5 Days | Cardiac Kemba
the Big East Tournament is here, let the heart palpitations commence
I just finished
my annual tradition of re-watching Kemba Walker’s game winning buzzer beater in the 2011 Quarterfinals of the Big East Tournament at MSG and can confirm, it has not lost it’s shine one iota. It still absolutely slaps. There’s so many things that happen within the span of the first 25 seconds of the Youtube clip I have to rewatch it at least 7-10 times before I’ve had my fill. Has anyone checked in on number 52 on Pittsburgh, Mr. Gary McGhee? There’s rumors he is still in search of his soul that was snatched with 2.7 seconds left on the game clock. If you look closely, you can see the exact moment it leaves his body:
Kemba’s crossover, step back combo is so lethal it’s like watching one of those Samurai sword videos where the edge of the blade is so sharp, that when the sword handler cuts an object in one swift motion, the human eye isn’t fast enough to even register the act. It is only seconds after, when the object in question, that was once firmly in tact, slowly disembodies itself by cleanly splitting in two, that you are able to process what just happened. If you need proof of this analogy simply watch the reaction of UConn’s Coach, Jim Calhoun, his delayed double fist pumps at the 16 second mark are fantastic. If you go to the comments section you will find universal agreement; that shot, that moment, that call (Dave Pasch), was ICONIC.
As March dawns
and the city thaws, there's a palpable electricity that begins to buzz through the streets of New York. It's not just the promise of spring; it's the heralding of a storied tradition that has the power to make even the most cynical New Yorker believe in magic for just a moment. The Big East Tournament is upon us, unfolding with the quickness of a New York Minute. In just three days, from the 13th-16th, we’ll have new college basketball heroes, villains, and all the scintillating subplots in between.
For a lifelong New York sports fanatic like me, the Big East Tournament is more than a series of games; it's a patchwork of memories stitched into the very fabric of Madison Square Garden, my favorite place on Planet Earth.
Since the age of 12, I've watched as teams and dynasties have risen and fallen, as the conference reshaped itself (I miss those ‘Cuse years), shedding old skins and donning new ones, echoing the relentless reinvention of the city itself. Kemba’s shot against Pittsburgh was more than just a game-winner; it was a seismic event that sent shockwaves through The Garden and beyond, a moment where time stood still and the future NBA star etched his name into the annals of the Big East lore. It was pure basketball poetry, the kind that makes legends out of mere mortals and turns fans into faithful followers.
This year, as I look at the bracket snapshot for the 2024 tournament, I'm reminded that every round carries the potential for another such moment. The ghosts of Big East past mingle with the dreams of the future, as teams like Villanova, St. Johns, Seton Hall, hold on for dear life and in front of their fearful, yet faithful fans, on the grandest of stages.
Tipoff is Liftoff
For both the teams and this city. The buzz around the bars, the chatter on the subways, and the analyses on every street corner speak to the collective anticipation. The excitement isn't just for the prospect of victory, but for the drama, the passion, and the stories that will unfold. We come together, a diverse city unified by the love of the game, ready to add new chapters to the Big East narrative. And I'll be there. On the outside at least. Slinging QR codes with the frequency of Kemba’s crossovers. I’ll be checking the pulse in the heart of it all.
So here’s to the games to come, the memories to be made, and the unyielding spirit that is Big East basketball. From the city that never sleeps, to the Sports Fan who now follows suit;
This. Is. March.
Until tomorrow!
Wow that was powerful.