7th inning.

As I wait out the completion of these two games, I also need to salute my White Sox who beat THE hottest team in baseball, the Houston Astros last night, after riding a 9-1 record in the last 10 games. The Sox, 5-5 in that same stretch, have struggled this year, battling to stay in the middle of the American League Central. The Astros had won the first game at Minute Maid Park, and it would take a minor miracle and some lucky bounces to somehow stop their momentum. In fact, it took both a Triple Play, a Grand Slam, and two Eloy Jiminez homers to eventually stun them 9-4. The series finale is tonight.

The ball continues to be bouncing unfavorably today as Indiana fails to score in the 9th and is eliminated from the BIG 10 tournament. Now, back to Deadwood. The Phillies scored again in the 8th and have a three-run lead that the Cubs will have one last chance to overcome. As a result, I may need to rely on the slim chances of the White Sox to brighten my mood, or maybe tonight’s Oregon State game against USC? Let’s see how the ball bounces?

Retirement is not without Hassles: World Travelers #902

April 10, 2019 / mikeljohnston1 / 0 Comments

It’s another busy evening for my wife and I with the final Portland Trailblazers game on our agenda. It was originally going to be I.U. alumni night with former player Yogi Ferrell on the Sacramento Kings roster. However, after a sour I.U. basketball season, there was little interest in a meet-and-greet. Instead, some good friends are joining us to celebrate “Fan Appreciation Night” and a chance for the Blazers to move up a spot in the playoff picture. It caps off an active week between travel adventures that has included Aladdin, Lines for Life, Dumbo, and a Pink concert. Tomorrow we leave for Chicago and a chilly afternoon at Wrigley Field.

We may even see some spring snow as we return to our homeland. The “Windy City” will certainly live up to its nickname that once had more to do with politics rather than weather. Heavy gusts have played havoc with flight schedules all over the country. We’re hopeful that there won’t be delays getting in and out of O’Hare. Dinner is planned for one of our favorites, Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab, and my wife has business meetings scheduled. I’ll explore some new ground on my own while she works. For example, there’s a Rembrandt Exhibit at the Art Institute or “Mummies” at the Field Museum. I will make a decision depending on the weather and my busy retirement schedule.

As we ponder future travel, I refer once again to the 1000 Places To See Before I Die calendar on my desk. This week’s destinations include the Maldive Islands, Chili, Mexico, France, South Africa, and Greece. Although we haven’t been to some of the exact locations pictured, we have done some exploration of France and Greece. The graceful Chateau de Chenonceau in Loire is at least one featured spot that we retain found memories. A souvenir porcelain Limoges box of the structure can be found in my wife’s collection. As I then look ahead to next week’s daily destinations, they include the Grenadines, Sweden, Uzbekistan, Shanghai, Ethiopia, and Easter Island – all are yet to be visited by us.

I feel good that my taxes are paid and payment has been arranged for next year’s trip to Egypt. However, two upcoming weddings will definitely put a dent in our travel budget. Fortunately for us – airfare, hotels, and rental cars have already been pre-paid for upcoming visits to Chicago, Rochester, McMinnville, Maui, New York, Steamboat, and Vancouver. This is what I saved for all those working years – the opportunity to see the world. My working wife dutifully continues to save and allows me to join her on most of her frequent business trips. There’s so much left to see, while only time and money stand in the way.

Old Sport Shorts: Bitter #898

April 6, 2019 / mikeljohnston1 / 0 Comments

After feeling like I pulled off a major victory by simply getting an elusive UPS package in my hands (See Post # 897), I’m watching my 17th straight Final Four without an Indiana University presence, but several Hoosier-grown players. It’s being held in Minneapolis where I watched from great CBS issued seats my Cream & Crimson lose to eventual champ Duke in 1992 Final Four action; the last of the Bobby Knight era. That game was held in the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, while this year’s event is at the newer U.S. Bank Stadium. At least, there’s little danger of a roof collapse. Looking back a few decades, the Hoosiers lost to a 7th consecutive championship bound UCLA team in Knight’s second year of coaching at Indiana, but had won it all on three consecutive occasions prior to the Minneapolis loss. I have fond memories of those years, and they certainly spoiled me on expectations for Indiana basketball. That was a time when we were a perennial power and Final Four appearances were a rule rather than a rarity. I’m not bitter!

