By Mark David Blum, Esq.

There is nowhere to hide from the cries and jeers coming from all four corners of Orange Country. It is a major affront to all who live here and support the team that the Syracuse University Mens Basketball Team was not invited to the NCAA Basketball Tournament. Once again, the Orange got juiced and frozen out. We have to stop lying to ourselves. Believing the Orange are up to the standard of play of the Big Dance is as fictional as it gets.

The tears are flowing as fast as the snow is melting. From every voice in Orange Country; getting squeezed out of the tournament has turned the entire town in whiney crybabies who are upset they were not invited to the “Dance”. As much as I adore and support the Orange, the once glorious Hill has become known as ‘Heartbreak Ridge’ as Syracuse football and basketball programs have fallen from the lofty and feared positions they once held.

First, let’s state the obvious. By no stretch of the imagination could this year’s team reach the Final Four; let alone win the crystal trophy. That is a shame. While voices against me will be loud and shrill, remember that while everybody is entitled to their own opinions, they are not so entitled to their own facts. Team performance this season has been iffy. Syracuse’s bench was wading pool shallow, they had no inside game on offense or defense, had some bone head losses, and really never got into synch before the season abruptly ended.

Second, this team never learned to take responsibility for its actions. Recall Coach Boeheim’s commentaries to the media about the lack of luster and enthusiasm from the audience at games; specifically at the DePaul game where I was among those all weather fans actively rooting for the Orangemen. He blamed the near loss on the silence from the bleachers. Maybe if someone was focused on teaching players personal responsibility, one or more team members would have stepped up and made the difference in a game or two. Syracuse Orange fans suffer through the worst of weather, the most expensive of parking, the horrendous Dome food, the butt numbing metal bench seats, and the endless nosebleeds from the seats. We sweat and then freeze and cheer and yell and waive and wave as one Orange team after another goes down in defeat. Be it Coach Boeheim or Coach Robinson; it has been a long time since there has really been reason to scream and shout at the Dome. Yet, Coach Boeheim tells his team and the world that it is my fault he almost lost.

Third, a truly deserving national program would not be whining about not getting the 64th invitation to the NCAA Tournament. They should be arguing about not getting a #1 seed. Many of the spots go to mandatory teams; such as League Tournament winners. From among those few slots left, Syracuse’s season-long ride on the bubble burst. Next year, hopefully we beat Drexel and win at least 2 games in the Big East tourney.

Finally, sending a Giant Screw to Princeton is demonstrative of just how low this program has sunk. It is a sad show of immaturity. Apparently the team and fans have made a giant orange screw to be sent to the NCAA selection committee signed by all concerned. Is this the lesson we teach our students; if you don’t like the .results, have a temper tantrum. Some would call it stalking. I just call it whining.

There is no shame in not going to the Dance. Being a wallflower has its upside in that you can watch and learn. More importantly you can search inside yourself for that which caused you to fail and use that as your strength for next time. There is no shame in losing. There is no shame in the NIT. That is a tournament Syracuse can win. Baby steps.

"I don't measure a man's success by how high he climbs, but how high he bounces when he hits bottom." (Gen. George Patton)