Monday Morning Hive Is Mad About March-ness
In the Hive
It sure is a beautiful morning in Buckeye country, isn’t it fellow Defenders? March Madness has come in like a lion, at least on the hardwood. There is much to recant, so let us not delay, and get right to the buzz in todays Monday Morning Hive.
Three-Peat Three-Way
The Ohio State Basketball Men woke up on this glorious morning ready to begin the first full day of being the (co)three-peat champions of the Big Ten. It is not every day that a school earns a third consecutive Big Ten Conference Title. The gauntlet that is a Big Ten basketball schedule, whether for football or basketball, is one that can wear down a team over the course of a season. Even a defending champion. Although expectations were high coming into this basketball season this young team has had to scratch and claw its way to even a share of the crown. At times, many fans had accused the players of having given up, and not playing with enough heart. I, myself, am guilty.
The saying goes “Heavy is the head that wears the crown”. Perhaps it just took the full season for a group of young guys, and a senior possibly contemplating his future endeavors, to fully adjust to the weight of the hopes and anticipation from a large, expectant, and hungry fan base. None but the young men on the court truly know. Whatever the means, the end is sugary sweet. Not to mention, there is a renewed sense of hope and pride heading into tournament time.
As the Men of the Scarlet and Gray showed in their come-from-behind win IN Least Lancing last night, they are not quitters. They are Champions.
Never mind the fact that we are sharing the title of Big Ten regular season Champs with not one, but BOTH teams from That State Up North. Under other circumstances, that might be cause for a bitter-sweet taste accompanying the smell of victory. This time however, there are two very good reasons for the absence of that :
1.)The Buckeyes took down Sparty on their homecourt, on Senior Day, on Draymond Greens birthday, to steal what would have been an outright conference title for MSU. This coming just weeks after State bested the Buckeyes in Columbus to end their 39 game home win streak.
And
2.) This quote by Trey Burke:
“It was silent the whole time (Buford’s shot) was in the air,” said Michigan guard Trey Burke, who is from Columbus, Ohio. “Once it went in, everybody just flooded the hallway, jumping up and down.”
Players and fans of TTUN having to root for Ohio State?! And getting excited when we actually win?!
There is no way that could feel any less than wonderful. (Not to mention surreal)
The Buckeyes play on Friday night and I hope, nay, expect a renewed vigor in the young men that yesterday wore their hearts on their sleeves, and left it all on the floor.
And I will be rooting them on with the respect and faith that they have shown they deserve.
Stieber Takes Down A Title
It has been, a banner year for the OSU Wrestling team, Figuratively, and now, literally.
Redshirt freshman wrestler Logan Stieber won the 2012 Big Ten Champion award on Sunday, at the 133 pound class. Logan was a vital part of the historic win earlier this season against perennial wrestling powerhouse, Iowa. That was the first time the Buckeyes had out-grappled the Hawkeyes on the mat since 1966. Woody Hayes was still coaching the football team at that time. That is a long, long time.
Stieber, and younger brother Hunter (second in his weight class), both had good showings yesterday, but the day ultimately belonged to big brother. Giving up a pin in the early going, Logan recorded a takedown of his own later in the match to earn the victory. I may not know a lot about wrestling, but I know how rich a conference championship feels, and how deserved it is for a young, hungry competitor like Stieber. He became the 35th Ohio State Big Ten Champion. Any time a Buckeye accomplishes a feat like that, he (or she) deserves a Buckeye sticker, helmet or not.
Sending Chris On His Hollo-Way
As many of you know by now, Chris is leaving OHD to pursue opportunities presented him at BuckeyeGrove.com, a part of Rivals.com. We would like to wish him the best in his trek as his ultimate goal is to become a fulltime paid sports journalist. A fine dream to be sure. I will personally be rooting him on in his endeavors. His grande finale as a part of OHD was a befitting recap of William Buford’s epic performance yesterday versus Michigan State.
Perhaps I am not the most appropriate person to bid adieu, as I have only been acquainted with Chris for the short time that I have been a part of OHD. But I have quickly come to appreciate and respect Chris for many reasons. One of which is his level-headed approach and outlook towards the sports world, especially the Buckeyes.
I am, admittedly, a bit of a hot head when it comes to my Buckeyes. However, Chris is much more adept at channeling his rampant love for the Buckeyes into more productive directives, such as baking cookies. And delicious are those cookies. We will miss his baking abilities and calm demeanor, along with everything else that Chris brings to the table. Which is not a minuscule amount of talent by any stretch.
Good luck Chris. And remember, someone once said: “There is no one way to greatness… Greatness is the way.”
The Dagger
Just because it was poetic justice to cap-off a season full of intermingling story lines, here is Willie Bu ripping out the hearts of Sparty fans.
Oh, sorry, that wasn’t it. *evil grin*
Here it is:
Go Bucks!
Written by: Nate McKenzie |
Thanks for the kind words Nate. It has been an excellent ride.
Good riddance to Chris. He was a total ball hog in our OHD pick-up games.
Maybe now we can bring in someone who won’t let something as trivial as an emergency appendectomy prevent them from writing their hive.
I sent Vico some samples of some writing from a couple guys that could replace me. I think right now it’s between the talking cymbals monkey and a potted cactus. Either one should increase readership.
I vote cymbals monkey. Cacti hurt my delicate esophagus.