Category: Indiana University Hoosier (I.U) Sports (Page 30 of 31)

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Old Sport Shorts: Post Season #707

October 17, 2018 / mikeljohnston1 / 0 Comments

I could have, or rather should be watching the Cubs play today. I’ve got the Post Season Blues! My wife and I were in LA last year at this time, to watch them be painfully eliminated by the Dodgers. This year was even worse, losing the Central Division to the Brewers in a Tie-Breaker game and then falling to the Rockies in a Wildcard showdown to quickly end the season. As a result, the Brewers have claimed their Championship trophy as well as their dugout seats at Chavez Ravine, and I’m watching at home. I’m certainly glad they have afternoon games for the benefit of us retirees.

I haven’t written about sports in two weeks now since nothing positive has happened in my world, and I’m still probably in mourning. Even the always reliable I.U soccer team gave up an unprecedented three goals in a loss to Kentucky. In fact, it’s been more than two years since Notre Dame beat them 4-0 in 2016. I.U. Football got off to a good start, but sputtered badly these past couple weeks. My Chicago Bears have lost their last two games. Basketball season hasn’t officially started yet, and I would need to stretch my interests to include the Portland Timbers to find any recent promise. The only news out of the Cubs was the firing of their hitting coach, John Mallee, and consequential hiring of Anthony Iapoce – if that’s anything to get excited about?

I continue to root for the Brewers, despite my sour grapes tendencies to be a bitter loser. It’s easier to stomach since the Astros, Red Sox, and Dodgers are not among my team favorites. The Milwaukee Brewers have never won a World Series, and the franchise has been deprived since 1957, so they continue to have my sympathetic support. Also, it’s nothing new but I’m not optimistic about the I.U. Hoosier football chances against Penn State this week, although they are still on-track for a minor Bowl bid.

Regarding the top-heavy NBA, the Portland Trailblazers will probably have another underwhelming season, while the Indiana Pacers are too far away to generate any sustained interest. Despite my current pessimistic view about sports in general, I actually have high expectations for Coach Archie Miller and his much-talked about recruiting class at Indiana University, my Cream & Crimson Alma Mater. It’s only 15 short days until their exhibition debut against Southern Indiana and anticipation is running high.

To cover one more aspect of my sports interests, we’re starting to receive some wine shipments from our recent visit to Napa Valley. The one I’m anticipating the most is from the Andretti Vineyards. I had no idea the Mario and his family were in the wine business, but it makes sense with the Sonoma Raceway in his back yard. I’m adding a couple of Andretti-produced Indy 500 100-year anniversary bottles to my sports collection that already includes some Cubs wine celebrating the 2016 World Series Champions. I did enjoy going to the Portland International Speedway a few months ago, and seeing the impressive Andretti garage and hospitality set-up. Unfortunately, nephew Marco Andretti was eliminated in the very first turn of the track, a familiar curse that has plagued the family on race day. Son Michael, a current team owner, is related to one of my wife’s co-workers. Mario was great at qualifying and still holds a record with 67 poles, but experienced a lot of misfortune on Sundays. The classic announcer line was always, “Mario is slowing down!” Although he is one of my racing heroes, I once wrote this silly but short poem, that I’m sure the family wouldn’t appreciate:

Mar-i-o

Mar-i-o,
Oh Mar-i-o.
Please tell me,
It Ain’t so.

Round and round,
You’d quickly go.
Then suddenly,
You’d start to slow.

Became a fan,
In Sixty-Nine.
When your Lotus,
Ran just fine.

Granatelli’s kiss?
Is this curse true?
They took Eighty-One,
Away from you.

Bad Valve?
Or out of gas?
You had to sit,
And watch them pass.

You’ve lost a wheel,
Burned your face.
Mechanical failures,
Cost many a race.

Exhaust pipe,
Or another crash.
Indy became,
A Mario bash.

Could you win,
Another crown?
No, Mar-i-o,
“Is slowing down.”

Mar-i-o,
Oh Mar-i-o.
Please tell me,
It Ain’t so.

