Witnessing Taylor University's Not-So-Silent Night

It's a tradition that's been going on for nineteen years now, but it only recently came into the national spotlight. Taylor University's "Silent Night" basketball game, which takes place the Friday night before finals week each year, has become one of college basketball's most popular traditions. On Friday December 11th I had the chance to witness it live.

My school, Anderson University, is about 45 minutes away from Upland, Indiana where Taylor University is located. The game started at 6:00 and, like any organized college student, my friend Alex Baker and I made the decision to go at 4:45. After having to make our own parking spot due to the packed parking lot outside TU's Odle Arena, we made our way into the gymnasium with about thirty minutes to spare before tip-off.

I knew a little bit about the tradition. I knew students dressed up and that they sit silently until the Trojans score their tenth point, but I didn't realize how great the atmosphere was. On our way into the gym we noticed that even the little kids who are either family members of the players or just viewers from the community were even dressed in costumes. It was then I realized just how big this tradition had become. We paid for our tickets ($10 but totally worth the price of admission) and walked into the gym in search of two seats. Keep in mind there were still thirty minutes before the game even started but the gym was already packed to the gills. I would venture to say the place could seat about 2,000 people yet there were probably closer to 2,600-2,700 people in the venue. Not to mention EVERY student was dressed up. Freshman, sophomore, junior, senior, it didn't matter. There were costumes everywhere, most notably:

The Teletubbies headlined a long list of phenomenal costumes

The four Teletubbies
Jackie Moon from Will Ferrell's "Semi Pro"
Buddy the Elf
The aliens from Toy Story
The Grinch
Yoshi

It put any Halloween party I've ever seen to shame and it was hilarious looking across the gym at the student section and pointing out all the different outfits. As far as finding a seat was concerned, that was a lost cause. We paced up and down the sideline for about ten minutes just looking for the tiniest hole in the crowd where we could squeeze in but had zero luck with that. The majority of the seats behind the benches were reserved for the families of the players, and rightfully so, but that left very little room for the general public. We finally settled for standing on the baseline about six rows deep in the crowd.

Once warm-ups concluded, the public address announcer came over the speaker and asked that any kids that were present to come down to center court for a dance party while the teams had gone back to the locker rooms. Taylor Swift's "Shake It Off" came over the sound system and about thirty little kids danced for all they were worth. The student section sang along and went especially wild when one little guy started break dancing. The kids were then joined by the Teletubbies, the Easter bunny, and a number of other Taylor students as the song continued to play.

The dance party ended and everyone returned to their seats as Taylor returned to the floor to the sound of thunderous applause from the crowd. Once the National Anthem had been sung, the crowd sat down and got extremely quiet. When it was time to announce the starting lineups for the visiting team, Chillicothe, about twelve guys dressed like farmers came out of the student section and lined up in front of the students as if the starting lineups were for them. They had about four guys on each side making the tunnel, with one guy at the end doing the chest bumps and hand shakes. With each Chillicothe player that was announced, a farmer would go through the tunnel at the same time. I couldn't tell you anything that happened during Chillicothe's starting lineups because I was too busy laughing at the farmers being "introduced".

Then it came time for Taylor's starting lineups, and the farmers took their seats. Rather than clapping and cheering for the TU players, the students would raise both hands and do the "spirit fingers". It then dawned on me that that was the substitute for clapping even when the game had started. Once the ball was tipped, it was really odd watching the game in complete silence. Even the parents and other fans were dead quiet at the start. You could hear the squeak of the shoes and the voice of each player and coach with ease. It was like watching a scrimmage only there were about 2,700 people there to watch.

Just to give you an idea of how dedicated the students were to being silent, there was a play early in the game where a Taylor player and a Chillicothe player were both going for a loose ball at half court in front of the students. The ball appeared to be off the Chillicothe player but the ref signaled that it was off Taylor. The Taylor student who grabbed the ball stood up and threw both hands up in the air in disgust before animatedly pointing at the Chillicothe player, signaling that he thought the call was wrong. Yet through this animated display of disagreement, not a single sound was made. It was impressive to say the least.

Crowe's three sent the gym into absolute chaos

All of this happened in the first 35-40 minutes we were there, and the most exciting part of the night hadn't even happened yet. It was when the Trojans scored the seventh point that the atmosphere started to change. As soon as the ball went through the net and the scoreboard showed the number seven under Taylor's name, there was quite a stir in the student section, which I failed to mention earlier, covered both baselines and one sideline. The students who were seated on the floor moved into a crouching position almost in unison and the anticipation of the next Taylor possession could be felt throughout the gym.

