" Early Spring Hoops Crazy Almost Here!" - Time Out #129

What's in a name, pray tell?

In this case, everything.

MARCH MADNESS.

Yes, dear folks of Our Town and far beyond, in 2 shakes of a puppy dog's tail, it will be upon us once again.

Oh, my, all the coffee shop talk, office water cooler chatter, wager brackets, both legal and not, will all be at maximum strength when the first game basketball goes in the air REAL soon, fans!

Whether or not our local Cowboys will be chosen is unknown at this time, but they have certainly provided the Brightest Orange Nation some absolute thrills during his first head coaching season for our young Mike Boynton.

Let's just briefly discuss 2 of these thrilling events thus far:

#1) Jan. 20 (Saturday)-OSU 83, OU 81, overtime, in Gallagher/Iba Arena, Stillwater

Oh, my goodness, what a definition of a Bedlam game! Back and forth many times like a classic heavyweight champion boxing match. Several times near the end of regulation time, it looked like our Cowboys were going to lose it, only to see our inspired players grab victory from the jaws of defeat. Even Sooner Super Freshman, point guard, Trea Young, the absolute rage of the college basketball world this winter, couldn't grab the beloved "W" for his Crimson and Cream team. Our favorites were rewarded with the OSU student body storming the historic maple of Eddie Sutton court once the final horn sounded.

#2) Feb. 3 (Saturday)-OSU 84, KU 79 in the 271st consecutive sell-out at Allen Fieldhouse, Lawrence, KS, in front of 16,300 screaming "Phog" Jayhawk crazies

Talk about almost Mission Impossible for our fellows. Notice I said "almost", because, except for 0-3 lead for Kansas quickly after the opening tip-off, Coach Boynton's brigade led the powerful host 'Hawks wire-to-wire. We won in an environment where almost every visiting team becomes a victim on the short end of the scoreboard. As my bride, Debbie, and I watched the action from start to finish on our "mid-court" television set in our home, my basketball mind went crazy to remember our glorious hoops past. .

At first my brain went back to the early 1950's when my father, Col. C.H. Breedlove, would take me to old Gallagher Hall. Once inside, we would watch the then Oklahoma A&M Aggies and our legendary coach, Henry P. Iba, practice, as we sat on the court-side wooden bleachers. My father and Mr. Iba were very close friends, and they would visit when coach wasn't instructing his players. I, however, always secured a spare basketball, shooting it at the end goals which were out-of-bounds. For year after year, I watched our team play in that historic gym, and watched head coaches Aubrey, Strong, Killingsworth, Hansen, and Hamilton follow our famous Iron Duke (Mr. Iba) after he retired in 1970. Mr. Iba had been our head man for 36 years!

Then came along veteran coach Eddie Sutton. Our faithful knew this former Buckland, KS, high schooler and later OSU sharpshooter, who returned "home" after 32 years in 1990 to become our head guy. Heck, I even watched him from those same wooden bleachers at mid-court in 1958 when he scored 18 points to help beat Kansas and Wilt "The Stilt" Chamberlain, 56-54. It was the greatest sporting event I have ever witnessed in person as Wilt's team had been touted by everyone as totally unbeatable; everyone except for Mr. Iba's team that wonderful night over 60 years ago.

Talk about glory, Coach Eddie guided us to the mecca of college hoops in 1995 (Seattle) and 2004 (San Antonio), as we made it to the Final Four twice. My bride and I were in attendance in both locations, soaking up all the incredible excitement surrounding this yearly spectacle.It was truly awesome both times!

It's always been my opinion, basketball players are the world's best pure, all-around athletes. For 30 seasons, I officiated basketball, and it was always a joy for me to step on the court in my striped shirt, and run up and down the court, officiating this marvelous game. I really felt like I was still playing this special game each time I stepped on the court as an official.

Thank you, James Naismith, for coming up with this wintertime game long, long ago to help keep football players in shape during their off-season.

Oh..........and good luck with your March Madness brackets, all those participants in Our Town and beyond!