Johnstonwrites.com
Copyright 2013

Old Sport Shorts: The Good, the Bad, the Ugly #673

September 25, 2018 / mikeljohnston1 / 0 Comments

It was impossible for all my teams to win yesterday, since the Cubs and White Sox were playing each other. The White Sox season was essentially over Saturday night when the Cubs claimed the Crosstown Cup in addition to gaining even greater odds for post-season play. It was good to get back to the ball park – regardless of the name. As I looked down over the parking lot from the top of Guaranteed Rate Field, I could see the outline of the original Comiskey Park home plate that my baseball hero Sherm Lollar crouched behind for many years. (See Post #5). I also got to see “The Monster” spew fireworks after a White Sox home run, although I had to leave the concession line to watch it. By the way, the lines for food were a big hassle compared to other parks I have visited – it’s too bad that Bill Veeck isn’t still around to fix that problem. He would have been outraged at the lack of efficiency. (See Post #257). It was a flood of memories, and a much needed “W” for the visiting Cubs. The Magic Number is now down to just 5. On the NFL front, my other Chicago favorite, The Mack-revitalized Bears, pulled off a come-from-behind victory over the Arizona Cardinals to somehow lead the NFC North, while the bottom-dwelling Lions upset the evil Patriots. Oh, and the Cleveland Browns finally won a football game. All “Good.”

The “Bad” of weekend sports included the Colts loss to the Eagles and the I.U. defeat by the Michigan State Spartans. In both cases, the “L”was predictable, but I was hoping for the upset. It was a “welcome to the BIG” message to the undefeated Hoosiers, and no-Luck in the Red Zone for the visiting Colts against the defending Super Bowl Champs.

On the “Ugly” side, I should include the 10-4 loss by the Cubs, as White Sox bats prevailed in the Crosstown series opener. I was glad the Sox got one victory, so it was a good ugly. Maybe next year? – as we say good-bye to legendary Chicago broadcaster Hawk Harrelson. Meanwhile, back home in Oregon, the Ducks displayed the crowning jewel of college football ugliness. They managed to blow a comfortable 24-7 half-time lead over favored Stanford. They had the game firmly in hand in the waning seconds, until those hands failed them. A costly fumble allowed the Cardinal to win against the ugly ducklings, a thing of swan-like beauty for the visiting fans in red. I admit to “seeing red” myself as the ball popped loose. OMG!

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly is a Clint Eastwood classic. It also best describes my sports-related emotions over the past four or five days. The week ahead is critical, as the MLB Playoff stretch-drive unfolds. I’m worried! The Cubs could raise their ugly heads by squandering a narrow Division lead to the Brewers and then losing the Wildcard spot to the Cardinals. Let’s hope not, but that could be the Ultimate Ugly!

Old Sport Shorts: The Thrill is Gone #519

May 6, 2018 / mikeljohnston1 / 0 Comments

A 6-hour airplane ride to Hawaii is a great way to get some writing done. There’s only so much you can do stuck in a seat for that long. Wi-fi is weak over the ocean, so I can’t even monitor the Cubs at Cardinals series today. Last night’s opener was a disappointment, as has been the start of the season in general. Today, Kolten Wong hit a game winning homer against Brandon Morrow in the 10th, causing me to further question his ability as the Cubs new closer. Other than a four-game sweep of the Brewers, the Cubbies have essentially played .500 baseball, unworthy of a team with that much talent. Last season’s World Series hangover somehow continues to linger, as the “W” flag fails to wave over Wrigley Field.

The Cubs starting rotation has shown little promise, other than stingily allowing the then Division leading Brew Crew only one earned run and eleven hits in four games. I thought it was a renaissance, but they only managed a five-game winning streak. The Rockies took the next two games and St. Louis handed out the third straight loss last night and the fourth today. Yu Darvish has been the weakest link, showing the same vulnerability that lost the Dodgers last year’s World Series. Only Kyle Schwarber has shown improvement in an offensive lineup that hasn’t changed much from last year. Thankfully, it’s a long season.

My other Chicago baseball favorite, the White Sox, have been even worse coming out of the blocks. My man Yoan Moncada #10 has shown some promise, but the organization continues to remain a cellar-dweller. There were not heavy expectations this year, as fans like me start to already look to next year. Attendance at Guaranteed Rate continues to deteriorate along with their place in the standings.

