home alone, and entertained

Until 1972, the Eastern Massachusetts state tournament for high school basketball was called the Tech Tourney.  The tournament was started at MIT and so got its name.

I think it was my junior year. I remember going to Boston Gah-den with friends to watch Brockton compete. We lost the game but still, it was exciting just to be there.

Also in high school, I was a cheerleader (along with most of my friends) for the YMHA basketball team. I'm pretty sure there were no cuts.  Anyone who wanted to cheer could.  

I am not a big follower of the sport. Although in 1991, I went with Eric and a friend of his to a Final Four game at Meadowlands Arena.   Because no drinking is allowed, we went to a  bar across the street early on in the game and never came back.

And that's pretty much been my fan involvement in high school or college basketball.

A few weeks ago I helped Jay Wright's wife find an outfit for a "basketball game." I had no idea at the time that her husband was the Villanova coach. But once I learned he was, I became a semi-fan, rooting for a team I never followed before, and a coach I hadn't heard of.

This morning I make a note to watch Villanova play UNC for the NCAA title tonight. If I were really a fan, I wouldn't need a note.  Still, I forget to turn the TV on until an hour into the game. And even then, I only half watch as I flip through old unread issues of New York Magazine and People.  At half-time, it looks like UNC is outplaying the Wildcats.

But oh man, the second half. Well, really, the last three minutes. And then that buzzer-beater 3-pointer to win the game, 77-74. I want to call someone, I am so excited. But it's late and I can't think of anyone who might be up watching college basketball. I text Alexander who is spending the night at his grandparents but get no response.

So I switch over to Jimmy Fallon.  There, I catch the hilarious lip-sync contest between him and Melissa McCarthy.

https://youtu.be/saOHKFWW3tU

Not a bad evening for being home alone.