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March 01, 2008
NCAA basketball teams expressed as moments in music history (NBTEMMH): Syracuse University
This is a new feature - stolen from a previous idea (and others, elsewhere (I'm not claiming provenance people!)).
Essentially, I will take a NCAA mens basketball team, and find a band, album, genre, or some other aspect of musical history that they represent.
I will endeavor to create a new one of these every day - from here until the tournament. Tomorrow (and forever more) I will focus specifically on teams that will be in the tournament, but, today, I will tackle my foolhardy, anger-invoking alma mater, Syracuse University, which basically ended its chances for an at-large bid today.
Too bad we didn't have hockey sticks
There are many moments in music history (MMH) that could express my impression of the Orange (nee Orangemen), an inexperienced team full of promise. Essentially, I could draw from any band's debut album. But whose?
The Vines - Highly Evolved
Those who loved The Vines saw an (admittedly paler) shade of Nirvana (young, disaffected singer; angst; mostly hard-chugging pace, with some well-placed placid sounding songs (that really weren't calm at all)).
Those who love this SU team see (or saw) an (admittedly paler) version of the 2003 championship team (freshmen phenom (Melo; Green (though maybe Flynn?); a buzzcut-rocking, 3-point shooting, and experienced Caucasian at the guard position (McNamara (aka CNY Jesus); Devendorf). There are probably more similarities but I wasn't watching that 2002-2003 season. Devendorf got hurt - and it was all done. The Vines were bratty kids, and it was over.
People explained away the Vines' flaws due to inexperience, believing their debut was going to be great. But, so it seemed, the moment had passed - their second album went more towards the mainstream - and the tepid indie embrace was lost (and the mainstream love never found).
We don't know who will stay at SU, but, even if everyone returns, I don't see this team as a Final Four champion team next year. Hopefully, I'm wrong. But I was right about the Vines.
SU 2007-2008 highlight - SU 77-Gtown 70
The Vines - Highly Evolved highlight - Outtathaway! (or maybe 1969).
Here's how it goes: If you have a better example (or your own favorite) of what SU represents, please add to the comments. If you want to suggest a team for me to do in the immediate future, put (just the team) in the comments. Tomorrow, I will tackle Kansas State.
Posted by Keith O'Brien at March 1, 2008 03:09 PM
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