The Old Gasser in Section 123

My hesitation to post immediately after the Cecil B. DeMille’s “cast of thousands” closing of Freedom Hall was rooted in disbelief. Disbelief of what had just happened. Disbelief in how it affected me. Disbelief that my dad was not there to share in his one great passion, Cardinal basketball.

You see my dad was a hell of a man. Loved his family and maybe a little more so of his only son. That would be me. We didn’t have much money but somehow he managed to take me to UofL games and a few times to see the KY Colonels. I later found out he occasionally got Colonels tickets with a fill up of gas at Peoples on Southside Drive.

My dad passed but the link to the Cards was forever stamped. Later in life I was a freelance photographer and had the good fortune to shoot many of the epic battles with Memphis and Cincinnati. Then after 20 years as a season ticket holder my career sadly moved me from the Ville.

So on Friday night I boarded a flight for Louisville while triple checking to see that I had my ticket. Memories of past games flew through my head as quickly as the passing clouds below. I thought it was only fitting that the sun was setting as the plane glided over Freedom Hall.

Smiles and stories filled the hallway as I made my way to my seat, which was in the nether world of the student section. I’m sure the students were wondering what this old gasser was doing there.

What happened after that was transformational. Jerry’s first basket sent me and my ten new best friends into a synchronized hugging, jumping screaming herd of humanity. I instantly became the resident expert on “old stuff” and patiently explained why Beat Purdue was funny. From the onset until the final buzzer there were no deadlines looming, no politics, no generational divide, only a group of strangers, a historic domicile and a psychotic basketball team that had unknowingly through some cathartic exorcism changed me.

Now days later I still feel the euphoria. I have a brighter view of life. Disbelief has given way to the knowledge that my dad gave me a great gift­– Cardinal basketball. So to the students in section 123, past and present cardinal greats and fellow CCer’s, thanks for the ride. And know this, Saturday was much more than a basketball game it was a life changer.