photo credit: America East Conference

The Lion strolls up and down the court; he is running, but his relaxed, sideways gait belies that. One can feel his concentration, his head twisting from side to side, taking in the entirety of this, his den, and delegating assignments for his mates.

Stony Brook won the America East Championship, earning the esteemed university their first chance to dance, as they say. And Jameel Warney willed it, cajoling, inspiring, and demanding that his troop achieve this very thing. That the Catamounts suffocated our offense forcing cold hands all around wouldn’t matter. No sixteen point 2nd half deficit would be an obstacle in this place… On this day… Stony Brook will win the crown. There will be no Miracle from Oz nor any Final Phantom Foul in The Hub to crush Seawolves dreams.

The Coach:

Photo credit: America East Conference

This victory belongs to Coach Pikiell as much as anyone. In his benevolence, he’ll credit everyone, but vision is currency.

Attending a Stony Brook basketball game 10 years ago was like digging in one’s basement to pull out and reinstall the old black and white TV set, complete with rabbit ears and no remote. The dark, dank, dismal hall was populated by few fans, and any students in attendance were there to fulfill a course requirement. The students studied more than they cheered, finding, one assumes, refuge from the cacophony of the library across the street.

An aside: There was, in fact, a solitary student fan, thought to be so deranged that his fan-izing was posted to You Tube by, wait for it…”Vermont Sports Fanatics” (oh, the irony!) in an effort to show how nutty (re: normal college fan) he was! Nutty, he wasn’t, but he sure was lonely.

Even then Coach was, impossible to believe, optimistic! Those in attendance, (and there are few people who can claim they were there) saw no future while Coach saw a championship team…

In that room…

Whhaaat? (I rubbed my eyes.) Give the man his due; he is a great coach, but more importantly he can plan for and predict the future better than anyone.

(Another aside: Why is Coach Pikiell one of America’s great citizens? On the day that his team won their first championship, (in it’s 5th trip to the championship game!), on that very day, he places a phone call to a former band director, three years removed from the job, to say thanks for work done 10 years previous! Who does that?  Only a great man.)

The Lion:

photo credit: America East Conference

The Lion would not be denied this day, nor could he be stopped by vulnerable humans. He’s been playing this game for four years now, his same trick; padding beneath the basket, receiving a pass up high (to his right?), and plopping the ball through the hoop with a quick, delicate put up (or thundering smash!).  No fifteen foot jump shot here. The Lion is a clergyman, his upraised arms delivering his flock to the empyrean. It’s a move that has no response. Men gather round him in their pride, groping and thrashing, grabbing and tugging to no apparent consequence. The Lion cannot be contained.

It wasn’t always like this. As a wee cub, he could be pushed to err by men. But his legendary coach prodded, pushed, demanded that he find his roar and proclaim himself King of AE Beasts. His dominance demonstrated in this clumsily named arena, forevermore to be known as “Warney Hall”.

The Lion is a gentle man, a graceful, and charming man. He owes his game to Trainer Pikiell and our community owes them both for sharing their presence among us. Here are two men who ennoble this place and the people around them and we are all the richer for enjoying their company.

Congratulations to Coach Pikiell, his staff, and his students; his team. You make us all proud!