It's Go Time!

I hope you are as excited as I am that this Friday the regular basketball season for the Terps begins! My preparedness ritual is underway and the living room is all black, red, and yellow. Retired jerseys (at least retired for me) have been strung strategically around the living room, along with any and every Maryland Terrapin piece of paraphenalia I have gathered: a large soft-drink cup from the arena; a plush Testudo who, when prompted, sings the Maryland fight song; a UMD garden flag; UMD bumper stickers; bottle-openers that sing the fight song; a plush cow from Chik-Fil-A wearing a UMD sandwich board; a UMD door mat; and a t-shirt signed by Gary and several players from the 2004-2005 season. Hey, when I get more money, I'll get more crap to put up in my area.

Gary Williams (or his entourage) may not want me saying this, but that t-shirt is one of the coolest things I own. My wife, before we were married, bought a UMD basketall t-shirt on the sly and sent it to Gary Williams with a letter stating it was my birthday, and I was the biggest fan ever, and could he sign it and send it back in the prepaid envelope. Not only did he and the rest of the coaching staff sign it, but so did members of the team. How many coaches do you think would do that? I wouldn't think many big-namers would, unless it was for a terminally-ill child. So my affinity for Gary and company has multiple dimensions.

With the UMD football team sucking, and the Redskins sucking even worse, I am SO ready for the start of basketball season! I need a win, darn it! I need a team I can feel good about, one that doesn't make me drown my sorrows every Thursday, Saturday, or Sunday. With Vasquez getting a shout-out from Dickie V, I have high hopes for the team. Of course, I always have high hopes, even in transition years. And I haven't let go of that fact that only six years (not even a decade!) ago, we had a National Championship under our collective belt. But this year is actually very promising. I don't think I've been able to say that with as much gusto in years.

Go Terps!