You thought it was over

If you read this blog, you might have noticed that I haven’t mentioned UNC, Tar Heels, Chapel Hill or even basketball in a while. If you were glad about that, I’m sorry, because it’s going to be starting up again in the next couple of months. Today, UNC released their basketball schedule for 2009-’10.

The first legit game is Nov. 19 vs. Ohio State. Sorry, Buckeyes. We may have lost some talent, but this is not your year to beat us.

The “mouth water-ers” on the list include a rematch of the national championship game against Michigan State on Dec. 1, a game versus Calipari’s uglier shade of blue (Kentucky) on Dec. 5. and the first basketball game to be played in the new Dallas Cowboys stadium against Texas on Dec. 19.

Not sure how we’re going to fair against those next three. I guess it’s only fair we let a Michigan State team (who is probably going to be damn good) come play us in Chapel Hill. After all, we did let them have it at their home twice last year.

The Kentucky game is a toss up. UK has some great talent, although (other than Patrick Patterson) it’s largely unproven talent. Their freshman John Wall is supposedly one-and-done good, like he-would-have-gone-straight-to-the-NBA-if-he-could good. I wonder what kind of strings Calipari, or his stooge Worldwide Wes, had to pull to get him. In case it doesn’t become crystal clear over the next few months, I hate Coach Cal.

The Texas game will be yet another test of the Heels’ mettle in December. By the time ACC season starts we should have a pretty good idea of what kind of team we’ll be this year. Yes, I said “we.” I can’t help it.

Now the waiting, with football to help pass some of the time.

Lawson, Ellington declare for draft

Well, it was only a matter of time before we heard this news. Ty Lawson and Wayne Ellington will be leaving Chapel Hill this year for the NBA. It would be tough for anyone with their kind of talent to stay after winning a championship. They did their job and hung a banner, now they can move on. We’ve been really spoiled having the 2005 team and this crop of guys more or less back-to-back. It’s going to look really weird on the court next year without Nos. 50, 22, 5, 14 and 4 running the show.

I’m not going to speculate on the numbers they will wear, but who’s in next year’s starting five is an interesting question. Marcus Ginyard and Deon Thompson will probably start, but then who. Ed Davis and Tyler Zeller are great candidates, with me personally leaning toward Davis. Either Larry Drew II or Dexter Strickland (freshman) will play point guard. Who will play shooting guard? Dunno.  And how will Roy use his abundantly stocked front court? The top recruit coming in, John Henson, is 6′10″ and the top-ranked power forward in the class of 2009. The Heels are also adding the 6′9″ Wear twins. That will give them six players at 6′8″ (Thompson) and taller. Henson, being a top recruit, could be playing for a starting position over Davis or Zeller….or Thompson. 

That’s if Roy plays the same system he has been in his time at UNC, with two main big men in the game at a time, two guards and a swing man (like Green, Ginyard and from ‘05 Jackie Manuel). With all the bigs he might have to change to a system with three pure fowards in the game to get all those guys in. 

He’s got time to think about it, but right now if I were him I’d still be basking. I’ve got to order my Sports Illustrated subscription now.

Go Heels!

AP story below

Ty Lawson, Wayne Ellington of North Carolina entering NBA draft – ESPN.

Lost Dog Cafe: Carry-Out in Falls Church

Revisited. I’ve already posted my initial visit to Lost Dog, but last night Jenna and I decided to go the delivery route. 

Well, that’s how it started at least. 

We originally decided to reward our hour-long run with some good grub, and grub that we wouldn’t have to move to get — hence the delivery. We decided to go pick it up if it was going to take much longer than 30 minutes though, because one-hour runs make you hungry. 

I ordered the lasagna and Jenna the eggplant parmesan. I also wanted to order a Victory Old Horizontal – they deliver beer!

They didn’t have that, but I still wanted a barleywine (been on a kick lately) so I ordered a Sierra Nevada Bigfoot. It was going to take 45 minutes so we decided to just pick it up. 

Got to the store and they didn’t actually have the Bigfoot, but they already rang me up for a Sierra Nevada single so I had to pick a Sierra brew. Annoying. What were they planning on showing up at my door with? I went with the Torpedo, which I think of as a revved up Sierra Pale Ale. It’s nice.

Anyway we got back, with our very heavy bag, and I really wish I had a picture of this lasagna. It’s the closest thing to the now defunct Rathskeller of Chapel Hill’s “Bowl of Cheese” lasagna that I have had. It’s hard to imagine anything topping the Rat’s, but this sure did satisfy. 

It came in a tin tray, of which the slice of lasagna took up about 60 percent. The other 40 percent, however, was full of sauce and cheese. It was hard to tell where the slice was because the tray was just a level layer of cheese across the top. It came with some garlic bread so I was piling on the excess cheese and sauce onto it. There was some good sausage and ricotta in the layers that were really well done.  I will be getting it again. 

