I wish I could tell you that I experienced the IU Basketball Media Challenge championship game like fellow IDS writers Kevin Bowen and Justin Albers.
I wish I could tell you that as the youngest member of Team [Calbert] Cheaney I was the team MVP.
I wish I could tell you that the shower I took when I got home washed away the stench of failure.
But I'd be lying.
Yes, it appears the lack of basketball talent that accompanies my awkward 6-foot-1 frame has not changed, but that almost didn't matter on Thursday. Coach Tom Crean's squad, former players, coaches, IU Athletics officials and media members were all joined in a common love for the game of basketball.
The 2011-'12 IU campaign will begin soon with Hoosier Hysteria, signaling a start to the usual motions of the season for the media. Columns and article will be written that not everyone agrees with and, in turn, writers will not be satisfied with every decision made that affects how they do their jobs.
Before that all begins though, it was just a surreal experience to see Victor Oladipo make a no-call after some contact and Calbert Cheney jump up, adamantly protesting the call and reminding Oladipo of who his elders were. That and many other moments from Thursday, including the Indy Star's Terry Hutchens make a valiant return to the floor after a pulled groin, made this an unforgettable experience.
I leave you with this tweet from Cody Zeller:
"No videos should be released of todays media challenge because a few reporters (I'm not saying names) would lose all basketball credibility"
