The day of the NIT quarterfinals is the perfect day for a news dump, which is probably why Donald Trump assumed he’d be arrested today. He’s probably been ready for this every year, to be honest, because whatever your opinion on the man, we can all agree that he’s spent time in New York, which means he knows Madison Square Garden, which means he understands the draw of the NIT. Every time the NIT quarterfinals roll around, the guy presumably wakes, makes an uncomfortable grunting noise, and says, “Bet I get arrested today.”
This is not a blog post about Donald Trump, though. We only get one of those a quarter and Stuart usually uses it on some highfalutin bullshit about “true patriotism.” No, this is about real true patriotism. This is about the World Baseball Classic, the championship of which is tonight. Or rather: ToNITe. During the first two NIT quarterfinals
Did nobody look at a basketball schedule???
People assume that NIT fans don’t watch the World Baseball Classic, mostly because they assume NIT fans don’t exist (rude, wrong). Well, uh, hello! It’s me! I like the World Baseball Classic and I also like the NIT! And so do my friends!! Many of them!!! My friend Jamie (who’s basically leading the NIT Bracket Challenge right now, not to get ahead of myself on his behalf) even asked back in January if we’d be blogging about the World Baseball Classic. And Jamie adores the NIT. He’s told me that multiple times when I’ve shown up at his door with fireworks and a threatening aura about me.
I don’t know why executives didn’t make the connection. Both the NIT and the sport of baseball are rooted deeply in nostalgia. Both the NIT and the sport of baseball are historically associated with New York City. Both the NIT and the sport of baseball are rad. Did you *see* the ending of that Rutgers game and/or the ending of Japan’s win over Mexico last night?
So, to answer my friend Hunter’s text, no, I will unfortunately not be able to watch my country try to take home World Baseball Classic gold this evening. But dammit, does that make me sad. (I’ll have it on the second screen. Still confused why Joe Kelly wasn’t rostered.)
Fargo Barfed
The pup regurgitated this morning. Not sure what happened. It wasn’t a full barf, so that’s good, but she did it on the carpet and it was pretty much her food, intact, and she loves her food so cleaning it up involved also going full Abou Ousmane on her and boxing the hell out. She’s been a sweet snoozly girl since then. I think she missed me when I was in New York and Denton last week. She’s gonna be bummed when I go to Las Vegas and possibly the gates of Hell to end the month (this is not a Houston dig, but if you harbor the NCA* *********t, maybe it should be).
Pat Beverley Rocks
Pat Bev had six points and four boards last night, Zach LaVine dropped 26, and I’m still able to attribute the win to Pat Bev because this is a vibe-based league we’re watching here. I love this development. I don’t have to credit anyone on the Bulls for playing well except for Pat Bev, because “the stuff he does doesn’t show up in the stat sheet.” As a good friend asked this morning, “Can you imagine going to the finals as a 10 seed?” Yes, Scott. Yes I can.
Dylan Ferguson Rocks
The Sens started Dylan Ferguson in goal last night, a 24-year-old who hasn’t played in the NHL since 2017, when he got nine minutes with Vegas.
He made 48 saves.
The Senators beat the Penguins, 2–1, and while the Panthers won, so they only made up one point on the playoff threshold, they did pass the Capitals and Sabres, so they’re in 10th in the Eastern Conference. Got the Bruins tonight in Boston, which would feel like an upset waiting to happen if the narrative that the Sens have the Bruins number hadn’t gotten established early in the year. Kind of dangerous now. Might lose by eleven.
Panthers are at the Flyers, Caps are hosting the Blue Jackets, Sabres are hosting the Predators, Islanders host the Leafs. I don’t like any of those matchups for our Sens.
Pitino and the Garden
Rick Pitino had his introductory press conference at St. John’s today, and he said they’re bringing NIT basketball back to Madison Square Garden.
Well.
He said that they’re going to play all their conference home games at Madison Square Garden, but you get the idea. He wants more games there, and since he’s clearly chasing that elusive NIT, that means he also wants postseason games in the Mecca. Why would you have regular season home games in your biggest arena and not have your postseason home games there? It wouldn’t make sense.
So, yes, we’re excited to watch the NIT back at MSG. Might buy our plane tickets now. St. John’s will definitely be in that exact 1 through 4-seed window next year and there definitely won’t be an MSG scheduling conflict and the powers that be will definitely have the game there and not in Queens. It is assured.
