The seeming hallmark of every news story is to find some local hook. I always viewed this as a sort of provinicialism until I moved around to a bunch of cities over the years. I realized it was completely common practice. I ascribed it to some inferiority complex until I started this blog. The more articles I read, the more I realized it was just something everyone does — find that local angle. No place at times is worse about it then NYC. They love pointing out talent that played at a city high school or some local connection. This one about the Big East preseason polls caught my attention.

“It’s not where you are now; it’s where you finish,” said Jamie Dixon, Pitt’s Bronx-bred coach. “These guys get the magazines, get on the Internet. You can’t hide from it. The day after the season they were ranking teams, so it’s not a surprise. It’s a challenge. Our guys love challenges, and what bigger challenge can you have than to be picked No. 1 in the Big East?”

Actually winning it, and coming up big in the Big Dance. The Panthers never have won more than two NCAA tourney games in a season, getting knocked out of the Sweet 16 three straight years – including Dixon’s first as head coach in 2004.

[Emphasis added.]

I love that. Coach Dixon was born in Burbank and his hometown is North Hollywood, California. His folks are from the Bronx and he did live there for a spell, but that just cracks me up. It’s like calling me a Baltimore native since I was born and lived there for the first 6 months of my life.

Additional note, the meme of can Pitt get past the Sweet 16 this year will be one that will dog Pitt.