REPORTING FROM ... THE ONE SHINING MOMENT MOMENT

I was reminded of that moment last night while standing courtside moments after the game had ended. As Kansas players embraced at center court and the 20,000-plus fans waiting for the ceremonies cheered, a few opening chords brought the party to an abrupt stop. "One Shining Moment" began, and every head in the arena lifted to focus on the two Jumbotrons in opposite corners of the building. It was a palpable salute-the-flag type moments.

Like the green jacket symbolizes the winner of this week's Masters, "One Shining Moment" ("O.S.M") marks the official coronation of the NCAA basketball championship. And let's be honest: even the soulful vocal gymnastics of Luther Vandross can't stop O.S.M. from being the syrupy song that it is.

The man who penned the tune, David Barrett, was in the Alamodome for the game, and he'll be in Tampa for Tuesday's women¹s championship game where he'll get to gauge the reaction to his new song, "The Power of the Dream."

Barrett wrote "O.S.M." on the back of napkin, originally as a tribute to Larry Bird. It was supposed to air after the 1987 Super Bowl (Barrett had changed the opening line from "The ball is tipped..." to "The ball is kicked...").
But the broadcast went long, and the song was cut. Three months later, CBS aired it after Indiana beat Syracuse in the 1987 title game. Monday marked the 21st straight year it's been played.

At a press conference last Friday, the UCLA players were asked about O.S.M, and Kevin Love admitted watching it "gave me chills."

Point guard Darren Collison disagreed. ³The video is cool. But personally, I'm tired of the music. I'm not trying to be mean ... you just hear it so many times."

There was a huge gasp in the room, and you half expected the moderator to hit a button to trigger an eject mechanism for Collison's chair. At least Saturday's loss in the semifinals spared Collison, in his third straight trip to the Final Four, from having to sit through the song last night.

Maybe he'd offended the Final Four gods?

I don¹t remember hearing O.S.M the last time I went to the Final Four back in 1990. But a lot has changed since UNLV crushed Duke in that championship game. For one, games are now played in domes rather than arenas (17,000 attended that 1990 game at McNichols Arena in Denver; 43,000 were in the Alamodome on Monday).

But such a massive space allowed the 20,000 leftover revelers to hear Barrett's unintended anthem on Mpnday, following the game. It'll never reach platinum status, but the reaction to One Shining Moment is golden.

THE GLORIOUS HISTORY OF ONE SHINING MOMENT

1987
1988
1990
1991
1992
1993
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2005
2006
2007
2008

MAG.COM ANALYSIS OF ONE SHINING MOMENT
2008 may be the best one ever. Check the 1:59 mark for some priceless Bill Raftery; this is followed by even more priceless Gus Johnson ("YOUNG FELLA!" in regards to Stephen Curry versus Wisconsin). We love 'em all (honestly, choosing the best "One Shining Moment" is like choosing your favorite child), but other top ones are 1992, 2000, and 2005. Check out a dejected Chris Paul in the '05 version. You won't see a lot of that in the immediate future.

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