A little background.
Of all the things I miss about home, I found myself pleasantly surprised that I genuinely missed going to the girls basketball games. I'm sure the fact that they systematically dominated almost every team that came to Frost Arena had something to do with it; nonetheless, part of me wished I could have been in Brookings for the WNIT extravaganza.
After getting up at 2 a.m. Sweden time to see the Jacks make waste of the Hoosiers, I was happy to see the next game against Wyoming fell earlier in the day—10 p.m. here in Sweden.
I also realized I needed to recruit some fans to watch the game with me—enter Patrick from Germany and Zak from Australia.
The night starts off with a band as I realize I need to PAY WYOMING TO WATCH THE GAME. Classy Cowboys, classy.
$8 later, we three intercontinental fans crowd around a feed not worth $8, but still better than the radio. This, however, was before the commentators began calling the game.
Watching the game with two people that don't go to SDSU presents a few challenges, like getting two guys fired up about a place that they didn't know existed a few months ago. Luckily, these guys were great sports.
Patrick: Why does your shirt say, “Give me more cowbell baby?”
Me: Oh, they used to call us “Moo U” and would ring cowbells at us, so we took the negative and turned it into a trademark positive.
.
Patrick: Moo U? Hahahahaha
Me: Easy, Patrick.
Patrick: I'm sorry, but that's funny. (Throughout the night a few sporadic “moo u, haha” comments from a wildly amused Patrick.)
An added curveball though, was that Patrick had never actually seen a basketball game before this.
Patrick: What are they wearing?
Me: Those are basketball uniforms, pretty standard.
Patrick: Really? I've seen beach volleyball. They should wear something more like that.
Me: Hahahaha
The Wyoming "Cowgirls" are introduced and each throw a T-shirt into the stands. Um, cute?
The game progresses, a low scoring, defensive battle with the Jackrabbits looking sharp. After a few buckets are exchanged Zak notices the scoreboard ISN'T ON THE SCREEN. What exactly did my $8 go to? The T-shirts thrown in the stands?
Not to harp on the Wyoming commentators (OK, that's exactly what I'm about to do) but seriously, did two parents win the "announce a game" sweepstakes? First of all, I could have sworn they sat there with a book of sports clichés: "She was not to be denied," "She's the real deal."
I could have handled this if the announcers hadn't referred to the Wyoming girls by their first names. Nothing takes the edge off of a basketball game like hearing, "I thought a foul should have been called on Vogel after she stole the ball from Stacy, but luckily Tiffany was there to get the rebound." And: "After a miss by Amber, Courtney really hustled to keep it in bounds." Zak asked me in all seriousness if #12 was the daughter of the announcers. I couldn't give him a straight answer.
ANYWAY, the game continues and Patrick's comments from a first timer, especially in his German accent, provides an overflow of entertainment.
"Oh no! We're wearing SDSU t-shirts and SDSU is losing!"
So Patrick stands up and starts clapping. Clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap “DEUTSCHLAND!”
Hey, it's the thought that counts.
We stand with him, as the game is getting tighter (as we see in a separate window, since the scoreboard is still not on the screen)
During a time-out Patrick asks, "Who is this guy? Is he with your university? I hope not." That would be the Wyoming mascot, a guy dressed up like a cowboy.
Patrick: Oh, right.
Something else from a completely biased opinion: how about the officiating in the first half? Apparently when someone from South Dakota sneezes on a Cowgirl, it's a foul . . . . . Moving on.
Patrick: Who are those guys? The coolest kids in America?
Me: That's the pep band.
Zak: Weren't you in the pep band in high school?
Patrick: Hahahah
Patrick: By the way, Germany beat Czech Republic today in the European cup qualifying round!
Way to one-up the SDSU-Wyoming game. Come on now.
The game reaches half time with SDSU down by a few shots. We eat some chips and I do my best to explain a little SDSU tradition.
The second half begins with Zak making the excellent point that I had to pay $8 for the game, yet there are ads every few seconds. Hmmm, I think it's time to start the Dir-ty Pro-gram chant.
Patrick: Wait, who are those guys?
Me: Male cheerleaders.
Patrick: Seriously? (followed by a look questioning everything he ever learned about America)
The game continues with the Cowgirls pulling away a little bit. I'm trying to hide my obvious frustration when Zak cracks, “Is there anyone from Wyoming in Sweden we could hang out with?”
Me: NOW IS NOT THE TIME!
Zak's a good friend though, and gets right back on the SDSU side and gets legitimately excited when they start to rally.
We begin to bust out the Spirit Fingers, which my worldwide friends find ridiculous, but partake in anyway. Zak decides to do the "Anti-Spirit Fingers" and puts his feet in the air, rubbing them together while Wyoming is shooting free throws. AND IT WORKS.
Patrick: Aaron, you need more cowbell.
Me: I don't have on one me.
Patrick: They have cowbells in Bavaria.
State hits a 3 and high fives fill the room. Zak is referring to Megan Vogel in casual conversation as if he's known her for years. "Man, if the refs would quit calling random fouls on Vogel she could really take over."
Camera pans over crowd.
Patrick: So this is America?
Zak: Um...are they lassoing?
Patrick: Wow.
Zak's suggestion: If they keep calling fouls on Vogel she should earn one and just punch someone in the face.
Haha, fair enough.
Muckenhurst hits a 3.
Zak: Her name alone deserves three points. Veridgan does a good job of running the point.
Patrick: The what?
The game ultimately ends in the favor of the opponent, though the Jackrabbits held their own against 11,000 rabid fans.
Patrick: You'll get them next time.
Though it was a few weeks ago, I just thought I'd say nice job, Jackrabbits. The whole world is proud.
