Mother Talkers

Rock Chalk, Jayhawk!

by happy clam

Mon Apr 07, 2008 at 01:33:16 PM PDT

We live in a college town and it is a great place to be raising our family. The university makes our small town have a multicultural feel that I love. In addition, we have the museums, science and arts ususally found in larger metros.

This time of year, however, it is all about March Madness in my hometown.  In my house, it is all about bonding over "our" team, the University of Kansas Jayhawks.  We watch the games as a family and I suspect it will be one of the things our kids remember fondly about growing up.  My son is a trivia king when it comes to his team and he can cite you chapter and verse about scores, final seconds and the players.

I never imagined that it would be this way.  

You see, I'm from a family of all girls.  My dad was not into sports and we never watched them on tv. The first time I really followed a team was when I was in college and attended games for the first time. After that I followed along, knowing at least something about the team each season.

I don't think I really got into it until my son was 2 years old.  That winter he watched with my DH and learned all the names of the players and their numbers.  He was so excited that he took shots on his little nerf hoop at half time every game.  He was hooked, and seeing his happiness- I got hooked too. I've learned that there are a lot of life lessons in basketball.  Winners, losers, good sports, bad calls. It is all in there.  For us basketball contains some of those really good teachable moments- all wrapped up in popcorn, cheering and a mythical bird with a big yellow beak.

It's going to be an exciting night of family bonding at our house tonight. We'll be nervous, we'll be happy, we'll be holding our breath...we'll be proud of "our" team no matter what.

Do you watch sports as a family? Will you be watching the game?

Tags: basketball, parenting (all tags)

Permalink | 32 comments

  • Sigh (0 / 0)

    I'm sighing as a Tarheel fan.  Congratulations to your Jayhawks.  That was a painful game to watch.

    Yes, we sometimes watch games together, although the very disinterested 4 year old sometimes makes it difficult.  My 7 year old and my husband both enjoy it.

    The 7 year old has a Little League game tonight though so I don't think we'll be watching tonight.

    Katherine

    by pat of butter in a sea of grits on Mon Apr 07, 2008 at 01:50:50 PM PDT

    • sorry about that (0 / 0)

      We would feel the same way if the results had been reversed.  However, you have our second favorite coach! He's a class act.

      by happy clam on Mon Apr 07, 2008 at 02:10:09 PM PDT

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      • another tarheel fan (0 / 0)

        I was never much on sports - coming from Texas, where football is a religion, where people play their college 'fight song' at funerals - well, it left me cold.

        Living a decade in Boston when the Celtics were really good and now in Chapel Hill for a decade of mostly great basketball, I must say I like cheering the home team. I have 'connections" who are trying to arrange for my son to meet Tyler Hansbrough, and this will be a peak experience for him if I manage it.

        I hate we lost, but Kansas was one fierce team. Good luck tonight.

        by chun yang on Mon Apr 07, 2008 at 03:41:36 PM PDT

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      • Congratulations! (0 / 0)

        I didn't see it but read about it in the paper.  It sounds like it was an awesome game!!

        Katherine

        by pat of butter in a sea of grits on Tue Apr 08, 2008 at 09:06:14 AM PDT

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    • Yeah, me too (0 / 0)

      That was an awful game.  It looked like Roy's Boys had never picked up a ball before.  That, after my 'Canes being eliminated from hockey playoffs, led to a pretty stinky sports weekend.

      by NCMom on Mon Apr 07, 2008 at 05:35:12 PM PDT

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  • I'm not into sports at all. (0 / 0)

    Cannot make myself be.  I.just.don't.care.  My husband, however, is a huge Ohio State fan.  He also likes the professional Detroit teams...especially the Redwings and the Tigers.  This has spilled over to our sons...our daughters, not so much.  

    by tjb22 on Mon Apr 07, 2008 at 01:53:48 PM PDT

  • Ah, sports... (0 / 0)

    In my family growing up, the only thing we ever really watched was college football - my parents went to Michigan State (so of course as an adolescent I loved to goad them by always rooting for U of Michigan).  My sister and I were not into sports at all ourselves - we did ballet and drama and band.  Now, with my 2 boys I am experiencing major culture shock.  I think I could handle watching football or basketball, but the thing that they are into, heart and soul?

    NASCAR.  Grown men driving in circles, burning up fossil fuels for no purpose, and this whole culture I just do not get.  They know all the cars, the drivers, watch races every weekend.  I sit with them and halfway watch to be supportive but also read a book, looking up occasionally to verify that they are still, in fact, driving in circles.

    by hazel on Mon Apr 07, 2008 at 02:05:43 PM PDT

    • My husband will occasionally turn (0 / 0)

      on NASCAR...and that's always my comment...gee, cars going round and round in circles.  Fun stuff.

      by tjb22 on Mon Apr 07, 2008 at 02:07:05 PM PDT

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    • I loathe and detest all motor sports (0 / 0)

      come the revolution, they're going to the wall. Thank the gods, DH can't stand them either.

