This really is awful. All year we watched, with anticipation, of a great ending to this season. Had a few ups and downs along the way, but many more ups than downs, a 16 game win streak and counting, the marvelous engineering of a dunking machine named Dok, the lightning quick wizardry of the best closing at the rim guard we've had in a long time (anyone better?), and an iron curtain defenseman who will rank among the all time greats at a program that appreciates all time greats on defense.
Every season in my KU memory except 97 and 03 we've entered March with question marks. I really thought those two seasons were our years. But this year in my mind was a 97 and 03 type of season. KU was going to win it this year. And then they didn't.
We can't blame anyone. Can't blame weak 3 point defense, or the lack of a surefire three point shooter. Can't lament Dok shooting 3 of 12 at the line in the most crucial of times. No finger pointing at a relatively thin bench. Can't even shrug and say, wow, that Glen Robinson got super hot and there's not much we could do to stop him. There's no one to blame.
In fact we can't even properly mourn this loss because it would be in very bad form. An epidemic that is unprecedented in our lifetimes, at least here in the US, creates a new form of March Madness. Social distancing is the word of the year. A week ago I doubt anyone knew what this meant. It's a term that inserted itself into March Madness in many ways.
In Illinois where I attended school as a child it cost my high school a trip to state for the first time since I was in HS 40 years ago. In fact tonight as I write I would have been in Peoria cheering on the Red and White. (did I just say I was in HS 40 years ago?)
For the brother in law of my daughter it cost a chance to wrestle at DI nationals as a top 8 ranked 197 pounder at Virginia.
My favorite time of year, Players championship and the island green, Selection Sunday, First weekend, final four, opening day of the greatest use of grass since Abner Doubleday devised his little game, the splendor of the Masters. All in one month. All cancelled, or postponed in a few cases, but the Masters without Azaleas will be just a little less special.
My half marathon might get cancelled. I've trained for months, likely I'll never attempt one again.
My daughters wedding in a month. A little up in the air right now, but will happen one way or another.
And we can't complain. Nor should we. My elderly parents are scared even if they're putting a brave face on it. So are some of yours. My recovering from Leukemia nephew suddenly has a new threat. How can we complain about a loss of a tournament?
There's going to be some regret. But LORD willing in a month or two we'll be able to collectively pat ourselves on the back and say thanks. Your sacrificing the chance at a championship saved someones life, one of those cases where you won't even know whose lives were saved because they weren't infected.
I like the version from the good book that the Byrds put to song 3000 years later.
1 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: 2 a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, 3 a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, 4 a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, 5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, 6 a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, 7 a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, 8 a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.
How many days til Late Night?
