Spirit

I'm going to a basketball game tonight to watch my friend Duane play. It should be fun, because he will, indeed, play. In other words, I won't be going just to watch him sit on the bench for two hours, like some faithful parent. In fact, he's among the leading scorers for the Bemidji Beavers.

I actually haven't been to a basketball game since high school, and I'm a little nervous, because I'm not quite sure if I remember how to act as a spectator. For instance, is "We've got spirit, yes we do. We've got spirit, how 'bout you?" still an appropriate cheer?

Or is it now more along the lines of, "We look cool sitting here on our side of the bleachers, not having too much spirit, yet we still mildly support the team and heavily support underage drinking. How 'bout you?"

I certainly don't want to seem unprepared, so I've consulted the ultimate basketball etiquette authority--Hoosiers. (By the way, I could still use a good photo of Jimmy Chitwood. The reward remains a credit in our movie.)

I was pleased to find that, according to Hoosiers, the "We've got spirit, yes we do" cheer is still appropriate. Thus, I plan to belt it out at full volume tonight. In addition, I also learned that after Bemidji announces its starting lineup, it is equally appropriate to chant in an irritated manner, "We want Jimmy! We want Jimmy!"

Unless, of course, "Jimmy" is one of the players, in which case BSU is all but assured a victory. After all, a close analysis of Hoosiers reveals that Jimmy shoots an unbelievable 98% from the field.

So, thanks to Hoosiers, I am now adequately prepared to cheer on Duane and the rest of the Beavers tonight.

In other basketball news, my friends (minus DJ) and I played some two on two yesterday--outside. The court, surrounded on all sides by snow banks, was remarkably dry and playable. And play we did, knowing that we probably wouldn't get another chance for two months.

It was a blast, except at the very end Micah rolled his ankle pretty badly. While he was grimacing in pain on the ground, Nate gathered some snow and ice to put on the ankle, Drew stood close by to Micah, and I didn't know quite what to do, so I sat on the basketball.

Now, of course, I realize that I should have walked over to Micah and gently asked, "I've got spirit, yes I do. I've got spirit, how 'bout you?"