#losing john would not just be loss of a beloved person to arthur it would also be a failure

[averysaurus]

Ohmygod, oh my god, oh mygod ohhhmy godddddd 

[hughiecampbelle]

Being The Smartest Shelby Would Include:

Polly knew you were smart from the start

She said so when you were a baby, but of course no one believed her

Everyone thought their kids were special, but you really were

Born just a few years before Finn, you weren't the baby, but you definitely weren't the oldest, so it was hard to be taken seriously

It started with your homework

You spent a lot of nights trying to tell your siblings it was just too easy

You weren't just getting every answer right, you were finishing pages of work in minutes, faster than anyone in your class

Eventually, you moved on to your brothers work

Finding it discarded on the table, you recognized Johns scraggly handwriting

He'd only made it halfway through, so you decided to finish it, even fixing some of his mistakes along the way

You wanted to show them what you'd done, but of course no one listened

At least, not until you stood on your chair and demanded that someone look over your work

It was a bit dramatic, and made for an embarassing story later, but you wanted to be heard

They did, finally, and they were shocked

Tommy handed it to John, who passed to Ada, skipping over Arthur, who eventually got it to Polly

"Well?"

"It's right, all of it. . . ."

"Fuck."

It wasn't just math though. You were reading every book you could find, even the ones your siblings struggled to get through

You had a knack for puzzles, for figuring things out no one else could, able to pull things apart and put them together just in your head

Polly knew, and she was going to do something about it

Anything she could find to keep you entertained, occupied, your mind at work, she'd bring it home

You had an incredible memory too, remembering everything from the contents on the back of bottles you brothers drank from to entire speeches Polly gave when all of you were misbehaving

It was amazing, to say the least

You were a kid when your brothers went off to war, so it was mostly Ada and Polly who spent long nights with you at the table over homework

You didn't think it was fair, that you were forced to stay in school when none of your siblings were

Polly called it a gift, said you shouldn't take it for granted

She had big plans for you, the kind of career kids like you could only dream of

Finn grows up with you reading to him every night

Even helping him with schoolwork, though that didn't last very long

It still irks you Polly let's Finn drop school, not even getting past reading himself, but you know better than to push the subject

By the time your brothers come back, thankfully all in one piece, you've become a bit of a myth or legend around the Small Heath

Not only are you taller and with more acne, a young teenager, you've made a name for yourself, and a business

After school you could be found with a hat on the ground, getting pocket change for your "abilities"

Showing off and splitting the money with friends, you put on shows

Memorizing the faces of strangers, drawing them almost perfectly by hand, reciting lines of poetry from class all from memory, etc.

Sometimes you bring Finn along, promising candy for his silence, making him part of the act

Your favorite is showing off the languages you've lesrned, switching between Romani, French, Italian, and German (to name a few) without a second thought, so effortlessly

Arthur caught you once, but instead of saying anything, he simply cheered you on, laughing at the fact that your business was doing better than the familys

You spent a lot of time in the shop like Finn, growing up there, but never really allowed in on business, not even to listen

Instead you were ordered to be quiet and focus on your studies

And you did, for a few years, slipping notes to John about what you thought would improve business, pressing your ear to the door to listen, putting up with being categorized as "one of the kids" with Finn

And then you made an announcement, one that almost killed Polly

You weren't going to university, and instead you'd be joining the family business

Your aunt put up a good fight, but your brothers were more than happy to welcome you, with rules of course

Ada wasn't too thrilled either, knowing how smart you were, and how special it was, but she wasn't going to stop you

Pol was, or at least she was going to try

"You could be anything you want y/n."

"And I choose this."

"You're-"

"Wasting my potential? So you've said."

You'd be more behind the scenes, working on the business side rather than the side with razors and guns

Your brothers were more than happy to hear that, though you'd gotten more than a few comments muttered by Pol

If you really wanted to, you could always be a doctor or a lawyer later in life, for now this is what you wanted most

You were finally part of your family

Within the first week, you have a full list of what could be improved and you're center stage in the family meeting

To say that was nerve wrecking was an understatement

Tommy had his doubts, of course, but John knew you'd been keeping their heads above water for a long time

"Go on then, you've got our attention."

You were the one they went to check over the books, the numbers, catching mistakes no one else did

It wasn't just spelling mistakes or addition issues, you were taking stock in inventory, in all the bullets that were wasted, the little things that went missing that no one seemed to notice

It didn't take long for you to work your way up, prove yourself not only to Tommy, but Pol too, showing her this wasn't a waste of your time

She's still not thrilled, but you're as stubborn as the rest, and she knows it's a losing battle

At least you're being smart with your work

Tommy made you check over every contract and agreement he made, making sure he didn't miss a single detail that would screw them over

He brought you to the races too, working out probability, though your math was shaky at best under that kind of pressure and uncertainty

You were the one counting the profits and losses too, weighing the options of whether or not to invest

You're really the only one who knows just how much the family makes

That is a dangerous thing in itself

You make friends quite easily

Not only can you speak an array of languages, bonding with everyone, but you've got that Shelby charm and good looks, too

You're quite popular, though your brothers constantly get in the way of any potential relationship

You're smart though, and not just for their gain, but yours too

If and when you're ready to date, you'll find a way

Alfie adores you

Tommy drives him mad, but he'd have you over any day

Not only does he love the fact that you can keep up with him, witty beyond belief, but your Hebrew is perfect

"So, you're the brains behind the whole operation?"

