It is September in Las Vegas. It’s still 95+ almost every day, the town is absolutely insane about NFL football. I’ve had the chance to take in a few UNLV football games the past couple weeks as well. If you know me, you know I love football, so I really can’t complain.
But, for me, it cannot compare to the game of basketball. Right now, teams around the country are getting ready for the starts of their seasons. Work outs, practices, meetings all come before everybody hits the floor. Everybody with a clean slate. New coaches, new players, new fans, it’s like taking the first bite of an awesome sandwich. That first taste was so great, and you have so much to look forward to. You set it down and take a drink of water. You lazily peruse the newspaper. I love sandwiches and I am getting my first nibble as we speak.
From my eyes, I have a lot to be hungry for:
- For starters, I have been blessed by the evil NCAA (that doesn’t sound right?) with another pair of Final Four tickets. Indianapolis will be my home for the final games of the year. Indy is where the trip really got its start. It’s a great town and really puts this trip in “full circle” mode, having the shot to visit a city a second time.
- Season tickets for the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels. Promising returning players and talented transfers being able to play after sitting out last year has me ready to watch some great basketball. Louisville will be in town for a big time non conference game. I’ll go deeper into my thoughts about the team a bit closer to the start of the season
- Las Vegas Invitational / Las Vegas Classic – A chance to see a ton of teams I’ve never seen, root for underdogs, and eat some hot dogs. I love going to these things, sometimes watching 4 games in 1 day, its a little like the tourney. Most of these teams will be warming up for their conference schedules, a few with a chance to play for more than that. The Las Vegas Classic is pretty empty usually (which makes me paranoid about them nixing the whole deal), so you can really hear defenses talking to each-other and coaches barking out orders to the players, or getting on the refs. It’s great.
- Buffalo NY – Nate just locked up the hotel for Buffalo. We’ve already got our tickets. All we need is some hoops fevor, a few cheaply priced beers and the tourney coat. Seems like so far away, but I know it will be here before I know it.
How can you not be excited? To top it all off, the bible of college basketball will soon be released. Just in time.
So get involved. No matter where you live, there is bound to be a university close by. These guys play cause they love the game. It’s commendable for sure. Yeah, some get scholarships, fewer play professionally, and even fewer can say they “earn their living” by playing hoops. For the vast majority, they are there because they love it. Driving the lane getting hacked across the forehead, diving on the floor for loose balls, taking a charge from a player twice their size – all examples of their dedication. Get a pair of tickets and go watch a game. It’s cheap (which we could all use right now), and exciting. Ever see a buzzer beater, an amazing dunk, or feel the energy of a gym collectively screaming at the top of their lungs for the home team to get a defensive stop? We have, and I promise you want to as well.
