Nov. 11, 2010
On the Road with Lic to Overthrow the Monarchs!!
Hoya Hoops 2010-11 begins this Friday with a road trip to Old Dominion (ODU) as I ride shotgun with the inestimable Dr. William Licamele (C’68, M’72, etc.) at the wheel! It seems like only yesterday that Lic and I travelled to Providence for what we thought was going to be a long weekend of NCAA basketball and great Italian food. (But that’s enough about that!) We also travelled to New York last December for the Hoyas convincing Garden victory over NCAA-runner-up Butler. I have been watching the Hoyas with Lic since November 1972, when, following my own graduation from Georgetown, I moved into a house (3137 38th Street, NW) Lic shared with three other fellow Class of 1968 members. It was a great group house and the beginning of a friendship that has lasted through the decades. Now, with a new season looming, we are back on the road again!
Travels with Lic are always an enjoyable adventure! There are several things that you can count on: (1) you will NEVER be late; (2) you will never want for conversation; (3) you will eat at wonderful restaurants, usually Italian; (4) you will be able to read a range of newspapers from the New York Post to the Financial Times; (5) you will hear about the latest Georgetown news from athletics to alumni affairs; (6) if you are driving, you will be given very detailed directional instructions; and (7) if you are riding shotgun, you will, at times, grasp the seat rest as you did when you were teaching your children to drive! Lic is always prepared for any eventuality!
Two of my favorite “travels with Lic” stories occurred during the 2006 NCAA tournament in Dayton, where we defeated Northern Iowa and obliterated Ohio State to advance to the “Sweet 16.” I had rented the car and was driving with Lic and another Hoop Club leader as passengers. As I made my way through the environs of Dayton that wonderful weekend, Lic and the other passenger were calling out directional suggestions, more often than not in direct conflict with each other. Somehow, we always got to where we needed to be, and we have stories for a lifetime! (The essence of a good road trip!) The second story occurred on Friday night as we prepared to go to bed at about midnight. We had played in the afternoon and CBS had advised Georgetown personnel that our game on Sunday would be the early afternoon game in Dayton. As we all had Sunday evening flights back to the DC-area, this was critical. Despite the announcement, Lic wasn’t convinced that the game time plans were final. “You never know!” he said as we prepared to slumber. Sure enough, early the next morning, Lic woke me up with the urgent news that our game against Ohio State would be the second afternoon game on Sunday. Our return flight itineraries went up in smoke! And we had to begin the mad scramble of rebooking new flights for Monday morning!
And so, I look forward to another season of Hoya Hoops and another road trip with my dear friend Lic. I look forward to his “Be Mean!” chants, his in-depth knowledge of the opponent, and his oft-prescient predictions about the team and the season. On Friday, we will begin to get the answers to his questions to Coach JTIII at the open practice whether the team will press more (the 1-3-1 perhaps) this season given its length and quickness. Lic is smart, passionate, loyal and focused. He attends athletic events for numerous Hoya team throughout the year. He cares more deeply about Georgetown, and especially Georgetown basketball, than anyone I know. He is a Hoya for All Seasons!!
Friday’s opening game against the ODU Monarchs gives the Hoyas a chance to avenge their “exam game” loss in the snow at McDonough last season. I am almost as leery of opening games as I am of exam games. The Monarchs return four starters from a team that won the CAA last season and beat Notre Dame in a first-round NCAA game. We can count on their being very tough defensively and contesting everything. We will also see if they can continue the uncharacteristic offensive prowess they displayed last season. We have numerous weapons to counter their strengths: an experienced line-up led by seniors Austin Freeman, Chris Wright, and Julian Vaughn; athletic, lengthy and fast players in Jason Clark and Hollis Thompson; a talented mix of bench players, including a bevy of freshmen who will need to play an integral role in the team’s success this season. In the short run, I am most interested in seeing Nate Lubick, a 6’08” freshman banger from Massachusetts, who could provide rebounding and defensive help on Friday against the Monarchs. Overall, I think that this year’s team could be the deepest team that we have had in several years, giving Coach Thompson a wide array of substitution possibilities. At all events, let the games begin for 2010-11! For Friday night, I predict a victory: Georgetown 72 – Old Dominion 65!
WE ARE GEORGETOWN!!
Michael Karam, F’72, L’76, L’82
Proud Member of Generation Laughna.