After another frustrating I.U. basketball season, I have my doubts that the program will ever see another Final Four, at least in my lifetime. This I never imagined 20 years ago. At least it will say on my virtual tombstone “Been There. Done That.” Speaking of things I never expected to see, it was almost Purdue’s turn this year, as they have somehow managed to build a far superior team with strong future expectations. The Boilermakers and Spartans led the BIG conference again this year and both made it to the Elite Eight. Only the Spartans advanced to Minneapolis and the U.S. Bank Stadium excitement. Indiana finished the year with a bitter loss to Wichita State in the disrespected N.I.T.

I remember how embarrassing it was to drive down to Bloomington, Indiana and watch the Hoosiers lose to Lipscomb University 74-69 in 2008. I had never even heard of the Nashville based school before that time. It was all part of a season that started in Maui with two losses in the Invitational and a narrow consolation victory over lowly Chaminade. The only good thing about that trip is that my friends and I ended up spending less time in the gym as spectators and more time in the glorious sunshine. It ended up being the worst season in the history of Indiana Basketball, finishing with the fewest W’s (6) since 1915–16 and a 1–17 conference record. The only win was against Iowa at Assembly Hall. That was ten years ago and marked the transition from Kelvin Sampson to Tom Crean following disastrous NCAA sanctions. This is when the bitterness really started.

Kelvin Sampson took his Houston Cougars to the Sweet Sixteen this year, while Indiana struggled under second year coach Archie Miller. Even Lipscomb was making fun of Indiana’s #1 seed in the N.I.T. “Coming live from Assembly Hall, 45% of the time they lose every time” was their Twitter statement as both teams were scraping for a spot in the Big Dance. Lipscomb ended up with a #5 seed in the Little Dance, but advanced to the Championship game after easily beating I.U. eliminator Wichita State at the Garden. The Bison then lost to Champion Texas who showed their worth as a #1 seed -just one more thing that I.U. could not accomplish this year. At least, Tom Crean, who now coaches the Georgia Bulldogs failed to make either tournament. I think you can feel my bitterness.

It seems of late that the teams I want to win consistently finish second. My adopted Oregon Ducks men’s team barely failed to get to the Final Four, while their women’s team lost in a close Final Four match-up against top ranked Baylor. In the smaller of the round ball battles, the struggling Cubs won big in their season opener to give me a false sense of positive momentum but have fallen short in six straight thanks to poor relief pitching. The “W” flag has not been flying for a week. Even my White Sox have somehow performed better, but they are still only 3-4. My I.U. frustrations have extended into baseball season with the only consolation being a 3-5 Cardinals start – each St. Louis loss is a victory for me. This shows how desperate I am to share my bitter misery with my friends. It’s as pathetic as I.U. free throw shooting and Cubs pitching, and you can brand me with a bitter “L” on my forehead.

And, one last reason to be bitter, after watching this year’s Final Four. Kyle Guy of Indianapolis just hit a clutch three and made three last-second free throws to lead the Virginia Cavaliers to their first National Championship appearance. Kyle attended Lawrence Central High School and was the 2016 Indiana Mr. Basketball. He had deep Indiana roots with a great grandfather who was the commissioner of the Indiana High School Athletic Association and in the Indiana High School Hall of Fame for both basketball and football. I.U. somehow let him slip away in the recruiting wars, just like Michigan State’s Aaron Henry of Ben Davis High School in Indy. Granted, we got home grown one-and-done Romeo Langford, who brought much needed optimism to the program but in the end failed to meet expectations. Coach Archie Miller has made some inroads with in-state recruiting at I.U., but in the bitter end we’ve fallen short on keeping great players from crossing the border. Should we build a wall?

Retirement is not without Hassles: Thai Sunset #891

March 29, 2019 / mikeljohnston1 / 0 Comments

Another sweaty four miles this morning, trying to burn off yesterdays cheeseburger spring rolls. It’s now my favorite Thai dish, designed to dip in ketchup, mustard, or mayonnaise. Unique foods like this are why I travel the world. Any dish that I can find that does not require utensils is big in my cook book. However, I was surprised to find out that in Thailand they do not typically use chopsticks. Spring rolls are particularly hard to handle between two wooden sticks.

We met some fellow Hoosiers at the pool yesterday here in Phuket. We actually lounged next to them all day long without a word spoken. It wasn’t until my cousin showed up for Happy Hour in an I.U. T-shirt that the ice was broken.The comment, “You would look better in Black & Gold,” told us immediately he was a Purdue grad, feeling cocky about their success in the NCAA tournament. Fortunately, his wife was a fellow I.U. under-grad like my cousin and I, while he had a Masters from the Business School.