For me, there hasn’t been much to root for in the Wide World of Sports. The Trailblazers lost in four and the Pacers found LeBron to be too much. The Timbers no longer have an Indiana University connection, and I’m afraid that despite the city’s optimism and money, Major League Baseball will probably not find its way here. For a while, it was College Baseball that struck my fancy. Oregon State continues to perform at the top of the charts, but my alma mater I.U. has fallen to the middle of the low- ranked BIG conference, after recently peaking at #10 in the nation. Tiger’s return to golf has been relatively uneventful, and the NFL draft sparked little interest. You may have also noticed that I skipped right over College Football. I honestly seem to have lost interest and enthusiasm around my favorite ball-hobbies. In the words of B.B. King, “The Thrill is Gone.”

If there was one positive this past week, it’s been coach Archie Miller and Indiana University basketball recruiting. A new potential savior, Romeo Langford has put the Hoosiers back in the spotlight, if even just for a year. My expectations may be too high for a kid to make an impact in such a short period of time, but it’s renewed my faith in the program. A 6’10” graduate-transfer big man, and perhaps the return of leading-scorer Juwan Morgan, after he finished dipping his toe in the NBA pool, could signify a resurgence. The bad news is that I may have to wallow through six more months of sports mediocrity before I catch the Fever again. By the way, how are they doing?

Old Sport Shorts: Romeo #513

May 1, 2018 / mikeljohnston1 / 0 Comments

Romeo, Romeo “Wherefore art though going?” Langford has finally made his one-and-done commitment to Indiana University’s Archie Miller, sending a sigh of relief all over the Hoosier state. It is the most celebrated boost to I.U. basketball since Damon Bailey in 1991, announced via television coverage at New Albany High School. Romeo picked the IU hat in the middle of the podium over the other two choices of Vanderbilt and Kansas, and wore it with a big smile of happiness after years of speculation. Unlike the early 90’s, the impact of social media made this decision the most talked about recruiting achievement in recent history. The biggest difference is that Damon had four years to prove his worth to the team, while Romeo will only have one. There was little doubt that Bailey was always headed to IU, but Langford kept us all waiting with anticipation.

Langford is the 27th Mr. Basketball to attend Indiana University since 1939 when the state’s first recipient was awarded:

Romeo Langford 2018
Cody Zeller 2011
Jordan Hulls 2009
Eric Gordon 2007
A.J. Ratliff 2004
Jared Jeffries 2000
Tom Coverdale 1998
Luke Recker 1997
Damon Bailey 1990
Pat Graham 1989
Lyndon Jones & Jay Edwards 1987
Delray Brooks 1984
Steve Alford 1983
Steve Bouchie 1979
Ray Tolbert 1977
Kent Benson 1973
Dave Shepard 1970
George McGinnis 1969
Dick & Tom Van Arsdale 1961
Jimmy Rayl 1959
Hallie Bryant 1953
Bob Masters 1948
Bill Garrett 1947
Tom Schwartz 1945
Ed Schienbein 1940

If all goes as planned, he’ll join fellow-alumni Victor Olidipo as a rising star in the NBA. He’ll surely only stay a second year, if for some reason he’s unable to play. Strange things have happened through the years, so fans are used to tempering their expectations. I was surprised when I saw the IU Band in attendance at the public announcement event, leery that they might just be sent packing on a long bus ride back home. In fact, there might have been a riot at the announcement site yesterday, should he have chosen to go anywhere else. Instead, the band is still playing today!

The fact that IU got another Mr. Basketball does not necessarily mean another National Championship, since only Steve Alford, Ray Tolbert, and Steve Bouchie are in that select group of banner producers. However, it does mean that that IU is once again competing with the elite in recruiting state and national talent. The program has unfortunately never recovered from the Knight era, but this may be the start of the next great chapter. The Romeo impact should only be for a year, but the rumble it’s created will wake-up the sleepy Hoosier Nation for many seasons to come. A surge of electricity has hit the Bloomington campus and alumni like me all over the world feel a sense of rejuvenation. If this continues, I might even buy a new t-shirt this year! Thanks, Archie – it’s indeed Miller Time! (See Post #35).

Old Sport Shorts: The Weak in Sports #486

April 7, 2018 / mikeljohnston1 / 0 Comments

It’s been a disappointing week of sports, starting with another Villanova NCAA Basketball championship, not that I would have been any happier if Michigan had won it all. Furthermore, the only two Cubs games that I’ve watched the opposition joyously walked-off in victory. Tiger Woods has not played well at The Masters, so his hopes of becoming the greatest comeback sports story in history are dashed. The Portland Trailblazers are still fighting to win their division after a couple of tough outings. Oregon State baseball has dropped out of the top spot in college baseball, while I.U. had finally made it into the Top 10 before being upset by rival Purdue. My White Sox also lost their last two after a great two-win start to the season. It was a “weak week” for all of my favorites.

