Season of Red

Dad likes basketball.

Even when his family (majority girls) is not so enthusiastic, 

Dad is an enthusiast.

Even when it means going alone or finding an enthusiastic friend to join him,

Dad attends the games.

Dad roots for the home team, even though the home team is definitely not the Orangemen or even the Longhorns.  He roots for them, even though the home team is Red and until recently has recorded a mediocre, even Ivy-league-ish, performance. (There are no scholarships in Ivy League athletics, so Red takes what they can get.)

In November, we looked forward to our 3rd Winter in New York, which would also be our 3rd Big Red basketball season.  After experiencing 2 years of my dad's enthusiasm for these games, PTB and I discussed the upcoming season.  Then we bought tickets ....season tickets for one person, not two.  Our deal was to alternate -staying home with crazy boys/going to Cornell with crazy fans (as well as Dad, but he really isn't a crazy fan.  When he is really excited, I think he inaudibly whispers his reactions.)

And so we alternated -all season long. 

(Except for the two times we bought an extra ticket and went on a basketball date, also the last game when Dad bought tickets for our whole family and we embarked on the adventure of taking two crazy boys to their first ball game.)

Time spent with Dad and his enthusiastic friend, Mr. Olson

Arena full of red

Traditions of rivalry, almost anti-sportsmanship, displayed loudly

The energy of Newman Nation during Harvard's visit

Media Time Outs every 30 seconds

7 foot Foote, the center, dwarfing all the (otherwise enormous) players

The ache in my back after sitting on those benches

Some close, nail biting games, some not so close

Big Red once again overcoming their Ivy Leagueness and really dominating

It was a memorable season.

Thanks Dad, thanks Mr. Olson, thanks PTB!  I had lots of fun.