Since it’s Friday morning in this Time Zone, the Thursday night tournament session was actually early this morning and Purdue beat Tennessee in overtime to advance to the Elite 8 for the first time in 18 years. As we sit poolside next to him again today, I can feel his Boiler pride. He’s on a work Visa and they now live in Singapore but are originally from Columbus, Indiana. Meeting them is another “small world” travel phenomenon. We did find some additional commonality in the Cubs Opening Day victory over the Texas Rangers that took place in the middle of the night here.

Diet Coke does not exist in Thailand, but even if it did Marriott would’t serve it. I’m often forced to drink Pepsi Max at this resort. We did however also buy some Coca-Cola – No Sugar at the local grocery. None of these options are as good as a Diet Coke, so I am suffering a bit here in paradise. We also keep a supply of bananas and Oreos in our full kitchen, along with some dinner leftovers of fried rice and pasta. I’m sure I’ll be up a few pounds when I step on the home scale. I will say though that I haven’t sweated this much in a long time. Maybe that will help in the “Battle of the Bulge.”

I continue to marvel at the magnificence of this resort, with all the comforts of home. However, once you wander into some of the nearby rural areas you’re suddenly in “third world” poverty. The loop that I run around the lagoon has some homeless camps, restaurant shanties with tarp covered roofs, and there’s rubbish scattered everywhere, even around the make-shift shrines. The area hotels all have security guards and gates in front, separating those that have from those that don’t. I remain impressed by how hard-working and service-oriented the Thai people truly are, and the friendly hospitality that they exude.

I’m grossly over-tipping out of both ignorance and guilt. I’ve found that there’s a 10% service charge built in to most checks, but still continue to add 20%. This means I’m even supplementing that tax, hoping in my small way to breathe some life into the local Thai economy. There remains some guilt on miscalculating conversion rates on all those .65 cent tips early in the trip. Then I remember that wealth is not all about bahts or dollars here in Thailand, it’s about having a turquoise ocean in your backyard. We ended another perfect afternoon with a Thai massage and a priceless sunset over the Indian Ocean.

Old Sport Shorts: NIT #889

March 26, 2019 / mikeljohnston1 / 0 Comments

Not In Tournament. I keep telling myself this yet here I am in Phuket, Thailand up at 6 a.m. monitoring the Indiana Hoosiers against Wichita State on the internet. As soon as it gets light outside, I will run over to the nearby Renaissance Hotel and actually watch the second half with my cousin. THAIU. A fellow I.U. Alumni, he lives in Thailand part of the year to teach English to Chinese kids. This involves a VPN (Virtual Private Network) connection on his computer that apparently has a secondary benefit of tricking ESPN into identifying his location to be within the United States. My computer won’t allow me to watch the game here in Thailand, as I learned from trying to tune-in the previous two I.U. basketball games. Hopefully, the game will remain close at halftime when I arrive there on foot. I’m just waiting for the sun to come up so I don’t have to navigate the narrow road in the dark.

The game is starting out in typical I.U. fashion this season with poor shooting and sloppy turnovers. We’ve already fallen behind by 11 and only have 13 points with less than 8 minutes to go in the half. Romeo Langford is not playing again due to an “NBA related injury” so the spotlight is on Juwan Morgan, playing his final game at Assembly Hall. The winner goes on to Madison Square Garden for the Championship round of four. The goal at this point would be to simply stay in range and hope for a better second half, as has often been the case with this team. Inconsistency has been their trademark with long scoring droughts and silly ball handling errors. They are often hard to watch, so going out of my way to do so may be a bad idea. The last time these two teams played was in the actual 2015 NCAA Tournament, so both programs have fallen on hard times. Wichita State won that game 81-76 to advance to the Sweet 16. Hopefully, things turn sour this morning for the Shockers!

