When Arnold said "I'll be back" in Terminator, it took him seven years to return in a sequel. When I said it, it took me four months. Except for the obvious body size differences and my lack of a discernible accent, we're the same guy, really. I mean, he starred in Demolition Man and leaned to eat at Taco Bell every day because it was the only restaurant still around, and I eat at Taco Bell once in a while, so that gives us tons in common!
OK, not so much. It would be nice if you'd humor me once in a while and let me tell my ridiculous untrue stories without laughing. At least, save your laughter and ridicule at my expense until the end.
***
That's right, with my book done its now time for more uninformed outsider jackassery. I offer you my apologies in advance...both for introducing silly words like jackassery into the English lexicon, and for all the stories I'm about to tell throughout the course of the season.
Here's a quick rundown of the summer's developments, with quick-hit thoughts. As you read this, imagine me with bad hair and a cheap suit sitting at a shiny-yet-flimsy desk on a television set with bright lights that are teh dope on HDTV. Trust me, context is everything.
The annual scheduling debate. For the love of God, this debate never fails to amuse the ever living crap out of me. There's two camps, both of which are convinced they're absolutely right, and despite the best efforts of both sides, no one from either side is ever convinced to change their opinion.
On one side, you've got the camp that claims the Jays should play anyone, anywhere, anytime. These folks cite examples such as Gonzaga as teams the Jays should emulate. Tired of watching the annual parade of SWAC schools come to Omaha for games in which the only drama is whether season ticket holders will get free pizza, the people in this camp want the Jays to take "buy" games on the road, or to get into exempt tournaments with football conference schools.
On the other side, there are people who agree that the schedule should be tougher, but who argue that its not as easy as the other camp makes it out to be. They contend that its not enough to call a Kansas or a North Carolina -- or even a Wisconsin or a Missouri -- and take a one-and-done game on the road. Those schools won't play Creighton anywhere, because their coaches and administrators know full well the possibility of losing the game, but their fan base doesn't. A loss to Creighton would be seen as a disastrous, monumental catastrophe not only to their fan base, but to many national writers. So why play them when you can play lower-level teams that bring with them a guaranteed win?
I happen to fall in with the latter camp, and can't help but wonder if there isn't a financial component to this as well. But the argument always amuses me, both in its ferocity and its amazing predictability.
The actual schedule. Released earlier than in years past, the schedule is definitely an upgrade over last years, although still disappointing. Hey, just because I purport to understand WHY the Jays schedule is what it is doesn't mean I can't be disappointed by it. Personally, I think a deep run in the tourney will solve the scheduling issue. Once the perception of the program in the eyes of other schools' fans catches up with that of opposing coaches, it won't be such a "risk" to play the Jays and potentially lose.
Until they make that Sweet 16 or Elite 8 (or, sheesh, dare I say it? Final Four?) run, there's not a helluva lot we can do about it. My advice is to drink a bottle or two of your favorite adult beverage, preferably Pabst Blue Ribbon in a tallboy 16 ounce can, and shift your mind to other things.
Highlighting the non-conference portion are games against Steve "1987 called and it wants its hairdo back" Alford's New Mexico team, a good Oral Roberts club, St. Joseph's, Dayton, and Big East doormat DePaul.
For me personally, the New Mexico game has been circled in my iCal for months. I have vivid memories of lustily booing Alford's old SMS teams at the Civic, and I imagine this will be half as much fun, which will still make it twice as much fun as the SWAC portion of the non-conference schedule.
The St. Joes game will be played at The Palestra, the cathedral of college basketball. I really hope this game gets televised in Philly and Cox can pick it up, as they did for the Drexel game in Philly last year.
Am I forgetting something? Seems like I am. Who else is on the schedule...gosh, I just can't think of who it might be. Hmm, must not be anyone important. Its probably only the 30th biggest game of the year, so its no wonder I can't remember it. Ah, wait, now I remember! The seemingly annual game with...
Fresno "Is not a" State!
Bet you thought I was going to say something else! Of course, I kid. St. Louis is on the schedule too. (What's that, you say? I'm forgetting about the superior program in the state, the one that plays football which makes them better in basketball than Creighton? Hmm, I don't know who that would be. Must be escaping me at the moment, but I'm sure it will come back to me. Sorry.)
***
Wow, that was supposed to be a series of quick-hit bullet points, and then I got off on a 2000 word rant about scheduling. Oops.
My Valley Preview series will begin this Friday with my 10th Place prediction, and will follow through daily until I get through 'em all. Look forward to that. Or not. Its your choice, really, but please remember that this site costs you nothing to read so don't ask for a refund when you're disappointed in my jackassery.
You bet.
