Coach K-Mascot

Well, la-dee-freakin’-da, how ’bout them Dukies!

In a thrilling game from the opening tip until Gordon Hayward’s desperation 45-footer caromed off the backboard then off the rim at the buzzer, Duke edged Butler 61-59 Monday night to win the school’s fourth national championship and how very happy we all are for them. Neither team led by more than six points at any time and Butler never appeared overwhelmed or intimidated by the Duke’s Aura of Excellence at any point.

But the road traveled by Duke to excellence was a tough one. Between sophomoric (but brilliant) sports departments at Midwestern newspapers to the usual binge drinkers of Duke-brand Haterade, it has been a struggle for Coach K’s minions as well as his devout followers to stand strong in the face of pressure to not only be the only number one seed to reach the Final Four but to win the whole darn thing. Kudos to them. Really. It’s really, really great.

Of course the knee-jerk accolades have already begun to pour in. David Dodd , Senior Writer for CBS Sports, has decreed the debate over and that Mike Krzyzewski is the greatest college coach of all-time, despite admitting in his own argument that Coach K is “miles” behind John Wooden’s 10 national titles. Wooden? Screw that guy. If Krzyzewski had his druthers, he would slow dance on the grave of Coach Wooden with the Blue Devils mascot – you know, if John Wooden were actually dead.

But what do I know? I didn’t even watch the game live last night. Instead, I went and saw Clash of the Titans. Hey, if I’m going to watch someone parade around with a God complex for two hours, it might as well be an actual god. Or at least one portrayed by the dreamy Liam Neeson.