Back(board) in my life.

For much of my life winter was synonymous with basketball season.  Especially in high school, my winter months were occupied by basketball.  I played two games a week.  I practiced everyday that I wasn’t playing a game and I might go some ball on the weekends too.  In between all of the times I was actually playing basketball, I was watching it.  I watched my brother play at Willamette or went and saw games at Western Baptist or some other college.  On the rarest of occasions I might see a pro game in Portland as well.  I miss playing basketball competitively and I miss watching my brother play, and I also miss watching college ball on TV.  My vision of university life before I got to college was whirlwind of pizza, orange soda and collegiate sports.  Sadly, this was not the case.  When I got to school, I became almost completely disconnected from NCAA basketball.  I got into the habit of not watching TV, and that has been a good thing for sure.  But, the ugly side of the coin is that I stopped watching all TV–not just worthless MTV dating shows and the Price is Right–including college hoops.  And holy hell, I have missed it.  My March Madness brackets have become God-awful, and last year I didn’t even fill one out!  Blame it on my erratic schedule or my English major or my lack of a cable connection in my house, but I have had a problem.  I have become disconnected with a sport that I love: the blessed game of college basketball.  I am glad to say that basketball and I have redone our vows.  Right now I am watching Duke trying to protect a six point lead against Florida State.  Last night I got to watch Michigan State win and I’ll probably watch number one NC dominate after Duke loses to FSU for the third year in a row.  I have been playing ball once or twice a week with my high school basketball nemesis Brian Classen.  Brian hated me in high school because a)we crushed South on a consistent basis and b)I was a shirt grabber but never got caught.  Also, I have been able to announce games for the school radio and video streaming service.  It gives me the chance to talk about the finer points of basketball and why no team should ever have to play a zone defense.  After our time apart, basketball and I are doing well again.  We’re talking to eachother, we listen, we communicate.  I apologize for the time I’ve been away and basketball has forgiven me.  I promise, I will never neglect to fill out a bracket ever again.  This I swear.  Big thanks to Kelsey Lewellen and Emily Sadler for letting me hang out in your apartment, even when you’re not there to watch your TV and eat your chips and salsa.  And cookies.  And juice.  And Ritz crackers and cheese.