baa baa leemire goat

GOAT: Scapegoat; one that is made to bear the blame of others. Not the slang “Greatest Of All Time.”

The term "goat" is tossed about loosely in corporate and athletic circles, but it takes a lot to make a true goat. The kind of gaffe where everyone who hears the tale shakes their head and says “what an ass clown,” or, “I’m glad not to be him despite his good looks and riches.” For my definition, a goat is not the one who falls on his sword (see: Oliver North). It will be the person who thought they wouldn’t get caught, the person who thought they were doing right despite years of human history to inform them otherwise, the person who fails in the performance their life was geared towards.

It’s harsh. But it’s true.

Examples include Chris Webber’s “time-out” in the NCAA finals; Chris Webber having to apologize for recruiting/ monetary violations that wiped those Michigan basketball victories and losses from the official record books; Hugh Grant getting caught with a street hooker; the great Bill Buckner moment; the executives at Enron; et cetera.

Today, the definition refers to Leemire Goldwire, guard, UNC-Charlotte 49ers of the Atlantic 10 basketball conference.

The Niners, the second place team in the conference, were facing the George Washington Colonials (GW) in the league final, before the conference tournament. Some things to know:
• Charlotte had lost to George Washington earlier in the year.
• George Washington is the 6th ranked team in the country; a win over GW would give Charlotte (the 49ers or Niners) a better look at the NCAA tournament.
• GW hadn’t lost a conference game.

The Niners took the game into overtime with dogged play and determination and all the other things that make underdogs competitive in basketball. Like GW’s shots just not falling. With six seconds left, GW’s Maureece Rice takes a long three pointer from the elbow. Of course it falls short. Charlotte is up two points here, and once the Niners’ D’Angelo Alexander pull down the rebound, their player will be fouled, he’ll make a free throw or two, and George Washington may well lose their first conference game.

But, the goat moment.

Tangled in the throng of bodies, GW’s Mike Hall and Leemire Goldwire are wrestling for position. Trying to foul Alexander, Hall tries to disentangle from Goldwire. He does this violently, and is yanking a piece of Goldwire’s jersey. Goldwire takes exception and swings his arms, landing a blow.

In schoolyard fights, everyone knows: the kid who gets in trouble is the one who reacts to taunts and throws an obvious punch/ shove.

Goldwire’s first punch wasn’t the goat moment. It was looking back over his opponent while trying to get free and swinging that elbow again.

That goat move earned double technicals. The GW guy shot two free throws and made them. The Charlotte player shot two free throws and missed one. With four seconds, one point down, GW flies upcourt, Noel Wilmore takes a wild shot that catches nothing but air; only to find Carl Elliot on the other side of the basket to receive the “pass.” He’s in the air and just as the clock strikes zero, tips the ball in.

For the George Washington win.

GW may have made that play anyway. But if Goldwire doesn’t foul Hall, Charlotte is at least up two and most likely, up 4 points.

Good work, goat.

Articles: Washington Post, and Winston-Salem Journal.