It’s that time of year – March Madness is officially upon us. And of course, I am blindly supporting my boys from CNY, the Syracuse Orangemen.
Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t go to Syracuse University. Instead I’m a townie, which is the worst sort of Syracuse fan. I was in seventh grade when Keith Smart hit the jumper from the corner for Indiana, and I still hate Bobby Knight. I was a senior in college when the ‘Cuse was in the house against Kentucky, but again they crapped the proverbial bed.
So now I’m just a bitter, boisterous basketball fan. I seemed to kick it up a notch as of late because once you’re out of your hometown you tend to become much more rabid a fan. That’s why I was psyched when I scored tickets on Sunday to ‘Cuse vs. St. John’s at Madison Square Garden.
Let me start off by thanking my friend Damien for the tickets, because without him this story would be impossible. He hooked me up with two tickets, and instead of inviting the normal, faithful Orange horde that I usually watch games with, I decided to invite the girlfriend to her first Division I college basketball experience. There was a downside to this game, however. Unfortunately those inconsiderate knuckleheads from the Big East decided to schedule to game for 12 noon on the day after Hoboken’s St. Patrick’s Day (which probably explains why Damien parted with the tickets so willingly!!!). Needless to say, I was a hurting unit that morning when I rolled out of bed at 10:30.
Through the foggy daze of an excruciating fatigue/hangover combo, we managed to make it to our seats just after tip-off. On our way in, we picked up the provisions: two hot dogs, a plate of nachos, and a Sprite (all for me), a box of Cracker Jacks and a Coke (for her). After wolfing down my $22 breakfast of champions, I was ready to get into the game.
It was pretty much back and forth throughout with numerous lead changes and never a double-digit lead; just a heated, well-played basketball game. Jarvis and Boeheim both got technical fouls. Plus the crowd was really into it, and I soon learned that I wasn’t the only obnoxious Syracuse fan in the metro area. When I heard the “LET’S GO ORANGE” chant going, it almost felt like we were at the Carrier Dome. At the end of regulation it was tied 68-68.
I’d never been to an overtime basketball game, so I was pretty excited – but I also felt like I got hit in the head with a machete between the excitement of the day and the fatigue from the day before. Somehow I mustered the strength to stay into it until the end of overtime, when the score was 76-76.
DOUBLE-OVERTIME?!?!?!?! I didn’t know if I could take that. But of course we persevered, and watched Syracuse finally squeak out the 93-91 victory. I was completely exhausted, though I’m sure Allen Griffin was pretty tired too, with his 31 points on the afternoon.
As we left the Garden, the snow had just begun to fall. It was Syracuse weather, BABY!!! Hopefully our recent snowfall will make the ‘Cuse feel at home when they’re back in the Garden for this weekend’s Big East Championship Tournament. I’ll make sure to stock up on the Advil.
If you know how I can effectively waste $50 in the metro area, please write to:
“Hal Wastes His Wages”
c/o The Hudson Current
1400 Washington Street
Hoboken, New Jersey 07030
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Current@hudsonreporter.com