Sure enough, on the next possession, freshman guard Evan Crowe buried a three from the baseline right in front of the students. I have never in my life heard a gym explode the way Odle Arena did. Hands went up and screams rang throughout the building. I couldn't hear myself think but I had chills like never before. There was an immediate timeout and "GDFR" by Flo Rida came over the speakers and the students jumped and danced and yelled for every second of that timeout. From then on, you just knew Chillicothe didn't stand a chance (Taylor would go on to win 100-50).

After the timeout, Chillicothe had the ball and their possession resulted in a blocked dunk attempt courtesy of Taylor big man Vivian Aiken. "Spirit fingers" from the crowd were not necessary anymore. They roared their approval almost as loudly as they did when Crowe's three-pointer went down. It was almost as soon as the students began to settle down (and I use that term loosely) that Aiken threw down a two-handed dunk on the ensuing possession. It was absolute pandemonium in that gym and it was a beautiful thing to see.

What struck me the most about the night was the discipline of the Taylor students. I don't mean that to sound like the administration was real strict or anything, I mean that as a credit to how the students handled themselves and the event. Nobody acted stupid and made noise before the tenth point and, as I said earlier, every student I saw was dressed up. And when the tenth point was scored, the students stayed off the court. They jumped around and hugged but they didn't storm the court or do anything to take away from the event. It was handled very well and I think that's what makes the event so great. The students respect the tradition and do everything possible to make it better every year.

Upland, Indiana isn't exactly a tourist destination. But if you ever get the chance to attend the "Silent Night" game at Taylor University I would strongly encourage you to do so. I've been in 17 MLB ballparks, three NBA arenas, and I've been to two NCAA Final Fours, but I have never seen an atmosphere quite like Taylor's. That's a tradition that can't be copied or matched and TU has a phenomenal thing going with that idea. So props to you, Taylor, and thanks for giving an avid basketball fan an experience to remember.

MLB's Stubborn Attitude Towards Rose Sends the Wrong Message

Another year, another failed attempt at reinstatement by Pete Rose. It's an on-going saga that is not likely to stop any time soon and it's beginning to get extremely old. With everything that goes on in sports today, all the criminal acts and cheating, it is unbelievable to me that Pete Rose is still banned from the game.

Sports are by no means a clean environment in today's world. It doesn't matter what level you're talking about, someone somewhere is doing something they shouldn't be doing whether it violates league rules or the law. We have professional athletes beating their wives and testing positive for illegal drugs, yet not a single one of those guys have been banned by their league for their actions. Even Ray Rice, who was shown on video knocking his fiance out cold, has been reinstated by the NFL. What's wrong with that picture?

No one will ever play as hard as Rose played

I think it shows a serious lack of priorities not only on Rob Manfred's part, but professional sports as a whole. If you want to keep Pete Rose out of the Hall of Fame for a rule he violated that is not even a federal crime, then they need to crack down on the idiots that are breaking laws as well. What message are you trying to send to the world? That beating women, doing illegal drugs, and driving drunk deserves a slap on the wrist while betting on the outcome of your team's games deserves a full-blown expulsion from the game? That's absolutely pathetic in my mind and I feel genuinely sorry that the MLB sees it that way.

If you think back to the Mitchell Report, and all the names that were brought to the forefront as cheaters and steroid users, it goes to show how unclean the game of baseball was and probably still is. Yet we saw guys like Barry Bonds, Andy Pettite, and Roger Clemens who were allowed to continue playing even after they were found guilty of PEDs. These are guys who took drugs to improve performance in an attempt to gain an edge on the competition, and obviously it worked. That is not to say that these guys were not Hall of Fame caliber before they began "juicing", but the fact that they blatantly went against league rules and the integrity of the game and were still allowed to play and appear on the Hall of Fame ballets while Rose continues to be shunned is a crime.

So when you compare all of these things to Pete Rose, how significant is his gambling? There is no evidence that he was betting against the Reds, and nobody was hurt or jailed during this whole ordeal. He did not commit a crime, he violated a rule. And in today's world where we let professional athletes get away with just about anything, it blows my mind that Pete Rose is still banned from baseball. This is a guy who played the game the way it was meant to be played. He out-hustled and out-worked every single player on the field every single day. He took pride in what he did and he took pride in his teams. That's something you don't see as often in today's world. It has become about the money and the individual as opposed to the team and the passion. Pete Rose is the perfect example of how a professional athlete should handle themselves and yet the MLB is choosing to make him the bad guy while other guys cheat and break laws while receiving no long-term punishment.

