Back in probably '76, I was watching the Oscar awards on TV. The
host said something about it being a live telecast, and to prove it,
announced the current score of a game (probably semi-finals) between
Michigan and Indiana. May be they showed the game briefly.
And in '78 or '79, we were celebrating the Ugadi function in
Indianapolis, and THE game between Michigan State and Indiana State was
going on. We had to put a little TV set in a corner for the
aficionados. After all, the game featured two of the finest players
ever to come out of Midwest, Larry Bird of ISU and Earvin (Magic)
Johnson of MSU.
Forget the Superbowl, Rose Bowl, Cotton (picking) Bowl, ALCS, NLCS,
and the World Series. For sheer drama nothing beats NCAA Basketball,
with its roster of 64 teams, some of them super-teams, and some of them
Cinderellas, hoping to delay the midnight hour as long as possible.
The Final Four is just decided. Gone by the wayside are the confident
Connecticut, ubiquitous UCLA, powerhouse Purdue, evil empire North
Carolina, mighty Michigan. Where are the Villanovas, UNLV's, and
Georgetowns of yesteryear? What's left is:
The almost-unbeaten UMass, only twice-beaten Kentucky, the always-a-
bridesmaid Syracuse, and the Cinderella Mississippi State.
Why am I writing all this? How is this related to this group? teliyadA!
ee Sanka meekostundani nAku anupinchindi.
We have the distinct honour that Kamala Anupindi and Sanka Ramakrishna
are going to have their colleges represented in this premier event. And
one of the two in the Finals!
Is this the year for Jim Boeheim? The Gene Siskel look-alike has been
to the Final Four before. He was in the Final game too. He always finds
a way to do so. But for Mississippi State, this is redemption. This is
about respect. This is to make all those sports writers who still refer
to them as Univ of Mississippi see the light, and repent!
They say every dog shall have his day. The day for the Bulldogs is here.
Saturday for sure. Monday, may be!
Ramakrishna "Go Bulldogs! Go Orangemen!" Pillalamarri