I.U. was down by seven points when I made the one-mile-plus run to my cousin’s hotel, extending my running streak to 3,741 consecutive days. They made a run to eventually tie the score but sputtered pathetically in the end to lose by ten 73-63. I knew that when The Shockers hit the 60 mark first that the game was over. They hit eleven 3-pointers and made 18 of 25 free throws. The Hoosiers were a miserable 7-13 from the free throw line and only 33.3% behind the arc. As a result, The Shockers are going to a “Garden Party” and the Hoosiers are going back to class. It used to be that the first sign of spring was that I.U. was still playing basketball and Purdue was not. Instead, the Boilermakers are in the Sweet 16 and will play Tennessee on Thursday (Friday morning at 6:20 a.m. here in Thailand). The good news is that I don’t have to watch I.U. any more this miserable season. As I ran back another mile from my cousin’s hotel to mine along the beach, I also savored the additional good news that I’m in beautiful Phuket, and it’s only a short walk to the pool to drown my basketball sorrows. Besides, baseball season starts tomorrow!

Old Sport Shorts: THAIU #886

March 25, 2019 / mikeljohnston1 / 0 Comments

I was able to monitor last night’s I.U. Basketball Second Round N.I.T. victory over Arkansas, revenging a regular season loss. I woke up about midnight, after our alcohol-free Michelin Star dinner at Nahm. Since Thai election laws prohibited the sale of alcohol, the gourmet meal was surprisingly affordable at less than 6,000 baht ($200). At one time, it’s world-renowned chef made it the #1 restaurant in Asia, but it failed to rate among our Top 25 dining experiences. I did, however, appreciate the reasonable cost, and the spiciness of the “Angry Beef” woke me up at halftime for the second half of the game. Fortunately, the Hoosiers did not add another loss to my already “angry” stomach. GO THAIU!

I was not able to actually watch the game on T.V. from our room in Bangkok, but I got the detailed, live “play by play” action on the ESPN app. It followed a familiar pattern of sad fundamentals that included a slow start, poor free throw efficiency, 3-point shooting woes, plus ridiculous long scoring droughts. Freshman Romeo Langford did not leave the I.U. bench, apparently still nursing a back injury. He sat out dreaming of a huge NBA contract as a certain lottery pick. The good news was that It gave next year’s guard tandem a chance to get in more minutes. Also a positive, Senior Juwan Morgan will play at least another game in a Hoosier uniform. They’ll face Wichita State later this week. It will allow my cousin and I a chance to watch it together from a Phuket beach bar stool, representing the Indiana Alumni Association in Thailand. Our Hoosiers somehow won the game thanks to equally bad shooting by Arkansas coupled with a strong rebounding edge on our end. The obnoxious “Pig Sooies” (See Post #578) stayed in contention with superior free-throw shooting, but missed the game-tying final shot. GO THAIU!

We’re waiting on our flight to Phuket, after one last run/walk on the crowded, narrow streets of downtown Bangkok this morning. I also had to dodge the temporary wooden-framed election billboards that were tied to each and every street sign. They should all come down tomorrow when the bars reopen. Our last Bangkok meal is at the airport McDonalds as we await boarding. The “Thai Fries” were great and the “Buddha Burgers” tasty, consistent with bowing Ronald’s Quarter Pounder Combo in his U.S. restaurants. While we’re eating, I’m looking out the window from inside the terminal at another religious shrine surrounded by a huge manicured garden guarded by what look like golden goose gargoyles. Otherwise, it would look like any other airport around the world.

We’re “Thai Tired” and will need a nap by the time we check into our next Marriott Vacation Club apartment at Mai Khoa Beach. The only scheduled plans over the next couple days involve a seafood dinner at THIW Soen restaurant and a boat trip to “James Bond Island,” as seen in the movie The Man with The Golden Gun. Both will be a chance to get re-acquainted with my cousin, Jim, who teaches English here in Thailand when he’s not involved in Chamber of Commerce fundraisers back in The States. We also look forward to meeting his friend Sinee, a native of Thailand. It will give us a chance to learn more about the local culture from her perspective, and extol upon her the Glory of our Old THAIU!

Old Sport Shorts: Blown IU-tunity #877

March 14, 2019 / mikeljohnston1 / 0 Comments

Since the inception of the Big Ten post-season conference tournament in 1998, Indiana Hoosier basketball is a dismal 12-22. Only Northwestern has a poorer record at 9-22. Ohio State, the football school, leads the overall conference standings at 26-14. They still have a chance to add to that distinction after beating Indiana again today and forcing them out of prime post-season. To make matters worse, the I.U. Hoosiers, once a prominent basketball program, has failed to win the tournament 22 consecutive times. Only in 2001 did they make it to the final game, losing against Iowa 63-61 under interim Coach Mike Davis, once Bob Knight was fired in September. Then they went on to lose in the First Round of the NCAA Tourney against Kent State and finished the season at 21-13. The very next year Davis guided them to an NCAA Championship game against Maryland. The ironic thing is that Maryland eventually became a BIG Ten school, so I guess you could say they lost two BIG tournaments in the same year, because Iowa also beat them in the Second Round of the official conference tournament. In 2013, I.U. won the BIG conference regular season championship, but Wisconsin got in the way in the tournament. It’s a disappointing track record after the glory years of 5 National Championships.

