Nothing 'Mid-Major' about Xavier

  Nothing 'Mid-Major' about Xavier

THE PRESSBOX

By JOHN WEND

For The Highland County Press

GREENFIELD – I haven’t written a newspaper column in 12 y ears.

Now that I have my excuse out of the way, just in case you don’t enjoy – or have a harsh critique of this column, I will continue.

I have never pretended to be a learned journalist. The extent of my college education was a major in physical education and health. Anything I do know about writing a column comes from the teachings of Roger Ross and Rick Schluep during the old days of the Greenfield Daily Times.

Since Rory Ryan was kind enough to invite me to occasionally write a column, dozens of topics have danced around in my head. I have quickly realized that not only has it been 12 years since writing a column, but I am also 12 years older. Dancing, even in my head, is not as smooth as it once was.

I’m sure that many Highland County residents knew very little, or possibly cared less, about the Xavier University Musketeers basketball program, prior to former Greenfield McClain standout Danté Jackson becoming a Musketeer. However, I have been a long time “X” fan, even before Mr. Jackson was born.

My allegiance goes back to the 1970s, even prior to the glory days of coach Bob Staak. As a matter of fact, much of my public address style when announcing McClain ballgames is copied from a former Xavier PA guy, whose name eludes me. My voice is a product of Salem Menthol Light 100’s.

I vividly remember some of the former Xavier greats such as Anthony Hicks, Byron Larkin, Dexter Bailey and Victor Fleming. Needless to say, I was thrilled when Jackson announced his signing with Xavier.

Some folks from other parts of the country incorrectly pronounce Xavier (Zav—ee-er) as “X”-zanier.” I understand that. Some folks also pronounce Danté’s (Dan-tay) name as, “Don-tay.” I even understand that. 

However, when experienced, highly paid, and, supposedly learned, ESPN and CBS broadcasters make these same grammatical errors, I become irate. I mean, how much research work is needed prior to speaking to millions of viewers, to be sure you are correctly pronouncing the names properly?  I honestly believe some of these guys got their jobs on the merit of being a former standout athlete, or possibly because of nothing more than nice- looking hair.

I’m sorry, but I have a thing about any man with “nice hair”!

BUT…. (you knew that was coming didn’t you?), my major issue with the Mr. “8 x10 glossies” of the TV airways is the term “Mid-Major.”

If I hear one more supposedly expert broadcaster describe Xavier basketball with this term, I will vow never to watch ESPN again! Of course, I have sworn a multitude of vows to quit smoking too….well; you get my point, hopefully.

First of all, I’m not even sure what “Mid-Major” means or who was the first one to use the term. But, I am sure that Xavier doesn’t fall into that category.

The size of the school’s student population; the affiliated conference; whether they have a football program or not….none of that matters. What does matter is how a school’s team performs against the nation’s top competition throughout the regular season, and in the NCAA Tournament. Xavier has played in the NCAA Tournament 21 of the past 27 years, and while not yet making it to the Final Four, has fared very well, and better than most schools.

The Musketeers were only one of two teams this year to make it to the “Sweet Sixteen” for the third straight year. They have literally owned the Atlantic-10 Conference for several years now, and play a very tough non-league schedule year-in and year-out.

Xavier’s home court is the beautiful Cintas Center, one of the finest collegiate facilities in the country, and most home games are sellouts. As they say in the business,”It’s a tough ticket.”

Dozens of outstanding and skilled student-athletes have worn the X blue and white, but the fact that the last 76 players to play for Xavier (soon to be 77 – ala, Jason Love) have graduated, is the best stat of all, at least in my thinking.

And with those qualifications, Xavier is not only a “Major” program; it is one of the elite in the country, year after year. There are over 350 Division I college basketball programs and only a mere handful can boast of the success that “X” has enjoyed for the past three decades.

Butler is another school that has been long snubbed by the self-declared experts. There are others as well that do not receive their due recognition, but we’ll save that for another day. Someone should ask the Illinois fans if Dayton is “Mid-Major”.

Some national broadcasters need to wake up, dust off their Armani suits, and mess up their hair a little (there I go again, I’m sorry). I swear, some of these phonies are still trying to determine why the “Ohio” team that clobbered mighty Georgetown, was wearing green and white uniforms, instead of scarlet and gray. Were they just celebrating St. Patrick’s Day?  Shhh…don’t tell ‘em…let them figure it out on their own. Nah…on second thought, someone better tell them. They’ll never figure it out on their own.

And by the way, if any of ESPN or CBS’s broadcasters may ever want to visit “little” Xavier University in Cincinnati…the campus is located on Victory Parkway. How appropriate!

