GAGA, THE SPORTS GEEK

There was never much doubt, but it's official now, Gaga is a sports geek. Several months ago when we learned that the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament was coming to Sacramento, I asked Lou to get us tickets for my birthday. He wasn't too hot on the idea but it is something that I've always wanted to do so he bought the tickets.

Our brand new, state of the art arena, Golden 1 Center, in downtown Sacramento hosted the first & second rounds of what is lovingly called "March Madness". It is a big deal to be chosen as a venue since the tournament brings a lot of visitors & money into the city. By all accounts it was a stunning success for our city & they have put in bids for future NCAA Tournaments.

On Friday there were four basketball games scheduled in two sessions. It was over eight hours of actual basketball plus 30 minutes between games. We left the house at 9:45 AM & returned home at 9:45 PM. On Sunday afternoon the four winners played each other (five more hours) to send two teams to the "Sweet Sixteen" round. What started as 64 teams in 8 different venues is whittled down to 16 after the first week.

I just don't have the time to devote to watching college sports anymore but back in the day, like 30 - 35 years ago, I was a huge college basketball fan. I knew all the teams, the best players, the coaches & could hold my own in a discussion with any man. One year, in the early 80s, I happened to be in Nevada during the first rounds of the tournament. There are 32 games the first two days! Being quite knowledgeable, I sat in the sports bar literally all day making $5 bets & winning the majority of them. All the old men loved the crazy sports lady & the bartender bought me drinks all day!

I don't have an official "Bucket List", but if I did attending an NCAA Basketball Tournament would be on it, especially the "Final Four" which I hope to someday accomplish as well. The funny thing was that those players who I watched 30 years ago are the coaches now!  And their sons are playing the games. It was a lot of fun for me even though it was a real marathon session. Lou was a real trooper since he has never been a college sports fan at all. He only fell asleep a couple of times.

Maybe it's because they intentionally gouge you on prices or maybe it's partly because I'm getting old, but the concession prices are outrageous! The jumbo hotdog was $10 (& it wasn't that big), the Carnitas Nachos were $13 (they were really good) & a 20 ounce bottle of soda or water was $5 (half that at a convenience store). Literally nothing was less than $5 & they didn't sell beer since it was a college event. Lord only knows what that would have cost??!!?

We ate both lunch & dinner at the arena on Friday at a cost of around $60 for not a lot of food. It is difficult to carry food & drinks up the steep stairs of the upper deck plus there are no cup holders, one of my pet peeves. I mean, come on, it is supposed to be state of the art & no cup holders on the upper level??? On Sunday we stopped at Mel's Diner for a late lunch & skipped dinner to avoid the cost & inconvenience. By halftime of the second game, I decided to splurge & buy some Red Vines (red licorice is what we called it) & a bottle of water for $10.

When I was a kid our family went to a local ballpark to watch softball games. Our treat was red licorice at a cost of a penny each. My mother let us buy five for a nickel. Once in awhile if it was a long evening, we could have ten for a dime. I did the math & my red licorice at the tournament cost 33-1/3 cents each. However, it did bring back memories of sporting events past & I enjoyed it immensely.

Years ago I told Lou not to buy me jewelry or expensive gifts for birthdays or Christmas, but take me to a sporting event, concert or on a trip instead. He's done that now for years & for me that is a sign of true love. Most people think I'm crazy for choosing 12 hours of basketball over a diamond - but, hey, that's me! I love it & I'm not apologizing for it.

So, here I sit typing away less than an hour before my 67th birthday, eating the last few of my three for a dollar Red Vines that used to cost one cent each, thinking I've got it pretty good. Plus I get to see the light of my life, Charley Ellen, in just about 36 hours. Happy Birthday to me. Life is good!