Basketball: Connecting Generations During March Madness
- Stacy Williams
- Mar 21
- 2 min read
Squeak, squeak, bounce, bounce, swish. Bodies push and shove in an athletic dance towards the other end of the court.
My nine-year-old eyes watched with envy and longing as the “big kids” and the young at heart played a pickup game of basketball in our grade school gym. Saturday night games were common in our small farming community–a way for families to socialize and beat the mid-winter blues. I longed to have the skill and height to play instead of watch.
Fast forward to college. All students received home game tickets as part of our tuition package at Washington State University. Our team wasn’t having a good year, but again, the magic of the game beckoned.
Squeak, squeak, bounce, bounce, swish, tweet. The bodies in these games were taller, the athleticism more pronounced, the skill level elevated. My uncles surprised me with a visit to campus to take in a game. Their enthusiasm was infectious as we munched popcorn and M-n-M’s, and trash talked the visiting team. Go Cougs!
Road trip to Boise. Destination: the first round of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. Boise State played Weber State and won by eleven points. The roaring of the crowd: electric. Bright colored uniforms, the pep of the band underscoring the animated conversations, the vocal encouragement, the deep-toned boos, the cacophony of cowbells. The deafening roar of approval.
Squeak, squeak, bounce, bounce, swish, tweet, buzz. March Madness: present day. The Gonzaga Bulldogs. Half court shots, points in the paint, nothing but net. Anticipatory bracket research. The nail-biting final eight seconds of that last ten minutes. Racing heartbeat. Sweet taste of victory. Bitterness of defeat. March Madness continues to be a national pastime that gives us here in the Northwest a reprieve from our cold and dark winters.
Watching basketball has become a tradition in our house and provides entertainment, conversation fodder, and bragging rights. For me, it links my childhood to my here and now. That sense of connection, celebration, déjà vu. While I never became a player, I still love to watch. In my dreams, I hear the swish of a perfect free throw.
Squeak, squeak, bounce, bounce, swish, tweet, buzz. Cheer! It all makes me smile.
Happy tournament watching! Who are you rooting for?
ZAGS! Round two tomorrow! It’s a great connection to have throughout your life. I didn’t know the sport was that influential for you! We’ll all be in cheering mode Saturday night. Maybe I’ll hear you from upriver!!!