As far as “upsets,” last week was no different. While on our cruise ship near Greece, I had little access to the world of sports. It was just as well that I was far removed from “March Sadness,” with no teams left to follow. I was instead looking forward to seeing Olympia, the site of the very first Olympic Games and a must-see mecca for any sports fan. Due to high winds our ship was unable to port, so that site still remains on my bucket list. I was hoping to find an ancient gold medal that no one else had stumbled upon. It’s still there!

Despite these setbacks, I still managed to add to my sports collection with a couple of Sherm Lollar photos, White Sox Opening Day cards, and two Topps Now cards of Shohei Ohtani, the Angels rookie sensation from Japan who hit his first three home runs this week. I also wait with anticipation for Indiana high school basketball standout Romeo Langford to finally make his college decision, now that the McDonald’s All-American Game is history. He had 19 points, including three 3-pointers as his East team lost to the West. He’ll next play here in Portland next week as part of the Nike Hoop Summit that I will be attending. I think I’m headed for more disappointment in hoping that he will elect to play for Indiana next year. The only positive for Hoosier basketball in recent times has been the women’s NIT championship that they claimed last week in Bloomington. Go Lady Hoosiers!

The Cubbies much anticipated home opener will be Monday against the hot, division-leading Pittsburgh Pirates. The Cubs struggled against them early last year, but hopefully The Friendly Confines of Wrigley Field will bring out the best from the “Good Guys.” I did find out that my wife and I will be in Chicago for this year’s Crosstown Classic at Guaranteed Rate Filed, so I’ll hopefully get to see both of my favorites on the diamond this September. The only other baseball game I have planned so far this year is Oregon State when they play here against Portland University at Ron Tonkin Field in a few weeks. It will be my second Beaver baseball game this year after seeing them beat Cal Poly in Surprise, Arizona. They won their first 13 games this year, then added a 7-game victory streak, before uncharacteristically losing three out of the next four against Washington and Utah. They’ll face the state rival Ducks for a three-game series in Corvallis before traveling here to Portland to battle the Pilots.

Here’s to a strong next week!

Old Sport Shorts: What’s the score? #468

March 21, 2018 / mikeljohnston1 / 0 Comments

Despite the fact that I’m thousands of miles away and didn’t pay extra for the international service, I can still keep up on sports (and Broadway) on the ship’s free wi-fi. This was not the case years ago when I traveled abroad. The only option was an Internet Cafe. Back in “prehistoric” days, you had to wait until you were back in the States to even listen to your messages. Imagine the stress of 10 days away from the office without word of any office challenges in your absence. Once you got off the airplane, you dialed into your voicemail system that usually indicated, “you have 96 unplayed messages.” Then, slowly but surely, you got a painstaking recap of your time off.

Even when traveling in The States, I would often have to go to a pay phone to retrieve my messages, hoping that a friend had left me a message about the score of the big game. What’s The Score? It’s so easy these days, but also intrusive. There was a certain sense of relaxation knowing that you were “off the grid.” Nowadays they want you to check-in for a conference call from across the globe thinking nothing of the fact that it’s the middle of the night where you are located. What happened to the once sacred excuse of “I’m on vacation or it’s the weekend?”

I have been easily retrieving the scores of my key games this week. I know the results of the Indiana High School Basketball Tournament, where the teams of the reputed top two players in the state have been eliminated. Romeo Langford of New Albany will be making his college choice soon, with a slim hope he will attend Indiana along with South Bend Riley’s Damezi Anderson. We hope to see “Wherefore art thou…going?” Romeo at the Nike Hoop Summit in Portland a few weeks from now. Hopefully, he will stay “home” in Indiana rather than pick Vanderbilt or Kansas. With I.U.’s lack of recent success, I can’t say I would blame him for picking a perennial winner over perhaps becoming another Indiana basketball legend (even though it will be one and done!). Damezi, on the other hand, has not gotten the national attention as Langford, the #1 point guard prospect in the country.

