“Didn’t you go to George Mason?”

I’ve been hearing that question a lot lately, mostly from friends and family who’ve phoned from various spots around the country. Up until now, they weren’t exactly sure where I’d attended graduate school. George Washington? James Madison? James Mason? The only thing they knew for sure is that it was somewhere near Washington D.C.

My late father called me years ago during a Monday Night Football game and, with some excitement, informed me that All-Pro defensive end Charles Haley had gone to the same school as me. I had to tell him no, that I hadn’t gone to Haley’s alma mater, which was James Madison. In fact, George Mason didn’t even have a football team.

There was a pause, and then he said, “What’s the name of that school again?”

I think he may have felt sorry for me.

Things can change fast. Our culture is littered with overnight sensations, most forgotten in a couple of weeks. But the George fuckin’ Mason basketball team? I didn’t see this one coming.