I personally believe that Pete Rose belongs in the Hall of Fame and, if you want my honest opinion, I think he will get in someday. But the day Pete Rose gets into the Hall of Fame is a day that he won't be around to witness because he'll probably be reinstated after he passes away. I would not be the least bit surprised if that happens and it will make the MLB look like more of joke than it already does. I hope the day that Rose is allowed into the Hall comes soon because, quite frankly, he deserves to be in. It's been over 25 years of punishment for one of the greatest players the game has ever seen. It's time the MLB quits trying to look tough and lets "Charlie Hustle" have his day.

Warriors are Great in Their Own Way

Ever since this season started and the Golden State Warriors have taken the league by storm, I have found myself rooting against them. Call me a bitter Bulls fan, but I don't think this team is as good as that '96 Bulls team that went 72-10. That team had three Hall of Famers and arguably the greatest coach of all time while the Warriors have one future Hall of Famer in Stephen Curry. Yet after having the pleasure of watching this Golden State team play in person last night, I'd like to put this Warriors team in their own category not because they're better or worse than the '96 Bulls, but because they have a style and personality that differs greatly from that Bulls team.

Thompson led all scorers with 39 points tonight against the Pacers

The game started out slow for the Warriors, with the Pacers jumping out to an 11-4 lead. The crowd in Bankers Life Fieldhouse was energized and the momentum was clearly with Indiana until all of the sudden the Warriors stormed back to take a 17-16 lead. It happened so fast and that's because this team doesn't use a lot of shot clock and they get out and run at every possible moment. It's all about transition and finding the open shooters whereas the '96 Bulls played under Phil Jackson's very structured and methodical triangle offense. With Golden State, they aren't bothered by opponents knocking down shots because they simply take the ball out as quickly as possible and catch the other team jogging back in transition. At one point early in the game, Paul George hit a three and before the PA announcer could even finish saying "Triiiiifecta! Paul George!", Klay Thompson had already knocked down a three to answer at the other end. It happened so quickly that the PA announcer actually stopped saying Paul George's name because he had to announce the Thompson basket so quickly. The offense this Warriors team runs is fast-paced and relentless and they don't care if you can't catch up.

While fast-pace offense has been implemented into a number of systems over the years, this Warriors offense, quite honestly, doesn't look good. Sure it's sexy to look at when Curry and Thompson are knocking down three after three, or when they're lobbing alley-oops to their big men off pick and rolls, but that's all it is. Their shot selection isn't great, it just works out that they have the two best shooters in the game with a bunch of physical forwards that fight for every rebound should Curry or Thompson miss. For example, Thompson once had the ball on the left wing and was pressured by Paul George. George knocked the ball out of Thompson's hands and the two fumbled with it for a good two, maybe three seconds before George over-committed on an attempt to knock it away and Thompson grabbed it with his back to the basket. Without a second thought, he turned and hoisted it without even looking to drive or see where the defense was. A horrible shot selection on what was a broken possession but the shot went in, so the Warriors look good for it. It's not necessarily the textbook definition of "good" basketball, but the shots fall and it has clearly worked for the Warriors in the recent years.

The '96 Bulls' record of 72 wins may be broken this season

Moving away from the more critical side of my opinion of the Warriors, I can honestly say I have never had more fun watching a basketball team play. It's constant excitement, it's more of a form of entertainment than it is basketball to be honest. They make it look easy and they make their opponents look stupid doing it. There were times where the Pacers fans around me weren't even mad after a made basket because they, along with myself, just had to sit there and literally laugh in disbelief. It's THAT impressive how easy it is for this team to score.

 Whether it was Andre Iguodala going behind his back and sending George Hill flying past him on a fast break or Steph Curry taking on both of Indiana's big men en route to a fancy reverse layup, the Warriors had their way with the Pacers. The most telling moment of the night, and the moment that proved this Warriors team is nearly impossible to rattle, came in the fourth quarter when the Pacers hit a three to cut the lead to ten after being down by thirty at one point, only to have the Warriors answer with a three on the very next possession. I have never heard a crowd go from being so loud to almost completely silent so quickly in my life. It was as bipolar a moment as I've ever witnessed, and it just cemented the thought in my head that if you're going to beat this team you have to play a perfect game because comebacks are not something the Warriors allow to happen.

After tonight's experience, it made me realize that the comparison between this Warriors team and the '96 Bulls just isn't necessary. I understand the similarity in records and the excitement over a historical season, but I wish the media could appreciate this Warriors team as they are, not for who they are compared to. This Warriors team does not have nearly the same makeup as that Bulls team and the playing styles are about as different as they can get. That Bulls team was special, as is this group from Golden State, and because of that we should notice the differences, take note of the history, and enjoy the fun. After all, it's apparent that teams this good only come around every twenty years. 