John Wend is a former award-winning sportswriter and currently serves as the Director of Sales and Marketing and as the Public Address Announcer for the Chillicothe Paints.

 

THE PRESSBOX

By JOHN WEND

For The Highland County Press

     GREENFIELD – I haven’t written a newspaper column in 12 years.

Now that I have my excuse out of the way, just in case you don’t enjoy – or have a harsh critique of this column, I will continue.

I have never pretended to be a learned journalist. The extent of my college education was a major in physical education and health. Anything I do know about writing a column comes from the teachings of Roger Ross and Rick Schluep during the old days of the Greenfield Daily Times.

Since Rory Ryan was kind enough to invite me to occasionally write a column, dozens of topics have danced around in my head. I have quickly realized that not only has it been 12 years since writing a column, but I am also 12 years older. Dancing, even in my head, is not as smooth as it once was.

I’m sure that many Highland County residents knew very little, or possibly cared less, about the Xavier University Musketeers basketball program, prior to former Greenfield McClain standout Danté Jackson becoming a Musketeer. However, I have been a long time “X” fan, even before Mr. Jackson was born.
My allegiance goes back to the 1970s, even prior to the glory days of coach Bob Staak. As a matter of fact, much of my public address style when announcing McClain ballgames is copied from a former Xavier PA guy, whose name eludes me. My voice is a product of Salem Menthol Light 100’s.

I vividly remember some of the former Xavier greats such as Anthony Hicks, Byron Larkin, Dexter Bailey and Victor Fleming. Needless to say, I was thrilled when Jackson announced his signing with Xavier.

Some folks from other parts of the country incorrectly pronounce Xavier (Zav—ee-er) as “X”-zanier.” I understand that. Some folks also pronounce Danté’s (Dan-tay) name as, “Don-tay.” I even understand that. 

However, when experienced, highly paid, and, supposedly learned, ESPN and CBS broadcasters make these same grammatical errors, I become irate. I mean, how much research work is needed prior to speaking to millions of viewers, to be sure you are correctly pronouncing the names properly?  I honestly believe some of these guys got their jobs on the merit of being a former standout athlete, or possibly because of nothing more than nice- looking hair.

I’m sorry, but I have a thing about any man with “nice hair”!

    BUT…. (you knew that was coming didn’t you?), my major issue with the Mr. “8 x10 glossies” of the TV airways is the term “Mid-Major.”

If I hear one more supposedly expert broadcaster describe Xavier basketball with this term, I will vow never to watch ESPN again! Of course, I have sworn a multitude of vows to quit smoking too….well; you get my point, hopefully.

First of all, I’m not even sure what “Mid-Major” means or who was the first one to use the term. But, I am sure that Xavier doesn’t fall into that category.

    The size of the school’s student population; the affiliated conference; whether they have a football program or not….none of that matters. What does matter is how a school’s team performs against the nation’s top competition throughout the regular season, and in the NCAA Tournament. Xavier has played in the NCAA Tournament 21 of the past 27 years, and while not yet making it to the Final Four, has fared very well, and better than most schools.

    The Musketeers were only one of two teams this year to make it to the “Sweet Sixteen” for the third straight year. They have literally owned the Atlantic-10 Conference for several years now, and play a very tough non-league schedule year-in and year-out.

    Xavier’s home court is the beautiful Cintas Center, one of the finest collegiate facilities in the country, and most home games are sellouts. As they say in the business,”It’s a tough ticket.”

   Dozens of outstanding and skilled student-athletes have worn the X blue and white, but the fact that the last 76 players to play for Xavier (soon to be 77 – ala, Jason Love) have graduated, is the best stat of all, at least in my thinking.

    And with those qualifications, Xavier is not only a “Major” program; it is one of the elite in the country, year after year. There are over 350 Division I college basketball programs and only a mere handful can boast of the success that “X” has enjoyed for the past three decades.

   Butler is another school that has been long snubbed by the self-declared experts. There are others as well that do not receive their due recognition, but we’ll save that for another day. Someone should ask the Illinois fans if Dayton is “Mid-Major”.

   Some national broadcasters need to wake up, dust off their Armani suits, and mess up their hair a little (there I go again, I’m sorry). I swear, some of these phonies are still trying to determine why the “Ohio” team that clobbered mighty Georgetown, was wearing green and white uniforms, instead of scarlet and gray. Were they just celebrating St. Patrick’s Day?  Shhh…don’t tell ‘em…let them figure it out on their own. Nah…on second thought, someone better tell them. They’ll never figure it out on their own.

    And by the way, if any of ESPN or CBS’s broadcasters may ever want to visit “little” Xavier University in Cincinnati…the campus is located on Victory Parkway. How appropriate!