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.