Even more controversial is the fact that Iowa was coached in both conference tournament losses by former I.U. star Steve Alford. Plus, the 2002 tournament was played in Indianapolis, Indiana that probably should have given the home-state Hoosiers an advantage. Coach Davis was eventually replaced in 2006 by Kelvin Sampson who managed his way to NCAA probation for recruitment violations. Coach Tom Crean tried to right the ship but last year Archie Miller got the nod. This string of coaching adjustments after the Bob Knight era accounts for all 22 failures in the conference post-season. 22 Blown Opportunities!

Coach Knight did not have a conference tournament to deal with, and I believe had fought the idea for several years. He did win the Big Ten eleven times and was Coach of the Year eight times. There was also that remarkable string of consecutive victories. I.U. lost to Michigan in a 1973 playoff game to break a regular season tie, but went on from there to go undefeated two consecutive regular seasons before losing to Purdue in 1977. Thirty-Six straight Big Ten Conference wins, long before it was re-branded BIG with more teams. This year we lost 7 straight conference games, followed by an additional 5 straight and then finished with a blown opportunity. Fittingly, we’ll probably end up playing another Big Ten squad in the unheralded NIT or “Not In Tournament” like Penn State that won it last year. Just another reason for my Purdue friends to make fun of me.

After all the disappointment this year, there was a temporary spark of life, as if the Basketball Gods had flipped a switch. An I.U. team that was in my opinion one of the “worst shooting” clubs I’ve ever seen on the court suddenly began to cut down on turnovers and consequently won four straight to close the regular season. They looked like an entirely different team. With double wins over Co-Champ Michigan State, an overtime victory against Wisconsin, and “Quad 1” upsets of Marquette and Louisville, they were gaining momentum for an NCAA Tournament bid. Just one more BIG win over Ohio State would have probably clinched it. Instead, they fell flat on their faces. “One and Done” Romeo Langford had just 9 and two critical turnovers. Team leader Juwan Morgan could produce only twelve points and seven rebounds, both well below his average. They somehow found themselves relying on Devonte Green’s career-high 26 even despite 4 painful turnovers, and graduate transfer Evan Fitzner’s 8, while De’Ron Davis and Al Durham contributed just nine each. It was not a clutch team performance when the Hoosiers really needed one. A Blown Opportunity!

After setting the table with the late-season rally for an NCAA meal, all they’ll get are NIT scraps. Langford probably won’t play so as to not damage his NBA prospects in meaningless competition. Morgan may do the same. This would really taint an already tarnished season that finished in an unfulfilled comeback flurry that could have been avoided by not falling so far behind. They resorted to alley-ball rather than teamwork, and became the 17-turnover machine that plagued them all of last year and most of this season. Plus, they were only 10-15 from the free throw line, while the more muscular Buckeyes were 15-18. I.U. lost 79-75. Five more free throws and they might have pulled out an undeserved victory! It was a BIG letdown on a BIG day – a whimper when they needed a roar. A “Blown Opportunity” that could have saved their I.U. legacy and perhaps launched themselves into greatness.

As a side note, it’s hard to believe that Romeo Langford’s NBA stock continues to stay strong. He’s proven over and over again that he’s not a clutch player. (See Post #850). He needs a couple more years of college (but most likely D-League) to develop his shooting skills. He fell asleep in some critical situations when his teammates needed him most in this “must-win” game. Sorry, Romeo, but despite my anger I still do wish the very best for you. It was not an appropriate way for the former “Mr. Basketball” to end his time at I.U. It was, in fact, a “Blown Hoosier-tunity.”

Retirement is not without Hassles: Game Face #876

March 14, 2019 / mikeljohnston1 / 0 Comments

“It’s not nap time; it’s game time.” As I’ve commented many times before, the beauty of living on the West Coast is enjoying early game times. None of that stay up until midnight loaded with adrenaline and then try to sleep silliness. Today’s game starts at 9:30 a.m., enough time to get my run completed, have breakfast, send my wife off to work, write a few words, and put on my game face. Once she pulls out of the driveway, she doesn’t have to deal with my embarrassing temper fits once the ball is tipped-off, and I will have probably cooled-off once she comes home. Only the dogs and cat will need to cover their ears during my explosions of rage. There may be time in the afternoon for that retirement nap, but this morning I’m wearing my Game Face.

