First of all, that's bullshit …
The only thing I can dispute in Big Red's last two columns is that … the Kansas/Missouri rivalry is not the biggest in college basketball. Regardless of whether either team is having an off year or not, there is no doubt in my mind … and most of the sporting community … that the UNC/Duke rivalry is THE rivalry in college basketball. The first episode this year wasn't much of a contest … and it just kills me to watch Coach K get one more victory in Chapel Hill … but Carolina will pick it up. And if nothing else, Coach K knows that. The rest of this might be a tear jerker … consider yourself warned. So what is it about feeling compelled to get on the computer when I get home from a night of drunkenness? I mean, can I tell you how many countless times I've gotten on the computer and sent drunk emails spilling my emotions or anger to someone. Oh Jesus, let's not forget the ridiculous amounts of cash I've shelled out while being on E-Bay drunk. I knew those Blue Jays roller skates were a bad idea. But I suppose not all of it can be a bad thing. After coming home from a celebratory drink or two at Burke Street Pub back in the late fall, I hoped on Instant Messanger … drunk … and found my good friend Meghan Conway online. Over the past year, Meghan and I have become great friends, although we have never met face to face. Unfortunately, the matters that brought our friendship together aren't the ideal picture perfect start to a friendship. Meghan's older sister, Stephanie, was a dear friend of mine during my grad school year at UGA. Steph worked in the athletic department along with me and the rest of the crew. Sadly enough, Stephanie passed away in Nov. of 2000 due to complications from a car accident. If you'd like to read more about that, click on the icon with Stephanie's photo on the left hand side of the screen. As tragic as Steph's passing was, and still is, it made me realize a great deal about friendship, family and love. I loved Stephanie. She was an extension of my family, as are all my close friends. Despite the tragedy, it opened up many new friendships amongst her friends. I know converse with people from Oregon I've never even met … all because of the love and passion we all felt for Steph's life. So on this night back in the fall, Meghan and I were talking. I finally got up the nerve to say what I wanted to say … to tell Meghan how much her sister meant to me and how much I missed her … how much it hurt to know that I was here in Winston-Salem … alone … while her family and friends were in Atlanta by Steph's bedside. I know I can't go back and change time or the reason why I couldn't be down there, but I wanted to tell Meghan those things. She is a strong kid, and to lose a sibling is just unbelievable to me. I can't imagine the pain and sorrow she still feels, yet her strength is unparalleled. By the end of the conversation, we were both in tears and just thankful we could discuss Stephanie. So I suppose what I am getting at, and as hooky as it sounds, it just seems more and more important to me to simply talk. Talk to my parents, talk to my sister, talk to my friends, talk to the rest of my family … and let them know how important they are to me. So next time I'm on IM drunk late night and buying something I don't need on E-bay, just be prepared. I could drop you a line and let you know what I think of you.
The only thing I can dispute in Big Red's last two columns is that … the Kansas/Missouri rivalry is not the biggest in college basketball. Regardless of whether either team is having an off year or not, there is no doubt in my mind … and most of the sporting community … that the UNC/Duke rivalry is THE rivalry in college basketball. The first episode this year wasn't much of a contest … and it just kills me to watch Coach K get one more victory in Chapel Hill … but Carolina will pick it up. And if nothing else, Coach K knows that. The rest of this might be a tear jerker … consider yourself warned. So what is it about feeling compelled to get on the computer when I get home from a night of drunkenness? I mean, can I tell you how many countless times I've gotten on the computer and sent drunk emails spilling my emotions or anger to someone. Oh Jesus, let's not forget the ridiculous amounts of cash I've shelled out while being on E-Bay drunk. I knew those Blue Jays roller skates were a bad idea. But I suppose not all of it can be a bad thing. After coming home from a celebratory drink or two at Burke Street Pub back in the late fall, I hoped on Instant Messanger … drunk … and found my good friend Meghan Conway online. Over the past year, Meghan and I have become great friends, although we have never met face to face. Unfortunately, the matters that brought our friendship together aren't the ideal picture perfect start to a friendship. Meghan's older sister, Stephanie, was a dear friend of mine during my grad school year at UGA. Steph worked in the athletic department along with me and the rest of the crew. Sadly enough, Stephanie passed away in Nov. of 2000 due to complications from a car accident. If you'd like to read more about that, click on the icon with Stephanie's photo on the left hand side of the screen. As tragic as Steph's passing was, and still is, it made me realize a great deal about friendship, family and love. I loved Stephanie. She was an extension of my family, as are all my close friends. Despite the tragedy, it opened up many new friendships amongst her friends. I know converse with people from Oregon I've never even met … all because of the love and passion we all felt for Steph's life. So on this night back in the fall, Meghan and I were talking. I finally got up the nerve to say what I wanted to say … to tell Meghan how much her sister meant to me and how much I missed her … how much it hurt to know that I was here in Winston-Salem … alone … while her family and friends were in Atlanta by Steph's bedside. I know I can't go back and change time or the reason why I couldn't be down there, but I wanted to tell Meghan those things. She is a strong kid, and to lose a sibling is just unbelievable to me. I can't imagine the pain and sorrow she still feels, yet her strength is unparalleled. By the end of the conversation, we were both in tears and just thankful we could discuss Stephanie. So I suppose what I am getting at, and as hooky as it sounds, it just seems more and more important to me to simply talk. Talk to my parents, talk to my sister, talk to my friends, talk to the rest of my family … and let them know how important they are to me. So next time I'm on IM drunk late night and buying something I don't need on E-bay, just be prepared. I could drop you a line and let you know what I think of you.
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