An Open Letter To Jim Boeheim On Why He Should Celebrate No. 1,000

While some will lead you to believe that Jim Boeheim is no where near 1000 wins, some barometers say otherwise. Here’s why he should celebrate it.

Dear Coach Boeheim,

From what I’ve read, you don’t have a computer in your office, nor do you get on the Internet all that much. So the chances of you seeing this letter from one of your biggest fans are slim, to none.

Regardless, I wanted to show my appreciation and respect for what you have done for Syracuse University, my alma mater and a place for which I hold a tremendous amount of pride.

You have roamed the sidelines as SU’s head coach for 41 years. While some ‘Cuse fans may bemoan that you’ve captured just one national title, and had several disappointing, early round exits in the Big Dance, I’m a glass-half-full-kind-of-guy.

In your more than four decades at the helm of the Orange basketball squad, you’ve never had a losing season (hopefully, that doesn’t serve as a jinx), you’ve reached the NCAA Tournament on countless occasions, and you’ve advanced to five Final Fours, most recently, this past spring. As a No. 10 seed, nonetheless.

If that isn’t a model of consistency, then what is?

Oh, yeah, and there’s this: you’re closing in on your 1,000th career victory as a head coach. It could,

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if all goes according to plan, come this Saturday at home versus No. 9 Virginia.

I know, I know. You told Syracuse.com’s Bud Poliquin the other day that no celebration is forthcoming, despite the fact that you will become only the second men’s hoops leader to reach this ridiculous milestone, joining Coach K over at nemesis Duke.

The NCAA, amid furious debate in this Central New York community, vacated 101 triumphs under your watch as part of sanctions issued back in 2015.

But, as my favorite college-basketball analyst, ESPN’s Jay Bilas, pointed out in a tweet last October, the NCAA did not vacate the 101 losses doled out by Syracuse to its opponents in those games.

Huh? If those outfits suffered defeats in those clashes, then that means the ‘Cuse emerged victorious, unless some other mystery program swooped in and actually played in these battles.

So let’s move on from fantasy land and return to reality. A win is a win, and a loss is a loss. You can’t have one without the other. There’s no other way to slice it.

Therefore, you are on the cusp of 1,000. And, once you conquer that achievement, I wish you would rip off your sports coat, like you did versus the Blue Devils in 2014. Underneath, you should wear a customized Orange t-shirt that reads, “Hi, NCAA. 1,000 Sure Is Sweet.” on the front, while listing every single one of them in fine print on the back.

If you need a t-shirt guy, let me know. I’ll put you in touch with him.

To cap off your commemoration, I suggest that you and the other 30,000 or so fans in the Carrier Dome – assuming you get to 1,000 at home … pretty please! – head out to your favorite Syracuse-area restaurant (Denny’s, perhaps?) for some fine food and beverages.

Right before this, however, at your post-game press conference, feel free to speak your mind, as you always do. Tell the NCAA to bring on any extra penalties for excessively celebrating. See if this amazingly inconsistent governing body does anything about it.

Remember, you are retiring after one more go-round in the 2017-18 stanza. What’s the worst that the NCAA could do to you?

Actually, I’m a little scared to find out. But, whatever. You still deserve a proper congratulations. This season has proven challenging, for sure.

Keep on winning. Capture the ACC Tournament in Brooklyn. Rattle off six consecutive triumphs in the Big Dance.

That way, you can stick it to Doug Gottlieb, Joe Lunardi and all the other haters – including the NCAA – on one more glorious occasion.

Next: Syracuse Basketball: Food For Thought, Is The ACC Awesome, Or Overrated?

Sincerely,

Neil Adler

Class of 2000

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