With the Maui Invitational a few weeks away, it bears mentioning that this College Basketball season marks the 5th anniversary of 11th seeded George Mason of the Colonial Athletic Assoc. becoming only the second double-digit seed to make the Final Four in Tournament history.

This is the underdog that broke my heart.

GMU’s historic run in 2006 was capped off by an 86-84 upset of my UCONN Huskies in the elite 8. Going into that game, I remember not taking Tony Skinn with two nn’s and his cohorts seriously at all. Then they hit six straight threes in the second half, and went 5-6 from the field in overtime.

The day after the AP wrote:

Buoyed by a partisan crowd and playing some 20 miles from their campus, 11th-seeded George Mason overcame huge disadvantages in size, athleticism and history Sunday to stun the Huskies 86-84 in overtime, ending a stranglehold that big-time programs have enjoyed for 27 years in college basketball’s biggest showcase.

Tony Skinn added that his coach, Jim Larranaga, told his team that CAA stands for ‘Connecticut Assassin Association.’”

To commemorate the occasion, DC Sports Bog reports, that GMU will be giving out one of five bobbleheads of the starting five from the 2006 team at five home games this season. Supplies are limited; only the first 1,000 fans at the Jan. 15 game vs. Georgia State will go home with a Jai “Where is Jai, anyway?” Lewis bobblehead.

Now, because I’m a glutton for punishment…

(Photo via CBSsports.com)

I’ll defend the paranoia of the Customs agents here. This does sound a wee bit sketch.

According to the AP, 1000 Obama bobbleheads have been held at a U.S. Customs and Border Protection warehouse since May 20. The dolls were en route to Charleston, West Virginia – home of Minor League baseball team the West Virginia Power, Single-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates who were planning to give them out at their game this Saturday. The Bobblehead is an Obama-likeness in his High School basketball uniform sporting the Punahou High blue and gold.

Power team spokesperson, Kristen Call, told the Associated Press it’s unlikely that the dolls will be released in time for the game, and the fans in attendance on Saturday will be given a voucher to receive their bobble head. While you wait for it to get mailed, I suggest you all open EBAY accounts in the meantime.

Saturday would have marked the first ever bobblehead night for the Power. It also probably marks the largest import operation of a Single-A baseball team not involving kraut for the concession stand.

Not saying we should start lighting these bobbles on fire and see if they blow, it’s just that we’re at Code Red here! (are we?)

Obama Bobbleheads Stalled In US Customs (4029tv.com)
West Virginia Power: website