Welcome smileyy!

[Svoboda]

Welcome to XavierHoops.com, smileyy!

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[smileyy]

Hey y'all. I spent my formative years just outside Cincinnati, became aware of Xavier hoops the year they lost to Kansas (1988? I would have been 11 at the time). I went with my dad to Indianapolis to watch the 1990 team knock of K. State and Georgetown (best sports moment of my young life until Game 1 of the 1990 World Series). I went back to see them lose to Indiana in 1993, incensed over the foul not called on Jamie Gladden, and Damon Bailey knocking the ball away after a score to run 5 seconds off the clock -- something I was glad to see XU do at the end of the 1st Half against Richmond.

I went off to college shortly thereafter, and followed as close as I could -- mostly I remember the disappoinments in the tournament of the Prosser teams.

David West and Romain Sato got me reinvigorated -- I pored over the internet for everything Xavier at that point in time. The 2004 Elite 8 game was crushing. 1 foul too many on Anthony Myles, one defensive lapse against J.J. Redick...what could have been.

I drifted away again after that -- I had moved to Seattle in that time -- coming back just in time for the 2007 heartbreak against Ohio State. I knew 2008 was going to be special though, and I followed the team on the internet and on cable as best I could from Seattle. I flew to Washington DC and met my dad to watch the NCAA tournament together, just like we had 18 years before. Georgia was a heart attack for 30 minutes of play, and the Purdue game was a joy. Later, back in Seattle, I've never gotten so many chills as I did from the B.J. Raymond 3-pointer.

That same weekend in D.C., I talked the woman who is now my wife back into my life. That was a good weekend :) We got married a year later (XU over Portland St -- I had to miss that game), but watched XU beat Wisconsin from the floor of the Vancouver casino where we were honeymooning.

I'm astounded and proud to be a fan of a school that has done so much right -- sustained excellence, graduation rates, great players with great work ethics. It's an awesome trip.

[SlimKibbles]

Welcome to the boards, man!