Pointing to the assortment of Creighton memorabilia on the wall of my cubicle, the new guy from one of our east coast offices said, "How are these guys doing?"
"Heading to the NCAA Tournament again this year. Really starting to play like they're capable of, and blew out three teams in the conference tournament last weekend."
Equal parts annoyed and impressed, New Guy responded "What conference are they in again?"
With a pride I would not have been as willing to share five years ago, I responded "The Missouri Valley Conference."
Beginning to show his true colors, he shot back "So what seed will they get, a 13 or 14?"
Now I was the one annoyed, and not at all impressed. "Well, most people figure they'll get between a 7 and a 10. Their RPI is in the high twenties and they're in the Top 30 in both national polls this week, so no lower than a 10."
"Really? I don't hear much about them on the east coast, so they must not play many real good teams. Who have they beaten?"
Grr.
New Guy continued. "My team's looking at a 3, at the worst. I'm a Maryland guy, of course. The ACC is just brutal, every night is a loss waiting to happen, every team is capable of beating you. I'm going to the ACC Tournament this weekend when I get back home, actually. The ACC is the toughest league, I mean, and probably the best. How'd you end up being a Creighton fan?"
Grrr.
Diplomacy, Tom, diplomacy. "Well, buddy, I graduated from Creighton in '01, and I've had season tickets ever since. I've been a huge Jays fan for a long time. I actually helped produce the team videos they show at the arena this year."
"You...did the videos? Don't they usually pay an agency a huge sum to do that?"
"Yeah, your big state schools, like a Maryland for example, do that," I answered. "But Creighton's athletic budget isn't as big. I'd like to think they get videos that are just as good if not better, because real fans with passion for the school are volunteering their time to produce them."
"Seriously though, a 7 seed? Who have you guys played? Who'd you beat? Look at Florida State, they're a real good team from the ACC and they're probably going to be a 8 or a 9 -- from the ACC. How can Creighton from the...is it Missouri Valley? Yeah, Missouri Valley...get a 7 seed? You really are a huge fan I guess if you believe that."
GRRRR.
Diplomacy! "Well, the Missouri Valley is a Top-6 RPI league, and Creighton finished second and won the tournament. Southern Illinois won the league and has been rated in the top 15 for a few weeks now. They're probably looking at a 3 or a 4 seed."
"A 3 or a 4? Come on now, Southern Illinois is as good as Maryland? I can't even name one player for Southern Illinois, and they're supposedly as good as an ACC team? Hey, lets go to the breakroom, I want to buy you a Coke Zero to see if you'll actually believe that its a regular Coca-Cola. That's about the same level of delusion as saying Southern Illinois is as good as an ACC team, or that Creighton is a 7 seed! That's funny. (pointing at me, raising voice) Funny guy, this one! I like you, you're hilarious!"
ARRGHHH! I was about to do and/or say something not-so-diplomatic, so I ended what had started out as a cordial conversation with a nice, "Maybe so, but I doubt it. Hey, it was nice to meet you, buddy. You bet."
Then I headed to the break room, bought a Coke Zero, and proclaimed for all the office to hear that I was, in fact, drinking a Coke Zero -- real Coke taste, Zero calories! Dah, dah, dah, dah!
You bet.
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