Going to Carolina

Yesterday, I went to see the Timberwolves-Spurs game (another heartbreaking loss for the Twolves) and was talking about it with my coworkers today at lunch. During this conversation the subject of former UNC and current Minnesota Timberwolves shooting guard Rashad McCants. I was making fun of both his ability, his "Rashad Revolution" fist pumping video graphic that comes on the Jumbotron every time McCants scores a basket, and the price one might pay for a signed Rashad McCants Black History poster. The consensus was A) McCants has accomplished more in the Nba than JJ Redick (which is unfortunately true), B) The Rashad Revolution video reminds me of a communist-era propaganda video and C) No one would pay more than $20 for that poster.

Anyway, the topic of me disliking past UNC players came up. I mentioned the McCants "can't wait till he gets out of jail" quote and Rasheed Wallace introducing the masses to the acronym CTC. My current boss started naming former UNC players (Brad Daugherty, JR Reid) and asking me to comment on what I disliked about them. I told him my reasons for disliking them and he finally acquiesced.

And then he brought up Tyler.

He said something to the affect of "well, you at least have to like Tyler Hansbrough." I replied that no, in fact I do not like Tyler Hansbrough and was thisclose to telling him my abridged version of the top 10 reasons why you should dislike Tyler Hansbrough. Then I realized that it is time to change. I am drinking the Obama kool-aid and it it is time for me to (if only briefly) make a change for the better. For that reason I am going to give up for Lent (replacing my previous sacrifice of fast food) talking poorly of Tyler Hansbrough. This will be my olive branch to the player of the year candidate from the University of North Carolina. Until Easter Sunday there will be no negative thoughts towards Psycho T and I will try to severely limit my negative thoughts on UNC.

This might be difficult especially considered that UNC at Duke and the ACC tournament will be going on during Lent, but I think it is necessary. The negative energy that has at times come out of this blog needs to stop. Duke has lost two straight to unranked teams and UNC has been doing better and better without Ty Lawson. Now Lawson is coming back and UNC looks poised to have the momentum heading into the ACC tournament. If they win that then it is all but guaranteed that they get the cushy Ralegih, Charlotte path to the Final Four, which means that they would only be two wins away from hanging up their 3rd banner during my lifetime. These 3 banners would be the same number as Duke has won during my lifetime. Also, they would put to rest the fact that Roy Williams can't win the big one (still there until he wins with his players). Finally, the national championship would make UNC fans canonize Tyler Hansbrough in a way that would make George Lynch and Sean May jealous.

I am channeling my inner Rick Pitino and stopping the negative thinking. Hopefully, by doing this I will increase the positive karma for Duke. As Stewart Mandel pointed out Duke has struggled at the end of the season in past past few years and this year looks to be no different. I guess all I am trying to say has already been said before by Rocky:

"I guess what I'm trying to say, is that if I can change, and you can change, everybody can change "

Tonight I leave to go to North Carolina and tomorrow I will be at Cameron Indoor Stadium for the Duke-St. John's game. I am as excited as Andy Dufresne driving his convertible down to Mexico. Stay tuned for posting on my thoughts of the greatest college basketball arena in the country.