When the camera flashed to the various teams that just learned they had been invited to the NCAA basketball tournament, the players were all smiles, jumping up in celebration. Including our Pepperdine Waves.
All but one team: Gonzaga.
When the CBS cameras showed the Spokane team there were boos and frowns. Coach Mark Few was scowling. Gonzaga, it seems, didn’t like its No. 6 seed.
The embarrasing reaction to what should be regarded as an honor, no matter what the seed, is just another sign that Gonzaga has lost touch with reality.
This, combined with Few’s classless comment in a post-game interview during the West Coast Conference Tournament is troubling. And sad.
Few actually had the gall to call his own conference “ridiculous” and said he even considered boycotting the tournament.
So the Graphic staff thought we would ship off a letter to Spokane to let them know just how we feel.
Dear Zags, Bulldogs, Gonzaga fans and Gonzahga fans:
Whatever you may be calling yourselves these days, there is one thing you won’t be calling yourself, and that’s a favorite in the NCAA Tournament. We applaud the selection committee from the NCAA for putting you as a No. 6 seed in the Midwest because they finally had the guts to put you in your place. A place you should have occupied all year.
We don’t know what you’ve been sending these people in the mail all year that led them to believe that you were a team worthy of a No. 6 ranking in the country.
Seven of your 29 wins were decided by six points or less, which leads us to believe that any team can beat you on any given night. We beat you and handily at that. USD came within one point of beating you and Santa Clara only lost by two. Five more points against you this season and you wouldn’t even be going to the tournament. Who are you crying to?
The reason you aren’t ranked any higher is because you don’t deserve to be there. Yep, it may be hard to swallow, but as they say, the truth hurts.
What’s also true is that you can’t win the regular season outright so you shouldn’t be complaining with the good gesture that was bestowed upon your future in the tournament.
Let’s talk about some of your game tactics for a second. You’re trying to tell us that Mr. All-American Dan Dickau is a tough competitor when he’s taking dives like Greg Louganis and crying like a newborn.
We hope the NBA scouts who caught that game saw a player who would flop in the face of adversity rather than stand up for his team and his cause. All we saw was a mop of dyed hair cracking back as if his body had been hit by a car.
We were embarrassed for him.
Head coach Mark Few is another issue. Still think our conference is ridiculous? You’re right coach, it is a big deal to make the tournament and you should take a reality check. Are you going to blame the WCC for your NCAA problems too? And your “high school” gym is not worthy of hosting the WCC Tournament so stop asking the powers that be for the opportunity. Plus, who really wants to go to Spokane anyway?
So you’re back in The Pit for your first-round game against Wyoming at New Mexico. You already had a tough game there earlier this year and don’t expect all your Kennel Club cronies to be packing that place like they did Jenny Craig Pavilion in San Diego. Remember, your Spring Break is over now and we’re sure classes aren’t being held up for the game. Don’t worry, we’re sure your players won’t miss much class anyway.
If you get by the Cowboys, the Arizona Wildcats are sure to take you down. What we mean is, they’ve got the best announcer’s son in the nation in Luke Walton and father Bill would never let his son come home if he lost to a team of your caliber.
Every time we hear Gonzaga we can’t help but think of the new Mountain Dew commercial and how the little Davey whines, “We got hosed Tommy, we got hosed.” Yeah, well, even if you think it’s your world and the rest of us are just living in it, you’ve got another thing coming. It’s Duke’s world, not yours.
You can kiss up to ESPN’s Rich Eisen’s from here to next Christmas and it still won’t help your chances at a higher seed. The media only carries so far and the nation is already seeing past the hype.
Just accept the fact that you’re not as good as you think you are and everyone will be much better off.
Personally, we think much of America is fed up with hearing about your problems and you should get a therapist. Bottom line kids, you’re going down faster than Jacques Cousteau. Enjoy the offseason.
We’ll see you next year,
March 14, 2002