Part of my morning preparation when I taught eighth graders was to check the sports section of the paper and note details of the headline. As gangly boys slouched through the door, I would say, “What did you think about…” and fill in my detail. They would straighten up, take over the conversation, move on to their seats and think Mrs Smith was a cool teacher, not knowing I had shot my wad for the day. I have had some sports moments, mostly in attending. Anything that requires catching, throwing , running, or blocking is not on my list.
My heart is closer to and I know more about basketball than any of the other choices. My high school had a total of 80 on good years, at least half girls, and some of the boys not athletic. A basketball team and enough subs was the best we could cobble together. That provided the opportunity to have jocks and cheerleaders and to take trips up and down the parish for games. Though I went to football games in college, even had a date a time or two, they were in an open stadium and maybe a dance afterward. A cold two hours and a late night were not high on my list. Louisiana Tech had/has a good basketball team and were sometimes ranked high in the state, making them fun to follow and check on.
While I don’t yearn to attend the games, I give my whole attention to March Madness. When the bracket first comes out I clip and scotch tape to a cabinet door. All options are over at the edge, poised and ready. I scan the list for first hopes. For some years, North Carolina was the team at the top from the very start. Other years a low seed clawed farther than anyone had thought and maybe even made the top contender sweat.
This year, I had some stress over my druthers. Three Texas teams and Baylor ,whose progress was amazingly not mentioned in my Baptist church services, weighted the right side. On the left side, LSU, one of my alma maters, and Gonzaga. How could I not like a team dubbed the ZAGS!. Another good option to root for was my friend’s Crimson Tide because she has kept the tie strong while four states away. About three time a week, I would reach up and ink in progress, at times sadly. I never watched a game. I just checked the score of the late game before I went to sleep at night.
As in any competition, the end was reached with excitement and also the satisfaction that both teams had held themselves accountable. Not a trounce, just a well-played game. The winners could tear down the net, clutch the trophy, and hold up the banner. I wonder about my bracket. As Yogi Berra said, “It ain’t over until it’s over,” and my task is to play my best until the final round.
“Do you not know that in a race all run but one receives the prize. Run in such a way that you may obtain it. …Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we an imperishable crown. “
1 Corinthians 9:24, 25b
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