Every time fans leave a game early, my dad always asks, "Why do people stay at a viewing of the Titanic, even when they know the ship is still going to sink?" I could not help but reflect upon my Dad's wisdom in relation to the University of Virginia basketball program.
The last three years at this fine University, I jumped onboard Virginia's version of the Titanic, which we will call the SS March Madness. No matter how many people said the team would crack, I maintained the ship was going all the way to the big dance. Each year I went down with the boat in February as Dick Vitale proclaimed that Virginia's bubble burst.
This year my mind succumbed to much of the same. In my fourth year, the SS March Madness, guided by new head coach Dave Leitao, would valiantly dock safely in the port of the NCAA Tourney.
I thought the loss of Elton Brown to graduation would be deemed "addition by subtraction." The hiring of Leiteo would finally teach defense, discipline and a team concept that had been missed at U-Hall. I even had the guts to think that the loss of Virginia Beach walk-on (and roommate) Hank Nacey would not threaten our chance to go to the Big Dance. Then the inconceivable occurred, Virginia became the first ever bubble team to be knocked off the bubble in ... September.
When Pete Gillen was contractually released (fired), the Charlottesville sports community breathed a sigh of relief. Finally things would change after seven seasons of talent leading to undisciplined, underachieving play. Students would once again be able to look at the scoreboard with two minutes left and see the home team with a timeout left. Led by Sean Singletary and Gary "the self-proclaimed best defensive player in the ACC" Forbes, this year the ship would dock safely.
Six months after Pete called his final timeout and banged the court floor for the final time, the ghost of Gillen reared its ugly head and crashed into the hull of the SS March Madness. Starting swingman and defensive stalwart Gary Forbes was almost declared academically ineligible for the season.
To save his name and basketball career, he probably covered the pending suspension by deciding to transfer, citing family reasons. While I do not know the family lineage of Gary Forbes, it does not take a class in Adolescent Psychology to realize that a lack of discipline in schoolwork dictates the transfer of this basketball prodigy.
While many diligent students profess their displeasure with the academic treatment of athletes, I respect the time commitment that Division I athletes are forced to make. If they want to join Matt Leinart in mastering the art of ballroom dancing, I am all for it. Learn some salsa, get your A and have fun staying focused with your sport of choice. Yet to cover your ineligibility with a family problem in order not to lose a year of eligibility is inexcusable in my book (Note: transfers must sit out a year, but unlike a suspension, do not lose a year of eligibility).
The worst part is that I was a huge Gary Forbes supporter. I have backed him for two years, ever since he played the most intense defense U-Hall has seen to keep John Gilchrist and the despised Terrapins under control. Under Leiteo, a defensive-minded coach who Virginia has been lacking, Forbes would have been the lieutenant who helped Singletary steer the ship through the icebergs of the ACC.
Now this depleted team is left with one warrior, Singletary. After him, the roster looks about as thin as one of our "big" men Jason Cain. Speaking of thin, since Donte Minter is out with a knee injury, our starting center is 6-foot-11-inch, 210-pound Tunji Soroye. According to sources on the team, NBA scouts have said that if he can learn to catch a ball, he will find himself playing professionally someday. While I enjoy the optimism, does it seem strange to anyone that our starting center may not be capable of catching a basketball?
Just like in previous years, the March Madness ship was about to launch from port sprung with the optimism of making the Big Dance. This year, however, the ghost of Pete landed the crushing blow in September rather than March. At least everyone can use the extra time to catch a good movie.
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