Here Goes Nothing ...

A lot has gone on since I took my vacation for the holidays. I caught the flu and had to miss the Rose Bowl. I've been battling the snow here in Salt Lake City. The crappy weather has really sucked the life out of me, but I haven't written in a long time so here's what's on my mind. The only way to become a great writer is to write and read as much as you can so here I go! ...

JRE 

I just started listening to Joe Rogan's podcast, "The Joe Rogan Experience" It's actually made me think a lot about because he really attacks how we think about everything in life (relationships, government, economics, etc.). Well, 'attacks' may be too strong of a word, but he definitely forces you to reexamine how you view the world. I'm really late to the party because at the end of last week, I have listened to nine of them, but there are over 300 of these so I will have plenty to listen to for a while! He seems to have a really positive outlook on life and believes that if you put out positive vibes, good things will happen for you. I feel like I lose sight of that too often in my own life so it's already helped me try to improve myself. While maintaining his positive vibe, Rogan also has a snarky, sarcastic sense of humor that I can identify with. And thanks to him, I've been obsessed with 'Midnight Rider' by the Allman Brothers.

"Are You Serious!" - Dick Vitale

Like Roscoe Dash would say, college basketball is all the way turnt up!

So right now I'm watching No. 1 Michigan at No. 3 Indiana and Assembly Hall in Bloomington, Ind., is rocking! And Dickie V is still super, scintillating, sensational! I'm still amazed Wisconsin won there a few weeks when the Hoosiers were No. 1! What a game! The Badgers executed so well offensively, banged on the boards and made timely shots. If they can play like that, they can beat anyone in the country. But enough blatant "homerism" for my alma mater ...

I have been fortunate enough to have already seen some games from some pretty cool venues like the Kohl Center and UW Fieldhouse (Wisconsin), Jon M. Huntsman Center (Utah), Williams Arena (Minnesota) and Cassell Coliseum (Virginia Tech). That got me to thinking about some of the top five college basketball atmospheres that I would like to hit during my lifetime in no particular order:

Cameron Indoor Stadium (Duke): I always have to tune in when the Blue Devils play on their home court. I love when the student section, the Cameron Crazies, hop in unison and yell 'WOO' as the preamble to tip-off. It's a tradition that's often been imitated, but I want to see it for myself. Also, bonus points for the crammed quarters, which makes for a cozy atmosphere. Preferably, I would like to seem them play their Tobacco Road rivals, North Carolina.

Phog Allen Fieldhouse (Kansas): The school where Dr. James Naismith, the guy who invented the game of basketball, coached has the best tradition in all of college basketball. It's a pilgrimage that every basketball fan should make so hopefully I'll get to go one day. Also, you gotta hear the 'Rock. Chalk. K. U. Woooo" chant in its native environment. I've heard it in the United Center during the First Round of the NCAA Tournament, but I don't think that did the tradition justice.

Assembly Hall (Indiana): The intensity in that building seems electric, but what else would you expect from the most basketball-obsessed state in the nation? I just hope I can get a seat in the main grandstand because the upper deck seems a little too steep for me!

Pauley Pavillion (UCLA): Another tradition-rich program. It would be a thrill to watch a game in the same place where John Wooden, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bill Walton, and many more called home.

Rupp Arena (Kentucky): The home of the Kentucky Wildcats seats 23,000 people! That's insane! Much like Indiana and Kansas, Kentucky has an entire state (minus Louisville faithful) of round-ball fanatics who will support them until the end of time.

If you made it this far down, thanks for bearing with me and let me know if I'm missing any other college basketball gyms!

Enjoy the "Big Game", a.k.a. Super Bowl XLVII, tomorrow!

- Mike