The Real David Wins

A few years ago I got rid of my overpriced Warriors season tickets, and replaced them with season tickets to the USF Dons. I've got 4 tickets in row E at the mid-court line that cost me a grand for the season, total. Parking is free. Home by 9:15. It's a great local diversion.

USF Basketball has been pretty bad for quite a while.* Pretty Bad. The low point was the Eddie Sutton Era (lasting about a dozen horrid games) two seasons back. Sutton said the team had less talent than any team he had ever coached, and he's been around for a very long time. It was a mean spirited thing to say, but it was almost certainly true.

* At least they haven't been pretty bad as long as the Warriors, who have been bad since 1978.

Last year the school hired ex-Kansas All-American, ex-NBA first round pick, ex-player for Roy Williams and Chuck Daly and Pat Riley, Rex Walters. Walters is a young guy who has brought great spirit to the Hilltop. He could play. Apparently he can coach, too.

Saturday night, the Dons upset #8 Gonzaga in overtime. Gonzaga was undefeated in the conference this season. And last season. In fact, they had a streak of 26 consecutive regular season WCC wins. The basketball world thinks of Gonzaga as David, but in the WCC, Gonzaga is Goliath. They have been able to recruit big-time for 10 years, and they've got huge Nike backing that out-raises all of the athletic programs in the conference by a mile.

The Dons are a young team, and in what we hope is a breakthru game, youth was served. They were led by their senior and best player, Dior Lowhorn, but all of the kids pitched in, and left it all on the floor. And that's where they ended up when it was all over - on the floor. First the players stormed the court, followed immediately by the student section (which was packed for the first time this season), and then by hundreds of fans coming out of the stands. It was the biggest moment in decades for a program that used to be the Gonzaga of the WCAC (now WCC).

Look at the joy on Dior's face in the picture (#33). Huge smile, tongue hanging out. That's not joy, that's pure joy. You just know that moment will be in his heart for the rest of his life.

And one more subtle thing in that picture. All the way on the right, in front of the scorer's table, in the white shirt is Rex Walters. The players are delirous, the student section is emptying onto the court from the other side, the fans behind him are going wild. But there is Rex, walking over to shake hands (his right arm is extended) with Mark Few. Rex is a young guy, and would not have been faulted for celebrating like everyone else, but for him, it's first things first - it's time to be a gracious winner. That's who I want coaching young men.

It was special. Even the boss, who hates sports, had a great time, cheering like mad everytime the Dons hit another critical shot. None of my regulars could go, and so my extra 2 seats were empty for the event. Too bad. It was the place to be in San Francisco on Saturday night.

I hugged our embattled young A.D. who was just bubbling with the thrill of it all, and headed out with the boss into that inviting San Francisco night. I think I can confirm - I'll likely never go to another NBA game. Color me green and gold.