barhopping

That's what I did tonight.

I barhopped.

Alone.

My Racers were scheduled to be on ESPN3 and I wanted to watch them extend their historic record to 21-0, remaining the only unbeaten team in men's college basketball.

So I called and found a bar/grill that said they had ESPN3.

Friends couldn't go, but I decided to go anyway. I've never been to a bar alone so figured I'd expand my single horizons, plus I really wanted to watch the game and drink a drink after work.

I asked for a table near a TV, sat down, ordered a drink and food, and asked for the channel to be changed.

No can-do.

It's an internet only channel, I was told. I asked her to double check, she did, I paid for my drink, which I didn't finish and left.

On my way home I decided to call another sports bar to see if the game was playing. Not only did she assure me they had ESPN3, but I was informed the game was playing RIGHT THEN.

I got very excited as I turned around and headed to Bar #2. The game was well into the first half at this point, so I pointedly asked for a table by a TV and was ushered back to one.

I ordered a drink and food and waited for the channel to be changed.

Next thing I know, my drink arrives and so does the manager.

Game's not on; it's an internet only channel.

Admittedly, I cursed under my breath and was a little pissed off while I drove away. I resolved to drive home and watch the game online in my bed, which is not what I wanted to do. What I wanted to do was to be in public for five minutes, and in a public place that did not revolve around my newsroom, a grocery store or gas station.

Thankfully a friend rescued me and I spontaneously met her and her husband, another friend and her date for dinner.

I'm thankful for friends.

And I'm thankful for a Racer win even though I couldn't watch or listen.

How much does God love sports?

If you're of the mind that God loves the Broncos and that's why they kept winning in unlikely scenarios, then I could probably convince you that Murray, Ky. is heaven, the Murray State Racers are angels and Coach Steve Prohm is god.

It's either that or on the scale of God Loves Sports, the Racers rank high. Really high, because we keep winning.

As a matter of fact, if you haven't heard, the Racers are the only undefeated team left in men's college basketball IN THE NATION, and to prove my allegiance to my alma mater, my Facebook profile picture has been changed to a large yellow M with a racing horse.

We are Racers.

It's really great.

When I transferred to Murray State University from a community college, I wasn't trying to pick a university with a reputable mid-major basketball team. In fact, I was invited to my first basketball game because I had nothing better to do, and I had no idea really what was going on on the court.

But I was hooked.

Hooked on the atmosphere, hooked on the team camaraderie, hooked on the energy and competitive thrill of winning. We were winners then too.

Since that first game, I barely missed a home game and traveled to away ones. I learned the game and then introduced my non-sports friends to it. I took my younger siblings and later, the kids I nannied. I ran the concession stands once and argued with an aisle worker during a tournament game. Later, I would graduate for the second time on the court's floor.

The Racers have been featured on ESPNU a couple times this season and I find myself scanning the home crowd for people I know, and reveling in the feeling of being home as the cameras pan over the familiar banners, the Racer Band, the student section, the Racer bench and the section that belongs to friends.

I'm loving this trip the Racers are on and I'm proud to support my team.

I don't think God loves the Racers more than He does anyone else.
All I'm sayin' is that if there were favorites, we'd probably rank high. Really high.