First of, i don't like creating threads because I like topics to be different enough to stand alone and not because I want my thoughts to stand out.
This has been an excellent season, one in which St. John's basketball has experienced a renaissance. In our 31st game, with our team on the precipice of success or failure 16000 mostly St. John's fans filled the Garden.
On Thursday mid day I checked with St. John's about ticket sales for today. I was told to expect 11-12,000. That morning just 33 tickets had sold. Depressing. Then yesterday I stopped into the ticket office and it was a zoo with student workers packaging hundreds of printed tickets for will call and the phone ringing off the hook. Big east plans were delayed. I was told expect 14000. Yes plenty of comps to former players, some celebs, military and first responders. Somehow that blew up to 16000 for a Saturday morning game vs a bad Georgetown team.
Somehow our fans knew that the ghost of Gtown was like a badly wounded lion who could rise up a deal a lethal blow to our squad. With about 10 minutes to go in a game where Georgetown came back to take a lead and we answered with a basket or great defensive play, the Garden crowd rose to its feet for entire sequences exhorting the team in unison. Again and again in waves our fans let our guys know this is our house, we weren't outnumbered, and we were there to lift them.
It was reminiscent of 70s and 80s crowds at games where St John's covered the wet ink back pages of the Post, Daily News, and Newsday. When newspapers mattered and you'd grab a discarded papef on the railroad and your fingers would still get stained with black ink. The Garden wasn't filled with ghosts but real fans, some as old or older than our 71 yr old rock star coach, but plenty of kids, teens, college students and 20-60 year olds too. All rooting their asses off.
Excellent season? Laughable because our NCAA ticket isn't punched yet, and one game in the BET vs Seton Hall on Thursday may determine that. But it was a season. That didn't just command our attention during games. On here it was non-stop for most of us from the moment we woke up, throughout the day, and consumed us at night.
I try to avoid picking players apart when they are down. I can barely play chess but know how the pieces move. I had to google which pieces are the most important and finally read a post that explained in depth which pieces were the most powerful and it was explained in tandem (e.g. two knights) and also on exact positions on the board. Basketball players are like that, situationally but also with their own talents and abilities. Throw in human failure and coaching strategy and I know I'm not equipped to judge.
I do kmow that I've met more of you for the first time this season and spent time with you in Charleston. My wife is rooting again after decades lobg absence. And really watching games.. She'll say something that will surpise me, like "That was a moving pick!!" When I wasn't sure before that she knew what a pick was etc.
Rick Pitino blew the lids off the curse of being a Johnnie's fan. It's been like being liberated from a POW camp or from authoritive rule. After decades where wearing St John's gear was decidedly uncool, suddenly my closet is literally filled with sju golf shirts, sweatshirts, ans spring, fall and winter jackets. Suddenly tons of faculty, administrators, and their families are coming to games. Ive made literally dozens of new friends this year.
Our season may end Thursday or we may make a deep ncaa run. We may surprise or fall just short.
Whatever the outcome we are back. This is our school, our program, and our fans are as passionate as anyone's
This has been an excellent season, one in which St. John's basketball has experienced a renaissance. In our 31st game, with our team on the precipice of success or failure 16000 mostly St. John's fans filled the Garden.
On Thursday mid day I checked with St. John's about ticket sales for today. I was told to expect 11-12,000. That morning just 33 tickets had sold. Depressing. Then yesterday I stopped into the ticket office and it was a zoo with student workers packaging hundreds of printed tickets for will call and the phone ringing off the hook. Big east plans were delayed. I was told expect 14000. Yes plenty of comps to former players, some celebs, military and first responders. Somehow that blew up to 16000 for a Saturday morning game vs a bad Georgetown team.
Somehow our fans knew that the ghost of Gtown was like a badly wounded lion who could rise up a deal a lethal blow to our squad. With about 10 minutes to go in a game where Georgetown came back to take a lead and we answered with a basket or great defensive play, the Garden crowd rose to its feet for entire sequences exhorting the team in unison. Again and again in waves our fans let our guys know this is our house, we weren't outnumbered, and we were there to lift them.
It was reminiscent of 70s and 80s crowds at games where St John's covered the wet ink back pages of the Post, Daily News, and Newsday. When newspapers mattered and you'd grab a discarded papef on the railroad and your fingers would still get stained with black ink. The Garden wasn't filled with ghosts but real fans, some as old or older than our 71 yr old rock star coach, but plenty of kids, teens, college students and 20-60 year olds too. All rooting their asses off.
Excellent season? Laughable because our NCAA ticket isn't punched yet, and one game in the BET vs Seton Hall on Thursday may determine that. But it was a season. That didn't just command our attention during games. On here it was non-stop for most of us from the moment we woke up, throughout the day, and consumed us at night.
I try to avoid picking players apart when they are down. I can barely play chess but know how the pieces move. I had to google which pieces are the most important and finally read a post that explained in depth which pieces were the most powerful and it was explained in tandem (e.g. two knights) and also on exact positions on the board. Basketball players are like that, situationally but also with their own talents and abilities. Throw in human failure and coaching strategy and I know I'm not equipped to judge.
I do kmow that I've met more of you for the first time this season and spent time with you in Charleston. My wife is rooting again after decades lobg absence. And really watching games.. She'll say something that will surpise me, like "That was a moving pick!!" When I wasn't sure before that she knew what a pick was etc.
Rick Pitino blew the lids off the curse of being a Johnnie's fan. It's been like being liberated from a POW camp or from authoritive rule. After decades where wearing St John's gear was decidedly uncool, suddenly my closet is literally filled with sju golf shirts, sweatshirts, ans spring, fall and winter jackets. Suddenly tons of faculty, administrators, and their families are coming to games. Ive made literally dozens of new friends this year.
Our season may end Thursday or we may make a deep ncaa run. We may surprise or fall just short.
Whatever the outcome we are back. This is our school, our program, and our fans are as passionate as anyone's
Last edited:
