Real Kato Blog: Sports Night

Huh, a surprisingly good night in sports.

So yeah, I know it's only the NIT. The "Not Invited Tournament." The "Nobody Interested Tournament". But when Dion Harris hit a falling-away three-pointer as the clock expired in the second overtime to lift Michigan over Notre Dame, hey, it was still pretty exciting. And at least Michigan still has something to play for this year... that's something nine other Big Ten teams can't say.

And after that, Japan beat Cuba to win the first ever baseball classic. You know, I'm not really a big baseball fan, but I got a kick out of watching Japan win. It was as if to say, "Hey North America, I've got your so called 'World Series' RIGHT HERE." But I was a little irritated at how the announcers kept pointing out the contrasting "styles" of the Japanese and the Cuban teams. The Japanese were "scientific" and "analytical", and they did the "little things"... the Cubans were "gutsy" and "emotional" and "passionate". Geez, guys, do you know you're fueling TWO racial stereotypes at the same time? If there were an African team playing, would you say they had "raw animal instincts"?

Say what you want, but Ichiro Suzuki has got to be the best hitter in baseball. No need to be "scientific" to figure that one out.

And hey look, the Detroit Pistons clinched the Central Division of the NBA Eastern Conference today by beating the Atlanta Hawks. By now that's a big YAWN, though, because I think anything less than an NBA championship would be considered a failure in Detroit this year.

Permalink 5 Comment

Posted by Ken in: commentary, sports

Comments

Comment #1 from olafandyjon (Guest)
2006 Mar 21 - 8:16 am : #

It could be curling for all I care, but it's always nice to beat Notre Dame.

Comment #2 from Jenn (Guest)
2006 Mar 21 - 11:24 am : #

NIT = Nobody Important Tournament

Comment #3 from Jenn (Guest)
2006 Mar 21 - 11:27 am : #

At least that's what my dad calls it. I call it the "Oh my god not another damn basketball tournament somebody kill me" tournament.

Comment #4 from Dan (Guest)
2006 Mar 21 - 12:35 pm : #

If you ever want me to post a comment, just bring up baseball...

It may be schadenfreude, but I found myself strangely amused when the "powerful" US and Dominican teams were sent home from the WBC. I do feel bad for Korea who beat Japan twice before falling to them when it mattered most in the semis. That's the nature of tournament play, I guess.

I will, however, respectfully disagree with your assessment of Ichiro. He's a great hitter, but not the best in baseball. That would be Barry Bonds unless you prefer to eliminate selfish, steroid abusing, mean spirited assholes who can't even run anymore because their overbuilt muscles are too heavy for their tiny skeletons. In that case, it would be Albert Pujols.

Comment #5 from John C (Guest)
2006 Mar 21 - 8:02 pm : #

The game was really exciting, but since we are getting in digs against the NIT, Jim Carty in local paper had this to say about Michigan in the tourney

"It's like your kid making the summer school honor roll. You don't want to get down on the performance, but the performance is proof junior shouldn't have been there in the first place."

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