WE DID IT!!!

So this is a week late. I know that. It's taken me this long to get back acclimated to that little thing I forgot about for three weeks called school. And on top of that, I've been battling some insane illness that has had me by the throat for over a week now. I just hacked up a lung while I wrote that sentence.

But you know what, none of that matters, because WE DID IT!!! Yeah, I can say "we" because I was there. I was part of the support staff, however minor my role was. I was with them in Greensboro, in Memphis (barbecue...) and in Motown. I was there when LSU tied the game up in the second half and it looks like the dream run would be cut short. I was there when we rolled the Zags. I was there when Blake Griffin realized that he alone can't handle the Tar Heels. I was there when the Wildcats were tamed and sent back to Philly. And I was there when Ty Lawson got a record-breaking eight steals; when the Heels broke the record for points scored in the first half of any NCAA championship game; when Bobby made a wide-open lay-up in the final minutes of the game; when Coach Roy Williams called a time out with one minute to play to put in the third string; when Tyler Hansbrough bear-hugged the entire bench; when over 60,000 people dressed in green and white were silenced. I was there when the UNC Tar Heels won their fifth NCAA championship!!

And it was awesome.

I don't get emotional over much, but Carolina basketball does it to me. Before the tournament started, I watched a recap of the 2005 season when the Heels won the championship. I got a little teary when Sean May pulled down that last rebound. But for about 39 minutes Monday night, I held my composure. I didn't want to get excited to early. But when Coach Roy called that time out, it was all over. The water works started and I couldn't help it. By the end of the game I could barely play "Carolina Victory" because I was choked up. You can hear the tubas playing it in the broadcast of the game, but I promise you I wasn't the loud one.

I watched a replay of the game just last night and got choked up. I just can't help it. I feel some special attachment to these guys because we were freshman together. I spent my whole college career watching Danny, Bobby, Marcus, Cope and Tyler grow up and improve. I was there when they lost a heart-breaker to Georgetown in the Elite Eight in 2007. I watched them fall apart against Kansas in the Final Four last year. Then I saw all of them come back for one more year. Tyler wanted a ring. And, man, it felt so good to see him get it.

Back at the band hotel, fans were still waiting to see us when we arrived at sometime after two in the morning. We had a "champagne" toast, where the band director really made it all sink in. He said, "Since 1793, three students have worn a mascot uniform when the Tar Heels won a championship. Thirty-six students were in cheerleading outfits when a national championship was won, and 87 band members. Welcome to an elite group. Cheers."

On the plane the next day, the boys and Coach Roy were tired. I heard they didn't sleep all night because they had to be on the CBS Early Show. But they were happier than I've ever seen them. Coach Roy came onto that plane clutching the trophy like someone was going to steal it from him.

Maybe it's because I'm getting ready to graduate and this chapter of my life is ending, but there was something special about this team, this group of seniors and this season that I will remember for the rest of my life. Alumni now say can say that they were there in '82 with Jordan, or '93 with Vince Carter, or '57 with Rosenbluth.

But now I can say I was there in '09 with Tyler, Bobby, Danny, Marcus and all the boys.

Way to go Tar Heels!

Tuesday Guilty Pleasure

So I know this is going up a little late, but I think you'll excuse me since I just got back from Detriot a few hours ago. Oh what a trip it was, but more about that later.

This week's guilty pleasure is slightly different. This really isn't something that I should be ashamed for liking, but I really like it way to much. I'm not going to lie, when I saw this Monday night I shed a few tears. That may sound weird, but I'm a die hard Tar Heel and I just can't help it.

So without further adieu, here is Luther Vandross singing the basketball classic and tournament staple, "One Shining Moment."



I don't care how cheesy that song is, it's the best part of March Madness. I got choked up again. Why you got to do that to me, Luther??

The North Carolina Tar Heels are the 2009 NATIONAL CHAMPIONS!! Man that sounds good!

Tuesday Guilty Pleasure

It's Tuesday, and you know what that means. Tuesday Guilty Pleasure!! Wooo! You have the pleasure of seeing something that I love but I really, really shouldn't. Apparently last week I succeeded in getting techno stuck in everyone's head. Now you know why I love that song.

This week, I had to think a while before I came up with a song, but I think this is a good one. I've always loved Elton John. I'm not ashamed to say that. But this song is one that I probably shouldn't admit loving.

But don't even talk to me about the bastardized version from Moulin Rouge.

Roy Williams in his underwear

Four days and seemingly 20 pounds later, I'm back from Memphis! It's great to be back home, but it's going to be a short day. Since the Heels took care of business against Oklahoma, they are the East Regional champions and will be heading to the Final Four in Detroit!! And guess what? I'll be there with them! We fly out on Wednesday (so soon!) and, if all goes well, we'll be coming back late Tuesday. Look for more blog posts this week about the Motor City. Along those lines, I have more pictures and stories from the last two days in Memphis that I will post here soon.

But that's not what I want to talk about now.

Despite the fact that one of my favorite people is sharing the stage with one of the people I despise the most and that the argument that Coach K has sold out to American Express has kinda lost some credibility, this commercial is absolutely amazing!



First, I can't believe that they got Coach Williams to do this commercial in his underwear. At first I didn't think it was him but just a really good look alike. But then I knew that the rest of the coaches were real and it just had to be him. Then, the fact that they got Roy and Coach K to do the commercial together is great. And, of course, Bob Knight is a wack-job and just completely makes this commercial. And just watch Pitino bang those drums in the back. Classic!!

