And The Season Begins

How could I miss it? I can't believe I missed it! Jeff's first game as assistant coach at Case Western Reserve. Done, played, won, and here I am seven hours away from the action.

I've never missed a first game for as long as I have known Jeff. From his playing days, to each season with his role as a coach. In fact, I remember quite vividly the game that started out the 2005-06 basketball season. Jeff was in his third season as assistant coach at Utica College and their tip-off tournament was across town at SUNY Utica. I had made the trip from Syracuse to watch the start of the season. Jeff had made a trip too. Unfortunately it was not to SUNY Utica. He was on the road watching one of his top recruits.

Since Jeff was going to miss his first game of the season, I was there to provide color commentary over the phone. I felt very uncomfortable at first. I was giving Jeff the bare minimum. "Justin made a shot." "Steal by Ray." I had a feeling the people sitting around me were listening. As the game went on and the guys started playing better, I began to put the color into commentary. "Justin passes from the right wing to Doug on the top of key. He fakes, he drives, it's good for two!" The people sitting around me began to enjoy my play by play and I could tell Jeff was too. (Were you?) I guess it was better than the boring minimalist one liners. Utica ended up winning the game, and went on to win many more that year, as they capped off their season with a visit to the Sweet 16. You better believe Jeff didn't miss any of those games.

I made it to Jeff's first games at Union College. The five minute walk over to the gym was not going to hold me back. I was there with bells on. Actually, I was there with a Union sweatshirt on and a camera. I like to capture these moments. Get firsts, middles, and ends on film. I will have to shoot for the middles and ends this season.

Since I knew I could not be there, I was thrilled that the game would be broadcasted over the internet. As my luck would have it, the link didn't work. I had to settle for live stats. It basically updates the score and each players stats as the game plays out. Not the most exciting way to watch, so to say, a basketball game. But, it was better than nothing.

With the Case win tonight, I am still heartbroken to have missed it. I made it to a first game of Jeff's that he didn't even make it to. And, somehow I missed this. At least I showed my support by wearing my Case t-shirt! It was the best I could do on a Monday night, 450 miles away.