- The drums. Swear, I miss the banging. Even if it makes me incapable of hearing anything else I sure miss the drum beats.
- The cheers. Oh, the cheers. Some so darn good I always feel like joining in. My side or not, sometimes I don't care. Unfortunately there are also some so ridiculously-sounding and composed that I have no other choice but roll my eyes and pretend there is nothing to see and hear.
- The cheerleaders. I'm a frustrated cheerleader. I've had opportunities to become one, mind you. Had I known back in freshman year that the dance troupe I was being asked to audition for by my PE teacher is the same group that does the cheerleading, I wouldn't have said no. Then by senior year at my second school, pep squad coach came up to me and asked if I wanted to join the team after an almost perfect I-don't-think-I-can-ever-do-it-again cartwheel I did at the gym. The mat on the floor made me do it, okay. It was there and screaming to be used. I acted on sheer impulse. Too bad her recruitment spiel included a "you don't have to do PE if you join the squad" line. I was on my last term then, woman, there really is no more PE . I just waited for my last term to do that last PE because of scheduling hassles. I graduated a month later. So I miss them cheerleaders. The performances that put a smile on my face or a frown as the case may be, I want to see them live again. Those sprinkled around the venue for ultimate cheer-leading purposes I think I can forgive you now for shouting right at my ear a couple of times.
- The groupies. I hate to admit this but I sort of miss them. They are one of my pet peeves mainly because they take away my concentration. No point listening to them converse with each other as they will only make you be concerned of your own mental health.
- The girlfriends. They can be a source of irritation, along with the groupies, just by being there. And also because they act like you're going to steal their man, er, boy, whatever. I do have high respect though to a few who do not call attention to themselves. Additional points to those who understand everything there is to know about the reason why they are there.
- The alumni. They led me to where and what I am today. They made me question my loyalty and how far I was willing to go. My deepest admiration to certain groups I call the regulars, for being there all the time no matter where the venue is or how small the stakes are. But what I really miss about them is how they behave when things don't go their way. The look on their faces when a supposedly inferior team does what is unthinkable to them, is priceless.
- The schools. There is nothing more satisfying than to check out the competition's home base. They say understanding leads to acceptance, true that. Personally, it's easier to accept a loss if I know what they have at home that we don't. You gotta blame it on something. Better to point at some thing rather than on someone.
- The players. I always wonder if they ever get sick of each other's faces. They live together at the dorms, they train and practice six days a week, they even go to the same class, and then they would hang out during free time. And it's not just among teammates, they even get along with other players from other schools too. The brotherhood amazes me. Another thing about them, I take pride in knowing a player before they hit it big. Not big-superstar-MVP-big but big enough to be recognized anywhere he goes. That's when you catch them at their humblest and most natural. Because sad to say, things would change once people they aren't acquainted with start to approach and ask for photo-ops. And the thing about meeting young players is you know a potential head case when you see one.
- The coaches. Sometimes when I get bored during games I people watch, more like bench watch. Who else would you notice first but the coach. I find them entertaining. How they react to calls and botched plays to how they give or yell instructions amuse me to no end. Coaches from the professional league lack gentleness that is so evident in every college coach. Which makes perfect sense since the coach in the pros is doing his job and the players too are being paid to do their job. A varsity coach on the other hand treats his players as his own children, hence the gentleness. He knows that he can make or break those kids with anything that he asks and tells them to do. It's a big responsibility on the part of the coaches but to help mold young, talented and decent athletes is always a good thing, right?
- The atmosphere. It's different. A lot more exciting and interesting to watch, that's college basketball. It has been over two years since I last went to a live game and although the idea brings painful memories (the reasons I will explain at length in another piece) I still want to be back. I miss the live games. PBA games are fun but college ball is ten times more fun. I can attest to that. Playing for school pride is much more noble a reason than bonuses and contracts. Not that college basketball doesn't offer those but school pride more than anything is what matters most come game time. There's also the simple joy of watching young dreamers realize their dream. It is fulfilling even as a fan to see players you used to watch playing college ball make it to the pros. They made it through and you are one of the firsts to see them play.
So when will I be back to watch? Soon. I hope.
