Clarke County Democrat

Sports Scene

No, Butler Univ. is not in Choctaw Co. or near Greenville



 

 

Forget all of the drama in sports for a just a moment. Throw professional sports completely out the window.

For the most part, in this area, college sports consists of football season, spring football practice and then the recruiting season. All is surrounded by football.

Each year our attention turns to that little two week drama that is March Madness. Like most people, my bracket was in the trash before the ink was good and dry. (Of course, there was no money of any kind on the line as I would hate to see the state police come in my office for illegal gambling.)

Then along comes Butler University. No, they are not located off the river in Choctaw County. Good guess, but no cigar. Even had someone ask if it was somewhere over in Butler County near Greenville. After repeatedly striking this person with a tack-hammer I explained it was located in Indianapolis. The same place the Final Four was being held.

Every single daily newspaper in the country, except the one in Durham, of course, was poised to run pretty much the same headline. Kinda of ironic when you think about it, but never before has the stage been set like this. More on the headline in a minute.

Mighty Duke University, home of some of the most hated players and coach in college basketball history, set to face tiny Butler. Butler, located 5-miles from downtown Indy, and home to a shade under 4,000 students. Unless you went there, or go there….you had no idea about this school.

Except…a whole lot of sports fans have seen the inside of their basketball gym. In fact, you don’t have to be a sports guru, and I will wagger that you have seen the inside of Hinkle Fieldhouse.

Maybe this will help.

“ No team this small has ever been in the finals of the state tournament!”-Shooter. I can guarantee that every major paper would have used some variation of that quote when writing their headline had tiny Butler won the tournament. One of the main reasons is the fact that the movie, Hoosiers, that quote came from, has all of the championship scenes filmed from inside Hinkle Fieldhouse.

The same place that Jimmy Chitwood looked at his coach and teammates and declared, “I’ll make it!” Hollywood could not have written a better story.

Never before have so many pulled for the little guy as was the case Monday night. And as the final shot was fired as the horn blew, everyone held their collective breathes, hoping to see the basketball sail through the nets. Instead it clanked off the rim and Duke had the title. But for a moment, even if your bracket was shot, everyone felt good about the tourney and basketball.

That’s all folks…..

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