One Woman s View: Confessions of a true fan
Contributing writer
Readers interested in language no doubt realize the word "fan," as in "sports fan," "Bon Jovi fan" or "Tom Cruise fan" has nothing to do with an implement for circulating air, but rather is a shortened form of "fanatic." This past week I proved myself to be a basketball fan in every sense of the word.
I attended the Eisenhower League Tournament Monday evening to watch the Centre boys play and then stayed to watch the Hope boys play. The next evening I returned to watch the Lady Cougars. In order to get my money's worth, I got there in time to watch a game between the Wakefield and St. Xavier women's teams. Even though I had no emotional stake in the outcome of this one, I soon was doing a little clapping and cheering for the St. Xavier team. After all, I was in the middle of their cheering section, and I've always had a soft spot for the underdog. Their entire team consisted of five freshmen girls. With a little experience they may become a pretty good team, especially if they can recruit a few substitutes.
I went to the Trojan Classic Thursday evening at Hillsboro to watch the Lady Trojans defeat the Cair Paravel team. Up to this point I was complaining to my friend that all the games I had watched were so lopsided I could have taken naps, but that was a fib. Actually, I can yell my lungs out even when my team is 20 points ahead — or behind. I may be the loudest fan in the stands. I asked a friend if I came across as loud and obnoxious at games. He told me, "I haven't ever heard obnoxious, but then I never listen to you." He is probably wise.
The Marion and Hesston men's teams must have heard my complaint about boring games, because they treated me to one with only a one-point spread in the final score. The icing on the cake was that Marion won.
If anyone is beginning to need an explanation of why I root for so many teams, I live in the Centre district, but have neighbors only a few miles from me who are in the Hillsboro district. Then I do enough substitute teaching at Marion and Hope to be interested in their students, although I don't often get to see them play. That is the magic of tournaments. It increases the number of teams I can watch.
I was back at the Ike League Tournament Friday evening to see both Centre teams play and even got to see both teams win. The St. Xavier team, like their female counterparts, only had five players. However, since one of them is 6'7", they gave Centre a run for their money. Once again, I stayed and watched Hope play. It is a treat to see them play someone other than Centre, so I can cheer them on.
I chose to go to Centre Friday because both their teams were playing, while only the Hillsboro boys played that night. I planned to be back at Hillsboro Saturday to watch both their teams play. However, when I learned the Saturday schedules, I couldn't resist trying to get a peek at the Centre games. This was the day I earned my stripes as at true fanatic.
I showed up at Centre at 1:30 p.m. and watched the first half of the boys' game. Then I burned up the road to Hillsboro and got there for nearly all of the girls' game. Then it was back to Centre. Since their game was scheduled for six o'clock, I expected to be able to see it all and get back to Hillsboro for the Trojans game at eight. Unfortunately the Lady Cougars' game did not start until after seven, so I had to sneak out at half time once again and then missed the first quarter of the Trojan Classic championship game.
By Saturday evening I was exhausted and coming down with a cold. If my husband still was with us, he'd be saying, "No wonder you have a cold. You've been running around all week and not getting your rest." Nevertheless I enjoyed every minute. Of course, my poor brain became a bit addled. I'm told that in a particularly exciting moment of the Lady Trojans' game I shouted, "Go, Cougars!" I was not aware of that, but I got it from a reliable source.
To all the students who play on high school basketball teams in the area, a sincere thank you for giving an old woman something to live for during the dull winter months. You'll see (and hear!) me in the stands as often as I can get there. And if I occasionally yell for the wrong team, I hope you'll forgive me.
