Schadenfreude–It Feels So Right

Main Entry: scha·den·freu·de
Pronunciation: 'shä-d&n-"froi-d&
Function: noun
Usage: often capitalized
Etymology: German, from Schaden damage + Freude joy
: enjoyment obtained from the troubles of others

–Merriam Webster’s Online Dictionary

For a Duke fan like myself, there’s nothing that could ever make up for the Blue Devils’ shameful first round exit against VCU or for Lindsey Harding’s two missed free throws with practically no time remaining against Rutgers on Saturday (bless her heart). But there is something that comes close.

There is this:

hoyas.jpg

Now I know there’s something slightly askew and unseemly about obtaining enjoyment and satisfaction from the woes of others. But really, if you haven’t tried it lately, I suggest you give it a whirl.

In my case, it took the form of uncontrollable giggling, foot-stomping, lamp-pushing-over, coffee-table-dancing, high-fiving with Numbers Three and One Sons and loud, but very tame, shouts of “Go to Hades Carolina!” And had not Number One had one of his young lady friends over at the time, I might have really let loose with the Full Monty.

It was such an abysmal collapse, an utter chokefest rarely seen at this level of NCAA tournament play, that when John Thompson, Jr. (whose son the III is the current Georgetown coach and who was coaching the Hoyas in ’82 when they lost to the T—–ls in the championship game) tried to reach Michael Jordan on his cell phone after the game to rag on him a bit, “His Airness” wasn’t taking any calls. Man up and take your medicine, MJ; your boys laid a big powder blue brick.

To add to my glee, I, along with millions upon millions of other people in this upset-proof year, picked all four Final Four teams in my pool and so far am 46-15 through 61 games. As for allegiances, I am officially a UCLA Bruin for the remainder of the tournament, having picked them to win it all from the outset. If that happens, I should be sitting near the top of my pool, looking down on a bunch of twenty-somethings who think they’re God’s gift to sports talk. The old man’s still got game, boys.

Schadenfreude–it may be wrong, but it feels so right.

14 Comments

  1. greg

    Now I know there’s something slightly askew and unseemly about obtaining enjoyment and satisfaction from the woes of others.

    Considering all the joy expressed by others in the last few weeks regarding the devils, I have no problem enjoying this one to the fullest.

    your boys laid a big powder blue brick

    Actually, they laid 21 of them in their last 23 shots.

    I picked the 4 as well, with G’town over UCLA in the final.

  2. Mike the Eyeguy

    Then drink deeply and long, my Blue Devil friend. A toast to schadenfreude!

  3. Terri

    Ugh… did somebody tell them to stop playing with 7 minutes left? I hated the loss but I actually had Georgetown on my bracket… I’m not quite as stupid as I look.

    I have 3 of the 4 – I just couldn’t pick Florida to be in the Final Four.

  4. Jeff Slater

    I was also happy to see UNC go down, but would somebody PLEASE beat Florida!

  5. cg

    KU and UNC both out – Who’d a thunk it? Obviously some did.

    I’m not a fan of any of the final four, but I’m pulling for G’town – I dislike them the least.

  6. KS

    Had 3 of 4, didn’t pick OSU, who should have lost…twice.

  7. cg

    BTW Eyeguy, have any leftover drywall patch I could use?

  8. JRB

    I’m pulling now for Georgetown, only because it looks a little better on the resume to have lost to the eventual champion.

  9. Mike the Eyeguy

    Terri–If it weren’t for the lack of a picket line, I would have sworn they went on strike.

    Jeff–I think somebody will. Hopefully, it’ll be YOU-SEE…L-AY!

    KS–I could have sworn you picked UNC to win it all. I must have you confused with some other footbasktrack coach.

    cg–Sorry, fresh out; mine took all I had. So, how big is the knot on your head? Seriously, my condolences. Had they knocked out UCLA, I would have yelled “Rock’em Sock’em Bluejays!” all the way to Atlanta!

  10. Mike the Eyeguy

    JRB–

    Your ‘Dores went down fighting. Disappointing, I know, but they showed more pluck than The 300 at Thermopylae.

    Take two aspirin, mix well with some Schadenfreude, and call me in the morning. Take it from me–it’s good for what ails ya.

  11. KS

    Must’ve been some other footbasktrack coach. I am a complete homer for FLA, although I did several different brackets on Yahoo to attempt to win the prize (that didn’t work).

  12. Mike the Eyeguy

    Okay, that makes sense. I was pretty sure you were a Gator from your snout to the tip of you scaly tail. 🙂

  14. Mike the Eyeguy

    The rumors are running rampant, aren’t they?

    Another fast-talking Yankee running the show in Lexington; I guess they figured it worked out pretty well the first time, so why not try it again?

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