"Something like that."

You're brought along to a lot of in person deals

You pick up on things no one else does, remembering the littlest of things that can and will be weaponized if need be

Their kids and spouses names, the way they look at you, how they speak and carry themselves

It doesn't take long for you to know exactly who they are

"They're lying Tom. I know they are."

"How can you tell?"

"They look away when they answer, their eye twitches, and they always lean forward when they're saying something true."

"You got all that from a five minute conversation?"

You're not only their beloved little sibling, but the perfect weapon

They don't teach you how to use a gun, but you've been watching for years, making note of every tiny detail

When you do use a gun, which is inevitable, it's a perfect shot

Arthur and Tom insist you carry something with you, but you're fine sticking with a simple razor

The guns can stay with them. . . .

Not only does it come in handy with work, but your family, too

You pick up on the way Arthur escalates, talking him down before there's a full outburst

You know the nights Tommy does and doesn't sleep just by the sound of his voice, the way he signs his name

You know when to check up on Ada if she's not doing well after Freddies gone, even if no one else can see the hurt in her eyes

That's the thing everyone seems to forget, is that you're not only book smart, but people smart, too

Constantly making fun of your siblings right in front of them

"Pol, y/n's making fun of me!"

"I am not! You don't even speak Russian."

"No, but I can guess."

He'd never admit it to you, but Finn really is amazed by you

Ever since he was a kid he always looked up to you

School and homework and all that never came easy to him, and it lead to him giving up, so the fact that all of this comes so easy makes him proud to be your brother

"Y/n, curse in a language we all know or don't say it all."

Along with learning weapons along the way, you pick up on how to be a nurse, tending to whatever it needed

From your nieces and nephews scraped knees to bullet wounds

"Do not get blood on my new shirt!"

No one really suspects you to be listening or watching the way you do, so when they need it, you go "undercover"

Gaining the trust of the enemy, pretending to be a stranger that just so happens to get their attention as if you hadn't been figuring out what makes them tick, distracting them with drinks and small talk

If anything goes wrong, you picked up on how to get away, how to fight without getting too much attention, and not just by watching

With a memory like yours, there are some things you'd like to forget and can't

A lot of things do leave you with nightmares, with flashes of panic, with this dreadful feeling in your gut like you'd seen it all before

At one point or another you've called your siblings and aunt in the middle of the night, just to check up on them, see if they're okay

Begging your brothers to be more careful

They rarely ever listen though

"Is there anything you can't do?"

"I can't go on a date."

"Nope, not until you're forty."

"Come on Arthur, you can't scare them all away."

Despite all this, you're still treated like a child

Your siblings still see you as that smart little kid correcting their work and growing bored of even the most complicated things

No matter what you do or say, you'll always be small in their eyes

[junker-town]

We asked you for your favorite college basketball cult heroes. Here's what you said

We’ve been Pittsnogled. These are your favorite recent cult heroes in college basketball.

The first college basketball team I can remember falling for were the 1997-98 North Carolina Tar Heels. Antwan Jamison was the most dominant forward in the country and Vince Carter was just starting his human highlight reel origin story, but the player that really drew me in was point guard Ed Cota.

Cota couldn’t even get a cup of coffee in the NBA, but he was the ideal college floor general. As a four-year starter, he helped lead UNC to three Final Four appearances by dropping dimes to his more touted teammates. He’s still UNC’s all-time assist leader, and it isn’t even close — his 1,030 career assists are the third most in NCAA history.

Among North Carolina diehards or casual college basketball basketball fans who came up in the late ‘90s, Cota is the perfect example of cult hero within the sport. Every program has one. We asked for your favorites on Twitter:

Every college basketball program has a cult hero. Who is your favorite underappreciated player ever from your school? Tell us why!

— SB Nation CBB (@SBNationCBB) August 17, 2017

This is what you told us.

PG Spike Albrecht, Michigan (2012-2016)

For Michigan, is there any question about this?! http://pic.twitter.com/fYd1nIYLRL

— Sam Meads (@sammeads3) August 17, 2017

Spike Albrecht never scored more than seven points in a game during his freshman season at Michigan .... until the 2013 national championship game against Louisville. That’s when Albrecht officially made himself a legend.

National player of the year Trey Burke was forced to the bench early in the first half with two fouls. Albrecht stepped in and immediately started raining three-pointers. When it was over, he had dropped 17 first half points.

Michigan would ultimately lose in heartbreaking fashion, but not before Albrecht endeared himself to the fan base forever. Of course, he’s still remembered as much for the shot he took after the game:

@KateUpton hey saw you at the game last night, thanks for coming out! Hope to see you again

— Spike Albrecht (@SpikeAlbrecht) April 9, 2013

The rest of Albrecht’s college career was plagued by injuries that included a pair of hip surgeries. He spent his post-grad year at Purdue last season where he only scored 46 points the entire campaign.

