Free Agency Wrap: On the Ravens' rope-a-dope, Miami's plan, Buffalo Bills, Kyler Murray
All of the spending is winding down. A few final thoughts inside.
We all have March Madness moments seared in our memory.
A handful come to mind here.
Syracuse’s run in 1996 was electric. Jason Cipolla drilled the icy corner J to send a Sweet 16 game to overtime vs. Georgia, but what about that pass with 2.4 seconds left? John Wallace did it all. UConn’s ‘99 squad was fun. Khalid El-Amin — roughly 5 foot 8, 320 pounds (give or take) — sliced defenses up.
No doubt, No. 1 on the list was a 12th-seeded St. Bonaventure team taking on mighty Kentucky. I can still remember our gym teacher at Ellicottville Central rolling a TV onto the court. As Tim Winn, Caswell Cyrus and those hometown Bonnies managed to hang around, the gym became crowded with students and teachers.
Nothing else mattered. Not math, not history.
Sports took precedent over scholastics. A beautiful thing at 12 years old.
The Bonnies lost, 85-80, but that’s a minor detail. Will never forget David Messiah Capers, a 56 percent free-throw shooter, drilling back-to-back-to-back free throws to force double overtime.
I suppose there was a geographical line to draw in our corner of New York State. Because when Gerry McNamara led Syracuse to an improbable Big East tournament run in ‘05? Students were most certainly were not allowed to enjoy his theatrics. Librarian Mrs. Friel successfully hunted me down in the computer lab during a study hall. Shucks.
Is the magic gone? College basketball is different these days. The connection with players is lost in this NIL portal’ing world. Here’s hoping the drama endures.
With another tourney on tap, fire away with your best memories in the comments.
I’m working on a bigger profile that’ll run early next week — cannot wait to share.
Until then, let’s put a bow on free agency with a few final thoughts.
Also, here are a few links to stories if you’ve missed anything:
This isn’t a conspiracy.
Maxx Crosby has spoken.
