Sport Commentary

Relax; I was just joshing around with the headline. Not even I'm that cold-blooded. After last week's column on how 0-11 was still a possibility for the Hoosiers, I called a friend of mine on the team to get his reaction. To my surprise, his roommate said he would not talk to me. For about a minute in the background, I could hear the roommate tell my friend to pick up the phone, but my friend was reluctant. Finally, he got the phone and said, 'What?' in a very aggravated tone. I knew this conversation wasn't going very far and after a few lines of his argument I let him go. This being a good friend of mine, I thought it would take more than just my column for him to be angry. In my response, I have written this letter to him.
Dear friend, Just like a midget to a giant, we obviously do not meet eye-to-eye on the necessity of my last column that bashed the Hoosiers' play in the first two weeks. Never was it meant to be personal, but I'm also not going to apologize because I believe it had to be said. Anyway, it's in the past, so let's squash it and move on. As you're well aware, it's not like me to be critical of others. Usually, I'm the guy who avoids confrontation and at times will be run over because of my passiveness. Whether my picture hung in a player's locker because I was wanted like a fugitive or rather just as a motivational boost, I'm not sure, but I do not write to upset people, especially large, finely-tuned athletes who could fire me through the air like a paper airplane. Unlike other newspaper positions, a columnist has the freedom of adding his or her opinion to their story. My job consists of calling it as I see it. If that means ripping or praising, then that's what I have to do. Still, don't let my duty interfere with our friendship. That aside, the team proved me wrong, just as I hoped. In reality, I'm an IU fan, and I want to see the Hoosiers win, but it seemed as if I was the Hoosier anti-Christ last week. Anyway, the defense took my column, stuck it down my throat and force-fed it to me. After the Hoosiers took a big lead into halftime, I was afraid the game was going to be another one of those that could send some old Hoosier fan to the emergency room with a heart attack. As the third quarter went along and the offense grew a larger and larger lead, I felt even the Hoosiers' defense could not blow this one. Once again, I'm kidding. The defense played with passion and fire all four quarters and played one of its greatest games since coach Cam Cameron has been here. Seriously, you guys looked like men on a mission to send a statement. The statement I received said, "To Scott Powers: You are an idiot. You don't know jack about IU football, and if you continue to badmouth us we'll continue to prove you wrong. With love, signed, the Hoosiers' defense." Even with the impressive win, I don't think everyone is completely impressed, but you've definitely gotten some fans back on the wagon. The next step would be a real Big Ten run. Right now, no one in the conference really has shown any kind of dominance and the conference trophy is there for anyone's taking. Now, I'm getting way ahead of myself, but I am excited about Hoosier football again. The first two weeks were frustrating as being woken up right before a good dream was about to get really interesting. But like I said, let's not talk about North Carolina State and Kentucky anymore and only talk about the present and future. One of your arguments about my column was that you and your teammates put in endless hours of mental and physical preparation to represent IU to the best of your ability. In your shoes, I'd probably be upset if someone said we "sucked," but on the other hand, you have to look at it from a fan's perspective. In actuality, I never questioned the team's dedication, but rather its athletic ability. And that was proven wrong Saturday. Either way, I'm sure being a student-athlete is not easy, and I do appreciate the time the team puts into making the Hoosiers the best possible football team they can be. I hope this can straighten out any hostility you have toward me and we can continue to be cool no matter what I say about the Hoosier football team.
Sincerely, Scotty P.