Over the weekend I spent more than my share of time holding the remote control and flipping though a candy store selection of great college basketball tournaments. I watched all of the locally available Atlantic Sun Tournament games. I cheered for both ETSU and Lipscomb during an incredibly physical contest. Knowing that one or the other would face Belmont in the finals, I was hoping for a triple overtime win with both teams leaving the court drenched in sweat, holding their hands on their hips, and dragging their exhausted tongues to assorted, breathless, post-game interviews. Yes. I selfishly wanted these two teams, who are heavily laden with great starting line-up talent to wear. themselves. OUT!
The ESPN2 commentators at the Atlantic Sun championship spoke of the overwhelming favorite ETSU, the home court advantage, the thousands of fans present, the plans for new facilities, blah, blah, blah... and for some reason, yet unknown to me, repeatedly referred to "Ricky" Byrd, Belmont's coach. (begin rant) I have heard Belmont's mentor referred to as "Rick" and "Coach Byrd" for over twenty years... did anyone else find the references to "Ricky" to be annoying? offensive? obnoxious? un-informed? disrespectful? unprofessional? (end rant).
All pre-game hoopla aside, the game was actually decided on the court of play. Convincingly. Decisively. Even Amazingly. All season (particularly the last part of the season) this Belmont team has been like a volcano, threatening a full-blown eruption of a complete game. Unfortunately for ETSU, the eruption happened in the conference championship game in front of a full house plus a few 'this-isn't-in-the-script' announcers.
Congratulations, Belmont men, for getting the job done and for making it back to the big dance. To Andy, Josh, Will, Andrew, Keaton, and Matthew...all members of the Venezuela Mission team, I am especially proud of what you accomplished and thank God that your witness continues.