What fun we had listening online to the WRSW broadcast of the Tiger's semi-state victory. We're 5,000 miles away in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, but we clearly remember the thrill of a big basketball game. We've followed the season through the Times-Union's online edition.
It's very difficult to explain the lure of high school basketball to our Bulgarian friends. There are no athletic teams in the high schools here, and very little sense of community spirit for any endeavor. We're looking forward to listening again on the 27th. It will be our sport highlight of the year.
We do have two all-sport stations on our cable service. One is pretty much 24/7 soccer. The other station, all winter long, is devoted to biathlon and ski jumping. Who knew there were enough competitions in those events to show them all day and all night?
Occasionally, we get a break in the Nordic Delight to view other breath-taking events. A couple months ago they broadcast (try to contain your excitement) World Championship FOOSBALL! I am not kidding, and I am not misspelling football. I actually mean foosball with the hand-operated rods and little plastic players. Just last week we were treated to the 2007 International Speed Cup-Stacking Championship. (Apparently, our cable provider could not find any more important sporting events from the last three years.)
We admit that these foosball and cup-stacking contestants were more proficient than any we had ever previously witnessed. But really, who sponsors international foosball and cup-stacking tournaments? And what cable station airs them? Oh, our Bulgarian one does.
We did get to watch some 2010 Winter Olympics. Our new definition for infinite: the number of times Bulgarian TV repeats the same biathlon race. In a rare pause in the ski/shooting events, we enjoyed men's hockey.
During a break between periods, the rink's loudspeaker was blaring "YMCA" and many spectators were on their feet doing the motions. The Bulgarian announcer solemnly explained, "This song is a Hymn To Champions!" How silly of us! We thought it was just a fun song by the Village People. We know we make lots of mistakes in our interpretation of Bulgarian culture - but at least we don't make them in front of a television audience.
Even if we weren't in this American-sports-deprived condition, we would love listening to Tiger basketball. Besides the excitement of the game, the broadcast elicits memories of our days in the stands, of friends and of the wonderful Warsaw community. Thank you, Times-Union and WRSW, for enabling us to keep in touch with the town that was our home for 29 years. And thank you, Gary Gerard, for your weekly commentary. We find it to be thoughtful and well-spoken. What a relief to know that there is at least one editor in America with a non-partisan, common-sense approach.
What a joy to know that Warsaw is still a great place to live. And go, Tigers!
