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Jennifer Hudson Leaves ‘One Shining Moment’ Fans Wanting Less This NCAA Tournament

One shining moment?

Or one big letdown?

This year’s NCAA Tournament lived up to the hype, but Jennifer Hudson’s rendition of “One Shining Moment” stirred more criticism than goosebumps. 

You would have thought somebody defiled the Mona Lisa. In a way, somebody did.

David Barrett’s song has become college basketball’s anthem since it debuted at the end of the 1987 tournament.

“One Shining Moment” is as synonymous with the tournament as filling out a bracket. The tournament would not be the same without the song or the CBS montage that goes along with it. Every kid who’s ever picked up a basketball in the last 23 years has dreamed of making the cut.

The song is bigger than a game, sport or tournament. It is a cultural touchstone that defines a generation.

Over the years, many people have been swept up by the magic.

Teddy Pendergrass did a memorable version or two.

So did Luther Vandross.

But Jennifer Hudson should be one-and-done.

And if she isn’t, someone should have his or her head examined.

It’s not all Hudson’s fault. Someone thought it would be a good idea to mix it up. It wasn’t.

Her rendition was like waking up on Christmas and finding no presents under the tree. It was worse than sitting down for Thanksgiving dinner and getting McDonald’s Chicken McNuggets and French fries.

Usually, you don’t want the song to end. This year, it couldn’t end soon enough.

We all make mistakes. No one’s saying Jennifer Hudson is a bad singer. She’s an Oscar winner. She’s got talent. This won’t be her defining moment. But she messed up a classic.

Next thing you know, they’ll expand the tournament to 96 teams.

Oh, wait.

Is nothing sacred anymore?