I’ve been fascinated this week about the latest round of chatter regarding former Lobo men’s basketball coach Steve Alford. Alford’s Bruins were a popular national whipping topic for their selection into the NCAA tournament, with many people very vocal with their opinion that the Bruins did not deserve to be in the “Big Dance”. Well, here we are, going into the second weekend, the “Sweet-16” and there’s UCLA still alive. They are being led by the phenomenal play of Alford’s son, Bryce, a former standout player at Albuquerque’s La Cueva High School. We’ve had a lot of callers this week, fired up about their hate/dislike/jealousy for Alford. We’ve also had people happy for Steve and Bryce. While I will never tell anyone how to be a fan, I think it would be healthier, and make people happier to get beyond Alford leaving UNM. Most of us would have taken the opportunity he took. The reality is, Steve Alford left the UNM program in much better shape than when he inherited it. And Bryce is a good, hard-working stud who is shining on a national stage (who by the way, is introduced each night as being from “Albuquerque, New Mexico). My view? Pat him on the back, say thank you for what you did for “our program” and move on. I just think you will be happier with that perspective. Or maybe not.
