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SAN ANTONIO -- Holy crap.
How many times did you breathe into a paper bag during that one?
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| Sherron Collins hoists the title trophy after one of the best championships of all time. (Getty Images) |
Daggers, onions, drama, what in the mofo was that? All of the above apply. I wanted to scream like Gus Johnson. I did scream like Gus Johnson.
Screw Remember the Alamo. This was Remember the Ala-Mario.
The Jayhawks saved the tournament. In the blink of a Mario Chalmers shot, it went from bland to grand.
Beauty is in the eye of the viewer, but this game should go down -- no, must go down -- as one of the top three or four championship games of all time. One day, because of the heart Kansas displayed, and the big shot Chalmers used to send the contest into overtime, this game might be seen as one of the best title games in any sport, at any time.
It's been some time since we saw a team fight on each possession the way the Tigers and Jayhawks did.
Afterward, the Kansas players gathered on center court following their 75-68 victory, hugging and dancing. Some of them sprinted into the stands, not knowing where to go or what to do, or even who to hug. Others looked up at the falling confetti and just raised their hands high.
There was a moment when Darnell Jackson grasped his head with both hands and shook it in disbelief. It reminded me of that famous postgame scene with Tom Brady after the first New England Patriots Super Bowl.
The Jayhawks must have known what had just happened. They took part in a game that will be remembered as one of the best in perhaps many decades.
"You couldn't have written it any better," said Kansas' Russell Robinson. "It's great. Great effort. Both teams came out and played. We let it out there on the line. It was two teams out there competing, you know. Like I said, there's no way you can write it better."
The only thing missing was a guest appearance by Gene Hackman and Wesley Snipes and someone yelling "Cut! Print it!"
