Growing up in southern Minnesota I spent many March days listening to high school basketball tournaments with my dad. Â He was a sports fan with the Minnesota Twins being his all time favorite team but more than baseball, high school basketball tournaments were his passion.
Back then there wasn’t internet and tournament brackets weren’t a click away. Â He’d always buy a Minneapolis Star and Tribune the week before the games were scheduled. Â There would be the brackets along with run downs of the teams. Â He’d get out the big state map and show me where the teams were from telling me that this team was near the border, this team wasn’t far from us and this team was from the Iron Range. Â I loved this time of year. Â It likely ranks as favorite moments I’ve spent with my dad.
We would listen to the tournaments…first the girls and then the boys. Â I happily remember Janet Karvonen. Â I aspired to be here..but I didn’t have the perfect jump shot that she had. Â I happily remember Kevin McHale. Â He played in the tournaments..went on to play for the Minnesota gophers and then onto the Celtics. Â We listened to all of his games that were radio broadcast while we milked cows in the barn…but before he was really big time, it was those state basketball tournaments that lead us to know of him.
This year our little school made it to state tournaments….I find myself watching them as they continue on their way.
Monday they made it past the quarter round finals.
Thursday they play again.
It’s been fun to watch. Â One of the gals playing is an aunt to one of my childcare families. Â One of the girls playing was in my childcare a long time ago. Â She was a smart determined girl at four and she’s carried that right with her.
I’m lucky. Â I can watch on the internet…the brackets are just a mouse click away.
Sadly something is missing though….I miss my dad and the maps and background history of the little towns he always knew. Â I miss his excitement and enthusiasm. Â My dad even watched and got the information of all the teams that fell into the loosing brackets. Â He just loved this time of year.
For now…I’m watching the games and remembering my time with him. Â I’ll tune the game in on Thursday…and with any luck, they’ll win and play on Friday too!!
Go Turkey Valley!!
Daddies are special. Mine has been gone for two years and I continue to miss the little life lessons he shared without really my knowing that he was teaching me.
My grand-daughter is playing in the Nebraska state tournament tomorrow morning at 9. They’ve played their opponent twice before in state tournaments and won so I hope their luck holds.
My dad was a coach as well as a teacher and he knew all the kids (in every class) that were superb wrestlers. In much the same way, he showed me some of the tiny towns that these young men hailed from and could often tell me about siblings or cousins who were also good in the sport. He coached a few state champions, too. Fun memories, thanks.
Basketball was a big thing when I was growing up In ND. One year when I was a sophomore our boy’s team made it to state also. It was a VERY big deal for a small town. We know live in WA don’t follow basketball here. I kind of miss it sometimes.
We are your opponents today at IA State Girls basketball! I work at Notre Dame Schools in Burlington, and our Nikes will be playing Turkey Valley this morning. I always wondered where Turkey Valley was located, and your blog entry answered my question, May all the girls have safe travels to and from the game and play their best without injuries.
YES>>This is so cool!! Good Luck to you. Let’s hope all the girls play their best and mostly no injuries!!
I have a dad like that too