Lee Lowenfish

April Fool's Day will now have special meaning for Columbia fans. Knocked out of selection to the top tier of March Madness by two tough losses to Harvard, the Lions regrouped and won five in a row to win the NCAA's consolation tournament, the WBIT (Women's Basketball Invitation Tournament).

In the April 1 final, Columbia led all the way against Brigham Young, building a 42-24 halftime lead that stretched to 27 early in 4th quarter. Suddenly the Cougars caught fire and the Lions started committing turnovers.  The lead fell to 11 with still more than 3 minutes to play but senior co-captain forward Susie Rafiu - named to the all tournament team along with brilliant guards junior Riley Weiss and sophomore Mia Broom - righted the ship with a driving layup and the Lions won going away, 81-64. 

 

For the semi-finals held in Wichita, Kansas, it looked like a fourth meeting this season with nemesis Harvard was in the cards because if the Crimson beat Wisconsin in the quarters, they were set up to meet Columbia in the semis.  But upstart Wisconsin, who lost the last ten games of the tough Big Ten regular season and limped in with a 10-game losing streak, upset Harvard with a last-minute rally that forced an overtime that the Badgers won by 3.  It probably worked out for the best because my guess is that another Harvard-Columbia tussle would have left even the winner drained for the final.  

 

As a great believer in history and karma, during Columbia's great WBIT surge I kept thinking of Christy Mathewson's aphorism:  "I have learned little from winning but have learned everything from losing."  There were tears in the Columbia locker room after the second loss to Harvard.  But they gathered themselves and inspired by co-captain Perri Page's defiant comment that coach Megan Griffith applauded - "We are going to Wichita and winning it" - they rose to the occasion. 

 

I love finding historical connections.  The WBIT Final Four was held in Wichita where one of the heroes of the 1970 New York Knicks champion Dave Stallworth played in college and is in the Missouri Valley Conference Hall of Fame along with Larry Bird. Stallworth was the forward rushed into action in Game 5 in 1970 and replacing injured Willis Reed he held his own against the Lakers' Wilt Chamberlain in a crucial win that set up Reed's dramatic appearance in Game 7.) There was even a more significant historical connection for Columbia's third win in the WBIT, a thrilling 74-68 victory over the U of Cal-Berkeley Golden Bears held on the Pete Newell Court.  Newell is a sadly forgotten great Cal coach who in his last 8 meetings against UCLA's legendary John Wooden won them all. 

  

Back to the main story - Three Lions made the tournament team - Susie Rafiu, junior Ivy League Player Of Year Riley Weiss, and sophomore Mia Broom who thrust into the role of point guard for the tournament also became a consistent scorer.  She is also a budding wit - looking at the scoresheet during the post-game press conference after the Wisconsin victory and noticing her line - 12 points, 10 rebounds, 8 turnovers - she quipped, "I almost had a triple-double."   

More seriously after the Brigham Young victory, Riley Weiss dissected the BY 13-0 4th q run. About letting the opponent's press distract the team,

"It shouldn't happen," she said, . . . "but it's only bodies."  The great ones really know how to stop the moment from becoming overwhelming.

 

Turning to baseball, first Columbia, the Lions find themselves in the middle of the pack with a 3-3 record in the short 21-game Ivy League season. Coach Brett Boretti is happy that it is a wide open race and I believe him.  It's up to the players as always to believe it, too.  When I post this blog, I'm heading to Coakley-Robertson-Satow Stadium for a single game with Penn, another regular rival of the defending Ivy champion Lions.  Double-header tomorrow Sat Apr 4 with rain cancelling the usual Sunday noon game. Next weekend hopefully SaSu Apr 11-12 will be consistent weather for Homecoming against Princeton. 

  

Turning to the start of the MLB season, I am trying to keep my emotions under control about the Orioles.  The offense seems improved despite the loss of second baseman Jackson Holliday to a hand injury that cost him all of spring training - he should be back later this month - and a more serious elbow injury to third baseman Jordan Westburg that might need season-ending surgery. The pitching is questionable and the defense not good.  As someone who loves pitching and defense - remember what makes baseball special is IT IS THE ONLY SPORT WHERE THE DEFENSE HAS THE BALL!! - it is hard to have championship hopes for a team with so many holes.But it will be easy to root for newcomers first baseman Pete Alonso and veteran RHP Chris Bassitt who had a horrible luck in his first start, a loss to the Rangers, that wasn't helped by his throwing error.  He owned it and turned the page. 

 

Another cliche I will state in closing:  YOU CAN'T WIN A PENNANT IN APRIL BUT YOU SURE CAN LOSE ONE.  

More on these topics anon.  For now as always Stay Positive Test Negative and Take It Easy But Take It!

There is so much negativity in today's world that this blog tries to accentuate the positive. Fun Galore In 24 is my new motto (while being aware that there is an election in November in the USA that we should participate in.) 

 

As I await the arrival of pitchers and catchers to spring training in just a little over a month, I can report that my two favorite college basketball teams, Columbia women's basketball and Wisconsin's men's basketball, are on winning streaks. They offer genuine hope that league championships and post-season appearances are absolutely achievable goals. 

 

Both teams played tough non-league schedules which is always a good idea. "To be the best you have to beat the best" and Christy Mathewson's adage, "I've learned nothing from winning and everything from losing," may be cliches, but they are truer than most. 

 

In the fascinating landscape of rapidly growing women's basketball, Columbia is starting five guards, led by nationally acclaimed senior Abby Hsu from Parkland, Florida. In high school, she was in an adjoining building when the horrible Feb 2018 school massacre occurred.  The following year her father was the first medical professional in the state of Florida to die from covid. 

