Walter +Addendum

Over at the Convention Center, Walter is ready for tonight's game. Kansas by 8 points is the latest line. Sounds about right.

Win or lose - I'm happy. Rather win of course. These guys have been so much fun to watch this year. The unexpected surprise is always the best.

A couple billion Chinese and Indians don't really care - but I do. So there.

Addendum


Kansas 60 - NC State 57. It was a very tough win for Kansas. State had a chance to get into a position to win at the end but we turned the ball over. The game played out pretty much according to script. Underdog State played above their heads but Kansas had just too much talent for State to overcome.

It's been a fun ride watching this team play.

For me - I became a believer at the Virginia at NC State game back in January. We lost that game by 1 point - but you could just see how State was getting better and better - and could have, should have, won that game (against a ranked team). You could feel the team dynamics coming around. You knew, in some intangible way, the Pack was starting to come back.

I remember Nuke and I were walking to the car after that game (again - which we lost) and we were excited - EXCITED - about this team.

I think those two elitist schools down the road might have some competition in the not too distant future.

CBS Story Link

Sunday, March 18, 2012

This time last year NC State had just ended the most dismal year of 5 years with beloved player turned Coach Sidney Lowe. Coach Lowe resigned to allow new Athletic Director Debbie Yow to name a replacement. We love Lowe and feel awful that it didn’t work out.

AD Yow couldn’t interest any big name coaches in the job. Most of the players were considering transferring (Ryan Harrow did transfer to Kentucky).

We ended up with what was considered, at the time, a has been coach turned ESPN announcer. Clearly we were grasping at straws.

If you had said we’d be playing like a ‘team’ – (something missing the previous 5 years) – with a trip to this year’s Sweet 16 – you clearly did not know anything about basketball or were delusional.

Hell, if you had said we’d even be in the NCAA or NIT this year – I’d have said – riiiiiiight. Uh huh.

Coach Gottfried put together a stellar staff and has conjured up a miraculous turnaround. He got the kids in better shape and instilled a culture of commitment and dedication. No showboating. It’s a team. Tough Love. You are part of the family or you go somewhere else.

Yow and Gottfried reached out to the fans too. Straight talk and no promises other than to ‘do it right’. We’re the cat.

Today's win over Georgetown not only sends us to the Sweet 16 - it is also the most season wins by NC State since Coach Jim Valvano in 1987 - 1988.

I love watching these guys play.

LC

You may notice a small patch on the right shoulder of our team uniforms with the initials LC. That's for Lorenzo Charles who died this year in a traffic accident.

Saturday, March 17, 2012

 

 

This is about two and a half miles down the road from where I live. I wouldn't call this guy an artist by any means, but he does create some interesting things. Such as the airplane weather vane in the top photo and the wind chimes in the bottom photo.

He works in large scale. The wind chime, for example, is about 20 feet tall.

Q: If the wind chime is 2.6 miles from your house, can you hear it?

A: Yes

It was windy last night, so you'll notice that the wind catcher is hooked to the side so it wouldn't keep his neighbors up all night. I've heard that sucker when there's a good breeze - it's LOUD. LOL

Basketball

I think that Mark Gottfried guy is gonna work out.

:-)

I've had so much fun watching the NC State guys play this year. It's amazing to see how they can play on a neutral court with neutral refs.

Next up (Sunday) is 3 seed Georgetown. That will be a tough game. On the other hand, NC State is a tough out in this year's tournament.

NIT Thoughts

Watched Miami beat Valparaiso in the NIT first round last night.

Of the 32 teams in the NIT - Miami is the only ACC team and a number 2 seed.

I'm really glad our guys got into the NCAAT - but - had we been left out of the NCAAT and gone to the NIT instead - we would have been a number 1 seed and had the home court advantage for every game (possibly 3) we could have played (before the final 4 in New York City).

Again, I'm happy we're in the NCAAT and wouldn't change a thing. But I also would have been very happy going to the RBC, now the PNC, to watch our guys play.

Good luck Miami - I hope you win the NIT.

Happy Campers

These are some guys who really, really want to finally, at long last, return to the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. Clearly, we don't take anything for granted and appreciate the opportunity.

Reminder - NC State vs. San Diego State was the dead last team / paring announced. Hope was all but gone.

NC State Basketball 2011 - 2012 +Addendum

I used to get way too wrapped up in NC State basketball. From about age 35 ~ 40 on, I’ve taken a much more mature approach. It’s not life or death, it really doesn't impact my life and it’s just a game for entertainment.

But this year – it’s hard not to get emotional about this team. These kids play so hard. I’ve not seen a single game where they just went through the motions or mailed it in.

I hate to see them lose – not because I don’t want to lose – but because I feel so bad for these kids when there’s a loss after they play, and work, and try, so hard.

These kids have a chance to win any game they play in. And they know it. And that’s how they play. They don’t ever go out on the court just to try and keep up or to put in a good effort. They go on the court to win.

If you remind them they aren’t 4 star blue chip recruits and aren’t in the same class as the top 25 teams - they could care less. They’re in it to win it.

We just lost an awesome game to UNC-CHeats in the ACC Tournament.

I’m so proud of these guys that I don’t care we just lost.

State will get an NCAA at large bid to the tournament. If we don’t, the entire selection committee should be fired for gross incompetence.

God, I love watching these guys play.

Oh, and by the way, it was a blankety blank freaking charge!

Sunday Addendum



Sunday Night Addendum

Watching the CBS Selection Show - When Iona was announced, I figured State's chances were pretty slim. Then, when the last two #12 / #14 play in teams were announced, and State wasn't one of them - I knew we were going to the NIT.

Then - literally - the very last paring was announced - #11 State vs. #6 San Diego State.

It's not easy being a State fan. LOL

Saturday March 3, 2012

Posting this from CrossRoads Ford. Brought my Focus in for service - the check engine light came on. It's a temperature sensor and adjustment assembly thingy. Told it will be about $500. Don't know if that includes the $105 diagnostic charge just to hook the car up to a computer to find out where else one will have to spend money.

Plus, I've been here for almost 6 hours now. In fairness though, I got here at 7:05 and they don't open till 8 on Saturday.

Speaking of money . . .

Moneyball

Watched Moneyball night. A surprisingly funny and touching movie. And I don't even like baseball. But, I highly recommend.

NC State Basketball

On to a much better sport - college basketball.

State's last game is tomorrow at Virginia Tech. Supposedly State is still a possible bubble team for the NCAAT.

Frankly, I'd rather go deep in the NIT than likely lose the first game in the NCAAs.

We're so much better this year - having a winning record is an improvement. Getting to the post season is better than even hoped for. So, if we don't get an at large NCAA bid - I'm fine with that. In fact, I'm super happy to go to the NIT.

Safari

The computers here in the CrossRoads customer lounge are Apples. I like the keyboard - it has a nice feel. The mouse is ok.

I do not like Safari. Based on my experiences with it so far, it is nowhere near as good as Chrome.

Addendum

The bill came to $422. It was a thermostat assembly, presumably it includes the housing and sensor. I looked it up on the web when I got home. It looks more difficult than the old fashioned thermostats. I've replaced the older types in the past but I kind of doubt I'd have been very comfortable replacing this one.