High Stakes Card Game (Sweet 16 in Chicago – Part 4)

(Chicago, IL) – Friday’s Sweet Sixteen game between Syracuse and Gonzaga looks like one of those contrasts of styles, contrasts of coaching methods and contrasts of ages. But that couldn’t be further from the truth.

Syracuse (21-13), from the East Coast, is known for their 2-3 match up zone and their grumpy and combative head coach Jim Boeheim. Gonzaga (28-7), from the West Coast, is viewed as this free-wheeling offensive machine, and their young fly-fishing head coach Mark Few.

Syracuse players are brow-beaten, pushed to the limits and miserable. The Bulldogs enjoy the beach and a head coach that consistently brags about his players’ efforts and performances.

But what we really have here in Chicago, is a high-stakes card game between two very good friends. Boeheim and Few have connected at a deep level through their work with USA Basketball, charity events and yes, card games.

Few says reporters don’t get to see the Jim Boeheim he and his wife know.

“He’s a really, really good guy, man. I wish you guys could see that side of him,” said Few. “He’s not the surly curmudgeon you all think he is. He’s funny, he’s witty, he’s a great card player, average fisherman, but there’s some hope there, some promise there if we ever get him off the golf course.”

When asked about their friendship, Boeheim even smiled when relating a story about how Few had joined his card game once and “had it handed to him pretty good.” That wry little smile spoke volumes about what’s behind that surly façade of the Syracuse head coach.

Their relationship goes beyond card playing and coaching basketball players. Few has felt the mentoring of Boeheim beyond the court and into the world of charity work.

“The other thing, Marcy and I got the idea from Jim and Juli for our Coaches vs. Cancer,” shared Few. “There never would have been a Coaches vs. Cancer, and we raised 7, 8- million bucks out in Spokane on 100 percent just because Juli and Jim talked to us and kind of got us going and even prodded us and motivated us to do that, came out and supported us. So I think that’s really, really cool.”

Boeheim says Few’s card game skills are getting better, and Few believes there is hope for Boeheim’s fishing future, but here in Chicago on Friday night one of these card playing, good friends will be hoping to draw and eight, as in Elite Eight.

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