Come Dancing

To show you just how stupid AIG head Edward Liddy seems to think everyone is, let me tell you of his version of the Washington D.C. Congressional two-step. In his ten page prepared statement to today’s Congressional committee, Mr. Liddy cites the President’s call for “a more restrained compensation system,” in one paragraph; while in the next, states that AIG has “to continue managing our business as a business”. This statement, prepared by Christ only knows how many lawyers and AIG execs that had a hand in it, is supposed to address and/or justify the $147 billion in bonuses given to AIG employees for the magnificent jobs they did for the 2008 fiscal year, and the marvelous corporate recovery that these captains of industry are engineering. Why are your tax dollars being spent in such fashion you might ask? Well, it’s so AIG can “maximize the amount of money we pay back to the government.” This Liddy guy ought to run for office.
I was of the understanding that when a business got funds from somewhere in order to do business, you paid that money back plus interest. What are they going to do, get together and decide in a magnanimous gesture of good will to give government extra to show what good guys they are? In order for these bonus laden employees to do their jobs sufficiently so the government can get their money back they need an incentive or they’re not going to perform up to their capabilities? Mr. Liddy refers to these payments as “retention” bonuses. Yeah, that’s a good idea; let’s retain the very same guys that got the company into the mess it’s in. Liddy stated that not all the people who got bonuses are still with the company. That’s even better, pay people who split when the shit hit the fan. Is this what Billy Idol referred to as “Dancing with Myself?” Let’s really go dancing shall we?
March Madness is upon us. Sixty-four teams will vie for the coveted title of NCAA Basketball Champions. Man, this dance has given college basketball fans more great memories than any prom you ever attended, even if you did get laid.
Beginning in 1939 with eight teams, the NCAA Basketball Tournament has grown steadily over the years. In 1953, the field was expanded to include 22-25 teams. That format lasted until 1974. The field was expanded to 64 teams in 1985. Today, the field stands at 65.
Individual performances, including last second heroics often have defined a player’s career, or enhanced it. The names of Tyus Edney, Keith Smart, Tate George, Lorenzo Charles, Bryce Drew, and most recently Ty Rogers are only recognizable to the college hoops fans because they all made improbable last second shots to allow their teams to advance, or in the cases of Keith Smart and Lorenzo Charles, win the National Championship.
Gerry McNamara was not known for one shot, but several of them. He scored 18 points on 6 first half three point shots, as he and Carmelo Anthony led Syracuse to their 2003 National Championship. The following year, McNamara scored 43 points; including 9 three’s in a first round win against Brigham Young University.
Some of the greatest individual games have been turned in on college basketball’s biggest stage. One of the UCLA teams in a long string of great UCLA teams was led by a 44 point, on 21 of 22 shooting by Bill Walton. In 1973, Bill Walton outdueled Memphis big man Larry Kenon for the title. Kenon represented himself admirably finishing with 8 rebounds and 22 points.
Cedric Maxwell who played for then unknown UNC-Charlotte, led his team to the Final Four, and increased his NBA draft status in the process. The Boston Celtics took him in the first round. He helped the Celts win the championship that had elluded him in college. The same can be said for Dwyane Wade, who led Marquette to its first Final Four appearance in 26 years. In the regional final against Kentucky in 2003, Wade recorded only the third triple double in tournament history. He scored 29 points to go along with his 11 assists, and 11 rebounds. Every basketball fan in America knew that Dwyane Wade was primed for the NBA. Another player to distinguish himself in the tournament also became a “can’t miss” NBA star. However, he never played in an NBA game.
Len Bias scored 31 points and snared 12 rebounds in a quarterfinal loss versus the University of Nevada-Las Vegas in 1986. That performance cemented his status as a first round pick. The day Bias was selected with the Celtics third pick in the draft; he celebrated that evening with friends by ingesting cocaine. A cardiac arrest kept him from NBA glory.
1986 was also the year that saw unheralded Cleveland State reach the Sweet Sixteen, only to see the clock strike twelve against a David Robinson-led Navy squad. But 1985, the first year for 64 teams produced perhaps the greatest team performance of in tournament history. On paper, Villanova was grossly outmatched by Georgetown with center Patrick Ewing. But Villanova shot 78.6% from the field, and slayed Goliath 66-64.
Larry Bird and Indiana State versus Michigan State and Magic Johnson in 1979; Christian Laettner’s buzzer beater for Duke ousting Kentucky in 1992, Jack Givens lighting Duke up for 41 in 1978, and the only black player in the ACC North Carolina’s Charlie Scott scoring 32 including the last second game winner against Davidson in 1969. These are memories that last a lifetime.
Who cares who your date to the Big Dance is, this year it’s guaranteed to quicken the pulse. Let’s take our attention away from Edward Liddy’s bullshit funky chicken, you don’t even have to wear one of those fugly tuxedoes.