Monday, April 07, 2008
Humans
They are human, so very human these kids playing in the Final Four and now in tonight's national championship game. Sometimes under glare of the bright lights, with the all but deafening hype, the media hordes, all of it capped by CBS's cloying, "One Shining Moment," it easy to forget. They are human, and they are kids, 18, 19, at most 20 something years old.
The stars, at this point, most have heard enough about the stars, the Derrick Roses, the Brendon Rushes and Tyler Hansbrough. However, there are a slew of other kids sharing tonight's spotlight and the dream. And there are some who had hoped to, some who came up just a little short.
Here are two different tales of woe, one about a player from each squad.
Back-up Memphis guard, Andre Allen, who might have only played five or six minutes in relief during tonight's game will never get the chance. Reports from WREG-TV, a local Memphis television outlet, indicate he failed a random NCAA drug test. Memphis suspended him from the Final Four. This was not Allen's first brush with the law while at Memphis, he was arrested for soliciting a prostitute in 2005. (The case was later dismissed.) It could not have come at worse time for the young man, instead of the memory of lifetime, Allen will be sitting at home wondering what might have been.
There is a back-up guard from Kansas who won't being playing tonight either, Rodrick Stewart. Stewart slipped on a wet spot at practice the other day while trying a dunk and fractured a kneecap. Ouch. (Trust us, you don't want the Youtube link, it was gruesome.) Stewart was doing dunks after the formal practice ended with teammates, trying to wow the crowd when he fell. Like Allen, Stewart played a minimal role in his team's tournament success. Tonight, a fifth year senior, he will watch what would have been his college basketball game. Stewart played a useful role during a midseason injury to Kansas star Rush. Stewart originally transferred to Kansas from USC. Like Allen, Stewart's professional prospects are minimal. While their basketball stories end here, their life stories will go on.
Enjoy tonight's game, whomever wins. Delight in it because these are kids, this is a special moment for them. They will never forget it. But remember it is just a game, and for every Lorenzo Charles burned into our synapses, etched into history, there are Andre Allen's and Rodrick Stewart's a plenty. Every kid who plays in the tournament is a winner. (They won to get into the dance.) Every kid has a memory. Every kid has a story good and bad. Treasure the moment with them, for soon it will disappear into the past.
The stars, at this point, most have heard enough about the stars, the Derrick Roses, the Brendon Rushes and Tyler Hansbrough. However, there are a slew of other kids sharing tonight's spotlight and the dream. And there are some who had hoped to, some who came up just a little short.
Here are two different tales of woe, one about a player from each squad.
Back-up Memphis guard, Andre Allen, who might have only played five or six minutes in relief during tonight's game will never get the chance. Reports from WREG-TV, a local Memphis television outlet, indicate he failed a random NCAA drug test. Memphis suspended him from the Final Four. This was not Allen's first brush with the law while at Memphis, he was arrested for soliciting a prostitute in 2005. (The case was later dismissed.) It could not have come at worse time for the young man, instead of the memory of lifetime, Allen will be sitting at home wondering what might have been.
There is a back-up guard from Kansas who won't being playing tonight either, Rodrick Stewart. Stewart slipped on a wet spot at practice the other day while trying a dunk and fractured a kneecap. Ouch. (Trust us, you don't want the Youtube link, it was gruesome.) Stewart was doing dunks after the formal practice ended with teammates, trying to wow the crowd when he fell. Like Allen, Stewart played a minimal role in his team's tournament success. Tonight, a fifth year senior, he will watch what would have been his college basketball game. Stewart played a useful role during a midseason injury to Kansas star Rush. Stewart originally transferred to Kansas from USC. Like Allen, Stewart's professional prospects are minimal. While their basketball stories end here, their life stories will go on.
Enjoy tonight's game, whomever wins. Delight in it because these are kids, this is a special moment for them. They will never forget it. But remember it is just a game, and for every Lorenzo Charles burned into our synapses, etched into history, there are Andre Allen's and Rodrick Stewart's a plenty. Every kid who plays in the tournament is a winner. (They won to get into the dance.) Every kid has a memory. Every kid has a story good and bad. Treasure the moment with them, for soon it will disappear into the past.
Labels: college basketball, Pop Culture, sports
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