It is tough to find a place to start. I think it's because I'm having a hard time believing it's finished.
The America East Tournament has been a part of my life since 2002. Through the years I've brought other people in on the fun. With the group growing it's largest in 2013 when we had 11 people in our group! The countless memories from just traveling to the cities are enough to make me miss this tourney. It was for most of us our first escapes after a long winter. A chance to shake things up as the weather warms and the Madness of March crept in.
I got to know Boston, Binghamton, Hartford, and Albany. I got to take in match-ups between other squads from the conference. It was fun to see them battle each other and just enjoy a game rather than be stressed or have big time rooting interest. I went on the floor at Walter Brown Arena to attempt a half-court shot (just missed), won $1000 for the Burlington Boys & Girls Club in Hartford, and this past year in Albany won a bouncing horse race (video available on Facebook). I could rile up opponents fans and then get ours going. Getting to play the "face" and "heel" roles often moments apart. I made fans laugh with my signs, chants, yells, and barbs. I watched Hartford players attack our fans. Jose-Juan Barea well before he hit the NBA. I witnessed upsets, shockers, buzzer-beaters. Heroic performances like Taylor Coppenrath's 43-point effort in the Championship game. I dressed as Kitty Catamount for the 2003 Championship game and stormed Boston U's floor as UVM made the NCAA Tourney for the first time. I stormed the court in 2012 when we took down Stony Brook on long island. I've helped cut down nets for UVM, and twice for Albany. I have formed relationships with past coaches, players, alums, and employees from not just UVM but other America East teams as well.
I feel like a part of this conference. A part of this tournament. I'm the guy always in full uniform. The young guy amongst the sea of elderly UVM fans. The guy who always gets it going with the fans and keeps it clean. This tournament will always be a part of me, and maybe more importantly to me, I felt I was a part of it.
To say the least, this tournament format change upset me greatly. Its about more than those high seeds getting home games. It's about more than trying to "protect the conference's better teams."
It's about a tournament our teams can win. Sure the NCAA Tourney is the goal, but really will an America East team ever win it all? Probably not in my lifetime. This was the time of year any team could win. They all came to a neutral site and at the end the high seed hosts the big game on ESPN. The way a tourney should be. The hottest teams playing good basketball at the time playing for a shot a glory.
Having this format enter so soon meant we only had a chance to do this one last time. I'm not sure if it will truly hit me until this same week next year. When there's no trip to plan. No games, hotel parties, or city wandering. No eating at different restaurants, seeing other teams fans and bands, or gathering with my friends to support our squad. No Madness.
I am constantly angered to think of the people who made this choice and okayed it. They never thought about how many people loved this tourney. It wasn't a "basketball" decision. It was a business one, and one I'd love to see numbers, or projected numbers on, because I don't buy it. Seemed a lot of non-basketball people made the choice and it makes about as much sense as if I changed the format of a soccer tournament.
I was further angered at this situation when it was first announced and I joined the nay-sayers. I was asked to remove a Tweet to the AE Commissioner that simply read "You should be ashamed." in response to a video she posted about the change. I wasn't asked by her, mind you, but my boss. Someone went through the trouble of calling UVM to have me take it down. I think it was petty. I didn't say anything inappropriate. I just shared my opinion. Then I was blocked from following our team on Twitter. Ridiculous, and immature if you ask me. Trust me, "You should be ashamed." was very edited from what I wanted to say. Nonetheless I said very little about it until now out of respect for UVM and my then employment there. I'm not one to rattle cages, or unnecessarily be a dickhead, but I felt my opinion was just, and also not alone.
I still feel the same way today as I did the day of the announcement. Now I'm just sad. Sad to know there won't be anymore great March moments like the ones in years past. New ones will have to be made, but it will never be in the same way again.
Now I'm having a hard time finishing this. I know it's because of how many great memories will start with "Remember that time at the America East Tournament...?" It's sad they will just be memories now... instead of future fun.
Good-Bye friend. It was a pleasure.
R.I.P. America East Tournaments Done Right
