Why Do We Need Announcers?

I was watching the North Carolina-South Carolina basketball game last night and Jay Bilas really outdid himself in announcing this game. He kept harping on the fact that South Carolina had 17 first half turnovers and that North Carolina should be ahead by alot more than 13 points. I am not denying it was a valid point but he repeated it over and over and over.

I have always thought Jay Bilas is one of the better college analysts out there especially for an ex- Duke Blue Devil but last night he was really off of his game. Most ex-Dookies are cut out to be clueless announcers or assistants on Coach K's staff but Jay Bilas was always the exception. Maybe he has spent too much time listening to Jay Williams or maybe he should stay in the studio but last night, he was horrible.

Coach K and $5 Million

I read in the Charlotte Observer today that Coach K was paid $5 Million in the year 2009 making him the highest paid employee at Duke University. I am sure he is the highest paid by employee by leaps and bounds. I wonder how much the president of the university makes?

Coach K declined comment on the article. I find his silence amusing because He has become a Public Relations machine over the past 10 years or so. If something can make him look good or he is cashing a check, his face is out in front of it or he is hawking it. I don't guess a polish sausage company could come up with enough money. I am guessing he declined comment on the article because it cast him in a negative light.

I am sure the $5 Million doesn't include all of his endorsement deals. His salary is only topped by his ego. The only reason that figure was made public was because Duke University had to report it.

Duke vs. Arizona

I am a diehard North Carolina Tarheels fan. It doesn't matter what sport, I pull for the 'Heels. That being written, I will never pull for Duke. Ever. When you mention North Carolina vs. Duke, you immediately think basketball. It's natural. Its college basketballs best rivalry. It has been for years especially since ESPN came onto the scene. I am not like most fans because I do pull for North Carolina in football as well. Almost all Duke fans don't even know they have a football team.

I enjoy watching Duke lose. Especially in basketball. I have got every North Carolina victory against Duke on tape or DVD since the early 1990's. I break them out every once in a while when I am depressed and need a pick me up.

I do not like Coach K. I never have and I never will. I will give him credit and say that he is a good (not great) coach and an even better recruiter. He, however, is a public relations machine for himself. When the cameras are on, his whole persona changes (except during a game). I remember one interview he did with ESPN where he allowed the cameras into one of his practices. That "event" was staged more than a Broadway musical. Whenever someone would make a mistake he would pull all of his team together and he would explain things in a very soft spoken voice and even Jay Bilas, an ESPN announcer and former player for Coach K back in the '80's) said I don't remember him being like that. I remember alot more yelling.

I think this self-promotion goes against everything an "amateur" coach should be. I realize that college sports are the farthest thing from being amateur because there is money to be had for everyone but the players. Everytime talk of the NBA comes up, I hope Coach K goes. He would get slaughtered and he would be exposed and the "aura" of Coach K would be gone.

All of this being written, watching Arizona dismantle Duke gave me a great deal of satisfaction. Arizona outrebounded and outplayed Duke and they did not have an answer. I watched ESPN 3 or 4 times this morning so I could watch the highlights over and over. I do believe Coach K made a bad move by bringing Kyrie Irving back this late in the season. Very few second-guessed that move (Jay Bilas was one of them) and at some point and time, he and the select few in the media will feel the wrath of Coach K. It affected the chemistry of the team. I believe Coach K had something up his sleeve with that move. I have read rumors on the internet that Kyrie Irving is potentially the #1 draft pick in the next NBA draft. Coach K will hound him into coming back. He always does for the good of "his" program.

I am afraid the satisfaction will be short-lived because I do not think the 'Heels are strong enough to win it this year. They may not even get by Marquette. At least I had a 24 hour window in which I could enjoy Duke's season going up in flames over and over again.