Next Time I'll Take My Camera

I am not a sports fan.

Not.a.fan.

Alison and Sports have never been in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G. The World Series/Super Bowl/
World Cup? I could care less, unless the home team is winning, and even then I don't really care (unless we're talking about France taking the 1998 World Cup from Brazil. That? was bitchin').

You get the picture.

But guess what? Now that I am in Lexington with Allan, I get to go to ALL the UK Men's Basketball home games.

And guess what?

I like it.

When my brother (co-captain of our high school basketball team way back when) learned that I'd been to a UK game, he asked, "Did you understand anything?" Smartass.

Tonight was the third home game we attended this season. The Cats started off slow, as they always seem to, but as the game progressed, so did the excitement. It's fun to sit between Allan and his sister Jo Ann; each of them will point out interesting people and things to me. There's so much to see. And each time we go, I learn the players a little better. I'm keeping my eye on Perry Stevenson. Randolph Morris and Jodie Meeks stand out, too.

Wait. Am I really blogging about BASKETBALL PLAYERS?

Tonight's game was great, not only because the Wildcats ended up playing well, but because Ashley Judd was there. She went out to center court during a timeout to make the last Y in the KENTUCKY formation the cheerleading squad did. Ms. Judd attends games fairly often; I saw her across the court at a game I went to last January. People, she is beautiful. But I digress.

Back to basketball: I'm still not a sports fan, but I think I'm a Cats fan. The next home game is December 9th, and I am taking my camera.

Comments

[Malnurtured Snay]

I'm not a sports fan either, but I love football movies. Go figure.

[The CEO]

I have a pair of cowgirl boots for you that will go perfectly at any Cats home game. I mean to die for. Even Ashley Judd will want them. I'll send them to you in e mail.

[Margaret]

I think it's all about the excitement, the people, and the experience of it. It's so lively, and ripe for people watching. That's what I enjoy the most.

[Neil]

I just saw Ashley Judd on a magazine cover while waiting at the supermarket, in that overused pose of a woman being naked with her crossed hands covering her breasts. The copy was about how she was "going to change the world." Was being part of the cheerleadering group what they were talking about? Glad you had fun!

[Catheroo]

I am SOOOO jealous of you right now! You have no idea. Oh, how I remember those games. They were so fun. And boy did I have a mad crush on Travis Ford back in the day. I have my picture with Gimel Martinez and I look 2 feet tall.

And let's not mention that notorious game against the team that starts with a D and rhymes with puke. No, let's never mention that one.

GO BIG BLUE! (from your big green-with-envy reader)

Jealous!!!

[Jack]

You sound like a fan to me. ;)

[Anne]

Basketball rocks. College Basketball really rocks! I'm glad you finally found out how fun the games really can be. *sigh* I miss college basketball games.

[cassie-b]

I hear you.

It took me nearly 2 years of asking questions to understand tennis (Don loves to watch tennis matches), but now I understand the game and really enjoy watching with him. Sometimes it's not the sport, but the company.

[barb]

At first I was wondering why the Brits were playing in their home games in Lexington Kentucky but then I realized... duh! hahaha

Anyway I know the feeling. I think sometime last year when the UF basketball team won the championship even I got excited. Remember I blogged about Joakim Noah? They were the underdogs. And basketball is not as obnoxious as football is. I could never get into a Gators football game but the basketball team.. . they're cool.

By the way, after their win several teammembers got offered millions of dollars to go pro and guess what. They all turned them down and decided to stay in school. Even the coach turned down a better paying job elsewhere. I thought that was pretty classy and made me like them even more.

Looking forward to seeing your photos next game! Sounds like fun!

[Elisabeth]

I love watching most sports (but I do not get car racing and boxing), some more than others - American football is my top favorite, with tennis. I think that there is something very special about going to see "live" games, especially college games. Pro basketball does not interest me much, but I like college basketball.

[plain jane]

Ashley Judd??? She is so beautiful. I have a "girl crush" on her. And besides changing the world by finishing the Y in Kentucky with the cheerleaders she is working on the AIDS issue in Africa.

[Chris]

I'm not a huge fan either. I will say, though, basketball is probably the most exciting to watch. And everything can be pretty exciting in person.

[Sonia]

Hi Alison, thanks for your visit and comment on my place!

[rebecca]

we are sisters.
except with the basketball thing. i'm turning into a football fan, and half-knowledgeable about NFL, rules, teams and players. i never thought this would happen. i never WANTED this to happen. but, i married a total sports junkie (he was a soccer and basketball star in highschool and college, and misses it greatly) and it is the reason my mom says i married a carbon copy of my father. go figure.
anyway, i am a fan of peyton manning. mostly, i just like his funny NFL channel commercials, and saying his name. Tony Dungy married my 5th grade teacher, Miss Harris...so i guess i'm a Colts fan. but don't tell my husband.
ashley judd is gorgeous. i'm a bit jealous of her. good in both long and short hair. YES, take your camera next time. you never know, you may have a career yet in sports photography!

[Denise]

College basketball is great fun! We've been to some Pitt games lately.

Random trivia: Ashley Judd is one of my Kappa sisters. ;-)

[Kathryn]

I had a similar transformation a few years ago when I turned into a Cubs fan, much to my sister's horror. I think attending a live game had a lot to do with it. It's as much about the experience as it is about the game.

[melanie]

my father would be soooo jealous of you! he lives for UK basketball games, even though he went to Western, He is still a total Cats fan! And a celebrity sighting... sighs. it don't get much better than that!

[ms. sizzle]

i never was much of a sports fan either but basketball? i like! and seeing a game live is even better. i can watch hockey, baseball and soccer live but not on tv. basketball i can do either. it's so weird!

[ally bean]

Dear God! You've gone to the dark side. Basketball is my absolute least favorite sport of all time. And that's saying something-- as like you, I'm not a sports oriented sort of woman.

[Another Aligator]

There's something special in particular about *college* sports and the way the fans get *so* into it. ^_^

It's cool you you've adopted a team! (I root for them and the rest of the SEC teams... as long as they aren't playing my Gators! ;-) )

[JanePoe (aka Deborah)]

I feel the same way about sports, but YES, next time take your camera!! much peace, JP

[booby gonzales]

i've gotten into mixed martial arts lately. haven't seen any live yet, just some old rerun UFC bouts on TV. but i love it. it makes my week. my adrenaline gets pumping and i jump in my seat with a "aw, shit!" i admire the skill of the fighters, and learn a lot while watching. enjoy d b-ball!

[Aimee]

I'm a huge KU bball fan. I really don't enjoy the sport as much as I enjoy tennis but something about KU basketball and being a student at KU for 4 years and going to games just keeps it in your system.

UK and KU have played before, right? maybe we'll meet up for the final 4? :)