Basketball News

This entry should be short and sweet. I emphasize the "sweet" part, as I'm still feeling the elation of a much deserved victory by my beloved Syracuse Orangemen basketball team. For those of you who don't know (or care), my Orangement just won the NCAA Basketball Championships. For a longtime loyal supporter, this is a memorable achievement, and I'm very excited, despite the fact that the month-long tournament was hardly noted in the national papers in New Zealand.

As some of my friends have pointed out, "it figures that Syracuse won when you left the country". As an avid sports fan, I've become homesick for my sports action. Admittedly, I've become quite attached to the rugby action, but I've had to draw the line when they played a South Island "netball" game, over coverage of the NCAA Final Four, one of the most watched sports events in North America. At risk of offending the loyal Kiwi fans, netball is a simplified version of basketball - no dribbling, no blocked shots, and no backboards. It's quite a boring game really, but seems to be followed with the fervour of all New Zealand sports.

I suppose there are sacrifices to be made for leaving the country, but I can't bear the thought of missing out on the Stanley Cup celebrations in the streets of Toronto. Okay...now I may be pushing it! Thanks for our friends and family who keep us up to date on the sports (and political) news back home. Until we can afford a satellite dish, I guess we'll just have to keep up with the internet, and be content to cheer for the "home team" down under. "Go Crusaders!"