I was even able to find out that the I.U. college baseball team is on another winning streak, as is #1 Oregon State. These types of “minor sport” scores were impossible to get years ago when you were traveling. Unfortunately, the “red-hot” Portland Trailblazers finally had their 13-game winning streak snapped by the Houston Rockets. The game was at 3:30 a.m. Mediterranean time, but I had instant access to live scoring. I never once had to wonder “What’s the score?” In the end, I wish I hadn’t known, and that the streak could have been preserved a bit longer through “old-fashioned” ignorance.

The Cubs were having a great Spring Training season until I left the country. They’ve lost six of their last ten games, while the White Sox were 6-3 with a tie. I’ve kept up on both teams progress while I’ve been on the road, and will return to watch the regular season openers of “America’s Favorite Pastime” from my U.S.A. home, along with the Final Four & Championship.

Finally, I was completely up to date on all the “basketball bracket busters” that befuddled all of us in this year’s March to the Sweet 16. Michigan and an injury-damaged Purdue squad are the only teams left from the BIG, while overall #1 seed Virginia made history by losing to #16 UMBC. It was instant internet news all over the world. I got the word in Amsterdam and berated myself as an “American Idiot” for picking them to go all the way. Also, Xavier did not “mark the spot,” losing to Florida State. Loyola of Chicago became “God’s favorite” after Notre Dame failed to make the field. Six of the Sweet 16 are a #7 seed at best, with three #5’s, one #4, two #3, two #2, and two #1 picks left in the chase. I will be in Greece when the Final Four is determined, and could certainly stream the games on my phone if I really wanted to know “What’s The Score?”

Old Sport Shorts: February Sadness #421

February 4, 2018 / mikeljohnston1 / 0 Comments

In another short month,

it will be March Madness.

While I suffer through,

More February Sadness.

March is usually a month I look forward to, as college basketball teams vie for those 68 precious slots on the NCAA Tournament bracket. It used to be only 64, but the “Big Dance” is always expanding to accommodate less disappointment. For those teams that don’t make the field there is also that NIT (Not in Tournament) option. Unless, you’re an Indiana University fan, in which case your only option may be to sit home and watch.

I’ve tried very hard to remain loyal to the program, after all those years of success, but I’m now beyond just disappointed. I cannot believe that a college team can shoot a dismal 18% in the first half of a BIG Ten game. Granted, it was a great defensive team, Michigan State, who may very well go on to win it all. However, grade school kids shoot better, even I could shoot better than 18%. These are scholarship players, receiving a free education, who practice every day, and have been doing this all their lives. How is this possible?

The team can play outstanding defense, and it was this reason only that they stayed in the game through the first half. I will give Coach Archie Miller credit for bringing that basic fundamental back to I.U. Basketball. It’s been missing for years, and the one thing in basketball that you can control on the floor. We all know that teams can have a bad shooting night, but you can still be competitive if you don’t allow your opponent to score either. Ultimately, they only lost this game by 3 points to a Top Five team, while finishing at 28.8% from the floor and 21.1% from three point range (4-19). Michigan State was 48.9% from the field and 50% from beyond the arc. Somehow, the Hoosiers managed to hit 72% from the free throw line, despite being one of the worst teams in the country at this basketball fundamental. Unfortunately, they couldn’t hit their free throws when the game was on the line, as has been all too common this season.

To make matters worse, Indiana’s biggest rival, Purdue, is now 12-0 and ranked third in the nation. This is like salt in the wound to any devout Hoosier fan. Also, Michigan State‘s success this year is the result of recruiting in Indiana’s own back yard. Jaren Jackson Jr. is from Carmel, Indiana and went to school at La Lumiere in LaPorte, Indiana. I’m convinced that most any kid from Indiana, where hoops is king, can shoot better than 18%. Zach McRoberts is the only native Hoosier in the I.U. starting line-up, and up until this year he’s been sitting on the bench. He is also a walk-on, known primarily for his hustling defense and rebounding ability. I.U. Basketball has definitely lost its way!

The Hoosier record stands at 12-12 and 5-7 in the BIG after 4 consecutive losses, giving up the only victory for Illinois in the conference to date. Two of those losses were to #3 Purdue and #5 Michigan State, where the same disturbing patterns emerged in both close games. The shooting was abysmal, the turnovers untimely, and poor defense against the three-point shot costly. The threes and free throws wouldn’t fall, sloppy shots went in for the opponent, and their three pointers with the shot clock about to expire were all too frequent. The I.U. offense missed open layups, clutch free throws, and threw the ball away with consistency.

