To me this is such a non-story -- but I'll share.

Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) won the Horizon League tourney this week, making it back into the Big Dance for the second time in 3 years. (They should have made it last year too but couldn't seal the deal in the championship game)

A player (of age, over 21) anticipated the victory and brought champagne to the arena -- even though several of the players are under 21. And it was used in the locker room celebration link to picture here -- no evidence of imbibing there.

Coach Pearl is correctly publicly upset about the incident -- I guess he has to be. The NCAA has no rules about it -- UWM will decide what to do -- I'm hoping for just a scolding.

Milwaukee Journal story

Being Brew City, they're probably are more upset they didn't use Miller High Life in the celebration. although if you're only gonna spill and spray the stuff why not use some awful crap like Bud wink

So stupid is his reaction. It reminds me of the story in the NY Times magazine several months ago about Americans and obesity. To illustrate the story was a photo of a piece of chocolate cake. The next photo was the same cake plate, cake fully eaten and indicating "The American Way, guilt". In another photo was the cake with only a few bites eaten and the caption, The French Way, pleasure." Seems similiar here with this champagne story--they have screwed up the idea of celebration and responsibility. There is nothing wrong, as the coach called it, with having champagne to celebrate. Trust that those who are underage will not drink, maybe no one will drink--maybe they just want to spray it. I think the coach was actually more upset that his Sears suit was ruined in the process of celebrating. And now I remember that NASCAR has gone to celebrating with milk, MILK of all notions!

They should have there NCAA tourney bid revoked. But only because they are from Wisconsin, not for the champagne. wink

Yesterday on Around the Horn the sanctimonious LA columnist Bill Plashke was just so ridiculously outraged. I don't even care if some of them took a swig or two. Yeah cuz college age kids don't drink! So dumb!

Wow, what is this country becoming. I'm glad I went to school when it was 18 in NY to drink and when you could get beer, wine, and champagne in NC at the same age. And by the way, I am a very moderate drinker these days so it did not corrupt me.

When my oldest sister was in school streaking (running naked for those unfamiliar) was popular. These days kids can't do anything! I think the whole team should drink the champagne and then run around naked as a protest to this overly uptight society we live in.

[ March 11, 2005, 03:57 PM: Message edited by: Thom ]

You don't care about the protest, you just want to see naked guys.

It's a very silly controversy. Maybe schools ought to arrange to have some non-alcoholic beverage on standby for these things.

There is no sex in the champagne room!

I wonder if college teams celebrated with champagne in the lockerroom back when most states had an 18 year old drinking age?

Here where I live in Maryland, when not in NYC, there is a small, somewhat conservative college. It is said that on May Day the students throw away rules of decorum and streak across the college green. I have not witnessed the event, but people swear to its happening.