Finally, the Grizz has a chance to write his senior column. Now, I am sure that there is quite a buzz surrounding my column.
Well, feel free to let loose; maybe throw your hands in the air and wave them around as if there are no repercussions. (I stole that from Kenny Mayne).
For starters, I would like to thank some very special people. Former editors Mike King and Joel Israel, former "student" Neal Morgan, the honorable Nicholas J. Tylwalk, my fellow horseman Barrett Peterson, my first interviewee Linda Grensing, the two people I inspired to write letters to the editor, Axel Dench, the Ultimate Warrior, David Lee Roth and, of course, Matthew and Gunner Nelson.
Now for the real stuff. In my three years at this paper, I have fought the good fight, but it seems to no avail. I did not watch my buddies die face down in the muck, so that The Chronicle sports section could ignore high-quality athletic events as if they did not exist.
One might ask, "What's that you say?" Well, the Grizz says this, there is a conspiracy going on here, one that reaches the very top of the ladder. I ask you, how many times have you opened the paper and been disappointed by the narrow scope of the sports pages?
So, I'm not gonna take, no, I ain't gonna take it... these sports need recognition. And now they're going to get it. I'm talking about professional wrestling, bowling, billiards, world's strongest man, mullet toss.
How many pro wrestling stories have there been in my three years? Three, and I wrote them all. Millions (and millions) of people watch Monday night wrestling as if it were a religion, but do we even acknowledge that it exists? Not unless I fight and scrap to earn a few inches to give the "entertaining" sport its due.
Moreover, bowling tournaments are played almost every single weekend. How hard is it to run a short piece on Walter Ray Williams Jr. nailing a late turkey for the win, or Parker Bohn III picking up a clutch spare in the ninth frame? What about Chief Iron Bear, or the incomparable Magnus Magnussen, throwing kegs to new record heights?
I remember one night watching Janette Lee, "The Black Widow," run the table against Allison Fisher to win the deciding game of the Nine-ball tourney. I open my Chronicle the next day, hoping to find some commentary on the miraculous spurt. What did I find? Nothing.
And then there's NASCAR. If I started on this topic, my article would have to take up far too many pages. Let's just say, The Wall Street Journal has probably run more articles about this grueling and intense sport than this fair sports section.
Maybe The Chronicle is just drafting behind another paper, waiting for the proper time to slingshot ahead with tons of racing stories.
But, on to more serious matters. My three years of writing have been quite a treat, due in large part to my two favorite sports to cover-volleyball and women's lacrosse. Many of my stories have focused on these two teams, and most of my memorable moments fall into this area as well.
While it is quite difficult to top the 1997 volleyball team's seven-game winning streak which included a dominating win over UNC in Chapel Hill, there was one match that stands above the rest.
On a nice evening in September of 1998, the Blue Devils trailed Ball State by two games and were down 12-4 in the third. The Cardinals' genius coach cleared his bench, sensing the match was all but over. Much to his dismay, Duke responded to this arrogant maneuver and rallied to capture the game, 15-13. The Blue Devils carried their momentum into the next two games, winning them both and the match, and leaving the Ball State coach wondering if he would still have a job come Monday.
The women's lacrosse team, which has risen to national prominence over the last few years, provided many exciting moments as well. In the Blue Devils' 1999 season opener, I traveled to Maryland to cover the game vs. the top-ranked Terps. Having not checked the weather forecast, I sat with Neal on a below freezing night in a windbreaker, as Duke fell behind 6-1. As I sat there cursing the idea for this trip, the visitors stormed back into the game. Unfortunately, the Terps held on for the victory, but not without Duke playing one of the best halves I have seen.
And, of course, no sports memory would be complete without a Tar Heel story. One of the finest performances I have seen occurred in the women's lacrosse team's first-ever win over Carolina. Even though Tricia Martin was ejected after receiving two yellow cards, the Blue Devils hung tough for an 8-7 win in Durham.
So, I guess that's about all I have to say about that. I tried my best to represent my three years of writing in this column-a love for covering the non-revenue sports, as well as a less serious side that truly enjoys discussing the finer points of WWF and the seven-ten split.
While many writers might see me as a child who wanders into the middle of a movie with no frame of reference, I like to think of myself as the rug that really ties the room together.
And I guess that's the bottom line, 'cause the Grizz said so.
Brian Kane is a Trinity Senior.
Get The Chronicle straight to your inbox
Signup for our weekly newsletter. Cancel at any time.