In 2008-09, after the dismissal of Coach Kelvin Sampson and the resulting NCAA probation, I.U. experienced some bad years under the direction of Tom Crean. They went 6-25, 10-21, and 12-20 respectively. With one more win, Archie Miller will have won more games than each of those “Crean & Crimson” teams, so we haven’t taken as big of a step back with this coaching change. Crean favored a run-and-gun approach that put little emphasis on defense. I like the fundamentals he’s brought to Bloomington, but Miller needs some shooters to give his team balance. Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou? (See Post #369).

There’s little hope for the remainder of this year, as I expect nothing but February Sadness from the Hoosiers. Only Purdue gives the state of Indiana some potential madness. They have the longest winning streak in Division 1 basketball, but I do not expect them to go undefeated in the BIG Conference. I’m just glad that I have some association with the university, so that I have someone to cheer for in March and early April. In the meantime, I’m throwing in the white flag, with expectations of more bad basketball these next two months. Please, don’t let it extend into next year – put some Madness back in my life.!

Old Sport Shorts: “O” for Wisconsin #383

January 3, 2018 / mikeljohnston1 / 0 Comments

I’ve moved to Oregon, so when I see an “O,” I now naturally think of the Ducks. Joey Harrington, former star quarterback, claims to have originated the two-handed signal, where the thumbs and forefingers come together to make the 15th letter of the alphabet. If you use only one thumb and forefinger, it’s just OK! Also, if I had lived in O-H-I-O, the “O” might have had some significance, but I was born and grew up in the state of Indiana, where my sole association was maybe the O-R-E-O cookie. At any rate, it’s hard to tell an “O” from a “0,” which means “nothing,” and I’ve had a lot more experiences with zeroes. There are good 0’s and bad 0’s!

With Indiana University Basketball, I’ve lived through two undefeated regular seasons, and the last undefeated National Championship team in 1976. “32-0” stands as the greatest college basketball season ever, memorialized with a framed Kent Benson #54 uniform in my office. Granted, the accomplishment has spoiled me as a basketball fan, and no I.U. team has come close to matching that in over 40 years. That is definitely a good “0.”

When you score zero, you usually lose. Fortunately, overtimes have been established to give competitors extra time to score. There is zero chance of winning when you score “0′” but in soccer you can at least earn a tie. In tennis, it’s all about love, but you have to have more than love to win. Baseball pitchers are awarded “shut outs” when they give up no runs. and further honored if they give up no hits. Zero errors can earn you a Golden Glove if you’re a baseball player. Defense in any sport is ultimately defined by holding an opponent scoreless.

Beyond the undefeated Indiana season, there have also been a couple of disappointing streaks that I’ve had to stomach. For example, I remember making the long drive to East Lansing over a period of a decade and never coming home with a victory. I refer to that period of both basketball and football games as “0 for East Lansing.” One of most memorable football games that I attended was on October 10, 1998. It was the annual battle for the Old Brass Spittoon and Hoosier Quarterback Antwaan Randel El had the Hoosiers ahead most of the game, as I recall. They eventually lost in overtime 38-31 and the East Lansing curse continued. This was following a memorable 94-79 basketball loss on March 10, 1994. Television cameras caught Coach Bob Knight bumping foreheads with Sherron Wilkerson after the Hoosier freshman was benched for complaining to the referee about a non-call. After that game, I flew to the East coast for a convention and by the time I got there the accidental bump had turned into an intentional head butt. At that stage of my life, I spent a lot of time defending the antics of Knight, and this was a clear instance where ESPN had done him no favors. My colleagues were convinced that he had head-butted his player over and over again, since the one-time collision was comically repeated like a woodpecker attacking the tree bark, making it appear that he was abusing and bullying the kid. In the long run, it was certainly not worth fighting for the controversial coach even though he was a consistent winner.

The most embarrassing “0-For” continued following last night’s basketball loss to Wisconsin. It’s been since 1998 that an Indiana basketball team has won in Madison, Wisconsin. Sixteen straight losses to the Badgers in that time span! It’s hard to have been so spoiled at one time, and now face the agony of constant defeat. The last time an Indiana team won at Wisconsin was when Bob Knight was coaching. In those 20 years since, four different coaches have failed to win on that court, including Archie Miller, who just took over the reigns this year. It probably would have been more losses, but as the BIG conference grew beyond 10 teams, schedules could no longer accommodate the traditional home and away match-ups that once took place each year. To make matters worse, the Badgers have won 19 out of the last 21 games in basketball, including the last 5, plus Indiana has lost 15 of the last 20 football games against them. It continues to be “O” for Wisconsin, and certainly justification to rip my diploma off the wall!

