Tuesday, March 13, 2007

March Madness ..........
"Oh, my Cats! My Kentucky Wildcats! I love them." - Ashley Judd

It's that time of year!! If you are born in Kentucky, you are born a UK basketball fan........ it's in your blood. I am no exception to the rule, and this is the one time of year that my eyes will be glued to the TV most nights of the week. Our night is Friday, against Villanova.....and we'll go from there......hopefully.

Kentucky basketball and its fanbase is the stuff of legend. Here are some excerpts from Wikipedia's definition of Kentucky basketball :

"UK has some of the most loyal fans in the country. The recent renovation to Rupp Arena has added the E-Rupp-tion Zone, a popular place for students during basketball games......
The University of Kentucky Men's basketball team is considered one of the elite NCAA basketball programs, having earned a total of seven NCAA titles. UK is also the winningest men's college basketball program in the nation. Through the completion of the 2006 NCAA basketball tournament on 04/03/06, the Wildcats have a total of 1926 wins (North Carolina is second with a total of 1883 wins, and Kansas is third with a total of 1873 wins). UK's Rupp Arena has attained legendary status as one of the most difficult venues in the country for opponents to play."

My husband dreads this time of year, as Kentucky hasn't done well in the NCAA tournament for a while. He's probably wondering if we will have a repeat of a night several years ago when Kentucky was playing in the Elite 8. By the time they get that far, you are vested and can see the Championship looming. Well, this game was doomed, and hubby saw it coming. With about 2 minutes left in the game, he excused himself and ran up the street. By the time he got back, my dear Cats had lost and I was in tears...... but my husband knew this would be the scene.... and arrived with flowers and my favorite ice cream in hand.

Yes, folks......... it's that time of year again!!!!!

(sidenote: no, you are not hearing things! that's the ben harper video playing from my previous "wordless wednesday" post. i don't know how to adjust it to where it doesn't come on automatically.)

16 comments:

photowannabe said...

You have one great hubby there. I will becaue of your passion keep an eye on your Wildcats and root for them.

bluemountainmama said...

so sweet, photowannabe....thanks! and yes, i DO have great hubby!

L.L. Barkat said...

enjoy. And I'm not sure whether to wish you more flowers and ice cream or not (will he bring this with a win too?)

kenju said...

Well, I live in Blue Heaven (well, in Raleigh) and we are positively manic about our ACC basketball. I know what you mean about KY fans, though, we have a few around here...LOL

Anna said...

Sorry...I was a Louisville cardinal while in college there and now I am a Tarheel by marriage...it doesn't get more ANTI-WILDCAT than that my friend...

:)

bluemountainmama said...

l.l.- he's never gotten me any when they have won....just as consolation when they lose! :)

anna- yes, louisville is even more a rival b/c patino, traitor that he is, is there. LOL!
and carolina isn't quite as big a rival as Duke. Duke is a dirty word in my household.

kenju- i was definitely the odd man out when i lived in carolina! i would actually root for carolina unless they were playing KY...

kirsten said...

Aw, what a great hubby!

I've never been such a true-blue fan as that. I've had to avoid becoming to any of the teams in this area of the country because they'll do well one year & the following years bring certain heartbreak. I see what it does to the men in my family & I can't bring myself to join in the bedlam.

Good luck to the Wildcats!!

christianne said...

That last part of the story about the flowers and ice cream took me by complete surprise and I loved it! I even read it out loud to my husband because my "Awwww!" at the computer screen piqued his curiosity. We agree that your husband was sweet. What amazing foresight he had! :)

Michelle said...

Since I'm from Indiana I better refrain from commenting. ;) LOL

Anna said...

Thanks for responding. I have no idea what is going on and it is SO frustrating! :(

Lady of the house said...

Amy, I haven't followed any sport closely since the birth of my little one -- even KY basketball. My brothers, uncles, aunts, cousins...... in KY do keep me posted, though. I can't wait til my boy is big enough to enjoy sports. I hope to shoot lots of hoops together and watch a lot of KY basketball!

bluemountainmama said...

Jenny- my son already has "GO Big Blue!" down pat, It IS fun when they can watch with you.

Anonymous said...

Uh-oh. And we were getting along so well! I'm a native Hoosier, which makes us natural born basketball enemies. Sorry, can't root for your Wildcats. It's against my heritage. I'll also be pulling for the VA Tech Hokies, just 30 miles from where I now live.

bluemountainmama said...

neil- a hoosier, huh? i don't think i can be your blogging friend anymore! :)

Lady of the house said...

I'm enjoying this Hoosier thing! My dear husband is not a Kentuckian and just doesn't understand the "animosity". I will have to say, though, that when I'm feeling especially homesick for KY and nostalgic for basketball, I watch the movie Hoosiers! What a great movie!!

carmilevy said...

I love the passion with which college ball is followed in the U.S. It's something I envy, because it's such a cohesive force for the entire community.

I'll be rooting for Kentucky: every time we've driven through, I've wanted to stay longer. Lovely, lovely folks everywhere in the state.