Sports and the City

 

Before I dive into the subject matter we’ve all been avoiding for the passed two days, I’d like to take a few minutes to welcome you into my point of view. As I sit here, drinking my coffee, watching Gilmore Girls, and talking to my dog, it’s pretty obvious: I’m a girl. And for the most part, a girlie-girl. I love the color pink, can’t live without my hair straightener, and I’ve seen Justin Timberlake six times in concert (a fact my husband tells me I shouldn’t be so quick to point out). In spite of all these qualities, come Saturday, my favorite activities including tuning into GameDay Live, cracking open a cold one, and seeing which mascots Lee Corso parades in front of Herbie and company. I know football. And I know the Bucks. And nothing bugs me more than men assuming I would be better suited in a short pleated skirt asking what it means when the guy kicks the ball through those yellow poles. With this brief introduction into my life, I am proud to be a guest blogger for the Memphis Buckeyes.

 

I guess it’s time. We can’t avoid the unavoidable forever. Eventually, we are bound to log onto The Dispatch website, tune into Sports Center, or get hassled by our colleagues. Eventually, we must face the facts: the Buckeyes got killed. Crushed. Slaughtered. You saw it; you know it’s the truth. When I replay the game in my mind, I can’t help but wonder…

 

What Happened to My Bucks?

 

Before I sat down to write this entry, I decided to re-read some highlights from the 2002 season. I’m sure you all remember it vividly; the Holy Buckeye play featuring Krenzel and Jenkins, going into OT versus the Illini, and my favorite, the 4th and 14 play Krenzel nailed versus Miami. I have very fond memories of that season, being a proud freshman at one of the most elite universities in the country, known affectionately as The Ohio State University. That season was a great one. One that we might not see again for a while (the proof coming to life on the eve of September 13th). As I reminisce about the 2002 Buckeyes, one thing seems to jump out at me: a little think I like to call the D. I’m sure you remember Mike Doss, Will Smith, and Donnie Nickey (a man my mother had her eyes set on becoming her son-in-law. Sorry, mom.).

 

Defense. I hardly feel the need to elaborate. Defense. The word seems to ring in my ears. Defense. Do you cringe a little when hearing it? Defense. I hate to keep shoving it down your throat. Let’s face it: the Defense looked a hot mess (did I mention I’m a huge Puff Daddy fan?). In other words, the D looked hot on paper, but a mess in action. We could go on all day placing the blame: Beanie was out, the refs favored them, Tress wouldn’t play Pryor (which, in fact, I would also consider to be a hot mess of a situation, but that’s for another day). But despite all of these factors, I still think it comes down to the D. That’s what won it for us in 02. That’s the team we need to get back to. The team my husband (and anyone outside of Buckeye Nation, really) thinks is boring to watch. The team that evokes fear in the eyes of the opposing offense. The team that breaths energy into whatever stadium they are playing in (remember the Stadium O-H-I-O cheer we rocked in Tempe?).

 

I suppose you get the point. And hopefully my point of view. The time has come to wrap it up; I feel I have adequately expressed my disappointment in the Buckeye Defense. Stay tuned for an interesting season; maybe my friends from the Other OSU will realize their dreams of a re-match, and I’m not so sure we will be able to play our Wide Receiver at Quarterback and win. At least my Fantasy team is 2-0 (thank you, Phillip Rivers).

 

Go Bucks! O-H-…