The two biggest stars in the 2010 NCAA College Basketball Tournament are sons of Middle Eastern immigrants. These unlikely heroes have put the Madness into March this year. They are leading little known colleges from Moraga, Califronia and Cedar Falls, Iowa into the second weekend of play. Building a nationwide following and winning over America's heart on the way. Davids slaying Goliath.
Northern Iowa's Ali Farokhmanesh whose father, Mashallah is an Axis of Evil/Iranian immigrant, hit the biggest shot of this season, knocking off top-ranked Kansas. With ice in his veins, Farokhmanesh pulled up for an unlikely 3-point shot ending Kansas's dreams of a National Championship. And in the process amazingly, raising similar aspirations in Cedar Falls, Iowa. The 6 foot tall in thick-soled sneakers, senior has raised his scoring average to 16.5ppg (from 9.7ppg) in the post season, and his hit 9 key three pointers. Northern Iowa's victory over Kansas has been the story of the tournament--the biggest upset thus far. Defeating Michigan State to get to the Elite 8 would only add to a legacy, already established.
Farokhmanesh was lightly recruited out of Iowa City, and even his own journey to Northern Iowa came via playing at junior colleges. He was considered too small and too slow, and not offered any Division I or even Division II scholarships. But now it's a different story for the big-shot maker, who's father was on the 1980 Iranian Olympic volleyball team. Of note, there is currently only one Irani in the NBA--7'2" center Hamed Haddadi of the Memphis Grizzlies. But the Persian everybody is talking about hails from the heartland.
Omar Samhan of Saint Mary's is averaging 30.5ppg, 9.5rpg on an incredible 75% shooting--by far the best individual performer of the tournament thus far. The 6'11" center from San Roman, California also known as "The Beast" has taken the little known Gaels into the Sweet 16. And they still have upset on their minds against Baylor this Friday. Samhan's father is from Egypt, not commonly known for developing basketball products. In fact, you have go back to the late 80s to find Duke star Alaa Abdelnaby, who was from Cairo and went on to play five seasons in the NBA, after being selected as a first round draft pick with the Portland Trailblazers. Unlike Abdelnaby, Samhan started out with little fanfare despite being a dominant player in his conference. With continued play like this, Samhan may be knocking on the doors of the Association this June.
Samhan and the Gaels knocked off #2 seeded Villanova, 75-68 in the second biggest upset of this tournament. Samhan's fan base is widely expanding with a rapid number of new Twitter followers and Facebook friends. His trash talking has kept the media very interested:
“Hey, you impressed me tonight,” Samhan said to (Villanova's Corey) Stokes. “Did I impress you?”
I get it,” he said. “I’m a slow white guy, and I’m overweight. So maybe you don’t respect me because I have good numbers. But after I kill you the first half, what are you waiting for. I don’t know what he wanted. Did he want me to have 40?"
“We’re so old school,” Samhan said. “I’m in low tops. Our star point guard is named Mickey. Enough said.
“You’re supposed to be diplomatic with questions like this,” he said, smiling. “No. 1. Best win ever. Quote it, Omar Samhan said best win ever.”
He even has his own blog.
Needless to say, the NCAA tournament has a very interesting flavor this year. Of koubideh and kibbeh. The nation is watching these young stars of Arab and Irani heritage doing something special on the basketball court this spring. No word yet from Newt Gingrich or the Tea Baggers on how the terrorists are taking over their most beloved sporting event. If they do speak, Samhan may have something to say about that.
Stay tuned.
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