Old Sport Shorts: Rather be Lucky Than Good #369

December 17, 2017 / mikeljohnston1 / 0 Comments

It’s been a frustrating year for Indiana University Basketball, trying to appease spoiled fans like myself. When victories were once the norm, they are now hard to come by. An Assembly Hall opening loss to Indiana State set the stage for mediocrity, yet competitive losses against #15 Seton Hall and #1 Duke showed a glimmer of hope. The BIG season, with an early start this year, began with a predictable loss in Ann Arbor and a much-needed roller coaster home victory over Iowa. Disappointment then reared its ugly head again against then ranked Louisville, with18th ranked Notre Dame up next. It was time for Coach Archie Miller’s first Crossroads Classic in Indianapolis, where I.U. faces N.D. or Butler on an every other year basis, and Purdue plays either Butler or N.D. in the other in-state rivalry game of the annual holiday double header. Was it “Miller Time” yet? (See Post #35)

Two years ago, I.U. Coach Tom Crean was badly wavering in terms of fan favoritism, There were great expectations for that Hoosier team entering the Maui Classic, but the wheels quickly fell off with losses to Wake Forest, U.N.L.V., and Duke. It was a comeback victory against Notre Dame in the Crossroads Classic that got the team back on track, and enabled them to win the BIG regular season title and beat Kentucky in the NCAA tournament. It also saved Tom Crean’s job for another year. I was at that game in 2015 and watched Troy Williams rally the Hoosiers from 15 down to beat the Irish 80-73. Yesterday’s Crossroads Classic game against the Fighting Irish had a similar outcome, but this year’s Hoosier team does not have BIG title talent, and Coach Miller will hopefully be given a few years to restore a perennial winner.

The timing of this year’s event did not work out with our holiday travel plans back to Indiana. In fact, the I.U. schedule does not even allow me to see a game in Bloomington, as is traditional with my longtime college buddy. He was at the game yesterday and also attended last night’s high school battle between New Albany and Carmel. Romeo Langford plays for New Albany and is a top national recruit that could greatly enhance the “Miller Time” era. Indiana, Vanderbilt, and Kansas are in the final running for the services of the five-star, 6″5″ shooting guard, although he’ll probably be a one-and-done player. The biggest criticism of former Coach Tom Crean was his inability to recruit from within the state of Indiana. Coach Miller already has two home-state bread stars on next year’s squad, Damezi Anderson, a 6’6″ small forward from South Bend Riley and Rob Phinisee from Lafayette McCutcheon. Wherefore art thou Romeo?

I’ll be attending the Les Schwab high school basketball Invitational later this month, and although there will probably be no potential Hoosiers playing, it is a premier showcase of high school talent. I hope to see Oregon’s top recurit, Bol Bol, 7’3″ son of the late Manute Bol, and Arizona’s commit Brandon Williams, as well as other potential college stars like Spencer Freedman and Keldon Johnson. The slam dunk contest is always a crowd favorite. Quite frankly, I had lost some interest in my favorite sport, following Indiana’s dwindling presence in the national college picture, but the Notre Dame victory yesterday makes me a little more excited to watch some good high school basketball. Admittedly, I was very jealous of being in the company of Duke, Michigan State, Florida, and Gonzaga fans at the recent PK80 event. They were into the games like I used to be, especially after three National Championships from Coach Bob Knight. I fear that I may never get to be that obnoxious again!

I probably will not get to another college basketball game this season, and I.U. games and even March Madness have temporarily lost their “appointment television” status. I reluctantly watched the Crossroads Classic on T.V. yesterday, fearing about another second half collapse. Instead, they did that in the first half with poor shooting and multiple turnovers but rallied to make it close at halftime. Early in the second half I was ready to turn it off, but then Juwan Morgan caught fire. He ended with a career high 34 points, including the final eight points in regulation and eight more in overtime. The biggest play however was from Zach McRoberts, who somehow grabbed Morgan’s missed free throw and while stumbling to the floor made a remarkable pass back to Morgan for the winning dunk. Bonzie Colson, Notre Dame’s star, missed a three quarter court shot as time expired, as the “luck of the Irish” turned into “Hoosier Hysteria.” It was a signature win for Archie Miller, but beware that a Ft. Wayne club that put one of the final nails in the coffin of Tom Crean, with a major upset last year is next on the schedule. Hopefully, there won’t be a let down from a team that has already let me down many times this year already!

