Listen, Dayton Flyers fans, I understand what you’re going through. This was your year.

Let’s talk it out:

The season came to an end uncharacteristically early. And it ended with little fanfare, just an announcement. And that was it.

An underdog team, a team with a rich history but without the same national following as others, had rocketed to the top of the standings. This team would surely enter the postseason as a favorite.

Sure, they had one player who had become very popular after a break-out season, but they had several all-star caliber players who worked well together as a unit, creating a stacked line-up. Many of those players, those all-stars, would not return the following year, and the team would lose its greatest chance for a championship.

If this team had been upset by a lower seed, a team with a worse record but got hot at the right time, that would have been disappointing but understandable.

Of course, I am writing of the 1994 Montreal Expos.

You probably had already deciphered that. Any amateur historian would have deduced that from the information given. And also from all the links to the 1994 Montreal Expos.

But I understand, Flyers fans, you never got that chance, after an exciting season led by a player who is not likely to return. That opportunity, that beneficent destiny, was taken from you. Oh, not through a heart-breaking loss, but because of an outside force.

I’m here for you, Dayton Flyers fans. I’m here for you … but not so close as to eliminate social distancing.

The fam gets to a Flyers game every few years when we’re all home for Christmas. Back In The Day, my brother and I tried to get a cheer going for one of the era’s most popular players, as far as we knew.

Brother: I say, “Scoochie,” you say, “Scoochie.” Scoochie!

Me: Scoochie!

Brother: Scoochie!

Me: Scoochie!

Both: Scoochie! Scoochie! Scoochie!

[exeunt]

I do not understand why it didn’t catch on. Not even with our other brother who was an actual University of Dayton graduate and seemed slightly more focused on the game.

But this is serious. These large events like the NCAA tournament needed to be canceled to slow the spread. Even The Scooch is worried about coronavirus.

Didnt even know i had all these basketball fans on my timeline, but glad to see everyone take this virus a lil more serious

— Scoochie Smith (@scoochstackin) March 12, 2020

On the plus side, you can now claim the Dayton Flyers are the 2020 NCAA champions, much as I claim the Expos as 1994 World Series champions.

The Flyers would have won the tournament you say? Who’s gonna prove you wrong?! No one. That’s who.

The 1994 strike put the plans in motion that led to the Expos leaving Montreal. When the Nationals won the World Series last year, I was excited for Washington.

I was also excited to celebrate a historical win that was taken from the loyal Expos fans.

I had a shirt made to celebrate that this was the Expos’ championship. So if any Flyers fans want a 2020 NCAA championship shirt, I’ve got a guy.