On Malcolm Gladwell and Adam Gopnik
Gladwell wasn't saying that the UK Wildcats weren't a good team, or were the underdogs in that championship. I will grant that he's saying that particular team wasn't marked by having a lot of stars on it (like the Michigan teams of yore) and you can argue that, with 9 players going onto the NBA. But it's 9 players who didn't especially distinguish themselves in the NBA, either. And it doesn't help those players chances of making the NBA to be on an NCAA championship team. I don't think it undermines his point which is that a constant full-court press is an unusual coaching strategy and something that most coaches shy away from but it can be used to great effect for teams that may lack other advantages. The point is about choice of strategy, not a "how to" manual for underdogs.
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On Malcolm Gladwell and Adam Gopnik
I can't speak to the use of razors (I like a good beard myself.), or Adam Gopnik's piece, but I think you guys have made some critical mistakes in your analysis of the Gladwell piece. I'm not going to wade in on the sling vs. slingshot issue, but on Rick Pitino, he doesn't call Pitino's UK an underdog at any point; in fact, he lays out their record of success pretty well. His point isn't so much that "underdogs win a lot," but that they win by using unorthodox methods, often by thinking of the game or situation in a new way and using their particular set of assets better. The point is the Rick Pitino's full-court press is a successful strategy and it's not used very often. Which it's not. He also notes that it's physically strenuous and not 100% effective. As for the NCAA championship Wildcats, yep, they had 9 players go to the NBA, but Gladwell singles out Walker as the only "bona-fide all-star." Which, looking at that list, you kind of have to agree with, unless you're going to make the argument that Tony Delk = Antoine Walker. Which I doubt you will. One last snarky bit: so what if the girls' team had a pro-quarterback give them tips (also noted in the article)? Go ask Michael Jordan how well success in one sport transfers to another sport. Go ask. I can wait.
Sorry to come into someone else's house and talk trash, but I think your dislike of Gladwell (earned or not) led you to miss his actual points.
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On Malcolm Gladwell and Adam Gopnik
Duh. "help" = "hurt" Being on an NCAA championship team helped their chances of making the NBA.