It’s a game that I haven’t played for over 30 years and never well, yet I would never make those kinds of mistakes on the floor. It’s simply not tolerated! This comes from a guy who once dribbled the wrong way down the court. I am proof of the phrase, “the older you get – the better you were.” I’m typically mild-mannered but not in front of a television set. No one can see me as I stomp my feet, wave my arms in disgust, and spew foul words like an uneducated truck driver. No one wants to watch with me any more, as I become someone else. The game face is really a mask that hides my true identity. I become “The Haunted I.U. Fanatic.”

Evil spirits take over my body as I rant about the opposition. I begin to hate my friends who might support the other team, and secretly wish them Ill-will. I’m jealous when these traitors win and I lose, although it’s really the fault of those “useless” players that I supposedly support. They are the ones who can’t do anything right and keep me from enjoying the glow of victory. They “screw-up” all the time! In reality, however, it’s probably more embarrassing to watch me than to watch them. They’re on camera and I’m not!

I don’t paint my face like some fans I know. Sometimes I don’t even wear my team colors because I’d be stuck in them if they happen to lose, a painful reminder of their failure to execute under pressure. However, I do like to take credit if they win. Maybe it was the lucky socks that I wore, or the fact that I simply took the time to watch them play? However, I rarely savor any victories because there’s always another game or season to worry about. A loss hangs heavy on my shoulders, and I wonder if there was anything else I could have done to help them win? Perhaps, I was just too optimistic and underestimated the opponent?

There is a certain high that accompanies every I.U. victory, and a rock-bottom low associated with the unmentionable. Other emotions like anger, frustration, hate, pity, and jubilation come into play. I can’t say that I ever feel confident behind my game face. We can be riding a wave of exceptional play only to hit a brick wall. I can even feel little joy in winning if we played poorly or got a lucky break. It’s tough being a fan with only mental powers to control the outcome of a game. It’s a helpless feeling when you’re sitting in the living room and the team is playing thousands of miles away. Can they hear your thoughts and screams that far away? Or should I raise my voice louder and scare the neighbors, as well?

It’s Game Day and I’m in my Game Face. Certainly, if the players were as well prepared as I am, there would be little doubt about the outcome. There would be no turn-overs, stupid fouls, or missed free throws. If it were me, I would play the perfect game, but instead I’m on the couch. It’s too early in the morning to drink and I’m a nervous wreck. I’m “The Haunted I.U. Fanatic,” waiting to see if my entire day will be ruined by another heart-breaker. Or, will I put on another Game Face tomorrow, and go through the same round-ball insanity?

Retirement is not without Hassles: Calendar Stops #875

March 13, 2019 / mikeljohnston1 / 0 Comments

We’re now a week away from Thailand. I got a note from my cousin who teaches there about a dinner reservation he’d like to make for all of us in Phuket. Also, our new luggage arrived at the house, so we can start to pack. We both got up a couple hours early this morning so my wife could head to the State Capitol as part of her board role with the American Heart Association. She didn’t sleep well last night, worried about cash flow related to caring for her mother and the details of planning both of her daughter’s upcoming weddings. The time change two days ago certainly didn’t help either of us, as well. We’ll both be ready for some catch-up sleep tonight, and hopefully the upcoming vacation break will help relieve some of her challenges.

I caught up on Curse of Oak Island after my morning run in the darkness – Day 3,727 of “The Streak.” The treasure-hunting brothers still haven’t found anything “significant,” but continue to dump buckets of money into the project. They seem to discover just enough to keep them going, just like I keep running. I’ll be in suspense regarding any progress while we’re in Thailand. The only TV I’ll watch there are live broadcasts of the NCAA Basketball Tournament. A few weeks ago, I was confident that my Indiana Hoosiers would not be part of it this year, especially after losing 12 out of 13 BIG Ten Conference games. However, after winning four straight games, they now have an opportunity to knock-off Ohio State tomorrow in the conference tournament and perhaps next face Michigan State for the third time this year. They’ve surprisingly had the Spartan’s number this year, so somewhere in Thailand I might be trying to catch them on satellite TV or the Internet. Every game I.U. plays now is an unexpected bonus and could be their last.

