Basketball Fever

My family has it and has it bad! When Der Deutscher and I were in college we used to get (relatively) cheap season tickets. At first, of course, we followed the men's team.

But, my senior year, we got a new women's coach. He got our attention, so we checked out a few games. In no time at all, we were true fan(atic)s in every sense of the word.

In fact, our son, JBP, was almost born at a basketball game. It was the beginning of that year's NCAA Tourney and our school, ISU, had earned the right to host the first and second rounds. We, of course, had tickets.

The day of the first game, I showed some of the first signs of labor. But, after talking to the midwife, learned they might mean JBP was due any minute or could wait another week or two. Needless to say, we decided to attend the game.

I was actually in active labor during the game, although I didn't realize it. I'd been having some pretty strong Braxton-Hicks contractions for the last two weeks and couldn't tell if I was having "real" contractions or the "practice" ones. Turned out they were real.

Anyway, my water broke shortly after I got home. Although it waited long enough for me to get the Coach's autograph on Der Deutscher's Team Ball! JBP was born Sabbath afternoon after 14 1/2 hours of labor.

Rather than waste the tickets for the Round Two game on Sunday, Der Deutscher went solo and I watched it with JBP on TV. His first basketball game outside the womb.

Needless to say, we've carefully nurtured his love of the game ever since. His second favorite toy was his first basketball and miniature hoop. We've even got a picture of him sleeping with the thing.

He's long since outgrown that little 2 1/2 inch ball. Now, he joyfully heads out to join the big boys at our neighbor's hoop. And he can hit baskets on it with a regulation ball. They're even teaching him to play a recognizable defense game.

Starting in October JBP will officially be part of a baskeball team at the local Y. He can't wait. And the good news is, his "season" will end before the Ladies' season begins in November!

That's when we hit the road and follow our team to about half of its away games. The ones within driving distance (which we define as about 4 to 6 hours on the road). So, come January/February our home turns into a gypsy camp. Stopping off just long enough to work a couple of days and get some sleep before heading out to our next game.


The cool thing is, since there aren't that many wearing the cardinal and gold at away games the team members all know JBP by name, and ask about him when he doesn't show up.

He also usually has at least one "favorite" on the team. One lady who's shown extra attention to him, whom he adopts as his own.
Currently it's Brittany.

How many 5 year old boys can say they've got 11 college women in love with them? Because those ladies do love our boy and he adores them.

We are in so much trouble when he becomes a teen!!!!!

Nimitz' Lady