I probably could rent a room somewhere at Clinton High, as my husband and I have become fixtures at Clinton High basketball games. If you look at the crowds, half are grandparents like us who climb to the top row of the bleachers (for the back support). You get to know the fans seated around you in the stands after a while. Grandparents are avid supporters of student athletes. As a somewhat stumbly grandparent, I always appreciate the help I get from so many fans when I climb to the top row, over feet, coats, and water bottles. It can be tricky getting up there.

I’ve always known the loyalty of grandparents as they were often called to duty when parents of my junior high students were working. If kids needed transportation, usually it was grandmas to the rescue! It’s great to see the tradition still exists of grandparents’ support.

I’ve loved following basketball for years; we can’t get enough of Hawkeye basketball, either. When I was in grade school our family followed Dennie Cook, my dad’s cousin, who was a Miles Bulldog. We loved going to Dennie’s games in the Miles gym. (Sic’em Bulldogs, Ruff Ruff Ruff). When I got to high school age, I cheered my classmates on. Brenda Kunau, you may remember some of our cheers in the mid-60’s in our blue and white cheer uniforms! Chuckles. We weren’t a winning team back in the day, but the players were gentlemen and had good sportsmanship and overall team spirit. I think…

Watching girls and boys today, here’s what amazes me; maybe some of you agree. If a player is not holding the ball tight, they often have the ball grabbed from their hands; then the fight is on for possession of the ball. Often it’s like a football tackle; two players wrestle then other players jump on the pile. Did the players in the 60’s and 70’s wrangle over the ball like this? Did the players in my high school fight like American and Canadian hockey players? Those of you who played in the Stone Age, let me know.

Today, the refs let them roll around and finally blow a whistle and call a jump ball. They separate them and give one or the other the ball. Boys and girls alike do this tussle. As my husband says, “Basketball has become a very physical sport.” No kidding. Maybe I’m just out of touch?

Saw something last night I’ve never seen at a ball game. Quite a few kids in the home student section must’ve heckled the ref. They were escorted out of the gym. I admit I sympathized with those students since I was muttering under my breath, too. Needless to say, there was a lot of drama to keep us senior citizens entertained last night. My team won, by the way. Always icing on the cake. The last game is Thursday night for the Clinton High teams. I’ll be there, top row!