Spelling Bee vs. College Basketball

Before I even get started, let me make it clear, I support all the good spellers of the world.

With that disclaimer out of the way...can I just say "Huh?"

I was cruising through the Charlotte Observer this morning, when I ran across Dannye Romine Powell's article "A bee with wide-eyed engagement."

In the article, Powell says "Think Sunday's Carolina-Clemson game was good? Monday's 54th Regional Spelling Bee at ImaginOn was so much better." Needless to say, I was completely floored.

Again, don't get me wrong - I know that children need to learn to spell. And I know that a Spelling Bee can be very exciting - hoping that the child does (or does not) get the correct spelling. Maybe I'm just jealous that I didn't make it as far as I hoped in my own 6th grade spelling bee - I still wake up in cold sweats.

But honestly, a double overtime basketball game with a top ranked NATIONAL basketball team...less exciting than the Spelling Bee? Pssh!

I know I'm a die-hard Clemson fan, but seriously...ANY double-overtime game is exciting. I've been to some Spelling Bees and trust me, I've even seen PARENTS fall asleep!

I'm just as happy as anyone for Molly Crawford, the 7th grader from Jay M. Robinson Middle School who won. She is an EXCELLENT speller and made it through 26 rounds of very tough words, and I would have stumbled through most of them.

But sorry Molly, until you walk up to another speller and say "BAM! I spelled that word right!" - you just can't hang with basketball.

Clemson's Collapse: The UNC Debacle

So I guess this is the portion of the program where I eat my words.

I seem to do that a lot when it comes to my Clemson Tigers, but even still - I love them dearly.

Yes, I did make a comment about the Tigers following the UNC/Duke game, but I WAS very careful and didn't say they would win. Granted, that is a technicality...but whatever.

So yes...Clemson had a 15 point lead at one point, and blew it. At least we took the Heels into Double Overtime before they won 103-93.

Not the first time Clemson blew a lead, and surely not the last.

So congrats Tar Heel fans (especially you Brandon Tomlin!) on your 53-straight home wins over Clemson. You may not be number one in the polls, but hey - at least we were able to give you a NCAA record!

Carolina Conflict: UNC vs Duke

We asked...and you responded. I never doubted it, but now it is clear...Charlotte is DEFINITELY a Tar Heels fan-base.

We held a poll to see who was the best North Carolina basketball team and here is how the results panned out:

59% - UNC Tar Heels
25% - Duke Blue Devils
14% - Who Cares? Is it Football Season Yet?

Tar Heels may have won the poll, but they couldn't pull it off when it counted most...on the court.

Yes, Round One goes to the Blue Devils - beating UNC in the Dean Dome. But Round Two isn't that far off...can Duke bring the momentum back home and get the win there as well?

Guess we'll have to see...

By the way, I saw this and since Duke DID win, I guess it is okay to let them gloat a little.



Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to slam the Tar Heels, they are still one of the best teams - with only two losses this season.

But the fact that those losses are to two different ACC teams, could hurt the Heels chances in the conference.

But Tar Heel fans, never fear. Ty Lawson will be back on his feet soon enough, and the Tar Heel spirit will be back in full swing...




...until Sunday when they play Clemson! Ha ha ha!

Go Tigers!