Road to the Final Four

It will not come to most of your surprise who know me that I am a huge Michigan State basketball fan. While attending MSU my friends and I even went down to Florida when MSU made it to the final four the first time in my college career in 2002 and rallied through the streets of East Lansing in 2003 when we won it all. Unfortunately, I am not 18 years old anymore to be able to just up and drive 24 hours cross country, scream at the top of my lungs, or run all night through the streets giving complete strangers high fives. Wow how times have changed. What has not changed however is that I still jump around like my feet are on fire, do air fist pumps, and scream at the TV like the players/refs will be able to hear my taunts or encouragement. Which is why I had some real concerns when we were invited to a surprise retirement party at 6pm this past Saturday. (For those of you who don't know MSU's final four game against UConn started at 5:07pm.) This party consisted of all co-workers at all levels in the company and sometimes their respective partners. It was being hosted at my boss', boss' house (so three above me) so we couldn't very well decline the invitation.

We watched the first half at home and then made a beeline at halftime to the party. We were up by two so I was getting pretty stoked about the possibility of a W! I was assured by the host that they had nine TVs in the house and the game would be on everyone of them. But let's face it, it isn't like I am just going to go wandering around her house looking for an empty room and a free TV. Can you imagine if someone caught me in an empty room hooping and hollering by myself when 50+ people were downstairs? AWKWARD!

The minutes ticked by and still no retiree. I kept frantically looking up at the TV and then back at the door wondering when she was going to show up because the game was going to be starting any minute! Finally I had to give in and move myself towards a TV in their living room while surrounded by all the party goers in anticipation of her arrival.... not the inconspicuous game watching experience I had envisioned. I think some people started to take notice when the one lone girl was standing smack dab in front of the TV doing air fist pumps and small contained jumps, although only a few people commented. After a couple minutes in she showed up... yeah SURPRISE... and I beelined downstairs where the 60'' TV resided and not many of the party goers were lingering. I positioned myself on their U-shape sectional next to the host's husband. Who every so often I would lightly hit with the back of my hand and tell him jokingly to calm down... he was getting a little too loud and rowdy.... obviously he was not, in fact he was sitting there silent as a rock. No one would sit on the other side of me for fear of being hit by one of my waving arms. Yes, a lady actually said this. A friend of ours actually volunteered to sit next to me so there wouldn't be a void on the couch, which was nice since she has previously witnessed how erratic I could become.

For the most part as the game progressed I kept my actions in pretty good check. I did a lot of seated fist pumps, a handful of quickly going from a sitting to standing position, a clap every so often, and only one loud whooooooo when we had an exceptionally good dunk accompanied by a quick stand. Now what I didn't notice right away was the space behind us had become full of people as the game clock ticked down. I only realized that I was their entertainment when my husband said, "Shows almost over here folks." Then I really started to take notice of the laughing and random comments I was generating. I decided at that point however there was no turning back. There was only a couple minutes left in the game and it was looking like we were on our way to securing a victory. I was bubbling over with energy and my phone was blowing up with texts and calls. Unbeknownst to me there was a rumbling in the crowd to play a joke on me. With 30 second remaining in the game the channel changed. I had an immediate involuntary reaction that looked like someone put a taser on my butt. I let loose a high pitch scream, jolted from my seat, my back arched, and I immediately fell back on the couch. Instantly I felt regret as my face flooded with blood and the room filled with laughter. To save face I said, "haha you got me!" but deep down I felt a little ashamed of my knee jerk reaction. Still this little seizure like episode did not stunt my joy. The game ended I gave another fist pump, whoop, and I bolted out of the basement to make some calls.

I proceeded to go outside despite the tornado warning and rain downpour. I stood on the porch jumping up and down screaming whooo hoooo to all my friends who would welcome the celebration. I again was oblivious to a group of onlookers who decided to watch the crazy lady do high knee jumps on the porch. What was probably even more entertaining is when I concluded my calls.... took a few deep breaths... and then turned around composed to re-enter the party like I never took part in such celebratory shenanigans. At the time I was completely oblivious of the glass door that provided onlookers a full view.

The rest of the evening went off without a hitch. The sh** eating grin I carried with me everywhere was always a topic of conversation and I became know as a real basketball fan!... some may even throw out the term freak, but who cares about their opinion anyway.

It sparked a real furry of comments come Monday however when the Spartans were to play North Carolina. "You pumped for tonight's game?" "Go Spartans!" (wink, wink) It is like everyone got to see a little piece of the real me but I didn't get to know anyone else any better.

....then came today.... "ohh sorry about the loss..." "what happened?" "you doing alright today?" These are seriously people I have never talked to before!

Oh well.. I am still proud that the Spartans took second place. We had a lot of good wins up until last night and a great season overall! Go Green!