Sunday, April 04, 2010

I Thought Madison County was in Iowa

But not last night, when an injury to West Virginia's Da'Sean Butler brought a romance novel to Sports Bars and OTB Halls everywhere.

With about nine minutes remaining in the Mountaineers' 78-57 loss to Duke in the national semifinals of the NCAA tournament, Butler felt his left knee buckle as he drove to the basket. Immediately, he clutched his leg and fell to the floor. Butler's worst fears instantly ran through his mind. "I hope this isn't what I think it is," Butler told himself. "But it hurt," he said.

After Butler lay on the court in obvious pain for a few minutes, West Virginia coach Bob Huggins walked onto the floor. After chirping at officials, Huggins leaned over his player until they were nearly nose-to-nose. Huggins appeared to wipe a tear from Butler's cheek. "I was just apologizing because I wanted to win it for him, too," Butler said.

"Don't be sorry," Huggins told him. "I love ya."

Did I mention it was a KNEE injury? I've got to admit though, this moment took hands-on coaching to dizzying, Twilight-level highs.

15 comments:

Greg Zakwin said...

If we're talking injuries from last night....might want to look just once, the replay isn't very aesthetically-pleasing:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2wa1IYEFOg

Paul said...

I saw that and couldn't get the 80s "hit" "I just died in your arms tonight" out of my head. Circa 1985 est Cutting Crew.

Delino DeShields, Sr said...

For me, it's more Mr. Mister's "Broken Wings". But that song's usually just a second away from entering my head anyway.

Delino DeShields, Sr said...

@Kemp - Watched the clip. In a word, yuk.

Steve Sax said...

Delino, I always picked you for more of a Kyrie guy. Whoa, oh, ohhhhhhh.

And what's with the new article in your name? You going Rickey Henderson on us? Clearly you're getting paid too much.

Steve Sax said...

Okay, I just saw that Bogut clip.

Yikes. Hemingway would have approved.

Nostradamus said...

He can say "farewell" to that arm for the rest of the season.

Kyle Baker said...

Man that Bigut play sickened me. I was putting off hitting the ale until later today, but now I've been forced into it. I did the same thing when I was a kid - not dunking, mind you, but falling from a height and landing jsut like that. Kept me out of Little League that summer and I'm still pissed off.

Kyle Baker said...

Has to be said:

(arm falls off)

Steve Sax said...

nice! AD references live on!!!

NicJ said...

funny this is the same exact scene that played out in my house when broxton blew that save in the NLCS. Me playing the role of butler and the GF playing the role of huggins.

rbnlaw said...

. . .and then he kissed me.

Kyle Baker said...

That's funny, Nic.

Delino DeShields, Sr said...

If Darcy Richards had a coach like this, she'd have been a much happier person.

Or more damaged.

More something.

Kyle Baker said...

Taking tasteless to new heights:

Get a room!