Tar Heels gone wild
May 2nd, 2008, 10:28 am · Post a Comment · posted by Alex Kreitman
What a week for members of the North Carolina basketball team. Earlier in the week the Tar Heels were shooting hoops with democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama in Chapel Hill, now they’re jumping off balconies into pools at UNC frat houses.
Let me be the first to say I had some wild days in college and I did some stupid things, but I never jumped off a balcony into an above ground pool. And even if I did, I didn’t play Division I college basketball and have millions of dollars in my future as an NBA player. So, not the brightest move by Tyler Hansbrough and Bobby Frasor.
I won’t mention the dumb things I did college because they’re probably not appropriate for this blog.
Let’s start with Frasor. The talented point guard sat out almost all of last season with a knee injury. He hasn’t completely healed from the injury yet he finds it acceptable to jump off a balcony into a pool. Not smart.
Then Hansbrough, who could have been a lottery pick in the 2008 draft, but chose to stay for his senior season, has such a bright future that he almost ruined it. I’m sure coach Roy Williams and NBA scouts aren’t too happy with Hansbrough taking the plunge.
He could’ve sprained an ankle, broken a leg or even worse. These guys need to be careful. I know it’s the end of the school year and of course these guys are still kids and they want to have fun, but you’re a college basketball celebrity. Your star power is your wild and crazy times. Your trip to the Final Four is your fun. So, diving off balconies into pools is the stupid thing for guys like me to do, with no NBA career to jeopardize. Be smart.
The 134th running of the Kentucky Derby is Saturday at Churchill Downs and every year I get excited for the historic race.
The Kentucky Derby has days and weeks of build up but the race itself is over in a split second. Twenty horses will compete for the first prize of the Triple Crown and every year the derby winner gets all the attention for the months leading up to the Preakness.
Horse racing is a wonderful thing. Gambling, drinking and sports combined to make a wonderful Saturday afternoon.
This year I’m going with Colonel John, a 4-1 favorite. I never actually bet money, except maybe a side bet or two with a few friends.
I hope I don’t miss the derby this year. I’ll be en route to Charleston, SC on Saturday afternoon and hope to get there before the race starts around 6 p.m.
Whoever wins the race will then become America’s obsession for the rest of the summer. The Triple Crown of horse racing is one of the most coveted accomplishments in all of sports and it’s a rare feat. Whenever a horse can win the first two legs of the crown the hype builds even higher. I hope whoever wins can win the Preakness and at least provide the opportunity for a Triple Crown, but it’s a long shot.
