Thursday, March 24, 2016

Marathon men

The NCAA men's college basketball tournament started off this year in Providence, RI.
Me and a couple of work mates got tickets to the first days games.  Four of them.
First game started just after 12:00 noon.  The last game ended just after 12:00 midnight.
A marathon day, but we were up for it.

The weather was ominous.  The Dunkin Donuts Center was shrouded with Ghostbuster-like clouds.
But inside, the weather was fine.  The fans were excited.  The teams were aware that the US sports world was watching and that one loss sent them home for the season.
 Attending four games in one day was not unlike competing in the Iditarod.  (ok, it was nothing like competing in the Iditarod, but it was a long day none the less.)
 The boys and I spent an inordinate amount of time rating cheering squads and mascots.
 'Now that's a good mascot'
 And that's a quality cheering squad.
 Unfortunately, the first two games were the peak of the day.  A close battle with much hated Duke was first.  The second game was Yale's first venture into the tournament in their schools history.  One of our workmates was a Yale grad, so of course we adopted them as our team.
Check out the scoreboard.  Yale wins!  Yale wins!
Much high fiving.  Much childish glee.

 I like the old timey feel of this picture.

The third game was a dog.  Boring.  Low energy fans from Miami.  Poor showing Miami fans.
One of our work mates left.
But three of us hung in and ended the night with an exciting upset.
I was the only one who rented a room, not wanting to drive two hours home.  Brilliant move.
Check this one off the bucket list of sporting events.

No comments: