More rocks and chalk

There was a parade in downtown Lawrence yesterday to celebrate KU winning the national title. My friend Jimmy, who watched it from the rooftops, blandly described it as "not much of a parade, just a bunch of dudes on convertibles." While the description is technically correct, those "dudes" are heroes, and when you've got heroes, you don't need much else. It was estimated that almost 100,000 people were on hand. As the parade approached, everyone was staying back and giving it plenty of room. As the band went by, followed by the student managers, athletic director and assistant coaches, everyone in crowd remained cool, clapping and cheering, but holding their position.

Then Danny Manning's car came by and a few people starting pushing closer. Next came Bill Self, and a few more people pushed in. The trend continued through the walk-ons, who were sitting two-to-a-car. By the time Cole Aldrich came through, the crowd was swarming and it progressively got worse and worse until Russel Robinson, who was carrying the trophy, brought up the rear. Here's a picture from the LJWorld, where you can't even tell that Russel is even in a car. Trust me, he is.


Laurel and I posted up a couple blocks south of downtown, where the crowd wasn't quite as fierce. That's where I was able to snap this photo of America's best college basketball coach.

I suppose that yesterday's parade and award ceremony means that the Madness has officially come to an end. It has been everything I dreamed it would be and more. Here are a few post-championship musings.

Musing #1: Good PR move? If Mario is able to capitalize on draining the most clutch shot in the history of the NCAA title game, I'll be happy for him and consider it a wonderful trade. In the most recent mock draft on NBAdraft.net, Super Mario is indeed projected as a 1st round of this June's NBA draft. It's not so much the fact that he's projected to get drafted that makes me smile though, it's the team that they predict will select him: Memphis.

Musing #2: Wish you were here. Last year's KU team had no seniors, but they still lost one player when Julian Wright left early for the NBA. There was talk this season that his absence actually made the team better, but I have a hard time believing that. Lucky for us though, when this year's Kansas team needed Julian, he was right there, giving it his all. Check out the guy in the yellow circle, putting his heart and soul into a body lean that just had to have helped that ball go in. You are the man, Julian.

Musing #3: History relived. If you haven't been over to the phogblog yet, please dear sons, delay no longer. Said blogger has taken the time to give us his top 10 YouTube videos of the title run. When I watched these yesterday, there must have been some serious dust floating around, because my eyes just wouldn't stop, uh, watering. My personal favorites are numbers 5 and 2.

This makes 5 out of 6 posts that have been related to Kansas basketball. I'm unashamed.

Rock Chalk.

Winners

That's me in the hoodie. Ben, who 10 weeks ago made the best plane ticket purchase ever, is facing us, arms in victory about four rows back. Rock Chalk friends. Winners.