Gordon’s Message to Illinois: Take That!

The disgraceful chant of boos from the opening tip until the final buzzer.

An angry mob of students screaming so many expletives it sounded like Pulp Fiction.

Not to mention, an 18-year old student athlete feeling the weight of the world on his shoulders because he is considered the biggest traitor west of the Indiana border.

Despite all those factors, Indiana freshman phenom Eric Gordon embraced the inferior Assembly Hall and torched the Fighting Illini for 19 well-deserved points and retreated more hated than ever.

His message for the Illini?

Take that!

Gordon, who orally committed to Illinois, only to spurn them for Indiana, is more hated in the state of Illinois than Barrack Obama at a KKK meeting.

Gordon betrayed the University of Illinois. Gordon betrayed coach Bruck Weber. Gordon betrayed the town of Champaign. Gordon betrayed the thousands of fans that had jumped on the EJ (Eric Gordon Jr.) bandwagon soon after his oral commitment.

So after his initial and probably only ever trip to the Assembly Hall in Champaign, Gordon left a message:

Take that.

Gordon is the Big Ten’s leading scorer at 21.6 points a game, but he was very un-Gordon-like in the Hoosiers’ 83-79 victory over the Illini on Thursday. He did manage a team-high 19 points, but he had to work hard for every single one of them.

Gordon was not only harassed by a raucous home crowd, but every shot was well-defended by a smothering Illini defense.

After scoring a season-low one point in the first half, Gordon picked up the scoring – and emotion – in the second half. Despite shooting 3-13 from the field (all three field goals from beyond the arc), his three-point bank shot from the left wing with under a minute remaining in regulation to tie the game will go down as one of the most clutch shots in the history of Indiana basketball.

It will rival Keith Smart’s shot to win the 1987 title game. It will be talked of in the same sentence as Jay Edwards’ winning three-pointer against Michigan in the late ‘80s.

No matter how Gordon’s playing career turns out – both at IU and in the pros – his three-pointer that stabbed the Illini in the back (figuratively and literally) will define Gordon’s career.

As the renewed rivalry between the Hoosiers and Fighting Illini intensifies, Gordon’s shot will be the first and defining moment.

After a season sweep in a pair of come-from-behind wins over a jealous and struggling Illinois team, one would say two words:

Advantage Indiana.

As for Gordon, the smile and excitement on his face after his banked three-pointer was not just from hitting a career-changing shot. It was a sign of relief. It was his way of silencing his critics. It was his way of silencing the Orange Crush.

It was his way of saying another two words:

Take that, Illinois.

Ok, make that three words.

Indiana - Illinois: A Revived Rivalry

On Nov. 28, 2005, Illinois got news that lifted their spirits following a disappointing runner-up finish to North Carolina in the 2005 in the NCAA championship.

Eric Gordon (North Central High School, Indianapolis), the best junior guard in the country, made an oral commitment to play for Bruce Weber and the Fighting Illini.

The Illini were immediately thrown into the national spotlight. Gordon had not yet stepped onto the Assembly Hall hardwood but the Illinois faithful were already making Final Four reservations.

Illini alumni were taking routine bus trips to Indianapolis to see their future star guard hard at work.

Just when Illinois thought things were on the up and up, the bottom fell out.

Indiana head coach Mike Davis was out following an NCAA tourney loss to Gonzaga. Former Oklahoma coach Kelvin Sampson was named IU coach on March 29, 2006. And Gordon, a long-time Hoosier fan, did the ultimate shot-fake on the Illini and signed a national letter of intent to play for Indiana in October 2006.

Gordon did nothing but follow his heart, but the Illini fans were not forgiving or understanding.

Now, nearly 18 months after the switch heard ‘round the world, Gordon prepares for his first – and probably only – visit to Champaign, IL when his No. 14 Hoosiers (18-3, 7-1) invade the inferior Assembly Hall to do battle with the Illini.

A battle will be an understatement.

Mr. Gordon, you are treading on dangerous waters. Despite Illinois’ lackluster season thus far (10-13, 2-8), one thing Illinois fans have for their team is passion.

When these teams hook up at 9 p.m. on Thursday, Gordon will think his name was legally changed overnight to Boo as that is what he will expect to hear from the Orange Crush, Illinois’ world-famous student section.

Every dribble. Every pass. Every shot. Every foul. Gordon will be harassed from start to finish. Think the Orange Crush will go bonkers if Gordon were to throw up an air ball? The eruption and pandemonium might be so fierce that it may register on the Richter Scale.

As much attention that will be focused on this game, this is not the first time that Indiana and Illinois have hated each other due to recruiting issues.

