If the Slipper Fits…

I was rooting harder than anyone for George Mason to pull off the upset of Connecticut. I started with a dislike for the Huskies because they seemed to be the consensus pick to win the national title, but after watching them against George Mason, I feel vindicated in my dislike.

UConn may have the most talent in the country, but no one on that roster worthy of being a champion. Jim Calhoun's team certainly would've been better off suiting up a few Patriots (either George Mason players or the founding fathers of America would work, as I assume Paul Revere could lead a killer fast-break).

My problem with Connecticut is they just don't seem to care. It's work to them, but not work in the "I'm going to bust my backside to earn an honest wage to feed my family of four so they don't get mad when I play golf on the weekends instead of spending time with them" sense. It's more along the lines of "people know what I can do, so instead of doing it, I'm just going to play solitaire for a few hours, take a long lunch, then come back later to pickup my check."

The Huskies certainly have more than a few players headed to the NBA, but the problem is that they are already playing with an NBA mentality. That mentality doesn't fly at a school like George Mason and they proved to the country that heart is more important than talent (this is the most generic, least thoughtful comment I could come up with, but it's going to be the flawed premise of just about every article and column about George Mason in the next week, so this is just me caving preemptively to peer pressure). Really, though, this George Mason thing is full of emotional storylines.

First, the way the team rallied around their senior leader was touching. When Tony Skinn was held out of the first round matchup with dark horse Final Four candidate Michigan State, everyone assumed he had played his last game as a college basketball player. Of course, his team fought for him so he could live to die another day, side-by-side with his teammates. Sure, that's great, but the reason Skinn was held out of the first game is even more important to the story.

In case this is the first thing you've read about college basketball in the past month, Skinn was held out because he viciously punched a Hofstra player in the groin during a game in the CAA conference tournament. This is important because Hollywood would lead you to believe that teams only rally around players that are gruesomely injured, on their deathbeds (win one for the Skipper ... every few years), or unjustifiably removed from the team.

Realistically, how many of us are in that situation frequently? Skinn was 100% to blame for his screw-up, which is something that the common man can relate to. I may be the luckiest man alive, but I can't remember the last time I've been stricken with a debilitating disease or a gruesome injury. I can, however, remember the last time I made an ignorant mistake (it was earlier today). To me, it's a much better story to see players rallying around people that make ignorant mistakes because that gives hope to everyone, not just those of us with one foot in the grave.

I suppose there's some sort of message in here that deals with the fact that when you break the rules, you pay the price. Who would've expected little George Mason to suspend one of their best players for the biggest game of the season? After hearing that, I assumed the Patriots were coached by the legendary Ken Carter (played memorably by Samuel L. Jackson in the hit major motion-picture "Coach Carter"). Most athletes in major sports these days aren't usually held accountable for their missteps, so it's good to see one forced to deal with the consequences of his actions.

Finally, the most important part of this story is the fact that the low blow really wasn't that big of a deal. Tony Skinn had a clean record before his action and is still generally accepted to be a good kid. Also, most rational people understand that this isn't nearly as important as some broadcasters will try to make you believe. It's great that he was able to overcome this self-induced adversity, but he's nowhere near the hero he's portrayed to be (despite his professional wrestling-esque precision in executing the low blow).

For far too long, American culture has glorified the crotch shot. Groin strikes have long been celebrated and even rewarded with thousands of dollars if captured on film in a comedic fashion (think football tossed to unsuspecting groin receiver). It's a staple to any bland comedy on TV and in the theaters. To me, the whole low blow thing is just played out. Skinn received no glamour, accolades, or even a handshake from Bob Saget as a result of his groin punch. This is at least a step in the right direction. And it's one more reason I can appreciate George Mason's historic trip the Final Four.

That being said, for the sake of college basketball, they can't be allowed to advance any farther. Enjoy George Mason's epic win over Connecticut. I know I did, on many levels.

The Sports Gospel According to Mark is sponsored by BetOnSports.com. BetOnSports.com gives you the greatest sports action to bet on. Wager on football, cricket, boxing, rugby, horse racing, and more. Mark Chalifoux is also a weekly columnist for SportsFan Magazine. His columns appear every Tuesday and Thursday on Sports Central. You can e-mail Mark at [email protected].