Walking to the Las Vegas airport to catch a flight, I ran across a few members of the Indiana Pacers. Ironically, we both had basketball on our minds, as they were in Vegas to play the Lakers in the championship of a new-fangled NBA tournament, while I was on my way to Utah to see my granddaughters play.
The only reason our paths crossed is that most of the roads near the airport were shut to transportation because of a shooting at nearby UNLV. I imagine they were on their way to the T-Mobile Arena for practice or maybe back to a hotel.
Besides the million-dollar salaries, the Pacers had a chance to earn another $500,000 individually if they beat the Lakers. Even with a loss, they would take home a hefty cash price, but that is nature of things when you are the best in the world in such a lucrative craft as basketball.
Unlike basketball at its highest form, I was on my way to see a bunch of 10-year-olds in their first game ever after one practice. But home is where your heart is, and my heart wasn't on watching the NBA. It was on seeing loved ones double-dribbling, traveling, throwing air balls up and fortunately, refs at that level let overlook most of it.
So, while the Pacers and Lakers went at it in a sold-out arena and in front of millions on TV, I sat among a sparse crowd in a grade-school gym enjoying myself more than if I was courtside in Vegas.
This upcoming week offers me a happy medium between the two with the Forreston boys tournament. One of the longest-running events in the state at over 60 years, the tourney is a nice blend of NUIC and BNC.
It also may be the most stable holiday tourney in the state with virtually the same teams every year. Once you get into Forreston, you don't give up your seat. Centrally located to most entrants, it's like having a yearly family reunion with so many familiar faces among players, coaches, fans and officials.
Credit to Forreston for being the host with the most for these many decades.
Here's an idea for a coffee table book — a pictorial of iconic Illinois high-school gyms, of which there are many. Most are in downstate, where the sport reigns supreme.
Compare that with suburban cookie-cutter types with comfort, but no character. Another difference between downstate basketball versus elsewhere is that those gyms still have season ticket holders. Season ticket holders for basketball are a dying breed, as the popularity has waned.
Sure, some schools around here offer it, but not like the old days when it was a sought-after ticket, with some families keeping the same seats for generations.
Wherever you are watching your boys and girls basketball tournaments over the holidays, encourage not just your team, but also the officials.
Don't be a crybaby like Patrick Mahomes, who threw his helmet to the ground and went into a tirade about a call in Kansas City's loss to Buffalo. With a minute left, KC scored a potentially winning touchdown, but it was called back for offsides.
Mahomes, who is generally considered a nice guy, went berserk on the sidelines afterwards. It was an ugly scene and set a poor example.
When a star like Mahomes does this, impressionable young people may believe they should model their behavior after him, as well. I wonder if Mahomes realizes the damage he does to officiating at all levels?
Oddly, the call made by the official was correct and there was no reason to have a beef over it. Even it was a blown call, how about extending some grace for the much-maligned refs.
None of us can be 100 percent perfect.
Andy Colbert is a longtime Ogle County resident with years of experience covering sports and more for multiple area publications.