In a way, that makes his national title game moment even more incredible.

PF Darnell Jackson, Kansas (2004-2008)

Darnell Jackson for Kansas. Overcame tremendous family tragedy to be heart and soul of '08 title team.

— Ben W. (@twocoach) August 17, 2017

Darnell Jackson spent his first three years at Kansas as a reserve big who could provide energy off the bench. When he finally got the chance to start as a senior, he became an indispensable rebounder and interior scorer for a 2007-08 Kansas team that outlasted Derrick Rose and John Calipari’s Memphis squad to win the national championship.

Jackson will never be the first name you think of on that team. Mario Chalmers hit the iconic shot, Brandon Rush was the team’s leading scorer, Darrell Arthur was the front court player who would go on to enjoy a long NBA career. But there’s a reason Jackson is always noted as a fan favorite whenever he comes back to Lawrence.

Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images

On the court, Jackson was selfless and efficient. He led that ‘08 title team in rebounding while also averaging 11.2 points per game on 62.6 percent shooting. He also had to deal with heartbreak off the court.

During his freshman year, Jackson’s grandmother was killed by a drunk driver in a car accident that left his mother with broken bones in her arms and legs. He was also hit with a (bogus) nine-game suspension from the NCAA as a sophomore in part because a family friend was driving his mother to games.

Kansas might be a one-and-done destination now, but the most memorable players are the ones you get to watch grow. For Jayhawks fans, that’s Darnell Jackson.

Will Yeguete, Florida (2010-2014)

Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

I’m gonna kick it to Andy Hutchins of Alligator Army for this one:

Will Yeguete played four years at Florida; Florida made the Elite Eight in all four of those years, and ventured to the Final Four in his senior season. He played in 127 games as a Gator -- and led the team in scoring once, in an Elite Eight loss to Michigan that was over well before halftime. (Even then, he shared the team lead!) Yeguete dealt with injuries that sapped him of his pogo-like bounce as a sophomore and junior, and his rate stats took a hit as a senior, as players around him figured out how to rebound and do more defensively.

But Yeguete played ferocious defense against wings smaller and centers bigger than he was, and came through with little plays more times than he should have, and did it all with the world's biggest smile on his face. Many players have made the Florida Gators great on the court, but I don't think anyone's ever had as great a time as a Gator as Will Yeguete -- and I'm not sure anyone else ever will. And for that joy, a joy that seeped into every facet of his team's stunning 2013-14 season, he is as beloved as a Gator can be.

Matt Stainbrook, Xavier (2013-2015)

Stainbrook all day

— BW (@BigRedWolfer) August 18, 2017

Stainbrook is one of the most memorable personalities to hit college basketball in the last few years. He was overweight, then got in good shape. He wore goggles. He powered Xavier to the Sweet 16 as a senior. He showed up to radio interviews in his full uniform. And who could forget, he spent his downtime as an Uber driver.

The “Stain Train” simply brought a lot of joy to college basketball. The sport needs more players like him.

Photo by Harry How/Getty Images

Roger Powell, Illinois (2001-2005)

Roger Powell, one of the first big Chicago recruits to go to Champaign in a while (along with Head), and helped start the '05 title run

— Jeff Feyerer (@jfey5) August 17, 2017

Illinois’ 2005 squad will forever go down as one of the best teams to never win a title. Deron Williams and Dee Brown were the stars and Luther Head was an excellent supporting actor, but the heart and soul of that team always seemed to be 6’6 power forward Roger Powell Jr.

Powell was a three-year starter who helped Illinois reach two Sweet 16s and make the national title game as a senior. He scored 16 points during the Illini’s incredible Elite Eight comeback against Arizona, then dropped 20 points against Louisville in the Final Four. He was also a local recruit from south side Joliet who’s commitment was the first building block of what turned out to be a great team.

Kevin Pittsnogle, West Virginia (2002-2006)

Kevin Pittsnogle #WVU Gave meaning to phrase "You've been Pittsnogled!" http://pic.twitter.com/9KZ6YotM7w

— Dan (@Sheba_EER) August 17, 2017

Pittsnogle rose to infamy in the 2005 NCAA tournament as a sweet-shooting big man for a West Virginia team that went to the Elite Eight as a No. 7 seed. That run finally earned John Beilein the recognition he deserved as one of the brightest minds in coaching and produced a worthy co-star in shooting guard Mike Gansey, but it was Pittsnogle who always seemed to define the team.

College basketball has rarely seen a big man who could shoot like him. He knocked down 60 threes at a 42.6 percent clip during his breakout junior season, then returned to school to hit 90 threes at a 40.1 percent clip the next year as a senior, when he was legitimately one of the best players in the country.

His final NCAA shot was one of his greatest — his sixth three of the game against Texas in the Sweet 16 — but his college career ended on the wrong side of a buzzer-beater:

West Virginia has consistently produced very good teams in recent years under Bob Huggins, but they still haven’t had a player as memorable as Pittsnogle.

***

We could go all day on this. Leave your favorite college basketball cult heroes in the comments and tell us what made them special.