Siena Breaks Buckeyes Hearts

Sports are the greatest relationship. Our chosen squads provide priceless memories, monumental moments, interludes of exuberance and ecstasy… However, as with any relationship, our chosen squads will also break our hearts…

As I walked the concrete under the glimmer of South Campus Gateway, I feared that with finals concluded and Spring Break beckoning, McFadden’s crowd would resemble pre-New Year’s Eve, when approximately twelve people inhabited the venue… Thankfully, my fears remained unrealized… Both bars were stacked with students, who despite the allure of warmer weather, had remained to cheer their Buckeyes into the second round (hopefully)…

Also remaining in the city (thankfully) was McFadden’s promotions superstar Amy, whose eighteen carat smile was the perfect commencement to the evening… We discussed where I’ve been (apparently, it had been awhile)… St. Patrick’s Day weekend, the crowds, and the 2009 Gossip Awards (she has agreed to be a presenter)… I know mentioned Amy previously… However, I have never done her exquisiteness justice… She is a platinum bunny…

After ten minutes of conversation with Amy, I walked the two flights of stairs into the somewhat relaxed atmosphere of the first half… As the Buckeyes and Siena swapped buckets, neither impressing upon me that either could dominate, the respective sets of eyes lining the bar darted from their conversations to the screen and back… Clearly, they were interested, but the Buckeyes 28-23 halftime edge did not enthrall them…The crowd was also unique in contrast to any previous McFadden’s cluster… As best surmised in the assertion of Lucky Charm Allie (another delicious addition to the Lucky Charms), the majority of the crowd didn’t know what happy hour was… Yes, there were bunnies, an impressive collection of which entered carrying their Coach purses, but there were also hoards you expect at other venues… Marlo Stanfield and a princess… A gaggle of heifers… It was a random evening…

Less random was Ohio State’s stellar commencement to the second half… The Buckeyes ripped off a 15-4 shred, which vaulted them into a 41-30 lead with under fourteen minutes remaining… The crowd’s conversations continued undistracted, only now, the conversations concerned a second round match-up with the Louisville Cardinals… Even when Sienna sliced the lead to 41-34, everyone continued discussing the Cardinals…

Presumption will thwart you every moment… Siena cut the advantage to 41-37, 41-39, and 45-43, but the Buckeyes continued dropping triples at a rate that retained our confidence… As a source informed me that Woody had been fired as McFadden’s lead security person (apparently, it has been awhile since I was there), Siena racked a 6-0 run to knot the contest at 49-49. Evan Turner scored again to reinstate Ohio State’s advantage at 55-51… However, Siena was restored… They dropped a triple to cut the lead to 56-55 and ultimately sent the contest into overtime at 56-56.

Siena continued to own the momentum, rushing to a 60-56 advantage at the outset of the extra session… Fortunately, Jon Diebler buried a triple, B.J. Mullins scored, and Turner dropped a pair of free throws to place Ohio State on the cusp… 60-59 with eight seconds remaining… At this moment, a drunken moron committed the unforgivable sin… “Watch, they’ll throw it in at the buzzer” were his exact words… (Guess what happened)…

After Siena and Turner traded three point trips at the second overtime’s commencement, Turner tallied a pair of free throws to move Ohio State ahead 72-71. Siena then netted a triple to assume a 74-72 lead with nine seconds remaining… The drunken moron could have said anything he wanted… The slipper had been fitted, boxed, and sold… Ohio State’s season was over…

As the inevitable screams came from the DJ of “O-H-I-O” and “F$%# Siena” and the music blared… It took me a moment to surmise the mood of McFadden’s… Then, as I watched the crowd listlessly dance without energy or passion, as I head them make nary a sound when the DJ implored them, I realized… Energy, passion, and sound are difficult to manufacture when your heart is broken…