Different itinerary

April 3, 2005

J's World/Jeremiah Bartz

What was the best thing that came from Wasilla's upset victory over Bartlett in the boys' bracket of the 4A state basketball championships Thursday?

The win ensured a Valley team a spot in the title game and eliminated any possibility of an all-Anchorage title game.

For those who have a permanent residence under the smoggy skies of Anchortown, most probably think Arthur had a better chance of pulling the sword out of the stone than Wasilla had of beating its big-city nemesis. But is possible for the Rudy Ruettigers of the world to prevail in David vs. Goliath fashion. While it wasn't exactly the U.S. beating the Russians in the 1980 Olympics, the Anchorage apologists are screaming miracle and crying Mario as their beloved Superman was apparently stuck in a phone booth and missed nearly all of the first half.

And for the sports fans who are living in a phone booth, Bartlett senior Mario Chalmers participated in the McDonald's High School All-American Game on Wednesday in South Bend, Ind., and the travel itinerary didn't allow Chalmers to return to Anchorage until Thursday evening.

If the Bears had four quarters' worth of Mario, the Anchorage apologists cry, Bartlett would actually be battling West High and Alaska's most legendary recruiter, rather than a team from way out in the Valley. But Bartlett only had the services of its Super Mario for two quarters and had to rely on their Luigis. Whether it was the fault of Mario, or his travel agent, Chalmers missed nearly half of the most important game of his team's season. Most importantly, because while West and Colony were competing for a state title, the Bears could only sit in the stands and ask, "what if?" Chalmers, a University of Kansas signee, could use the time to take a look at the Jayhawk playbook, but virtually all of the players in this tournament don't have a career at Kansas to look forward to, making their time on the court at the Sullivan Arena and run toward a state championship the peak of their playing careers.

The Alaska Schools Activities Association did everything short of moving the Wasilla-Bartlett first round game to Indiana to accommodate Chalmers' decision to play in the All-American game. While that was a great opportunity for Chalmers, so was his teammates' shot at a state title.

Kodiak nearly didn't have an opportunity to play at all on Thursday. The team's flight from the island was delayed for hours because of whether. Rumors circled the Sullivan Arena and fans questioned whether Kodiak would make its 6:50 p.m. start at all.

When ASAA realized an entire team had not arrived in Anchorage, why weren't the times of the final two games swapped? Why could Bartlett and Wasilla not tip off at 6:50 p.m. and West and Kodiak play at 8:30 p.m.? Was the possible loss of one player more important than the possible loss of an entire team? Or did the Anchorage apologists just completely overlook Kodiak and Wasilla?

To many, the Region III programs are like that weird uncle you never invite to Christmas dinner or the guy in the fraternity who isn't privy to the secret handshake. Juneau-Douglas High School can attest to that. Apparently nobody in its football program knew the secret handshake of the fraternity known as Anchorage and the Bears were forced from the Cook Inlet Football Conference into the Railbelt.

But as long as the smaller communities upset the big-city boys, many from Anchorage will have an apology, or at least an excuse. Could the Warriors win a game against a team with four quarters' worth of Mario? Most likely.

Like Warrior sophomore floor general Jesse Bean said after the win over Bartlett, Wasilla prepared for a team with Chalmers on the court. Don't forget Chalmers shot just 4-of-11 from the floor after he finally arrived, and the last time Bartlett played Wasilla, with Mario, it took double overtime to win.

Some may say I am just picking on a high school kid. Chalmers is an amazing athlete with incredible talent. But with that talent comes an incredible responsibility to his team. ASAA also had a responsibility of switching the final two games of the night.

The McDonald's game was planned, the Kodiak snow storm was not.

Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz is not expecting any complimentary Jayhawk basketball tickets from Chalmers at the University of Kansas.