For the first time in a long time

For one night, I was a fan again.

I've watched sports all my life and for the first 20 years, I lived and died with my teams. Then I worked as a sports reporter where you become inundated with sports. You see the inside of sports and realize how trivial it is. You see the professional athletes as they are; you see and hear parents complain about their children's playing time or not having their name in the paper and want to tell them it's not the end of the world.

I had this revelation a month into my first reporting job working in Reno, Nev. I had just moved there and was away from my girlfriend for a month when 9/11 happened. I realized what sports should be; a diversion from the problems and stress in your life.

I needed a diversion in a bad way. I had just had one of my worst days and a "hangover" day in the office and needed something to make me feel better.

When I arrived at the Anaheim Convention Center Saturday night to watch my alma mater Long Beach State play for the Big West Conference Championship in men's basketball with a berth in the NCAA Tournament on the line, it gave me the drama and excitement I needed.

While waiting for the game to start, both the LBSU band and the Cal Poly band were taking turns. I had a good feeling about this game when I heard the 49er band play The All-American Rejects' song "It Ends Tonight." The song seemed fitting knowing LBSU was favored to win and remembering the lyrics: "I give the final blow/when darkness turns to light/it ends tonight."

Meaning: Goodbye Cal Poly.

But LBSU couldn't find the basket for a while and at one point trailed by 10 in the first half before getting within five at the end of the first half.

By then the old me came out. But this was a different feeling. I was old enough to see the San Francisco 49ers with four Super Bowls and was excited about each of them. This time, I was a part of Long Beach State since I graduated from there. Naturally, I wanted to see them succeed.

The second half was all Long Beach State as they would go on to win by 11, 94-83. I did rush the court and I have never experienced something like that. It was exciting to be with students and alumni celebrating with the players on the court jumping around in unison. I congratulated the players and got several high fives.

It was hot, it was dangerous, but it was electrifying.

Now, I usually don't spend a lot of money on sporting events. I go to Dodger games when the Giants are in town, but sit somewhere safe but at the same time not that expensive. For the championship game I spent $35 for the ticket, another $9 for parking and $15 more for a conference championship shirt. But being on that court after the game was priceless.

But it was fun to walk out of my journalist clothes and enjoy the game as a spectator. I felt like a child again watching my team. But this time it was in person.

Now, if I can only get a ticket to "The Dance."