Sports writers do our fare share of eavesdropping when sitting amongst crowds. We're constantly on the lookout for knew story ideas or insight's into the players on the court that we might not have known about heading into the game. It's how I discovered the the significance of former Atwater basketball player Bryant La Count's name last year. A dad in the crowd was telling the tale to his son while in between quarters. I passed the story along Sports Editor James Burns and he wrote a moving column.
While paying attention to the crowd occasionally elicits gems such as the La Count story, usually all we here is varying degrees of smack being talked. Whether it be by students, family members or just loyal diehards, there's almost always a laugh or two to be had over the course of an evening. And while loyal parents generally produce the most outlandish and -- let's face it -- biased statements, it's grand parents that almost always steal the show.
I had one such grandmother at last week's Golden Valley and Buhach Colony boys basketball game. And she was a pistol, completely dedicated to her grandson -- whom could do no wrong. This is the exact formula that almost always produces memorable quotes. This particular grandma did not disappoint. She let everyone have it, from the referees to opposing coach John Bliss. But it was Golden Valley coach Keith Hunter that drew the bulk of her ire. The floodgates opened when Hunter took out her grandson early in the third quarter. Going into grandma protection mode, she let Hunter have it. It wasn't until embarrassed family members pointed out the the grandchild in question was in major foul trouble -- hence the quick exit -- that the grandmother finally calmed down.
Things were a little tamer the rest of the way, but I have a feeling that this particular grandma will be ready to go when Golden Valley hosts Merced tonight. If you keep your ears open, you just might receive a show within a show.
