One Shining Moment, Missouri Style..

..or as viewed through the lens of a Kansas fan.

I couldn't help but get a kick of this latest example of America's most underrated rivalry: Kansas vs. Missouri. The rivalry doesn't get a lot of pub outside of the heartland, but these schools really, really don't like each other. As documented earlier, these states fought a war against each other.

An enterprising KU fan put together this video montage to the tune of CBS's signature, "One Shining Moment". It documents a quarter century of Mizzou miscues and lowlights.

Among the infamous events:
* The Nebraska 1998 comeback in football, climaxed by the touchdown reception on the tipped pass. This helped preserve a national championship for the Huskers.
* The Colorado fifth-down touchdown in 1990, allowing the Buffs to beat Missouri and to go on to win a share of a national championship.
* Tyus Edney's coast-to-coast drive for the buzzer-beating bucket, giving UCLA a comeback win over the Tigers in the second round of the 1995 NCAA tournament. UCLA went on to win the national championship.
* Ex-basketball coach Quin Snyder exiting the court to a shower of popcorn.
* QB Chase Daniel picking and eating boogers on the sideline.
* The time in 1983 when Missouri All-American center Steve Stipanovich accidentally shot himself in the arm.
* Missouri removing the name of Wal-Mart heiress Paige Laurie from their new arena, after it was discovered she paid someone to attend classes and take tests for her at USC. The arena was named after her when her father gave a significant sum to Mizzou for naming rights. What was once called the Paige Sports Arena is now simply Mizzou Arena.

I can't wait to see a Mizzou response...

Finally, Playoffs

After a short hiatus, this blog is back!

After a long wait, the NBA playoffs begin this weekend. I have a hard time following the long NBA season. The 82-game regular season is a drag. However, the playoffs are a different story. The NBA playoffs are great entertainment. There is nothing like staying up for a late-night West Coast NBA playoff game with something on the line, especially if your team is playing said West Coast team. This promises to be the best set of NBA playoff series in a long time, possibly ever.

The Eastern Conference consists of two teams: Boston and Detroit. Shades of 1988. The Celtics have used the acquisition of Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen to shoot to the top of the league and a 66-win season. The Detroit Pistons are right behind them, and look to be on a collision course with the Celtics. The other six teams (Orlando, Cleveland, Washington, Toronto, Philadelphia, and Atlanta) are there for filler, because the NBA requires eight teams in the Eastern Conference playoffs.

The Western Conference, on the other hand, is an eight-team battle royal. The West is so strong that Golden State won 48 games and missed the playoffs. If the Warriors were in the East playing an Eastern Conference schedule, they would probably be the 3rd best team on that side of the league. Instead, they sit home.

We have four great matchups in the West: Denver-Los Angeles, Utah-Houston, Phoenix-San Antonio, and Dallas-New Orleans. Any of those teams can make some noise in these playoffs. I believe the Lakers, Utah, San Antonio, and the Mavericks will win their first round series. The Spurs won’t go down easily, and will go on to meet the Lakers in the Western Conference finals. The Spurs will out-tough the Lakers to go to the NBA Finals.

Unfortunately for the West teams, the Celtics and Pistons won’t be tested until they play each other. Boston and Detroit will play a classic 7-game series, to be won by the Celtics. The Celtics then roll past the Western team, most likely the Spurs. Celtic pride returns, and brings yet another championship to the land of chowder.