When I woke up this morning, and turned on the radio, there was a slow, jazz version of Gilbert O'Sullivan's 'Alone Again, Naturally' playing. I figure, lovely, a song about suicide. They must be playing it for Rutgers. Of course, the way they played during the final three and a half minutes of the game last night in Greensboro, this option might already have been considered. It's a shame. It seems that this team just doesn't have the 'pullitoutofyourassness' that you need in order to win an NCAA title. Last night's opponent, UConn, does.
It's a shame that it took Don Imus to draw attention, for many people, to the success story that is Rutgers coach C. Vivian Stringer. When he made his gaffe, very few people really knew that she was on the verge of winning eight hundred games as a college basketball coach. Eight Hundred Games! She shares a summit, so to speak, with the legendary Pat Summitt. I doubt very much that I'll live long enough to see the men and the women share the same court, in college, or the pros. I really think it's as unlikely as Dick Cheney attending a Greenpeace event. However, I think I will see the Vivian Stringers and the Pat Summitts hailed as motivators of young minds and bodies in the same breath as the Bobby Knights and the Dean Smiths. And, that's a good thing.
"So, who you want in the men's?"
I look at Alan Adler, who looks like death warmed over (as do accountants during the first half of April). "I don't think I want anyone. However, I could easily live with UCLA. I did enjoy seeing Georgetown lose, though."
"Uh-huh."
"You know, though...I would be one happy camper if St. John's ever made it to the Final Four."
Alan laughed. "Yeah, that would be nice, wouldn't it?"
"Yep. They're my real hometown team. I root for UVA ever since I lived down there, but my true home team's St. John's."
"No one on this side of the water ever did it for you, huh?"
"No. I come down here, and there's a State University, and everyone gives lip service to them, but their teams are at best a sitcom. Then, all of a sudden, a couple of years back, the football team does really well, and now they wanna build a new gigantic stadium, regardless of the state's financial problems. Just another excuse to get into my goddamn pockets. I say, NO. Put together ten winning seasons in a row, like Penn State or Nebraska does like they change socks, and we'll think about it."
Alan laughs. "Right."
"I never knew what the hell Rutgers Culture was. I've lived in this area now for over fifteen years, and there's Princeton, as unvarying as Dewar's Scotch. Up north, there's Seton Hall Culture. Rutgers Culture? Getting the tar beaten outta ya by Penn State, 59-0, every year. But now, the football team's winning, and they've all come out of the woodwork. Vivian Stringer wins eight hundred games, and she might as well be proffing in the Ancient Languages department."
"Yep."
"But, St. John's Culture..."
"Right. A sweater."
I chuckle. "Yes! A sweater!" The trademark of late St. John's men's basketball coach Lou Carnesecca, a slight, yet charismatic, beloved man who wore charismatic sweaters during the games. "He was a great guy, wasn't he?"
"Yes. He was."
Dawn comes down to check up on us. "Looks like you need more coffee," she says to me.
"I always need more coffee, I thought you'd glean that by now."
"It's good to need."
I laugh. "Oh gee, thanks."
"Know what I need?"
"What?"
"A massage."
I don't know why, but I'm blushing right now. I'm looking around to see if anyone else is listening to this conversation. Luckily, no one is, but then, why is Iago smiling all of a sudden ten feet up the counter?
"A massage?"
"Yeah."
"You weren't interested when I was at your house there on Easter Sunday..."
"Right, but I'm interested now."
"Okay."
"This weekend?"
"I'm sure it can be arranged."
"Good. I'm your friend, remember? You ain't leavin' me out in the cold." Dawn's got a half-smile.
"I never intended to do that."
Alan says, "well, she thinks so!"
"You wanted me to use your own sister as a guinea pig. You didn't trust me, remember?"
"And, she enjoyed it, and Rochelle enjoyed it, and everyone in the world is enjoying it, and it's my turn now."
"Well, we'll see what we can do, then."
Dawn heads back up the counter. "Wow, if I ever knew that this was the path to popularity, I'd have become a massage therapist years ago."
"Right, Alan. I can't wait to legally start charging money for these services."
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