I suspect like me you went to bed angry on Friday night. How could a team that showed so much promise not make it through and do just a little bit more than we expected? Why is it our lot to always be saddled with unfair challenges and implosions? Why doesn’t Kentucky or Gonzaga end up with idiots who are 5th in the country in blocks who smoke cheba right before the biggest game of their lives. Why can’t we keep players? Why do our best players suddenly lose it? Why does it seem like our rising stars always decide they don't want to be in Queens anymore right as they start to achieve their potential? Why is it St. Johns who suffers the impossible and has a down on his luck transfer rain 3's against his old team?
Why? Why? Why?
Those were the things going through my head as the Facebook posts and condolence texts rolled in. Yet again, I was left making excuses as to why I am a St. Johns fan. Why love a team that seemingly will never again turn a corner and become consistently great?
Then as the weekend turned towards Sunday, then it emerged that indeed Steve Lavin just might want to stay in Queens and see this job through. Really. That got me thinking things. The old feelings perked up. Hope. I went around to Zagsblogs and Rivals, read Cheick Diallo’s twitters to see what he was saying, Goggled around for to see if Lovett was still interested, and actually going to school. Slowly I started to contemplate whether or not Chris Obekpa wanted redemption, or if Rysheed was smart enough to recognize that proving his potential might be a good idea before he tries his hand at the NBA. In other words, I again returned to the hope. That is the lot of the true St. Johns. You don't cheer; you hope. Maybe that is why St. Johns crowds don't bring the noise, we all so busy hoping we dont have the capacity to cheer.
For 35 years that has been my lot. From the moment I saw this:
This is who I am, I can’t walk away, one-day things will get better and St. Johns University will be a consistent winner. One day St. Johns will not only live up to its past but exceed it. And I will be there. No player screw-ups, poor coaching decisions or administrative blunders will stop this.
We should give Lavin an extension for his loyalty alone. We need consistency and he’s proven he can get better. He needs the resources to make it happen.
We Are St. Johns.
Why? Why? Why?
Those were the things going through my head as the Facebook posts and condolence texts rolled in. Yet again, I was left making excuses as to why I am a St. Johns fan. Why love a team that seemingly will never again turn a corner and become consistently great?
Then as the weekend turned towards Sunday, then it emerged that indeed Steve Lavin just might want to stay in Queens and see this job through. Really. That got me thinking things. The old feelings perked up. Hope. I went around to Zagsblogs and Rivals, read Cheick Diallo’s twitters to see what he was saying, Goggled around for to see if Lovett was still interested, and actually going to school. Slowly I started to contemplate whether or not Chris Obekpa wanted redemption, or if Rysheed was smart enough to recognize that proving his potential might be a good idea before he tries his hand at the NBA. In other words, I again returned to the hope. That is the lot of the true St. Johns. You don't cheer; you hope. Maybe that is why St. Johns crowds don't bring the noise, we all so busy hoping we dont have the capacity to cheer.
For 35 years that has been my lot. From the moment I saw this:
This is who I am, I can’t walk away, one-day things will get better and St. Johns University will be a consistent winner. One day St. Johns will not only live up to its past but exceed it. And I will be there. No player screw-ups, poor coaching decisions or administrative blunders will stop this.
We should give Lavin an extension for his loyalty alone. We need consistency and he’s proven he can get better. He needs the resources to make it happen.
We Are St. Johns.