Gutless, Inconsistent Bulls Sure to Disappoint Again

It's the same thing every year: the Bulls come into the season with a more-than-capable lineup that provides plenty of depth and veteran leadership, only to go through the motions on almost a nightly basis. Games only seem to be taken seriously if they are being played against the top teams in the league, and the high-scoring affairs are overshadowed by a lack of heart and urgency. This is not the way this organization is supposed to function, yet after blowing a sixteen-point lead to the visiting Phoenix Suns last night, the Bulls are showing signs of yet another disappointing season.

The addition of Hoiberg has yet to show any promise

The summer for the Bulls was an exciting one. Tom Thibodeau was forced out and the rookie NBA coach Fred Hoiberg was hired. The Bulls FINALLY  had an offensive-minded coach that promised to put up plenty of points with a roster that is almost identical to last year's. Throw in the re-signing of Jimmy Butler and the improved health of Joakim Noah and you have yourself a pretty successful off-season given what the Bulls felt they needed to accomplish. The news of any feud between Butler and Derrick Rose had finally died down and it appeared as if basketball could finally be the sole focus once again as opposed to who's coming or going or, most importantly for the Bulls, health.

Now, however, the season is almost a quarter of the way gone for the Bulls and they have shown no signs of improvement or identity under Hoiberg. In classic Bulls fashion, they took down the San Antonio Spurs in a hard-fought and well-earned win only to fall to the traditionally dismal Charlotte Hornets just a few nights later. That's the kind of inconsistency the Bulls have come to be defined by. That's their only identity right now and the shame of it is that they seem perfectly okay with that.

As the years have gone by, it's become obvious that this is not a tough team. Sure you have guys like Butler, Noah, and Kirk Hinrich who would run through a brick wall for this team, but Butler is the only one who can give a consistent performance while the other two have dealt with injuries and lack of playing time up to this point. The guys who bring the energy are on the bench while this group continues to spiral into a team with very little chance at a title run.

That's where the biggest problem, in my mind, comes into play. This team is content to blame loss after loss on lack of energy and attention to detail on the defensive end. Every post game interview in the locker room is littered with quotes like "It's just about playing hard, and tonight we didn't do that" or things along those lines. This is a group of veterans, grown men, who obviously realize the problem, but aren't willing to rise to the occasion and fix it. And what's really aggravating is watching this team beat teams like the Spurs and the Oklahoma City Thunder because they then show you how good they COULD be, but choose not to be.

The evolution of Butler has kept the Bulls afloat this season

Every Bulls fan, at some time or other, hangs their hat on the six banners that Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Phil Jackson helped hang in the rafters. All six of them, facing the six banners the Chicago Blackhawks have raised, have a spotlight on them every night while the retired numbers of Jerry Sloan, Bob Love, Pippen, and Jordan are illuminated during starting lineups. Those six championships are constantly talked about and praised for how good those teams were because they took every game seriously. There were no nights off and there were certainly no games that were taken lightly. So any member of today's Bulls team that wants a ring or wants to be put in the conversation of being one of the organization's best teams, dream on. This team doesn't want it bad enough.

It's still early in the season and this is a new system. That is understandable and it will take time to mesh as the Bulls get used to playing more guys and finding their roles in the new offense. But that will never excuse the lack of interest and poor effort on the defensive side of the ball. That's not how Tom Thibodeau built this team to play and, say what you want about him being stubborn or relentless on playing time, but the Bulls miss Thibs, and they miss him dearly. Thibs didn't accept lack of effort and he did not allow excuses. It didn't matter how many times Derrick Rose wimped out of a game, Thibs was fully accepting of the "next man up" philosophy and he changed the culture of the team to believe that same way. That's something Fred Hoiberg does not bring to the table. Hoiberg was praised for his poise on the sidelines and his "calm, cool, and collected" demeanor. But as the rookie head coach has loosened the reigns and shown a much more relaxed personality, he has also loosened the expectations and accountability. If the Bulls want to turn this season around and truly be an elite team, it starts with Hoiberg demanding more from his players.

The season is far from over, and thanks to a brutal Eastern Conference the Bulls find themselves sitting in fourth place in the conference. The conference is far too poor for the Bulls not to make the playoffs, but if there is any chance of dethroning LeBron James and the Cavs the Bulls will need to make a number of adjustments. There is no reason this team cannot win the East and capture that number one seed, but that's also been said for the past three seasons. The Bulls need to figure it out and start playing with the toughness that the city of Chicago is used to seeing. Being lazy and showing no signs of interest is not what made this organization elite and it's time this team stops accepting that kind of play. Chicago takes great pride in the Bulls, and it's time for the Bulls to grow up and give the city something to actually be proud of.