IT WASN'T REALLY ALL THAT HARD

THE FOLLOWING WAS PRINTED BY THE SHAWNEE NEWS-STAR MAY 1, 2016. THIS WAS BEFORE THE PRIMARY ELECTION IN INDIANA MAY 3, 2016. WHEN THE "HOOP" STORY BROKE I KNEW MR. CRUZ HAD FOULED OUT OF THE GAME!

A HOOP IS A HOOP—NEVER A RING

“Five…Four…Three…Two…One…  let’er fly  (Pause) in and out.”

That is a line of dialogue spoken by alcoholic Shooter ( Dennis Hopper) in that wonderful movie—“Hoosiers.”  Shooter is explaining to Coach Dale (Gene Hackman), the new Hickory high school basketball coach how Hickory came so close in winning the Sectional Tournament several years earlier. It was Shooter who took that almost winning shot. The implication is that basketball is so important in Indiana, before the current class system, that almost winning shot drove Shooter to the bottle and near destruction.

Ted Cruz’ attempted to identify with Indiana voters when he tried to invoke the underdog can still win persona. Only problem is Mr. Cruz committed the Indiana equivalent of the unpardonable sin by referring to a basketball hoop as a “ring.” Basketball players, coaches, parents, and fans have a cult-like devotion to their Indiana high school and the game itself. They will permit praise to other teams and players as long as you know what you are talking about. The only time a “ring” and basketball go together in Indiana is the awarding of Championship Rings to winners.

Ask any person, regardless of current age, who has ever played basketball in Indiana if they could somehow turn the clock back for 24 hours what time would it be. I am not a prophet or the son of a prophet but I will hazard a guess that a good share would remark, “Friday night, age 17, playing Indiana high school basketball just one more time.” That’s how important basketball is in Indiana.

Little things mean a lot in presidential campaigns: A sweating Richard Nixon in his debate with JFK; a leather-helmeted Michael Dukakis sticking his head out of an open tank turret; rapist Willie Horton in a 30-second Bush ad and Walter Mondale’s biting reference to Ronald Reagan‘s old age and Reagan’s rapid response in saying he would not hold Mondale’s youth against him! The voters in Indiana will soon signal to all whether Cruz’ gaff of calling a hoop a “ring” should be added to this list.

In most states, Cruz’ gaff would not make the evening news. However, in Indiana, calling a hoop a “ring” could be the final almost winning shot.

GLENN <><

JUST WEST OF YESTERDAY