Commentary

I believed. The second Kenyon Martin’s leg broke, I knew for sure that Saint Louis University was going to win that game. I knew for sure that SLU was going to win the Conference USA Tournament and steal a spot in the NCAA Tournament. It was spring break. I was on the couch in Winter Park, Colo. Everyone else had gone out skiing for the day, but I stayed. No way was I going to miss this game. When Kenyon Martin was out, I knew SLU was in. Coach Lorenzo Romar was working his magic and I was believing.

I was in the stands the next time SLU played Cincinnati. This time it was during the regular season, at the Savvis Center. From the opening tip I believed SLU was going to win this game. When they were down by five points with only two minutes left, I wasn’t worried. When the game went to overtime, I didn’t bat an eyelash. I can’t explain this feeling, I was just sure there was no way SLU was going to lose. Romar was working his magic again and I was hooked.

I was in the stands again last Dec. 3. I’m not sure if I ever sat down during the game. I remember jumping up and down on a few different occasions. I remember my friend Chris going hoarse telling the referees to “sober up.” Once again, I wasn’t too worried when SLU got down. The feeling was back. I believed in the Romar magic, I knew that somehow, his team was going to pull this out. I went nuts when Marque Perry hit his off-balance three-pointer to tie the game. My heart sank when Wesley Stokes hit his off-balance shot to win the game.

I swear I about punched one of those Mizzou fans. There is nothing more depressing than a 45-year-old man taunting some college kids about a game that never should have been that close. I remember telling him that if Quin Snyder was half the coach Lorenzo Romar is, Missouri should go undefeated this season.

“Quin has good hair, Romar has coaching magic.”

The Tigers went on to lose 11 games.

I followed closely as Romar pulled a sluggish, apathetic team from the floor and led them on a four-game winning streak into the Conference USA Tournament. All of a sudden, I was believing again. It has happened before, if there is any coach who can do the impossible, it’s Romar.

I watched with shock and horror as Perry’s shot snapped through the net. I knew immediately it wasn’t going to count. My friend Chris was once again screaming for the refs to get sober, but I simply shut off the television and wondered what had happened. It was as if the magic had run out this season. It seems as if SLU was so close to being a good team, they just never found a way to finish things.

I was on the couch again Wednesday. The “W” insignia for the Washington Huskies came up. Immediately I knew what was coming. Romar was packing up his magic and heading out west.

It’s hard to blame him for making the choice. He is going back to where he played college ball. He’s leaving a young conference with a lot of potential for the Pac-10, a well-established, well-respected conference.

Of course, we won’t mention the fact that he wasn’t the first choice for the job, or even the second. He was the fourth choice for the job. It had to be hard for him to leave behind the SLU team that will be back next year.

Then again, with Romar leaving, there is a good chance the two great prospects will follow him away from SLU. All of a sudden, there isn’t as much hope for next season as there was on Monday. Romar is going to Washington, and he’s taking his magic with him.

But it looks like he performed one last magic trick here at SLU; he could have made next year’s freshman class disappear.

SLU is losing a great coach and recruiter who never really had the time to live up to his potential here. But more importantly, the University is losing a man of great character and faith.

He was a perfect fit at Saint Louis University, but now I guess all we can do is wish him the best at Washington. It’s time to find someone else to believe in.