It was time to put an end to the 2007-2008 college basketball season. 

Monday broke warm and humid.  We cruised over to Austin's Magnolia Cafe (the one on S. Congress) for a late breakfast.  Then we lolligagged around the UT campus before heading back home to nap.  Tip-off in San Antonio was scheduled for 8:15.  We were pacing ourselves.

We rolled out of Austin around 4:30 and by 6 we were parking in a scrapyard near the Alamodome.  We strolled over to the Riverwalk area to grab a meal, settling on the local steakhouse Steers and Beers.   They serve big portions of low grade beef at modest prices - kind of like the South Texas version of Boston's Hungry Heifer.  I had a t-bone steak, medium rare.  Craig had a burger.

Outside the air was still sticky.  The Riverwalk crowd had thinned out as people made their way to the Alamodome.  I got a shot of Craig with some of the stragglers in the background. 



Then we circled around to where the ESPN guys were making their last minute prognostications.  For three weeks Dick and Digger have been sucking up to Bobby Knight and in return he has been cranky and condescending.  He lords over the set like he's Tony Soprano.  This shot is typical:  Knight pontificating while his co-hosts eagerly wait to jump in and curry his favor.   Dickie V. and Digger might as well start showing up in skirts since they've been so publicly and totally emasculated.




It was finally time to hoof it over to the 'Dome.  When we got to our seats we saw, as expected, a lot of new faces.  Many of the UCLA faithful chose not to return for the final game.  A couple of Latino tough guys had replaced the elderly Bruin fans who sat next to Craig on Thursday.  The young men work at a local hotel and were given the tickets by the oldsters.  They weren't big hoops fans, but they were jacked up to be there.  They asked Craig who to root for and he said Kansas.  Why not?  They were suddenly passionate Kansas fans, greeting every Jayhawk dunk with, "That's what I'm fucking talking about!"

You saw the game:  Kansas lead most of the way.  Late in the second half Memphis took over and with two minutes left were up by nine.  Kansas rallied and tied the game on a Mario Chalmers three-point shot with 2.1 seconds to go, sending it into overtime where they easily dispatched Memphis.  

Here's what you didn't see:  There were more UCLA fans in our section than I realized.  During one of the long timeouts in the second half, somebody started a Bruin 8-clap.   People all around perked up and joined in, then as quickly as it started it was over.  But it did the trick, sorta like the arena version of a group hug. 

Unfortunately, many of these same people yielded to their L.A. instincts and bolted during that timeout with 2:09 to go.  Holy shit.  I know things looked grim, but if there's a miracle comeback where do you want to be - in here watching it or out in the desert cactus looking for your rented Taurus?

Craig and I stayed, though neither of us expected Kansas to rally.  I realized I hadn't taken an action shot all weekend so I pulled out my Canon.  I figured I would get a shot of Memphis celebrating as the final buzzer sounded.  But events outran my plan and suddenly Kansas was coming down the court with a chance to tie.  I took a shot of Chalmers desperation three-pointer and with all of the luck of Abe Zapruder I captured one of the most memorable shots in college basketball history:



Note that:
1) The ball is still in mid-air and yet Chalmers has already taken three steps back.  He knows it's going in and he's getting ready to play defense. 
2) Kansas coach Bill Self has fallen to his knees behind the ref on the right.  He is ready to tip into a crying fetal position if the shot misses - as is his point guard across the court. 
3) Memphis coach John Calipari is covering his genitals like a soccer player defending a free kick.  He senses - correctly - that he is about to get kicked in the nuts.
4) Three rows up from Calipari some lady in a blue sweater is standing in the aisle with her back to the action.  She appears to be talking to some guy who no doubt punched her after the shot went in.

And the rest is history. 

March Madness.  It was a wild ride from that lazy Thursday afternoon in Anaheim to Monday night's drama in San Antonio.  All of your major emotions were represented: elation, sadness, fear, lust, bewilderment, smugness and grief.  And now that it's all over ennui is creeping in.  But that's all part of the game - life doesn't let you feast on the good without taking at least a few spoonfuls of the bad.  In the end it's all worth it. 

Epiphany - Thinking about those poor slobs who left early I realized that you have to change your behavior patterns as you change your environment.  I'm an L.A. guy and my shoes too got a little twitchy with two minutes to go.  But Christ, it's not like I had another NCAA Final Game to get to.  This wasn't Dodger Stadium in May, this was the crowning of a National Champion.  So much in life comes to those who merely stick it out.