A memorable win, but a bad beat
Courtesy photo Who is this girl?
NOTES AND quotes while recalling why I never bet on college basketball…
Gonzaga was a 14-point favorite against North Carolina on Wednesday night. It was a big number, but the Zags lived up to it.
If you’d wagered the kids’ tuition money on Gonzaga, you’d have felt delirious as the Zags ran off to a 23-point lead in the second half, and maintained a 20-point advantage right until the end.
Everyone on the court got relaxed with the outcome decided, though, and eventually a Carolina nobody named Shea Rush (he played just one minute, 26 seconds) chucked in a 3-ball to cut the lead to 13 with a half-minute remaining.
Suddenly Gonzaga betters were on a hook with the point spread UNDER 14, but the Zags could get one more bucket, couldn’t they?
Nope.
As bettors in Vegas and across the country let out painful screams, Gonzaga point guard Ryan Woolridge simply dribbled out the last 28 seconds in a show of sportsmanship toward Carolina.
The final score was 94-81.
And that, boys and girls, is why I wouldn’t bet college hoops — not even on YOUR money.
ITEM: Speaking of wagers, local pizza king Jim Hightower has been muddling around somewhere in the middle of the high-pressure Pigskin Prognostications organized by The Press to help support local NGOs.
Jim’s fairly average performance is not from lack of trying.
“He spends forever studying teams, trying to find out about injuries and all that stuff,” said Jim’s wife, Missy. “He’d really like to win that thing, because of the trash talk that goes on with all the people involved.
“But I keep getting nailed on a lot of the 50-50 games,” Hightower said, “I can’t catch a break.”
Oh, wait a minute!
In the midst of all this supposed bad karma, the Hightowers made a trip to Vegas, and Jim won a bucket load — on pro football.
Maybe he can only bet when point spreads are involved.
Or perhaps he was just plain lucky — but please, Pizza Boy, no whining about bad breaks in our Press Prognostications.
Sometimes the person on top is just really good.
ITEM: Not everyone around the county is cheering for our region’s teams.
For instance…
North Idaho College trustee Todd Banducci has organized a huge viewing party at the Bulldog Lounge for the Dec. 27 Cheez-It Bowl featuring Washington State.
However, Todd will be loudly hollering for Air Force, Wazzu’s opponent — and sounds like he will strongly advise customers and partygoers to join him.
Banducci is Air Force Academy grad, he’s hugely proud of it, and wants as much support for his Falcons as he can muster.
Air Force is 10-2, and wherever you watch that game, you’re almost guaranteed some enjoyment because there probably has never been a bowl matchup of teams that are so different.
Wazzu will throw 50 passes or more in Mike Leach’s Air Raid offense, while Air Force runs the ball again and again and again with its triple option.
It should be fascinating, but if you decide to watch at the Bulldog Lounge in the Silver Lake Mall, keep those cheers for the Cougs to a whisper, OK?
FYI, the Bulldog is one of those rare places around where you can smoke a cigar while watching the game, as well.
I’m in for it, gang.
ITEM: I’ve been thinking that we should have some fun with a little quiz from time to time, so all of you can show off your sports knowledge.
For instance, whose hand was our boss Mike Patrick holding when his beloved Arizona Wildcats went to overtime against Kentucky in the 1997 NCAA national championship game.
Yes, it was mine, Arizona won and it’s become a fun story since then.
But that’s not our real quiz question for today.
Nope, our very first Cheap Seats head-scratcher is this: Who is the little girl you see in the accompanying picture?
Hint: The photo is fairly recent.
So who is it?
My email address is right there at the bottom of this column, but just in case you miss it, reach me at: [email protected].
Who’s the girl, folks?
Email: [email protected]
Steve Cameron’s “Cheap Seats” columns for The Press appear on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Steve also contributes the “Zags Tracker” package on Gonzaga basketball each Tuesday.