What an odd time for me!
NBA finals and I am watching the game as an outsider? Or an insider who is now an outsider?
Listen, it is still in my blood! From the moment that my husband, Abe, and I drove under the big metal door of the Civic Center in downtown Baltimore in 1964, my life was filled almost to the brim with basketball, basketball and basketball!
Driving into that building and hearing the noise for the first time, wondering what we were doing with a basketball team, and now years later, watching from a home television screen rather than a seat in the arena, is……… weird!!!!!!!!
I can never be an average fan. Why?
Because besides watching the game with undivided attention, I am also looking at how many people are sitting in the seats, wondering why each team chose to have the fans wearing white shirts instead of red or green or whatever. Why are the cheerleaders wearing a one piece costume instead of a two pieces? What strategy is the coach using now instead of what he did earlier? Why did the referee let that all-star get away with hitting one of our players so hard?
On and on.
These are not the things that an average fan thinks about. I know that now that I am sitting with friends who are average fans and I know that I have a different perspective and it will never change. It is really in my blood. I loved being a part of that exciting world; maybe not as much as Abe — and maybe different that Abe — but I am so glad to have had that incredible experience. How do you think it feels to be kissed and hugged by a big, sweaty, superstar like Wes Unseld?
From the Heart 