Three years ago at my home in New Orleans, I remember watching Syracuse battle Kansas for the 2003 National Title in the Superdome.  I have always been a huge college basketball fan and I usually remember one great story from every year.  1999, I remember the then unknown Gonzaga Bulldogs getting to the Elite Eight.  We all know what they have become.  I remember Bryce Drew’s 1998 buzzer beaters.   Cameron Dollar’s, of UCLA, buzzer beater to move onto the Sweet 16.  I could go on, but they are all the things that make March Madness what it is.  It may be about money to the school and the sponsors; but it’s about heart, talent and pride to 99% of the kids on the floor.  I remember two freshmen starters for ‘Cuse.  They were Carmelo Anthony and Gerry McNamara.  They beat two highly touted, and deservingly so, college veterans named Kirk Hinrich and Nick Collison.  I have mental burn of Hakim Warrick blocking the last second three pointer to clinch it.

It was no secret that Melo was NBA bound.  With LeBron James entering the NBA, it had been the best marketing scheme for the NBA since the Jordan years.  However, McNamara had no hype around him other than he was a freshman PG that helped lead a team to a championship.  Every year since, he has been the focus of college basketball at Syracuse.  For most of the past three seasons, I have lived in SEC country so I am not exposed that often to Big East basketball.  It’s a shame because he’s fundamentally sound and fun to watch.

With all the athletes today that walk around with a feeling of entitlement, it’s refreshing to see players like Gerry McNamara.  He is not the only one, but he came to the forefront of the nation this week at the 2006 Big East tournament due to  Coach Jim Boeheim’s press conference, which is great to see a coach step up like that for his player.  People who’ve never picked up a ball and write in papers will never understand this. 

G-Mac’s game is what is great about sports and college basketball.  A player like this is on every team, but you never see them on Sportscenter.  You see them if you’re a true fan…if you follow the players.  At the press conference, Coach Boeheim came to the defense of his senior guard.  The camera panned over to Gerry.  He wasn’t starring at the cameras and trying to show up his critics.  He had his head down.  He was showing his class and humility.  As this year’s Big East Championship run has proved, the man lets his actions speak.  He’s not there for the BS.  He’s there to play.

I don’t think that ‘Cuse will go deep in the tournament.  I think they already got what they really wanted.  They wanted to win for their leader.  Gerry McNamara may never play past the college ranks or maybe he becomes a role player like Steve Kerr did with the Bulls and Spurs.  The thing that matters is that there was a packed house at MSG tonight chanting, "Gerry! Gerry!" showing their final respects for all the heart he has put into the name on the front of the jersey and not the back.  Success breeds success and he performed on the biggest stage in the world…New York City.  His performance was echoed by the supporting cast because he didn’t win it alone.  He’s a leader and a competitor.  He entrusted the ball to a freshman Eric Devendorf and sophomore Josh Wright.  Bottom line…he’s a winner.