The team of the week won the game
of the week. The
Tennessee
Volunteers (25-2, 10-1 SEC) put an end to the Memphis Tigers' reign atop
college basketball with a 66-62 win.
Watching the pre-game speech of
Tennessee's Coach Bruce Pearl, it was clear that it was Tennessee's game to
lose. It's always interesting to hear a coach's pre-game speech; a voyeuristic
glimpse behind the scenes for fans. However, like a Kobe Bryant smile,
televised locker-room speeches always come off as inauthentic.
Built like the guys on "Orange
County Choppers” and clad in a garish pair of suspenders, Pearl was a stogie
clenched in his teeth away from being a superhero villain. His speech started
off uninspiring as his keys to the game conveniently alliterated with one
another, reminding me of the business meetings I day dream my way through on a
weekly basis.
Pearl recovered in the end though,...
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