Break out the highlighters and pencils, call friends and bother your co-workers – March Madness starts today!
It also marks the end of the best Husky season – winter. Every weekend there was something to look forward to, particularly this past winter, when the men’s hockey team surprised all of Hockey East with a hot November.
Now it’s over. What can a Husky fan possibly do? Of course, there are the baseball and track seasons, and spring football is just around the corner. But for those yearning for more, I’ve devised a new type of tournament – the all-time greatest Huskies. Four regions with four competitors per region. Factors considered are Husky career and life post-Huntington Avenue.
Parsons Field Region
Reggie Lewis (1) vs. Tim Gale (4)
As can be expected of all top-seed against lowest-seed matchups, this one is no contest from the start. Give Gale credit, his hard-nosed running and leadership was more valuable to the football team than his statistics (third all time with 2,860 rushing yards, second in rushing touchdowns with 36). But Lewis may possibly be the best Husky athlete ever, and his icon status in nearby Roxbury makes him invaluable to the community. That, and being the all-time leader in points, first-round draft pick of the Celtics and subsequent captain of the Celts’ make for a strong resume.
Bruce Racine (2) vs. Jim Calhoun (3)
Yes, Calhoun was never a player, but he did lead the Huskies to five NCAA tournament appearances in his 14 years as coach of the men’s basketball team. Not to be outdone, Racine’s legacy as the last Husky to earn Beanpot MVP honors makes him a sentimental choice in Northeastern’s current Beanpot Championship drought. The verdict? I choose Racine over Calhoun, simply because Calhoun will be remembered for what he did after leaving Huntington Avenue at UConn, but Racine will be a legend forever.
Matthews Arena Region
Carlos Pena (1) vs. Liam Ezekial (4)
At a time in both of their careers these two athletes were professionals. Pena, however, earned the American League Comeback player of the year award while Ezekial plays for the Destroyers of the Arena League. That, and the notion that Ezekial once punched a teammate after a game, pushes Pena ahead in this matchup.
Jose Barea (2) vs. Chanda Gunn (3)
A closer match-up than first meets the eye, pitting the second-all-time scorer in Husky basketball history against perhaps the greatest women’s ice hockey player ever. To top it off, both have done extremely well for themselves post-Huskydome. Barea signed a multi-million dollar contract with the Dallas Mavericks and Gunn won a Bronze medal for America at the 2006 Olympics. I’ll take medals over dollars in this upset as Gunn moves on.
Solomon Court Region
Dan Ross (1) vs. Maurice Murray (4)
Perhaps I’m short-sighting Murray with a fourth-seed, but Northeastern’s all-time leading rusher had the misfortune of playing on a run-happy Husky squad, which saw him also set a record with 819 rushing attempts. The late Ross remains one of the greatest to wear the Red and Black, a former pro-bowler with a down-to-earth attitude that took him fishing after games with his dad. Ross is the pick.
Chris Nilan (2) vs. Neil McPhee (3)
Another coach vs. player matchup. This time, it’s Nilan, a 1991 NHL All-star against a coach who has been on the baseball diamond for 22 seasons, and a player before that. While Nilan was great as a player and NHL star, McPhee’s longevity and loyalty to Huntington Avenue is un-paralleled. McPhee gets the nod.
Huntington Avenue American-League Baseball Grounds Region
Dan McGillis (1) vs. Keni Gibson (4)
The first match-up of the non-existent baseball diamond belongs to a pair of skaters. McGillis was named an All-American during his senior year and scored 113-points during his reign. Also, McGillis’ 733 NHL games are the most for any Husky skater. Gibson is a sentimental favorite of mine – I remember his performance in the 2005 Beanpot fondly, where he lost dramatically to Boston University in overtime during the championship game. Nostalgia aside, McGillis moves on.
Mari Creatini (2) vs. Adam Ottavino (4)
It’s tough choosing a field hockey player over someone who once threw a no-hitter and is currently in the St. Louis Cardinals’ farm system. But Creatini is no ordinary athlete – her 72 points in 2003 are the most all-time, and she also led the team to being just one win away from the Final Four of the NCAA tournament. Creatini wins.
So who wins it all? That’ll remain open for debate. Until next time, keep your brackets clean and let’s hope for a quick return to next fall.
– Matt Foster can be reached