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On an unrelated note, Chris, Benji and I have decided to create a new blog called "Perpetual Bacchanals." (If you don't know what that word means, don't worry, I didn't either. Thanks, online dictionary!) It is a comedy blog (hopefully) that will detail life after college without a job in a terrible job market. Should be a good time! Feel free to laugh at our strife.

Dancing in Memphis, Day 2

I've seen ducks and I've eaten ribs. Check and check. I'm going to keep this post brief because I need to go to bed so that I can get up to go to Graceland, but I just had to share some things with you.

First, the marching of the ducks. This video isn't great (my poor digital camera) but you get the idea.



Then, earlier in the day, I got to go see the boys practice before their game tomorrow against Gonzaga. They looked good and had some fun. Marcus Ginyard stood with the press people and took pictures the whole time and Ty Lawson just stood at half court with coach most of the time.



Then, to top it all off, I got me some Rendezvous Ribs. The place is hidden down a back alley right by our hotel. It seems like a complete hole in the wall, but we all know that the best food comes in places like that. Our massive party of 23 was shoved in the back of the waiting area behind this divider with a sign that said "Private Party." That didn't bother me any. The tables had pitchers of sweet tea and water. I was all set.

Here's a look at what I ate this evening: a full rack of ribs with some beans and slaw. Mmmm mmmm.



And, finally, a trip to Memphis is nothing without a walk down Beale Street. We hit it earlier in the day on the way to the arena, but you have to see it at night. One great thing about Memphis: no open container laws. But since the athletic department is paying for me to be here, I'm not allowed to drink. I have to come back....



We did decide to go to B.B. King's blues club on Beale and enjoyed the awesome house band that was playing. We also got to watch dook get destroyed. Memphis lost too, but people didn't seem to be paying much attention to that in the bar. I guess basketball isn't quite as serious here as it is back home.

Now to bed. Tomorrow we're up early to get over to Graceland. Then, tomorrow night, it's game time.

Go Heels!!

Dancing in Memphis

Graceland, blues, ribs and Mark Cohn. Welcome to Memphis!

After a nice drubbing of Radford University and sneaking past the pesky LSU Tigers, the UNC Tar Heels have made it to the Sweet 16. And I'm right along here with them.

We are in a ridiculously nice hotel, the Peabody, that has a unnecessarily large TV for such a small room. But the best part is the fountain. And the ducks. If you don't know anything about it, the Peabody is famous for the duck march, where the Peabody ducks march into the fountain in the middle of the lobby and hang out for the day. Then at the end they march back out. I can't wait to see it. Oh, and be sure pictures will go up.

But first on the to-do list is to enjoy what some call the best ribs in the country at Rendezvous Ribs, which is apparently right across the street from here. Then onto the blues clubs on Beale Street. And maybe a little trip to Graceland. I'm in Memphis, I figure I'll make the most of it.

Our first game is Friday night, so until then I'm a free man in the heart of Memphis. Go Heels!



Side note, this is one of my favorite photos from last weekend. Dook played Texas right after our game and the Texas cheerleaders took advantage of our "friendly" rivalry by involving us in the cheers. I'm also pretty sure that AJ stole this sign from the cheerleaders. Oh well.

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Some other fun information:

Here's a great article on the newspaper industry. Some government officials are thinking about making newspapers nonprofits to save them some money. But that would mean that they can't be involved in political issues, like endorsing a candidate.

I also decided to set up some YouTube playlists so you can check out all the videos that I post on the site. I have a general one and one specially made for the Tuesday Guilty Pleasure series.

Brand Newz

I can't believe I forgot to post about this earlier. Just caught up in the rush of my last semester I guess....

Anyway, earlier this semester we had a special visitor come to our community journalism class. He's a professor at North Carolina Central University. He teaches a hip-hop class. Ladies and gentleman, Professor Play.



That's right, Christopher Martin (right), "professionally known as" Play from the hip-hop and comedy duo Kid 'n Play, is a professor in Durham. You may be wondering what in the world that has to do with my community journalism class. I'm getting there.

One of our goals this semester was to put together a community newspaper run by high school kids in Durham. We've had some problems getting this off the ground and are looking for any support we can get. Then our professor stumbled upon Play. Since he left the rap business, he's taken on a hobby: broadcast news. But this isn't just any news, it's Brand Newz.

Brand Newz is a website devoted to having amateur reporters from all over the country send in videos reporting the news and answering one simple question: "What's good with you?"

In class, Play said he was tired of 24-hour news doing unfair reporting and telling viewers what to think. Then BET took their news show off the air. With Brand Newz, Play hopes to fill that void of good news coming directly from the people, not talking heads telling you how you should feel.

Play did all the work himself at first, claiming that he was "putting stuff together the McGyver way." But the website has come a long way. He now has a small staff working with him and even plans on putting together a 30 minute version of Brand Newz on the MyRDC channel. He already has two-minute shorts that run on the channel.

One of my favorite videos is sent in by "Young Izzy." He films himself trying to get a job at a job fair at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park. It's the perfect example of the kind of story that Brand Newz is all about. Check it out.

And if you're not sure who Kid 'n Play is, click here.