Big Ups to the Underdogs

Before my current writing life, there was The Hilltop, Howard University’s and the Nation’s Oldest Black Collegiate Newspaper, where many of the questions and themes I still explore first found their voice. What follows are my early published works, preserved in their original form.

From The Hilltop Archives

Originally published in The Hilltop, Howard University — April 18th, 2004

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Big Ups to the Underdogs

It's been a great year in sports. 

 

A year full of triumph and emotions that almost made me shed a tear.

 

I said almost.

 

But I think there are some teams that deserve a special notice for their efforts in their particular sport. I am talking about those teams who may have been overlooked, disregarded and counted out before the game started. Who, like Shoeshine Boy, emerged from the phone booth to do the impossible.

 

I am bringing it back, way back, like 1964 back, and giving a mad shout out to the... UNDERDOG.

 

This has been the year of the Underdog. With teams, if only for a brief moment, stepping up to make a name for themselves.

 

The city of Anaheim has been spreading their wings over Cali with the Angels, who finished the 2001 season 41 games out of first place and flipped the script in 2002 to be world champs; and the Mighty Ducks who shocked the Red Wings with a four game sweep over the defending champions for the first time in 51 years... UNDERDOG.

 

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers who had an impressive season and made it to the Super Bowl to let the Raiders know that a high-powered offense means nothing to a overpowering defense...UNDERDOG.

 

The Syracuse Orangemen who were led by the Class of 2006 (if the NBA doesn't get them first) shocked all the old heads of the NCAA Tournament...UNDERDOG.

 

And who can forget the UConn Huskies' 70 game winning streak snapped in the Big East Championship by the 14th seed, UNDERDOG, Villanova Wildcats...BIG UNDERDOG.

 

But my number one UNDERDOG award of the year goes to Mike Weir for winning the 2003 Master's. (Yes, I watch golf. Yes, I am comfortable with that, but that's not the point.) 

 

The Master's is owned by Tiger Woods. 

 

He was going for his fourth green jacket and the unheard-of Master's hat-trick, '01-'03.

 

The list of three-peat goes on and on with the Chicago Bulls '91-'93...the Bulls again '96-'98...those are the most important ones anyway.

 

With the way Tiger had been playing, everyone else was fighting for second. 

 

He's untouchable.

 

He just finished playing a tournament with the flu, throwing up during the final round like Willie Beamen. 

 

But that wasn't the case last weekend. 

 

By the end of 36 holes in less than 24 hours, Tiger was five over par and had 42 players ahead of him. 

 

He could come back...right? It's Tiger. 

 

On Saturday, he made a surge, I mean a huge surge, shooting a 66 third round and was tied for fifth at two under par. 

 

It was on.

 

He continued with a birdie on the second hole of the final round to sit three strokes back of the leader. But it was that damn third hole that gave him the most trouble. 

 

A double bogey followed by a bogey on the fourth, a couple of pars and two more bogeys on the seventh and eighth hole. It was over and he finished tied for fifteenth.

 

But Weir, there was no stopping him. 

 

He finished the fourth round with a 68 and ended seven under par to become the first Canadian and the second lefty to win the Master's. 

 

My point in all this: One, which underdog team will end up with the phenom LeBron James and if Jordan retires the number 23 from the entire NBA, what number will James wear? 

 

Two, every sport in the season has had an Underdog... baseball, football, hockey and the NCAA.

 

Who's next you ask? Ak-ha, the NBA.

 

I love the Underdog, and this year, one will be crowned NBA Champion.

 

Now I am not saying the Lakers won't make it to the Finals...wait, yes I am. They're going to lose in the first round, on my mama (Chi-Town thing). 

 

The bigger they are, the more sensitive they get we they lose. 

 

The Finals...I see a picture forming...I see a Sac-King (Webber) caught in the grill of a Big T-Mac.

 

If you don't believe me just ask mild-mannered Shoeshine Boy...

There's no need to fear, Underdog is here.