In the late ‘80s, former IU coach Bob Knight went into then-Illinois coach Lou Henson’s backyard and recruited two high school players that would help lead the Hoosiers to a Final Four. Jamal Meeks and Eric Anderson, both of Illinois, were starters on Knight’s 1991 Final Four team that lost to Duke in the national semifinal.

This recruiting “scandal” sent shockwaves across the state line, as Henson referred to Knight as a “big bully” for stealing his players from his state.

So, this is nothing new for Indiana and Illinois. The only thing different is it now involves a high-profile player who is probably one-and-done to the NBA.

Just think how each team would be different had Gordon followed through on his oral commitment and enrolled at Illinois. If you take away Gordon’s 21.8 points per game from Indiana and add it to Illinois and the roles are completely reversed. Illinois would be a national ranked team and IU would be near the basement of the Big Ten.

So, Mr. Gordon, the next 24 hours of your life will be under a microscope. Fortunately for Gordon, he will probably not have to experience the aftermath of his change of heart, but the damage has already been done.

Expect this rivalry to go from snowball to avalanche in a hurry as Sampson has already received a commitment from high school senior Matt Roth of Illinois. He is not the crown jewel of the 2008 high school class as Gordon was, but gauntlet has been thrown down.

The Indiana-Illinois basketball rivalry has returned with a vengeance.

How ugly will it get? Mr. Gordon, you will soon find out.

Hendrick Motorsports: The Evil Empire

Now that the New England Patriots’ pursuit of perfection has come to an end, it is time to discuss yet another franchise that could shape up to have as dominating a record in a season.

The arrival of thoroughbred Dale Earnhardt Jr. to an already potent Hendrick Motorsports stable gives owner Rick Hendrick the talent that rivals the New York Yankees.

Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson are already accomplished and established champions.
They have combined for 76 poles, 114 victories, and six series championships, including the last two going to Johnson.

Casey Mears – the “third-string driver” for Hendrick – has accounted for one race win.

I guess winning the last two series championships was not enough for team owner Rick Hendrick. With pockets so deep he could touch his toes through his pants, Hendrick went out and signed perhaps the greatest free agent in the history of NASCAR.

On May 10, 2007, Dale Jr. announced his intention to leave Dale Earnhardt Inc., the company his late father built from the ground up. He hoped to take over DEI as majority owner, but after negotiations fell through, Dale Jr. opted to test the free agency market.

Earnhardt Jr. was a free agent for exactly 34 days when on June 13, he announced he had agreed to a five-year contract to drive for Hendrick Motorsports.

The rich keep getting richer. Richer in regards to winning and championships.

Hendrick Motorsports – just like the New York Yankees – has plenty of championships but spent more money on the best driver that money could buy.

Who will benefit more from the greatest free agent signing in the history of NASCAR?

Obviously, Hendrick already has enough championships and generated income from wins and sponsors to end child hunger and cure cancer, so that would point the arrow of success to Mr. Earnhardt Jr.

Dale Jr., with the backing of Hendrick Motorsports, should add to his career win total of 17 and capture a series championship that has eluded him his entire career.

So, who has more to lose?

Dale Jr. was unable to capture a championship with his own team. If he is unable to win a points championship with Hendrick, one would have to point the finger at Earnhardt’s driving ability, talent, and passion.

Now, let us not put too much pressure on Dale Jr. A job with Hendrick does not guarantee success. Numerous drivers have had their opportunities with the Evil Empire, but for whatever reason could not uphold legacy of Hendrick Motorsports.

Kyle Busch. Kenny Schrader. Ricky Craven. Jerry Nadeau. Brian Vickers. Just to name a few. The aforementioned drivers combined for a mere 12 victories. All of those previous drivers have moved on, leaving the door wide open for Dale Jr.

There are already many questions regarding the upcoming season that are lingering on the minds of racing enthusiasts across the country.

How will Dale Jr. handle not being a team’s top gun? At DEI, Earnhardt Jr. was the team. Despite a run of teammates that achieved great success, Dale Jr. was always the top attraction. Obviously he will still attract attention, but now he will be looked upon as just another teammate to Gordon and Johnson instead of being the team leader.

Can Dale Jr. break out of his father’s shadow and live up to the hype that has followed him since his rookie campaign of 2000? Based on the history of Hendrick Motorsports, all signs point to a series championship on the horizon.

How many trophies will be added to the Hendrick trophy case with the addition of Dale Jr.?

For Dale Jr.’s sake, hopefully he will fare better than the Patriots and not choke in the clutch.

There are many questions, but the answers will not come until February 17 when the Daytona 500 kicks off the season.

Stay tuned.