The bite or two I had of Jenna’s parm was also delish. 

The beer situation was the only bone I had to pick. And that’s weird because Lost Dog has probably one of the finest selections in Falls Church, Va. 

Also, I was glad we phoned it in. When we picked it up there was a huge standing line waiting to get seated. I’m a big believer in the logic that places with big lines are the places you probably want to be, and this would hold true of the Lost Dog.

More UNC Celebrating

I’ve basically spent at least two hours per day since Monday reading every story I can find about the Heel’s championship. Here’s an awesome timelapse done by the DTH and even better video of the celebrations. 

Why do we do this?

It’s hard to explain — how UNC alumni feel about basketball and their university. The two are interconnected in so many ways and through so many experiences that the answer is surely different for every person. Mike Ogle got it really really close though with his special to SI.com. It’s a must-read for the Tar Heel faithful. 

Read it here. 

Franklin Street Pictures

I went back to Chapel Hill to watch the Final Four. Needless to say, debauchery ensued.

Check out more here.

Beer Madness Finale

So I never updated the WaPo’s beer madness after I initially posted it a few weeks ago. And if you were really dying to know I’m sure you already checked it on its Web site. 

The Final Four proved to be some good competition: Ommegang Hennepin, Troeg’s HopBack Amber, The Raven and Brooklyn Brown Ale. But it turns out Troegs’ HopBack won it all.

I found it really surprising at some of the comments from the judging panel, whom the writer claims are “not beer geeks.” 

One said they preferred the “simple flavor of hops” compared to the subtle, lighter  – and in my opinion more drinkable to a non hop aficionado — Hennepin. I’ve always found within my circle of friends that hops are more of an acquired taste than most other flavors in beer, so I’m not convinced this panel didn’t include at least a few folks who drink their fair share of brew. I guess just because you drink IPAs it doesn’t necessarily make you a “beer geek,” but hey it’s just an observation. 

Regardless, the HopBack won it and I have never tried it, even though they sell it in my usual store, Cairo Liquor. Add that to my bucket list.

My brother — who is in college back in Chapel Hill, to where I am departing today for the Final Four! — recently attended a similar “tourney” at a local beer shop in Carrboro, N.C. I can’t recall the name of the store, but it’s attached to Tyler’s Tap Room, and is probably one of the best beer stores in the area. He said a bunch of people showed up, they tasted every matchup for the 32 beers and then divided the room for the consensus opinion. Sounds like a great way to spend an afternoon. Wonder if I can convince them to do an NIT while I’m back this weekend?

Speaking of which, congrats to Penn State (my dad’s alma mater) on their championship last night!

March Nerves

With so much time between weekends, it leaves plenty for me to go back and forth about how I think the Tar Heels will do this weekend.

So to prevent worrying, or generate more, I’ve decided as long as Lawson is on the court, I have total faith. If he’s not………..

Stomping Grounds

Went back to Chapel Hill over the weekend for an awesome time with some family and friends. I stayed with my brother, who’s a junior at UNC, and my parents came up for the game and some dinner Saturday.

Hansbrough set the NCAA record for free throws made. People think he goes to the line too much, and they’re jealous, but it’s still impressive to have actually made that many charity tosses. Just because you go to the line doesn’t mean you’re given those two points.

 After that rousing 30-point win – making my record 1-1 in games attended this year (CURSES!) – dinner was at the famous Mama Dip’s. Typically our family doesn’t go crazy when it comes to eating out, but the parents were so happy to see us that we went for it. I don’t think we’d ever ordered three appetizers before Saturday night. We got sweet potato biscuits and fries, and some hush puppies. For entree, I got my favorite thing that Mama’s serves up, fried chicken “smothered” (as they say there) in gravy. Desert was chocolate pecan pie.

It took some time to recover from that one, but it didn’t stop me from making sure I went out on Franklin St. both nights I was there. Went out with some buddies who still live there and even some that don’t. We went to Bub O’Malley’s (my first time there even after four years) and were kicked out – not for drunkeness – but for our unorthodox method of foosball playing. (long story) We also went to a new bar that wasn’t there when I attended UNC that was in the old Hector’s space. It made me wish Hector’s was still there. I was notorious for going there late night even if I went by myself. Also made it to Deep End.

Work’s kind of busy so I really should get back to it. That will spare ye readers the hellish story of my return trip to Washington on the Amtrak. Let’s just say it involved an unfortunate car accident, a subsequent three-hour delay, multiple delays from being given second priority to the tracks, about five loud children under the age of three  and a total of about 12 hours of ordeal.

At least it’s snowing today.