Indiana did not play very good basketball against Notre Dame. They had 16 turnovers, including six from senior guard Robert Johnson. They shot less than 50% from the field and went 18-25 from the free throw line. Three-point shooting was at 38%, while Notre Dame was even worse. The Fighting Irish could have won in regulation, if Austin Torres hadn’t missed two free throws with less than a second on the clock. Even the most experienced, five-year Hoosier players did not show good leadership when critical, questionable fouls against Collin Hartman seemed to favor the Irish, and Josh Newkirk fouled out with no points and two turnovers. Indiana never led once until overtime, squandered several opportunities to put the game away, and ultimately had to come from behind again to get the victory. It was an ugly win, but a win nonetheless. As is often said, “it’s sometimes better to be lucky than good!”

Old Sport Shorts: Basketball Jones #353

December 2, 2017 / mikeljohnston1 / 0 Comments

It’s been several weeks since I’ve written about sports, primarily because my teams have not been competitive. The only exception has been the Indiana University soccer team that won on penalty kicks last night over Michigan State to advance to the College Cup (Final Four). I have been following them all year, as they remain undefeated in match play. The only blemish on their record was a penalty kick loss to Wisconsin in the final of the BIG tournament. Thankfully, that nightmare didn’t repeat itself, as they faced the other undefeated conference foe in a similar situation with a different result. I.U. has only given up 6 goals all season long, never more than one per match, and in fact had never been behind until the first minutes of last night’s battle. They managed to tie it up in the second half, and hold off the Spartans to get the victory. It would have been a tragedy to have never lost, and yet finish second in the conference, second in the conference tournament, and not have a chance to play for the national crown. They now have that chance in Philadelphia next weekend, in a quest for their ninth national championship in program history, tying St. Louis for the most in NCAA history.

College soccer has filled that gap between another miserable Indiana football season and the start of college basketball, my preferred sport. “Jonesing” is a word used to describe having a fixation or addiction over something. It’s origin apparently comes from Jones Alley in Manhattan, associated with drug addicts. In my case, the round ball addiction really started when I was in college and Coach Knight was hired. “Basketball Jones featuring Tyrone Shoelaces,” was a song by Cheech and Chong back in those days of 1973, as I was getting ready to graduate and an incredible string of victories was about to start. That’s when I got hooked on the game, and began to “jones” for the tip-off of each new season.

Basketball Jones – I got a basketball Jones – I got a basketball Jones oh baby oh

As an I.U. Basketball fan, I have seen three national championships and numerous conference championships, so I’m very spoiled. In recent years, however, I’ve seen nothing but frustration, including losses to Ft. Wayne and Indiana State, teams that were not even factors during the glory years. Today, it’s a fourth straight loss to the Michigan Wolverines. NCAA violations, new coaches, players leaving for the NBA, and lack of in-state recruiting has compounded this frustration. I’m simply not getting the satisfaction from the basketball drug that I’m reluctantly injecting in my system. As a result, I’m losing interest in the sport, and relying on baseball and soccer to stimulate some adrenaline. The Chicago Cubs, Portland Timbers, and I.U. soccer have provided temporary contentment, but nothing will ever replace IU basketball in my heart.

The IU Football team just lost the Old Oaken Bucket to in-state rival Purdue, and along with it any chance to go to a bowl game this year. More frustration! The PK80 Basketball Tournament that I just attended, only served to remind me how much I miss a competitive basketball team. To be associated with solid programs like Kentucky, Michigan State, Duke, and North Carolina makes me envious, especially knowing that as a Hoosier I was once part of something special in the basketball world. It’s now down to soccer and next week’s match against either Fordham or North Carolina. If we can’t beat them in basketball or football, maybe we can do it in soccer, and that will have to do for now. There will be another season to jones over, and until then other fans will get to enjoy the joy of victory that I once knew in the Bob Knight years.