I did something Saturday night that I haven’t done since 1982

I did something Saturday night that I haven’t done since 1982. I got emotionally involved in a sporting event that didn’t involve my son Alex.

I know this sounds difficult to believe, but in my day journalists weren’t supposed to take sides. You covered an event as objectively as humanly possible. But Saturday I literally found myself screaming while watching the Florida-Missouri game. I cursed. I slammed stuff.

I couldn’t believe how undisciplined the Gators played in losing to Missouri who was an 11-point favorite. There were nine penalties, many at crucial times. There was a botched handoff. There was Trevor Etienne stepping out of bounds with 1:36 to play. Without the last two, the Gators win a huge upset and go bowling. I chalk up those mistakes to coaching.

I still support keeping Coach Billy Napier, but my support is waning.

Oh yeah, in 1982 when a skinny freshman named Michael Jordan hit the game-winner basket in the final seconds of the NCAA basketball championship game I literally leaped out of my press row seat.