I was reading about the Lady Waves softball team this week, and it triggered a FLASHBACK…
It was a Saturday night at the Hiwassee College basketball arena located in Madisonville, Tennessee. The Midway High School boys and girls teams were playing for district championships, and basketball fans had poured in to watch – some were for us, and quite a few were against us, but regardless of their allegiance, the place was packed. “Standing room only,” meant the place was over flowing out the doors, and I’m satisfied that people stood in the lobby (and smoked cigarettes) throughout the games. There weren’t any seats to be had!
Coach Galyon believed in conserving energy before games – before some big games, he reserved whole seats for us on the bus, and we were to sit sideways so our legs wouldn’t be cramped up. And before the biggest games, he wanted us to drive ourselves and get there much closer to our game time. That was the case on this particular Championship Saturday night. Seven of us (San Narramore, Dale Presely, Randy Rose, Ronnie Woody, Brice Woody, Keevin Woody, and myself) showed up, as ordered, just before the Midway girls tip-off. As a freshman, I felt like I was riding with the king’s court as we walked in the door and the shoulder-to-shoulder crowd in the lobby found a way to part and make a path for us to walk through. I heard an older voice say with begrudging respect, “there they are.” Another kid excitedly pointed and shouted “That’s Midway!”
We entered the arena and you could feel the eyes on us – there might have even been a “hush” from the crowd as we walked single file, in our green letterman jackets to our locker room located at the other end of the court.
This was the greatest moment that I ever experienced in sports, and the cool thing was that it was experienced as a unit, and to take it a step further, it was shared by the Midway fans. I caught the eyes of a few of them as we walked in – they stood, and anyone could tell they were proud of us.
My experience was completely unplanned, and could not have been predicted. It didn’t even involve the actual game! But, that’s why you get involved and play – take the Midway Lady Waves Softball team for example – they have proven to be fantastic unit! But times like these are fleeting and must be enjoyed NOW! I wonder if they realize just how special these times are? There are few things in their lives that will surpass playing for championships as this team has the opportunity to do – again! The players will never again experience such a feeling of camaraderie – do you think there will be such a feeling of unity working for the Bank of America?
Playing is, as UT coach Pat Summit says, “a big ole pride thing!” Watching the kids play is also “a big ole pride thing!” Supporting high school athletics is the epitome of a “win-win” situation: to watch them improve over time is such an interesting process to absorb, and your support does affect the athletes! And besides that, is there a bigger thrill than watching a kid grow through competition?
So, if you’re a player, savor every moment – if you’re a parent or a fan, don’t miss one of those moments. Once they’re gone, they’re not coming back! Enjoy them!