Oh For The Love Of Sports!!!

So, there’s been a bit of excitement here in southern Ohio for a while.  Not something I would expect national news to pick up, and if you’re not a sports fan, you wouldn’t be aware either.  And, honestly, as much of a sports fan as I am, basketball is pretty far down on my list. 

However, several weeks back the Miami RedHawks (as in Miami, Ohio) started to get a lot of local press coverage.  They had gone pretty far into their season without losing a game.  A few nights ago was their final game at home for the season, and they won that one!  Last night they played their final away game against Ohio University.

Pete and I were going to stay up as late as possible to watch (game started at 9pm, that’s our usual bedtime).  Unfortunately, for some reason I couldn’t login to ESPN.  So, this morning, as soon as I woke up, Pete let me know, they beat OU 110-108 in overtime.  Their season record 31-0!!!  Wow!!!  I need to mention here, that this was the first loss for OU, at home, in over 15 years!!!  (Heartbreak for them!!)

I pulled up game highlights and as far as I could see, there was never more than a 3-point spread throughout the game.  Miami won in the last 2 seconds of the game when they blocked a final basket effort.  So, congratulations Miami!!! Hope you have great success in the upcoming tournament.

Brought back memories, of course.  Of the four of us in my family, only Mom was an avid basketball van.  This never registered with me until one time, on a visit home, Mom was watching a game and was more than a little engaged!!  Yelling, screaming, jumping up and down!!!  Who knew??  Not me!!!

Other basketball memories include a visit to a University of Florida (Gators) game.  I was maybe 11, 12….somewhere in there.  The only reason it has hung in there with me is that throughout the game the crowd was screaming “Gator Bait”, “Gator Bait”.  Not sure, but I think I was a little traumatized. 

Then there was the Dixie Hollins Rebels.  I never got to go to many of my high school games cause by that time I was working.  But I remember when my brother was a student there, they won state titles in 1960-61.

So, the sport has been around in the family, kinda, and I may be motivated to stay tuned to the upcoming tournament.   Miami plays  UMass in the MAC tournament this Thursday at 11AM.  Got to get my ESPN login fixed!!!!