Memo To Pundits: We Don't Care If You Don't Get It

It's around this time of year when the people who write about college basketball make public their consternation over the Herb situation. The result? An endless parade of "I don't understand it, man! Sendek is doing a fine job down there in Raleigh! It doesn't make any sense!" They're just trying so terribly hard, they really are. From a postion too detached to in any way aid their understanding, they furrow their brows, searching for epiphany.

But they can't be bothered to take the time to dig deeper. You know, put forth a little effort. That energy is better spent writing the 5,000th JJ Redick fluff piece of the season.

Whether some Wolfpack fans would like to admit it or not, there are tactful and logical ways to defend Herb Sendek. As we've seen over and over, though, the MSM isn't throwing out a lot of logic. Emotional pleas are too easy. Dismissing the fan base is too easy.

Give the hollow compliments a rest, Mr. Sports Columnist Guy. This nuanced issue is obviously too much trouble. I'd like to think that a lot of the ignorant opinions directed at NC State fans are feigned, but that would give people like Dick Vitale and John Feinstein more credit than they deserve.

Wrote Seth Davis today:

I truly cannot understand why Herb Sendek is getting so much criticism. Yes, N.C. State stumbled down the stretch, but it also had injuries to two important players (Cameron Bennerman and Ilian Evtimov) and still got to the second round of the NCAA tournament. Then again, unfair criticism of Sendek is nothing new down in Raleigh. He has handled it for years better than most people would.

Take more than a cursory glance at the situation and maybe you won't be at such a loss, Seth. But you haven't, and you won't, so you'll continue to piss me off and waste my time with your useless and repackaged perspective.

If you think you know what's best for NC State and you feel compelled to write about it, that's fine. But don't cop out. Don't tell us you "cannot understand."

You have a telephone and an Internet connection, and presumably a basic grasp of both. So what's the goddamn problem?

[I apologize for the rant. Please pardon me.]