 

The resilient Hsu has overcome these tragedies to become a co-captain and all-around contributor to Columbia's hard-driving, good-passing team. Her rebounding, assist-making, and all-around court awareness make her a complete player. 

 

Youthful Lions coach Megan Griffith, a 1000-point scorer in her years at Columbia, has recruited far and wide in building the program. Joining Hsu in the starting lineup are two athletic Australians, junior co-captain Kitty Henderson and her first-year sister Fliss Henderson.  With Kitty and Abby, Cece Collins, a junior transfer from Bucknell, has become another consistent scoring threat.

 

And let's not forget senior Nicole Stephens, finally healthy who is often playing key moments at the end of the game.  Only 5' 7", the Pickering, Ohio (near Columbus) sparkplug always seems to get key rebounds and even blocks at crunch time. 

 

As a lifelong sports fan, there is a special joy in watching players develop over their college careers. l know that the stubborness of the NCAA - it stood for Never Compromise Anything Anytime - has led to NIL opportunities (Name, Image, Likeness) for the most promising players.  There is also the transfer portal available for every player after every season, but there is something to be said for players and teams growing patiently. 

 

"The grass is not always greener on the other side" is another old cliche that still should be considered.  

 

Whether Columbia can finally beat Megan Griffith's former employer Princeton and win the outright title and automatic NCAA bid remains to be seen, of course.  As long as the Lions don't look too far ahead to the matchups with the Tigers - Sa Jan 20 at 4P at Princeton, Sa Feb 24 at 2P last regular season home game - there should be exciting times at Morningside Heights gym on Broadway and 120th Street. 

 

The Columbia men are showing improvement too and may have an outside chance of making the four-team post-season tournament that Columbia will host this year, over the Mar 15 thru Mar 17 weekend.   For more info on both teams, go to gocolumbialions.com

 

The Wisconsin Badgers and The Big Ten - becoming the Big 18 next season with the addition of four West Coast teams - are another story, of course. That is big time college sports these days and it is not likely you will watch teams grow patiently.  Gotta enjoy every season moment by moment because players can leave quickly. And not necessarily wisely. 

 

See under Davis, Johnny, who had one breakout 2021-22 season in Madison and left after his sophomore year.  The #10 first round pick of Washington Wizards has not established himself as a pro and may even be back in the G league.  The money obviously was too good to turn down, but there is something to be said for more experience in college ball before you enter the NBA which stands for No Boys Allowed.  

 

This year's Badgers are exuding hope. Veteran coach Greg Gard has brought back the entire starting lineup from last season's disappointing team that failed to make the Big Dance for first time in 20 years. They did show improvement in the NIT losing in the semis to eventual champion North Texas State. 

 

Seven foot center Steven Crowl and versatile forward Tyler Wahl are providing good front court work and even making more foul shots than last year.  Point guard Chucky Hepburn has improved his all around play and backup Kamari McGee has really stepped up his game.  And AJ Storr, a transfer from St. Johns, has done it all and is coach Gard's dream because he accepts the challenge to improve each day.  

 

The Big Ten is a 20-game mosh pit + a league tournament before the Big Dance.  This is the part of college basketball I've grown to loathe.  The extra games just for TV money.  To me, league titles should mean something.  No need to bay into the wind.  I must remember Fun Galore in 24. 

 

More next time about the arrival of the true hot stove season with the 57th Annual New York Pro Scouts Association banquet on F Jan 19 at Leonard's of Great Neck.  Tickets available through F Jan 12 via Billy Blitzer at BBSCOUT1@aol.com  

 

Can't resist this Memo to owners of LA Dodgers and their superficial supporters.  You can have too many All-Stars and you still have to win on the field.  

Staying positive, here's a tip of the cap to the classy retirement statement of Astros outfielder Mickey Brantley, 36, who applauded Larry Pardo, the area scout who originally signed him for Cleveland.

 

Kudos also to Adam Jones, now a podcaster in Baltimore, for his longtime tribute to area scout Tim Reynolds who signed him for Mariners with the

wise counsel, "You're only a number one draft choice for one day." 

 

Before I leave, here are some TCM tips for January. The sports themed films are few in January but here are a few:

Tu Jan 9 215P "Three Little Words" (1950) the story of the musical and personal friendship of Bert Kalmar and baseball-loving Harry Ruby

   with Fred Astaire and Red Skelton as Kalmar and Ruby and Keenan Wynn in a rare benign (and boring) role as their manager. 

 

Sa Jan 13 415P "Knute Rockne, All-American" (1940) with Pat O'Brien in title role and Ronald Reagan as the Gipper -

   dir. by workmanlike pro Lloyd Bacon

 

Tu Jan 23 1130A "You Said A Mouthful" (1932)  Joe E Brown as a swimmer with young Ginger Rogers/Preston Foster

 

Every Tuesday and sometimes spilling into Wednesday is Robert Mitchum Night. Check tcm.com/schedule although there are sometimes

    annoying gaps in the schedule and at times two films listed for virtually same time slot. 

Two classics are back to back on Tu Jan 23:  8P "Night of the Hunter" (1955) dir. by Charles Laughton

945p "Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison" (1957) dir by John Huston with Deborah Kerr

 

Eddie Muller's Noir Alley is back Sa midnight or sometimes a little later and repeated at 10A Sundays. 

Jan 14 "I Died A Thousand Times" (1955) remake of "High Sierra with the interesting duo of Jack Palance and Shelley Winters

 

Jan 21 Hitchcock's "Stage Fright" (1950) with Jane Wyman/Marlene Dietrich/Michael Wilding

 

Jan 28 "Woman in Hiding" (1950) with Ida Lupino/Howard Duff (soon to be Ida's husband)/Stephen McNally who epitomized evil in "Johnny

     Belinda" 

 

That's all for now.  Remember to take it easy but take it, and stay positive and test negative.