To those lamenting these corporate forces encroaching on collegiate athletic tradition, taking the best interests of athletes out of the equation and forcing schools to travel every which way to compete…
To those wishing for the days of yesteryear, when life was simple and sports were good, when it was clear at all times when you were and weren’t watching the best…
To those who think the people running college sports don’t have your, you the fan, you the moneymaker for all of this, you the person who loves these things enough to read blogs about them, your best interests at heart…
Welcome to NIT fandom.
The NIT is no stranger to encroaching outsiders, having dealt with them from its second year, back in 1939 (legendary field, and yes I do think Roanoke deserved the invite). As we all know, 1939 was the year the NCA* *********t began “operation,” kicking into action a chain of events that led to some people respecting Duke and also Oregon playing Rutgers in football in conference action (I heard they’re going to put it on Thursday night so the kids can’t go to class, but that’s just a rumor I’m starting). Thankfully, the NIT has persisted past the persecution, and now stands in a place where, while many still pretend it’s the inferior option, it’s known by all real fans to be the best men’s basketball postseason tournament around.
Still, realignment will affect the NIT. Here’s how:
1. Shorter Travel
Oregon and Washington State are locked in an NIT dance for the ages, and as someone who occasionally helps the legendary Joe Stunardi with NIT Bracketology, I can attest that their not playing in the regular season will greatly help the NIT bracketing process. Talk about less than 400 miles apart! (Ok, it’s 460 on the most direct route, but I still think they’ll have them play in the first round so long as one’s unseeded.)
Oregon and Washington State aren’t the only schools affected, but this is really a Western development. The breakup of the West across multiple conferences is huge for eliminating regular season matchups which increase travel distances for NIT teams. That should also lessen costs for the NCAA in running the tournament, something I assume will lead to even more ravishing jumbotron graphics at the NIT Final Four.
2. More Power Conference Schools?
Let’s say yes to this. The schools joining the Big Ten—Washington and Oregon—are both weaker than the Big Ten’s average men’s basketball program. The schools joining the Big 12—Utah, Arizona State, Arizona, and Cal—are mostly weaker than the Big 12’s average men’s basketball program. This should lead both those leagues’ schedules to get that much easier, pulling that many teams away from the risk of an overall record below .500. Penn State. Oklahoma State. All you others out there. Rejoice.
(Fewer Pac-12 schools, though. Unless…)
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(…Nope. Got nothing.)
3. The NIT Outlasted the Pac-12
This isn’t necessarily great. It could be bad, in fact. First they came for the Pac-12, as the saying goes. But it does feel good to outlast somebody.
4. No Power Conference Automatic Bid…Right?
Oh yeah! Remember when Washington got an NIT automatic bid? Of course you don’t! (If you do, God bless you, keep the faith out there.) It happened, though, and it was both fun and silly. Unless the ACC gets just a little bit worse (possible, but hard to do), we probably aren’t looking at another NIT auto bid from a power league for a while. A shame.
Joe Kelly’s Busy Weekend
The weekend extended until today for Joe Kelly, because the Padres didn’t leave town until just now after Joe Kelly struck them out in order and removed whatever will they had left to compete. The last guy he struck out? Fernando Tatís Jr., whom he also struck out on Friday after knocking him down with two fastballs but before muttering, “fucking bitch,” to himself about the convicted PED-user. Was Joe Kelly out of line? I don’t think so. He didn’t hit Tatís with the pitches, and plenty of pitchers mutter “fucking bitch” to themselves about hitters. It’s competition, guys.
I Meant It About Tim Anderson
Yesterday, I wrote that we need to not be too hard on Tim Anderson for getting knocked out on a baseball field Saturday night, citing the importance of making sure fights like his with José Ramírez happen more often, because they’re dope. Today, a report emerged that Tim Anderson was slapped in the face in the clubhouse earlier this season for telling Yasmani Grandal he’d pay for his plane ticket if Grandal wanted to leave for the All-Star Break early. (Which Grandal did, so what was the big deal, Yas? Your time with the Brewers make you hate baseball *that* much?)
Anyway, this was the shit Joe Kelly was dealing with in Chicago. Imagine having to pitch to Yasmani Grandal.
More Joe Kelly Thoughts
Maybe this is a Twitter thing (I know I’m not supposed to blog too much about Twitter things, because way fewer people are on Twitter than people on Twitter think are on Twitter), but it seems like the people most obsessed with Joe Kelly these days aren’t The Barking Crow readers, but are instead Astros fans? It’s weird, but the group which claims Joe Kelly stinks and Joe Kelly is a coward are very invested in watching his outings and saying mean things about him from their anonymous accounts.
I’m excited for the Astros to get bad again. I do like Houston.
Maisie Peters’s American Tour Is Starting
Maisie Peters, a rising British pop sensation, opens her second American tour tonight at First Ave up in Minneapolis. Such a cool venue. Kind of a cool moment, too, especially if our hunch is correct and Maisie Peters ends up being a big deal over here.
Anyway, in her Instagram stories touring Minneapolis, she referred to “the eras stadium,” which I think means she’s associating U.S. Bank Stadium not with the Minnesota Vikings, but with Taylor Swift. Major come-up for U.S. Bank. How liberating for that place. Oh, yeah, I guess the Vikings do play here. Most people think of us as the Taylor Swift stadium, though.
