Thursday, March 17, 2011

Hoya Bracketology

The NCAA Tournament is the heart of March Madness, and is what every college basketball team in America plays for. The office NCAA pools have evolved to the science of Bracketology? My Georgetown psychology professor would cringe if he heard me even speaking about Bracketology being a science. Indeed Bracketology is even more absurd than the college basketball polls that start in the preseason. However, they are fun and give us Georgetown alumni & fans a chance to relive our years on the Hilltop. It seems like only yesterday that I lived in Village A and spent many days and evenings in Yates Field House playing pick up basketball. Every Hoya basketball gym rat in those days dreamed of playing with John Duren, Craig Shelton, and Gene Smith. We dreamed of dishing the rock to Sleepy Floyd for a rainbow jumper, and serving up an alley-oop pass to Patrick Ewing! Yes, Bracketology gives us a chance to live our dreams, and fight for alma mater! Hoya Saxa!


On my way to New York City and Madison Square Garden last week, I thought about how my return trip to D.C., and Leo O’Donovan Hall for the NCAA Selection show on Sunday has become part of my yearly ritual. I look forward to the pizza, salsa & chips, and the discussion of road trip sites. When our selection to play the VCU/USC winner in Chicago came, a big cheer resounded on the Hilltop! Chicago is an easy trip from DC, and is a city with a large alumni base. Now that we know we are playing a very talented VCU team we can focus on our opponent. As Gene Hackman states so well in the movie “Hoosiers,” it is important to only speak about the immediate opponent, and not to discuss potential future opponents. Indeed all Georgetown basketball fans are somewhat superstitious by nature and can understand this. The day after our men’s basketball selection show I I attended our Hoya women’s basketball selection show at the Faculty Club in the Leavey Center. There was a great crowd, and everyone was enjoying some tacos and fajitas. Once again the Lady Hoyas opponent was announced at the very end of the show like the men’s team. The Lady Hoyas would face the Princeton Tigers in College Park this Sunday at 2:30 PM. For all Hoya fans in the D.C. area this will be a great game to attend. My immediate reaction was being thankful that the women were playing Princeton and not the men. Coach JT III I am sure would not be happy if he had to play his former team Princeton, led by former Hoya assistant coach Sidney Johnson.


If you are in Chicago for the men’s game on Friday at 9:45 PM, please attend our NCAA Kickoff Party at the Swissotel (Hoya Headquarters at 323 East Wacker Drive) from 4-6 PM before heading to the United Center.


If you have not seen my picture albums for the Men’s & Women’s NCAA Selection Shows on the Hoya Hoop Club Facebook Page please go to:


http://www.facebook.com/album.php?id=108495557266&aid=283523


Remember to join our Hoya Hoop Club Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/HoyaHoopClub and our HHC Twitter Feed at @HoyaHoopClub for the most comprehensive coverage of Georgetown Men’s Basketball and the Hoya Hoop Club.


Let the Madness Begin! We are Georgetown! Hoya Saxa!


Dr. Thomas A. Wong

Hoya Hoop Club Vice-President & Director of Communications

Proud Member of Generation Ewing

Monday, March 7, 2011

Madison Square Garden IV--The World's Most Famous Arena




The Big East Tournament in Madison Square Garden (the current Garden is often referred to as MSG IV or the 4th incarnation of MSG) is one of the highlights of the college basketball season. A week's worth of basketball in the world's greatest City is an event every great basketball fan needs to experience. Indeed Madison Square Garden has always been Georgetown's home away from home. As I think about Chris Wright's unfortunate injury, I remember the 1993-94 season when Georgetown shocked everyone with a run to the Big East Final. I remember Hoya fans rocking the old Blue seats in Madison Square Garden. In fact whenever I enter the Garden I can still hear that fan behind me screaming at the top of his lungs: "Joey Brown--Morgan City, Louisiana!" That is a cheer I will never forget. Indeed Joey Brown is one of my all-time favorite Hoyas! At only 5'9" Joey was a ferocious defender who was always a clutch shooter with the game on the line.

The first Madison Square Garden was opened in 1879 in a former hippodrome at the northeast corner of Madison Avenue and 26th Streets. The original Garden hosted the Democratic National Convention as well as both the Barnum and Ringling's circuses. The second version of Madison Square Garden was built in the same location by a syndicate of J.P. Morgan, P.T. Barnum, Andrew Carnegie, Darius Mills, James Stillman, and W. W. Astor. The Garden has an unprecedented history of boxing matches including 32 world championship fights between1925-1945. Indeed Ali-Frazier I in 1971 was perhaps the first major sporting event of my childhood. Although there is much debate on actual dates, it is commonly accepted that both the first college and professional basketball games were played at Madison Square Garden. Indeed the first professional game was won by the Original Celtics. The current home of the Big East tournament, Madison Square Garden is where basketball began--The Mecca!

From the days when I lived on West 21st Street I loved to visit Madison Square Park. Madison Square Garden--The World's Most Famous Arena is my favorite place to watch a ball game. I can still remember my First Big East Tournament when we defeated #2 ranked St. John's University which featured future NBA stars Chris Mullin, Bill Wennington, Mark Jackson, and Walter Berry. The game was the closest thing to a heavyweight fight I have ever seen, as the cheers of Hoya Saxa sounded throughout the 5 boroughs. I remember our last BET title in 2007 as we defeated Pitt--I got to share this with the Hoya Hoop Club Blogmaster John Hawkes. I always look forward to seeing former AD's Frank Rienzo and Joe Lang. I often run into Frank Rienzo at the Church of St. Francis. We both love the movie the Godfather along with Hall of Fame Coach John Thompson, Jr. I remember discussing games and the Big East conference with Joe Lang. Joe used to tell me that Frank McGuire at St. John's would tell him that the blue seats in the Garden up high were the best place to see the game, as you could see the plays develop and players free themselves for open shots.

Indeed I better get packing! My train leaves in about 8 hours. On Wednesday we will play the winner of the UCONN--DePaul game. After this crazy Big East season, I will not comment on who I think will win. If you are coming to the games or are in New York City, drop by the Affinia Hotel before doubleheader sessions at the Hoya Headquarters. We will have a Hoya Hoop Club reception at 5:00 PM on Wednesday March 9th with AD Lee Reed at Stout NYC.

P.S. Please follow our coverage on Facebook and Twitter throughout the week:
Twitter: @HoyaHoopClub
Restaurant Reviews at: doublehoya.yelp.com
I may even share what is on my iPOD!

Let's Play Ball--We are Georgetown!

Dr. Thomas A. Wong
Hoya Hoop Club Vice-President & Director of Communications
Proud Member of Generation Ewing