Player of the D.A.Y.
Which Devil is it?
This year’s NCAA tourney, while not full of upsets, has been entertaining. Big comebacks, rallies, chokes, clutch shots, I don’t need to keep running off what has made it so enjoyable. One thing missing has been Duke hate, usually a staple of March for millions. They were done about five minutes into the madness.
The NBA has not been kind to Duke players. Grant Hill was on his way to being on at least the top 50 of all-time list to put it conservatively, and he can’t stay healthy. Elton Brand has put up big numbers on terrible teams for pretty much his entire career, and even this year his team isn’t that good. Those are probably the best two Duke players in the NBA. The school is cursed.
And then there was last night. Carlos Boozer, a career high 41 and 16. Luol Deng, a career high 38. JJ Redick, 12 points off the bench. Shane Battier, doing Battier things in a blowout win over Milwaukee. The only blips on the Duke radar were Rasheed’s 60 footer and Shelden Williams’ role in the Hack-a-Shaq. It may have been the best NBA night for Duke players in years.
And what is the common thread? Who prepared these young men for life? Coach K, that’s who! I really can’t put Boozer over Deng, just because Deron Williams played a pretty big role in getting Carlos the ball. The tourney has been virtually Coach K-less not counting the commercials, but sometimes you have to give it up for people you usually can’t stand. Mike Krzyzewski, you are the Player of the D.A.Y.
Now, there has been some confusion about the time I awarded God the Player of the D.A.Y., because I tied it in to David Lee’s miracle tip that broke Michael Jordan’s courtside-sitting heart. Here is what I wrote back then:
No. Those are both wrong. Michael Jordan showed his face at the Garden last night. You think it’s a coincidence that there was a snowstorm preventing the guy who crossed him up and made cornrows and tats mainstream from playing with the handpicked Brand Jordan spokesman?
The Player of the D.A.Y. is God. Michael Jordan. For postponing the Denver-Phoenix game with his powers.
I can see how it is worded poorly. To clear that up, let’s call it a split between Jordan and God. The reason I am discussing all of this now is because I’m doing it again. To praise Coach K means to sacrifice a piece of your soul, and the word “devil” is a part of his school’s team name.
Today’s Player of the D.A.Y. is therefore a split between Mike Krzyzewski and The Devil.
23 Responses to “Player of the D.A.Y.”
Mar.27 at 4:51 pm
Tom Jackson says:
omg first
Mar.27 at 4:58 pm
Sneakerhead says:
sheeds shot was mad ill
Mar.27 at 4:59 pm
Tom Jackson says:
How weird is it to think that Duke and Indiana combined have produced less than 5 NBA all-stars in the last 35 years?
Mar.27 at 5:00 pm
jbn74sb says:
white devil or blue devil?
Mar.27 at 5:01 pm
Tom Jackson says:
They have twice as many college championships in the last 35 years then they do NBA all-stars.
Mar.27 at 5:02 pm
jbn74sb says:
Let’s see here Om, off the top of my head, in no particular order, other than in whatever order they occurred to me.
1. Grant Hill.
2. Isiah Thomas.
3. Carlos Boozer (star - not yet)
4. Elton Brand
5. Maggette (not a star) I can certainly think of other players from those schools (Calbert Cheaney, Laetner, Cherokee Parks, Trajon Langdon, etc.), but it looks like Tom is right. Does he get a prize?
Mar.27 at 5:02 pm
Drer says:
eff Duke! That’s all!
Mar.27 at 5:02 pm
Tom Jackson says:
Wouldn’t it be Indiana = Zeke; Duke = Grant Hill, Elton Brand …
Mar.27 at 5:07 pm
Tom Jackson says:
Boozer never played for the all-star team, to me that doesn’t count, I mean every year we end up with 43 all-stars. It should be who played in the game. Especially when Grant and Vince were getting voted in every year there in the early 00’s. Maggette never made an all-star team, did he?!
Mar.27 at 5:11 pm
Tom Jackson says:
Anyone else remember a few years ago when Duke was losing Jay Williams and Elton Brand, everyone knew they were leaving early and then the best headline ever shocked the Cameron Crazies? “Uh-Oh Maggette goes.”
Mar.27 at 5:12 pm
Reggie Evans says:
Sam, you’re screwing up my spreadsheet tracking the Player of the D.A.Y.
Mar.27 at 5:23 pm
nic says:
sam! man, this is probably lulu dengdengs only shot at P.D.A.Y., and you gotta go and give it to coach american express. come on, help me out over here…
Mar.27 at 5:25 pm
Sam Rubenstein says:
Reggie, I knew this would mess with you. I’m sorry. Just make a sidenote that God and the Devil won once each.
Mar.27 at 5:43 pm
Blue says:
Somewhere, Kill Bill Style, Gilbert Arenas just added Sam to his Revenge list…
Mar.27 at 5:54 pm
albie1kenobi says:
god and MJ.
devil and coach K.
no wonder UNC/duke is the best rivalry in all sports. it began before time began.
Mar.27 at 7:02 pm
Reggie Evans says:
God show me the way because the Devil trying to break me down!!
Mar.27 at 7:48 pm
Chief says:
praising the devil…nothing good will come of this. NOTHING!
Mar.27 at 8:52 pm
Hersey says:
Not a Boozer fan but he did boom on Agent 0 en route to 41 points. That’s worthy of the P.D.A.Y.
Mar.27 at 10:21 pm
YOUR BEARD LOOK STRONG aka PIMPN says:
is carlosloozer.com still up? im gonna try it
Mar.27 at 11:58 pm
YOUR BEARD LOOK STRONG aka PIMPN says:
keep away from me pot o gold!!! anyone got a link to a recent article bout shaq being the big karishnakov or some shit like that. i think he was dancing. help
Mar.28 at 11:27 am
Russ Bengtson says:
The Devil > Mike Krzfdsyzfefzeawzeytgrybzsdewski
Mar.28 at 12:56 pm
Lazy Lew says:
equinsu ocha is “white devil” in wahutut
Mar.28 at 6:26 pm
Dizzy says:
Sheed aint a
dookie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!