Photo Courtesy Getty Images by Julie Jacobson

Sometimes, a picture is worth a thousand words. Or maybe it’s a moment which will be remembered by plenty for a long time. Especially a few local New York products who helped lead the seventh seeded Pitt Panthers to an improbable Big East Conference Championship- becoming just the second team since the 2006 Syracuse Orangemen to win four games in four days to take the title.

They bested the top seeded Georgetown Hoyas 74-65, avenging an ugly championship blowout defeat one year prior making it oh so sweet for kids such as Levance Fields (Xaverian-10 pts, 5 rebs, 6 assists) and Ronald Ramon (All Hallows product paced team with 17 including 2 treys and 7-of-10 FT), who helped lead Jamie Dixon’s unranked Panthers to the big victory ensuring them of another Big Dance appearance.

Just seeing the amount of joy expressed on their faces along with well deserving tournament MVP Sam Young (16 pts, 6 rebs, 3 blk) and teammates Tyrell Biggs (Don Bosco Prep- 5 pts, 4 rebs), Keith Benjamin (Mount Vernon- 4 pts, 6 rebs and 4 assists), DeJuan Blair (double double-10 and 10), Gilbert Brown (12 off bench including two 3’s) was fun to watch because that’s what college athletics should be about.

The essence of winning a championship on a famous court where legends have played the game. Especially for those five local kids who made good in leading their school to a second Conference title in eight years and first since 2003 when they bested UConn 61-58.

There have been too many instances recently where such great achievements are ignored due to the bracket which comes out later today and seeding along with whether or not those same conference champs will be worn out a la 2006 MVP Gerry McNamara who played through pain in leading Syracuse to the title two years ago. Something colleague John “JPG” Giagnorio should learn to appreciate instead of foolishly mocking such bravado on the court.

How many teams really are ultimate winners at the end of a grueling season filled with March Madness, glass slippers and bracket busters? It’s nearly impossible for many programs to call it a success unless they go deep into the tournament and make the Final Four. That is unless you’re an upstart mid-major who can pull off a couple of shockers to make the Sweet 16 putting your school and coach onto the map (as dollars start getting rolled around in dirt trying to lure them elsewhere yet you never hear much from the NCAA about that-bunch of hypocrite$).

This time of year is about the Pitt Panthers rising up when as usual, I scoffed at them as a legit contender to claim the Big East crown. So the joke’s on me. Good for Dixon, Fields, Young, Ramon and those gritty teammates with a much happier former Knick (now is he still a target given what plays on a daily basis there) and Pitt alum Charles Smith in attendance enjoying a signature moment for his alma mater.

It’s about a 20 loss team such as Coppin State making history by winning their conference tourney even if it is a joke that a 20 loss team could make the 65-team field.

It sure is about a classic triple overtime championship game which was played in the WAC with Boise State holding off host New Mexico State to claim their first tournament bid in 14 years outlasting them 107-102.

Or about last place Georgia in the SEC rising up to win two games in one day due to stormy weather yesterday to make the championship round to play for an all important automatic bid against the Razorbacks, who were one-point upset winners over No.4 Tennessee.

AP Photo Courtesy Getty Images by Karl Walter 

Just seeing the reaction of these kids makes it all the worthwhile because here’s a little secret for the JPG’s of the world. Winning your conference is quite a big deal. It means a lot to these players who put in plenty of practice time and hard work. It also means plenty to the students who support their schools.

In the end, only one team will wind up victorious holding the trophy. Even if you do make the Final Four, it almost becomes irrelevant these days. It’s all about who wins. I wish it was just held to on the court but now it’s who wins their bracket and takes home the cash. As if we reallly matter compared to these kids who are out there grinding it out everyday.

I’ll take part but for fun on yahoo like usual. Not for money. I don’t really believe we have any business making cash off these games. But I will say if someone out there somehow picks all 64 correctly, more power to them and the cash which comes with it.

Last night, it was just nice to see the triumphant Panthers enjoying the moment with their proud coach Dixon allowing his kids to have some fun. Isn’t that what sports should be about?

Next time, step back and appreciate it.