King of the Mountain

November 15th, 2011
Orlando @ Indiana, Phoenix @ Detroit, LA Clippers @ Houston, Washington @ LA Lakers

It is now day 138 of the NBA lockout, which means its only 3 days shy of being twice as long as Kim Kardashian's marriage to New Jersey (York) Net Kris Humphries (I hate knowing this stuff as a result of the lack of basketball). We are now supposed to be two weeks into the season so we are starting to get a feel for how teams are looking together. Dwight Howard's Superman cape is casting a huge shadow over Orlando as they try to figure out a way to keep him there. The only way that might be possible is if they can somehow find someone dumb enough to take Gilbert Arenas' contract off their hands. How is this going to play out? After a slow start, have trade rumors started with Steve Nash as the NBA community rallies together in support of seeing him traded to a contender? Few people know this, but Yao Ming actually retired so he wouldn't be subjected to being dunked on by Blake Griffin... And, is it clear Kobe Bryant is also coaching the Lakers now that Phil Jackson is gone? These are the things we should be talking about, but alas we are not.

I have been a basketball fan for my entire life. My father actually taught me how to read by checking box scores for his fantasy basketball league (back when people had to check the news paper because this thing called the Internet hadn't been invented by Al Gore yet). As a kid I was blessed with the opportunity to grow up watching Michael Jordan. While I have always supported my home town Denver Nuggets, I couldn't help but being drawn to his greatness. As soon as I found out he attended North Carolina for his college days, I instantly became a fan of the Tar Heels.

Being a Tar Heel fan, I was taught at a young age to hate the darker shade of blue that housed itself a few miles down Tobacco Road. Duke was just another 4 letter word that was not to be tolerated. I couldn't stand that they were always good. The Cameron Crazies jumping around, dressed up, painted faces, made me sick. They were the epitome of a rival. Even the men of Troy and Rome could appreciate the mutual despise. With all of that, there was always one thing that didn't make sense to me. How could I actually like their coach, Mike Krzyzewski? His name is actually pronounced Sha-Chef-Ski because that makes sense, but I digress...

Coach K, as he is more commonly known, is everything you want a college coach to be. Not only does he have an immense knowledge of the game of basketball but equally (if not more) importantly he is a great teacher of life. Under the guidance of Coach K, Duke has won 4 National Championships and came in second to only UCLA with a remarkable stretch of 110 consecutive weeks as the AP number 1 ranked team in college basketball. Through all of Duke's success they still always maintained a high average graduation rate for its players which can be attributed in part to Krzyewski. He has always focused on coaching the fundamentals of the game and creating a team before individual atmosphere within his teams. The name on the front of the jersey has always been more important than the name on the back because it represents something bigger. You don't play the game for yourself, and everything you do reflects the University and Coach K takes pride in that aspect. There is no doubting that he is a great leader of men both on and off the floor.

Tonight Duke takes the floor at Michigan State to not only play the Spartans, but to play for the record books. Coach K is currently tied, with his college coach, the great Bobby Knight as the winningest coach in NCAA men's college basketball history with 902 wins. Tonight has the potential to give Duke their 3rd win of the year and Coach K 903 for his career. From the outside looking in, this achievement couldn't happen to a better man.

For me, I am rooting for Coach K in a different light. We are only a week removed from being shell shocked about what happened at Penn State and have been sitting in the front row watching the deterioration of coach, Joe Paterno's legacy. Coach K represents one of the last "Good Guys." I never in my wildest dreams would have imagined ever seeing the words "Joe Paterno, fired" and more importantly I never would have thought those words to be necessary. Mike Krzyewski is held in that same regard as Paterno once was. After Penn State, we needed a great story, something for us to be excited about in a positive manner. For that I say thank you Coack K. Thank you for your many years of service. Thank you for giving me a rival I can respect. Thank you for making the game I love a better one. I pray that I never have to take those words back.

Until Next Time,
Dan