Hey, Y’all – Throw Me The Ball

Has everyone reading this heard of the singing group Up With People? When I was little they came and performed at our high school… sang, danced, put on skits. And what I remember most is a choreographed number with a basketball.

They all were wearing bright colored uniforms, throwing a basketball back and forth and singing, “Hey y’all, throw me the ball!” I probably remember it so well because my mom pulled that line out more than once over the years when she wanted someone to pass her a basketball so she could show off her skills. Skills, I might add, that helped take her high school women’s basketball team to the state championships back in the day.

All 5 foot 2 inches of her skills. She was scrappy.

Well, on Saturday I got to watch all 6 feet of her grandson Thomas prove that he inherited some serious basketball skills… without ever leaving my house (obviously). I know he’s six foot tall because the announcer repeatedly said, “Thomas Brophy, the six foot sophomore, is really having a great day off the bench for the Eagles.”

I might have been a little proud.

Thomas was at a three-day basketball tournament in a town not far from here; his last tournament of the season. And wouldn’t you know it, this high school broadcasted the tournament live over the internet. They are a Christian school and I don’t think they have a clue what kind of loving service they did for this auntie who was glued to her computer the entire game.

Glued to the computer, and grateful she wasn’t on Candid Camera. Because here’s the thing: I might get a little into sports. I might be just a little invested when I watch a game… and when it’s a game that my nephew is playing in, I might be just a little ridiculous.

Like screaming at the computer ridiculous. Like clapping and saying, “Let’s go Broph! Hustle!” I’ve never shortened my nephew’s last name and referred to him as “Broph” in my entire life. Put him on a court and at a free throw line, and apparently I do.

And when they made a sign and held it up in front of the camera during a time out that said, “Hi Sara and Riley!” and then added a plug by putting: “www.gitzengirl.blogspot.com” on it for promotional purposes… I may have waved at them and yelled hi even though they couldn’t see or hear me. Maybe.

In case you’re wondering, the Eagles won the tournament. They are conference champions and my nephew tied another player for high scorer in the game.

And I might be just a little proud.