As a Terrapin myself, it is particularly difficult to root for Johns Hopkins in lacrosse. But never before has one game felt so important to me.
Johns Hopkins is the only team left with the talent to compete with Duke. There is a reason why Virginia has won their first two playoff games by just a combined two goals. Syracuse is a good team, but is nowhere near Duke.
Duke is a superpower for sure, but we all know WHY Duke is a superpower.
In a way, it would be good exposure for the game of lacrosse if Duke wins the National Championship. There will be plenty of stories on magazine shows, plenty of conversation on radio talk shows, plenty of columns in morning newspapers, and plenty of blogs throughout the web about how the Devils finally erased the ugliness of the rape scandal from 2006 by winning the title. People will even mention that Mike Pressler is in a good situation himself, especially with Bryant preparing to move to Division I and join the NEC.
But it is safe to assume that there will also be a lot of conversation about how Duke’s seniors were given an extra year of eligibility in 2008 despite the fact that the school cancelled the lacrosse season.
I was thinking this to myself the other day……when Michigan got off to a disappointing start to the 2007 College Football season (remember their back to back home losses to Appalachian State and Oregon); what would have happened had they suddenly decided to just cancel their season? Could Lloyd Carr have stayed for another season with a healthy Chad Henne, Mike Hart, Jake Long, Adrian Arrington, etc?
I know that’s a foolish statement, but it has to be considered. The Duke story isn’t new; but it gets more and more disturbing to me as we march towards Foxborough.
It is with that in mind that I openly admit as a Maryland fan that I will be rooting for Johns Hopkins on Saturday. I can’t help it. I can’t stomach the thought of this Duke team being rewarded more for canceling their season two years back. I feel bad for three young men being unjustly charged with rape; but I do not feel bad for a University that clearly failed in many aspects of this situation. I can’t stomach the thought of the leadership at Duke University celebrating a national championship on Memorial Day.
I also can’t stomach the thought of anything about a Final Four in Foxborough, but that’s for another day.
I’ll make a pick later in the week, but for now I will just admit that you will catch me cheering on Hopkins next Saturday.
I promise you it will be the only time. And I won’t be happy for them afterwards if they win; I will just be happy that Duke will not be winning the title.
Let’s see what everyone else has to say….
Best of Sunday’s WNST Blogs:
Nestor Aparicio says Birds encountered line problems Saturday night
Lonnie Nelson says Crystal Palace USA red hot
ORIOLES:
The Official Site’s Spencer Fordin says Guthrie tough luck loser as Birds’ bats go quiet vs. Nats
The Official Site provides numerical evidence of loss
The Official Site’s Spencer Fordin says Trachsel to return vs. Rays
The Official Site’s Spencer Fordin says after day off, O’s open series in Bronx Tuesday
Nationals Official Site’s Bill Ladson says Lannan spectacular as Nats salvage Game 3
The Sun’s Roch Kubatko says 33k see Nats drop Birds
The Sun’s Jeff Zrebiec says Trachsel trying to stay sharp before next start
The Sun’s Jeff Zrebiec says Birds continue Sunday struggles
The Sun’s Bill Free says Arrieta improves to 4-0 on farm
The Sun’s Roch Kubatko says Guzman homered off Guthrie for first run
The Sun’s Roch Kubatko still thinks Birds were better than Bucks in ‘71
The Sun’s Roch Kubatko says Trachsel likely to start Saturday
The Sun’s Roch Kubatko says Roberts played with bruised left leg
The Examiner’s Pete Sabatini says R. Hernandez not overwhelming in return
The Examiner’s Sean Welsh says Birds ready for Bronx trip
Carroll County Times’ Josh Land says rain slowed Birds down as much as Lannan
Carroll County Times’ Rich Dubroff says Trembley believes team has ‘identity’ since he took over
Frederick News-Post’s Stan Goldberg says Wieters likely will have moved up before July
Frederick News-Post’s Stan Goldberg says former Key Johnson having no problems in big leagues
Washington Post’s Marc Carig says Lannan received rave reviews from teammates after overwhelming Birds
Washington Post’s Marc Carig says Kakes put on defensive show in loss
Washington Times’ Ben Goessling says Acta thought Lannan ‘Maddux-like’ in win
RAVENS:
The Official Site’s Dave Lang says cheerleaders headed back from Punta Cana (maybe some football related content this week?)
The Official Site’s Gabrielle Dow says putting trip together wasn’t easy
HORSE RACING:
Preakness Official Site says Dutrow thinks Big Brown ‘ready’ to finish Triple Crown
Belmont Official Site says Big Brown to arrive Monday
The Sun’s David Steele says sport NEEDS Triple Crown winner
The Sun’s Sandra McKee says Dutrow housing Big Brown at friend Frankel’s Belmont barn
The Examiner’s Dave Carey says Dutrow thinks Big Brown has plenty of stamina left
The Examiner’s Tony Giro okay with city’s Preakness reputation
Washington Times’ Ryan O’Halloran says ‘no excuses’ for Big Brown to not claim Triple Crown
Washington Times’ Ryan O’Halloran says Casino Drive could be reason Big Brown fails to win Triple Crown
HOPKINS LACROSSE:
Inside Lacrosse’s Terry Foy says Rabil reason Jays headed to Foxborough
The Examiner’s Ron Snyder says Jays will be underdog in Foxborough
The Examiner’s Gary Lambrecht says Jays, Devils both looking for “Blue” revenge Saturday
Washington Post says Duke next for Hopkins in Final Four
Washington Times’ Patrick Stevens says Hopkins, Duke to play Saturday at 2:30
Washington Times’ Patrick Stevens says Hopkins has owned Duke in past
NAVY LACROSSE:
Annapolis Capital’s Bill Wagner says Mids stat winners, just not game winners
SALISBURY LACROSSE:
The Official Site says Berkman scores in 2OT to advance Gulls to D3 title game
Delmarva Times’ Ben Penserga says two suspended before Gettysburg win after vandalism spree
TERRAPINS LACROSSE:
The Examiner’s Andrew Vitelli says Terps wasted opportunity in loss to Cavs
The Diamondback’s Eric Detweiler says Terps did what they wanted defensively vs. Cavs
TERRAPINS BASKETBALL:
The Examiner’s Adi Joseph says Mosley confident he made grades to get to College Park
Turtle Sports Report’s Seth Hoffman says 2010 PG prospect Epps ‘priority’ for Terps (must subscribe)
TRIATHLON:
The Sun’s Patrick Gutierrez says Lieto wins Silver Columbia Triathlon in Ellicott City
SOME QUICK THOUGHTS:
-I said the Birds would be permanently under .500 after May 31. I am not backing off that date; but I will admit that I do not feel quite as comfortable as I did when I made the proclamation. Even if they do get past May 31; this team will not stay over .500 to the All-Star break. I love watching them; but please remember that John Lannan was able to completely overwhelm them today. John Lannan does not overwhelm good baseball teams.
-I credit ESPN for waiting at least 3 hours before I saw their first Belmont promo on Saturday. That might just be how long it takes to get a voice over done; but I would have thought they already had a generic “See Big Brown’s pursuit of the Triple Crown” promo ready to go immediately after Preakness ended.
-The stigma surrounding the game of lacrosse will not be helped by the alleged story of two punk Salisbury goalies going on a vandalism spree. It is unfortunate that the story will evoke reactions like “sounds like lacrosse players” because athletes in all sports act like jackasses sometimes; not just lacrosse.
Talk to you tomorrow.
-G
