My Cavaliers play again tonight. Bird and Deal get annoyed that I refer to the team as “my Cavaliers.” I also call them “my boys,” which is apparently equally irritating. But here’s the thing, first of all, they are all young enough to be be my boys (if I started having children when I was much younger than when I did actually have children). The Cavaliers are everyone’s team. I find Coach Bennett and the players to be approachable and affable. They have all sorts of room to be cocky, but they are friendly and joyful. When I met them last week they were actually rather quiet and humble as they listened to the fan fawning (guilty as charged) and posed for photos. You can tell it’s a team driven by the pillars of character impressed upon them by Coach Bennett – humility, passion, unity, servanthood, and thankfulness. Seriously, how can you not respect this guy?
Lisa Province wrote this about Coach Bennett: “The words used to describe him—humble, passionate, faith-driven—cast a beatific aura on a man who has projected a remarkably clear vision for how to build a successful college basketball program without a team of NBA prospects.”
And now I’m bummed to be watching the game from my couch tonight. I was this close to buying tickets for a quick (yet expensive) jaunt to NYC. I’ve never seen a thing at Madison Square Garden, but it seemed like watching UVa, the ACC’s only glimmering hope in the NCAA Tournament, would be a fine place to start. I’m thrilled that I had the chance to catch two games in Raleigh with Bird.
Alas, Mac Daddy’s practical influence and the sight of my dwindling bank account stopped me from acting impulsively. Instead, I am donning my favorite Virginia gear and readying an orange cocktail to get in the spirit. I might bank a few spirits myself as I await the 9:57 tip off.
It’s Called HOOps for a Reason
1 ounce vodka
3 ounces mango juice
splash of sour mix
Toss a few ice cubes into a rocks glass and add vodka. Top with mango juice and a smidgen of sour mix. You can use soda water instead of vodka for a kid-friendly version of this celebratory orange hued (rather, Hooed) drink.
It is important that it should match the color scheme of the office, and should be a clean look to the office.