Although I played very few sports as a kid (outside of the typical tee ball, dance, a little co-ed softball, and a brief but passionate love affair with racquetball), I was always a very avid fan of sports. I was born in an area that some might consider the heart of college basketball (central KY) and I went away to a school in another great college basketball conference (ACC), and so I grew up watching a lot of the game – in high school, in college, on the floor of my living room. And even though I left my home state, my deep basketball roots, and cable television behind almost two decades ago – my access to good college hoops may be less, but my love for it still burns strong. I’ve grown in appreciation for other sports because I’ve lived through the glory years of a city with good football and great baseball, and because I sit on the sidelines most summer and fall weekends and watch my favorite soccer player run up and down the field. But to me, it doesn’t get any better than basketball – a game that can turn on a dime (and often does) – and the thrill of watching a match up that can grip you until the final few tenths of a second is about the greatest sports thrill there is. I’ve seen those fractions of seconds go both ways – and I don’t think I’ll ever be anything but amazed that a group of kids can make that kind of magic under the pressure of a clock and a bench and a million eyes on them.
It was fun to get back to that basketball epicenter for a brief visit this weekend, and even more fun to put four great-grandkids and a lot of UK blue around my grandfather who is a Louisville Cardinal fan through and through. If you live anywhere near those two teams then you understand the storied rivalry. Regardless of team affiliation, however, my grandfather loves those kids. A sea of blue doesn’t even phase him. (And besides – his team did better than ours this weekend!)
Got a favorite team in the big dance this month?
My husband and I lived in Chapel Hill for several years while he was in grad school so we are huge Carolina fans. I always look forward to the tournament.
Better Carolina than Duke! 🙂 (You know I’m required to say that as a UK fan!)
Oh no you’re a UK fan! There goes my high opinion of you! 😉 We live in Louisville and BLEED RED! Go Cards…although UK will most likely destroy us if we meet in the tourney.
We left behind cable a few years back and the hubs misses his ESPN and Golf network…
No worries. One of my best friends and my grandfather are both Cards fans. I always root for them except for when they play UK. And of course, I like them better with their current coach :). I was always a Rick P. fan. Some people take the rivalry pretty seriously – I just always thought it was awesome to live in a state with so many good bball teams.
Just passed through your fair city on Friday and Sunday. That was a killer moon rise on Friday night over the river.
I always think of you as this exotic, across the country, different world from mine person, then I find out you are an ACC girl! Should have known there was a reason I find your writing so comfortable and familiar!
Exotic? Afraid not. I’m fairly run of the mill!
I’m decidedly Midwestern now, but still have those Southern roots (just not the drawl).
I have to say that I pull for the SEC over the ACC, but it was exciting during my college days to sit in the fan section and watch all those basketball powerhouses that I grew up watching on TV.