Tids and Bits

Written for your enjoyment by: Raff

Just a few of the things rifling through my head as tipoff nears in Emmitsburg.

1. Is Apollo Ohno really that great? I mean seriously - I know he is the "most decorated American Winter Olympian of all time". But it just always seems that the guys they are comparing him to were far better. I mean do you seriously think what Apollo Ohno has done over 3 games is better than what Eric Heiden did in Lake Placid? Or that he really is all that much better than Bode Miller or Lindsey Vonn? Or the Mahre Brothers - ok I just threw them in there. I agree what he has done over a length of time has been impressive - and he's a guy worth rooting for. But it just seems to me that there are a lot of Americans in the history of the Games that have been more superior.
2. Congrats to Coach John Lewkowicz and his Lady Vikings of Union Pines High in North Carolina. Coach Lewk and his team won the Class 3-A sectional championships last night. I had the distinct pleasure of playing for Coach Lewk on both the soccer field and the basketball court - and am not surprised by his team's success. Best of luck as the quest for an NC State title begins.
3. I think I'm going to see a blowout today. Just not sure if it's going to come at Knott Arena or the Carrier Dome. But I think with the intensity of both games - that the chances are pretty good that one of the games could be a rout. The Mount is finally the team that many of us expected to see - and that is the best team in the NEC. However, I still hear some rumblings about the nine-game winning streak coming against some inferior competition. While some of that holds merit, the Mounties did get a win over Quinnipiac and St. Francis PA at home (avenging earlier season losses) and goto Monmouth and FDU to beat teams that otherwise might still be ahead of them in the standings. Meanwhile, at the Carrier Dome, Villanova is an extremely talented offensive team, that seems to play to the level of its competition. I think that is because there defense just isn't quality enough to stop people at important times. That could be the difference tonight.