In a New York (City) State of Mind

Tonight, a nation will have its eyes squarely set on the SIU men's basketball team.

Yeah, Duke's on the other side of the court. Who cares?

The Salukis are in New York City playing at Madison Square Garden for the first time since 1967 and are looking to repeat the feat they accomplished that season, en route to a NIT title.

And that's beat the Blue Devils.

Easier said than done, my friends. Even easier (maybe) if you're playing the Dukies on March Madness '09 and you've got the game skills of a kid who never leaves his basement, not even to feel the loving touch of his girlfriend or a home-cooked meal from Mom.

Speaking of kids who never leave their basements ...

I've made my triumphant return to New York City for the first time since 2003 and it's just like how I remembered it.

Congested with mindless pedestrians roaming the streets and sidewalks aimlessly and drivers who apparently didn't go (or pay attention to) their Driver's Ed instructor. Seriously, traffic sucks and construction doesn't hurt.

But man, I'm hungry. I think it's time for me to get some grub. Or take a nap, seeing that myself and two of my compadres just spent 16-plus hours in a car together.

Yeah, I think I'll knock that nap out first.

Oh yeah, congrats to BFeldt for making his first post. I wonder if I should tell him now about the potential site relaunch/redesign.

Oops, I let that cat out of the bag out early didn't I?

Details forthcoming???

Oh yeah, and where are my manners.

Always (seriously, I mean always) check the sidebar for frequent Twitter updates from tonight's game. Oh and check out my Gus Bode blog whenever it gets up (that's what she said) at gusbode.wordpress.com.

Oh yeah ... check out my preview of tonight's game. Here's for another classic at the Garden.

Garden party: SIU ready to dance with Duke [Daily Egyptian]

P.S. Maybe I'm the only one thinking this way, but the last time I cheered for a certain No. 45 to play at MSG, he dropped 55 on the New York Knicks. Carlton Fay, the floor is yours.