Podcast

Since this will be just read into a podcast type format, I'm not really worried about grammar and organization. Bite me.

Well, the season has finally come to a close. I'm not sure if I should feel disappointed, or just relieved that it's over. Don't get me wrong, I love basketball, especially Niner basketball, but this season at points was almost unbearable. There were some really low points...getting crushed @Davidson, by Houston, by Xavier, do I need to continue? Luckily, we only got blown out at home once, by North Texas, and we still managed to win ten games at home in Halton this year, so the majority of the time us fans left Halton at least somewhat satisfied.

I'm not really here to talk about Niner basketball, I'm supposed to discuss what it's like being a 49er Athletics fan. That would entail discussing being a fan of all sports, so after this broadcast, I'll try not to mention Men's Basketball too much until next season is close.

First off, to all the fans who came often and early to home games this year, thank you. Even though the team did not perform well this season, it has been one of the most memorable seasons as a fan. There was more comraderie in the front few rows this year than last, with all that facepaint sharing and everything. There is something to be said about fans who show up early to watch a team with a losing record. It is easy to pull for your winning teams, but true school spirit shines when teams are struggling. I don't know about everyone else, but my voice is just now recovered from the season.

While I'm discussing this, I have two gripes about this season. Both concern the George Washington @ home. We had a few fans show up early for this game for the first time. They got their ridiculously early so they could be front row on ESPN2, and got offended when the regulars didn't respect them or promise to save their seats for them. Yes, these students did show up early, but if there's one thing wrong with the system this year is that the regulars, the ones who show up early to every game, are in a position to get screwed over. There needs to be some sort of serious reward system for those of us who consistently come early, not just when our games are on TV.

The next thing that really ground my gears about that game was the way the fans were treated before the doors open. I don't know how many you were out there, but it was COLD, RAINY, and MISERABLE outside. How did the security staff react to this? How did they treat the hardcore fans who show up early to every game during a crummy season? They left us out in the cold and said the doors would not open until an hour and thirty minutes before tip off. Go ahead, tell me rules are rules, but show some compassion and appreciate those who are extremely dedicated. The fans put up with a bad season, so maybe throw them a favor every once in awhile.

There, I'm done griping.

I'd like to point out a few bright spots here at home this year. Kyle Church hitting a 3 at the buzzer in the exhibition, the season opener against Hofstra was exciting, destroying Wofford was a good way to end the year, the infamous "you're fly is down" game vs. UMASS which resulted in two students' ejections, the following home game poking fun at being kicked out with signs such as "I am not a crook", homecoming vs. Fordham was full of spirit and facepaint, Phaler's 3-3 3 pt. shooting game, and even though we lost, the George Washington game was one of the best, especially since the student section looked awesome on TV.

But its all over, no NCAA, no NIT for the men this year. We can only look forward another season of facepaint, sore throats, creative signs, and foolish antics next year.

For now, we've got an incredible baseball team (14-3) receiving votes in the top 25 polls (they play this weekend at home in Kannapolis against Charleston), and our Women's basketball team is taking on High Point thursday night in the NIT.

So, come on out to the games this week. Come join us in the loud, obnoxious student section. You can't miss us.

That'll be it for this week.

A-10 POY, All Conference Teams announced.

Curtis put forth a really great season, but it was not enough to win A-10 Player of the Year, that award went to LaSalle's Steven Smith.

Curtis Withers and De'Angelo Alexander were named to the All A-10 first-team, and Leemire Goldwire received an honorable mention, as well being placed on the All Academic team.

For some "knucklehead" Leemire seems like a smart guy.

Read more here:
http://atlantic10.com/releases/attac...62122226-1.pdf

Video of infamous foul.

J Felt

Much thanks to NinerNation.net member 49or bust, here's a video from ESPN News' highlights of the GW game.

Pause it at 11 seconds to see Leemire falling back, and pause it a second later to see the foul on DeAngelo. Two isolated fouls, but yet.....ahhh I won't get started again.

Write-Up about GW.

J Felt

Finally collected my thoughts on the GW game.

Added a screenshot of the infamous elbows.

I'm slowly recovering from that loss, but its just a game.

Hope you enjoy the new format. Leave comments!

Ritchie's Pregame - St. Louis

Coach Soderburg brings his surprising Billikens (92 RPI, 9-4 A10) into Halton Arena on Saturday to face the equally surprising Niners. After going 1-3 to start the season and scoring only 9 points in half vs Miss. St, Charlotte has gone 16-6 and on a 6 game A10 win streak to hold sole possession of 2^nd place, 3 games behind George Washington and 1 game ahead of Saint Louis. The Billikens were preseason 13^th in the Atlantic 10, predicted to finish ahead of only the Bonnies of St. Bonaventure. Saint Louis has definitely earned its right to battle Charlotte for 2^nd place in the conference after snapping an 18 game Win-Loss-Win-Loss… alternation by winning six of their last seven. A10 Freshman of the year Tommie Liddell (winner of 5 A10 Rookie of the Week Awards) and Senior center Ian Vouyoukas have this team on a late season run that the Niners will hope to stop on their home court.

The Niners are 9-9 vs. the Billikens all time with both teams losing only once on their home courts. In 2005 when Saint Louis traveled to Halton, Mitchell Baldwin was injured in a physical battle but when Charlotte traveled to the Billikens home the Niners picked up their first win ever at the infamous Savvis center in an OT thriller, 83-78 where Withers scored his career high 39 points. The reason for those 39 points: size advantage. If the Niners have one major advantage over the Saint Louis Billikens its size. Besides 6-10 Center Vouyoukas, the Billikens have a serious height disadvantage at every position. Look for the Niners to pound it inside with Coleman, Williams, Nance, and Withers after opening up the lane with the three from Lee and DA.

But most importantly, what’s a Billiken?

From Saint Louis’ Athletic Webpage:

One of the truly unique mascots in college athletics, the Billiken is a symbol of good luck that became a national craze in the early 1900s.

In 1908, Florence Pretz, an art teacher and illustrator in Kansas City, Mo., received a patent for her version of an ancient Asian figure – a chubby character with pixie ears, fat cheeks and an ear-to-ear grin. A year later, the Billiken Company of Chicago adopted the likeness, giving it its eventual name. Initially manufactured as a bank and statuette, the Billiken reached its peak of popularity in 1911, when it was widely recognized as a universal symbol of good fortune.

Legend has it that the Billiken has three kinds of luck – good, better and best. To buy a Billiken gave the buyer luck. To have one given to you is better luck. The best luck came if the Billiken were stolen.

I’d show you a picture but according to the website all pictures of the Billiken are copyrighted and can only be used with permission from the Saint Louis athletic department.