Hoop Dreams

By Chris

Well, it's March. College basketball season is nearly over. My Monarchs are a respectable 21-8 with their conference tournament coming up. It's sweet sorrow this time of year. Unlike a good book that rises to a climax and gently winds back down . . . basketball season ends with the best, the climax. . . and maybe the sudden worse. Going to the tournament with the guys from college is a 15-year tradition now. Four will make the trip this year. Three are still regualar season ticket holders . . . on-campus winter outings the lone tie to the good 'ol days (and they are really getting to be the OLD days. I made a trip to our old campus during the school day this week, into the student center to get some gear for the tournament, and I swear the students looked like 12-year-olds to me, and from a completely different world. Laptop computers out, very few books around, cell phones and i-Pods sticking out of every ear. Also a sign of advancement, the kids were much more diverse than just 13 years ago). Anyway, tourney time is fun . . . the best part of the season. Win there, in Richmond, and it's a rush. Loose, and it's all suddenly over, except for a grumpy two hour ride home. We say we'll keep up until November, when the games start again. But, we really don't. So, root for the Monarchs this weekend. Win Saturday afternoon, play Sunday afternoon. Win Sunday, play Monday night. Win Monday night, champions. And a few more weeks of rooting.