My friend from Indianapolis is headed to town in a few days as part of his involvement with Mecum Auction. We’ll get together for lunch, as we do every year at this time. He was also an account of mine in the radio business before my retirement. We were both part of an effort many years ago to initiate the Indy Jazz Fest. One of the unexpected benefits was a trip to the New Orleans Jazz Fest that will celebrate its 50th anniversary this April. Unfortunately, the Indianapolis version only lasted two years, but has been revived as a not-for-profit educational outreach program. It was quite an experience to travel to New Orleans twenty years ago, but I could never tolerate the crowds again.

The 1000 Places To See Before You Die calendar took to many to several more personally unexplored areas this week. Vietnam, Uganda, Portugal, New Zealand, and Ireland were featured. The single place that I could claim was Burgundy, France, home of Dijon Mustard. Next week starts with Stowe Vermont, another of my personal conquests. I’ve also traveled to French Polynesia and London, while Thailand ironically pops up while we’re visiting there, plus Natchez, Mississippi has been a brief stopover on one of our trips to Louisiana. I’ll return to the pages of the calendar once we get back.

Old Sports Shorts: Snow Ball #871

March 11, 2019 / mikeljohnston1 / 0 Comments

Spring is the time for baseball games and basketball tournaments. However, the weather can often play a factor. For example, it was just too cold for baseball yesterday in Seattle, and the pitchers dominated both college games we watched at what is now T-Mobile Park. It will always be known to the locals as Safeco Field, home of the Mariners. They were changing over the huge stadium signs while we were there, getting ready for MLB Opening Day ceremonies just a few weeks away. Some of the hitters were apparently using bats made of an aluminum and wood hybrid. This may have reduced some of the sting from a metal bat on a cold day. There was one towering two-run homer hit by Oregon State star catcher, Adley Rutschman that accounted for the 2-1 victory over Minnesota. The Gophers made 5 errors, perhaps attributed to the frigid conditions, as well.

The temperatures dropped to just above the freezing point for the nightcap between Indiana and Washington. It was cold and dark inside with the roof closed and a few scattered snow flurries outside. It was as close to “Snow Ball” as you could get. The highlight of this game was an I.U. no-hitter through 7 2/3 innings by starting pitcher Pauly Milto. It illustrates the simple strategy of outscoring and outlasting your opponent in a “cliffhanger.” (See Post and Poem #870).

Our baseball getaway continued with an afternoon match-up between #2 Oregon State and un-ranked Indiana. As classmates at I.U. back in the early 70’s, this was “the game” that lured my four friends and I to Seattle. One of them had joined me in Omaha to watch “The Beavers” triumph in last year’s College World Series, so we all were looking for a Hoosier upset. The T-Mobile roof was open, letting some sunshine warm the outfield grass. It was still too cold to watch the entire game, but I.U led early on a 2-run homer and an outstanding defensive play. However, Oregon State eventually responded and easily prevailed 8-3 long after we had left the stands for the warmth of the hotel bar.

As I write this on the train back to Portland, we’re all at least leaving on a positive basketball note, as the Hoosiers had just cruised by Rutgers to win their fourth straight BIG Ten game. We all watched from different locations, sharing a few comments by text. None of us had planned on going to the third I.U. baseball game of the round-robin Seattle Baseball Showcase against the San Diego Toreros that just ended in a disappointing 5-3 loss. It was at least in the upper 40’s today but Hoosier bats were still in the deep freeze and finished their Seattle road-trip at a disappointing 1-2. Oregon State ended up 2-1-1, tying Coastal Carolina at 4 runs in the 9th inning of a game that was eventually stopped after 11. I couldn’t have imagined sitting there on those cold wooden seats for that meaningless marathon. Nonetheless, The Beavers fought back to retain their Top 5 National ranking. Coastal Carolina had lost to San Diego before topping Washington, the weekend host who joined our Hoosiers with an overall record of 1-2.

When we made our plans to go to Seattle, I.U. baseball was supposed to be a distraction from the miserable basketball season. However, the basketball team has turned themselves around and will play Ohio State in the first game of the BIG Ten Tournament. A win would make it five straight and perhaps earn them a spot in the NCAA Tournament, that seemed an impossibility only a few weeks ago. That tournament bid would be an absolute lock if they then could beat Michigan State for the third time and perhaps take their first BIG Ten Tournament Championship. I must be dreaming…hit me with a snow ball.