      by Rachel on Mon Apr 07, 2008 at 06:35:15 PM PDT

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    • I just don't get (0 / 0)

      NASCAR. I mean, I get that it must be an adrenaline rush to drive like that but watching it is so boring to me.

      by Lisa in Austin on Mon Apr 07, 2008 at 06:50:03 PM PDT

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    • My BF hates NASCAR (0 / 0)

      ... but just loves Formula One.  All I can say is at least they don't drive in circles.  And there is SCENERY in the races.  LOL

      by Shell on Mon Apr 07, 2008 at 07:13:08 PM PDT

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      • I like Formula One, too (0 / 0)

        DH actually participates in motor sports, namely autocross, but also a once a year charity event that includes a drag race.  I NEVER thought I would like motorsports, but now I really enjoy them despite myself!  (Only things like F1, champ cars, autocross, etc.  None of the NASCAR type stuff.) When it comes to going to races or watching some F1 or Top Gear, I look at it as an exercise in compromise and togetherness, after all, he'll come stand on the sidelines when I run a race, which can't be all that exciting.

        In a couple of years DS will be old enough to run in karts, and I'm looking forward to doing that as a family.  His having autocross experience will be a definite plus when he goes to ... gulp ... get a drivers license!  

        by Inky on Tue Apr 08, 2008 at 05:58:27 AM PDT

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        • Right! (0 / 0)

          "I look at it as an exercise in compromise and togetherness,"

          ***************

          Exactly right.  I just couldn't have abided NASCAR!  But Formula One is DO-able.  (And its competitors from all around the world make it interesting, too.)

          by Shell on Tue Apr 08, 2008 at 11:13:05 AM PDT

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    • ROTFLMAO (0 / 0)

      but also read a book, looking up occasionally to verify that they are still, in fact, driving in circles.

      Exactly the way I feel about it.

      by lyn on Mon Apr 07, 2008 at 07:29:25 PM PDT

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  • hahah (0 / 0)

    typically i would not care.

    but i am from memphis, so you bet i will be watching!

    :)

    We cannot defend freedom abroad by deserting it at home. - E.R. Murrow

    by lorin on Mon Apr 07, 2008 at 03:22:48 PM PDT

  • jayhawks blog! (0 / 0)

    Allow me to pimp Rock Chalk Talk, part of the illustrious SportsBlogs network run by my hubby and Elisa's. Hope you like it!

    I know absolutely NOTHING about most sports except baseball, but I remember my husband debating the Rock Chalk Talk name and vaguely wondering...what the hell is he talking about? Now I know!

    by Erika on Mon Apr 07, 2008 at 03:43:00 PM PDT

    • Yeah, it is weird... (0 / 0)

      The "Rock Chalk" chant dates to 1866, when it was adopted by the University Science Club. At first, the cheer was "Rah, Rah, Jayhawk, KU" repeated three times. Later, an English professor suggested "Rock Chalk," in place of "Rah, Rah" because it rhymed with Jayhawk and because it was symbolic of the limestone, also known as chalk rock, that is on campus.

      by happy clam on Mon Apr 07, 2008 at 04:07:36 PM PDT

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  • We are college football fans (0 / 0)

    its a mixed marriage actually, I am Catholic and he is a Gator. We go to my church on Sunday and his church on Saturday!

    He's gotten me hooked and now we are indoctrinating Darling Girl. Ask her "Whose your favorite player?" and she shouts, "T-bone!" (for Tebow)

    by Suzanne77 on Mon Apr 07, 2008 at 03:54:11 PM PDT

  • We watched (0 / 0)

    every Sunday, the Dallas Cowboys. In fact, when I went away to college, I would call home on Sundays during halftime. This was the era of Tom Landry, Roger Staubach, the golden era of the Cowboys. Once the team was sold and Landry retired, players left and my interest did, too.

    We don't watch sports like crazy around here....some people spend all day Saturday and Sunday watching football. We watch UT football, my DH likes to watch UT basketball and March Madness, but our main sport to watch together is tennis.

    DH will watch tonight.

    by Lisa in Austin on Mon Apr 07, 2008 at 05:40:58 PM PDT

  • I LOVE the Jayhawks! (0 / 0)

    And Lawrence, Kansas.  I went to Oklahoma U. and my friend went to U. of Kansas.  We had many happy times there, when I came to visit.  (I even saw the Alice Cooper concert there.  Does THAT date me, or what?)

    I was never into college basketball much.  Living in Norman, OK, it was football football football.

    by Shell on Mon Apr 07, 2008 at 07:19:36 PM PDT

  • In Kentucky basketball is the state religion (0 / 0)

    and that's college ball. And I know we've had a lot of bad press lately...and not such great successes for a while...but we'll be back!

    "We've GOT to make noises in greater amounts! So, open your mouth, lad! For every voice counts!"

    by progressiveinky on Mon Apr 07, 2008 at 07:24:37 PM PDT

  • wow (0 / 0)

    awesome game, congrats Kansas!

    We cannot defend freedom abroad by deserting it at home. - E.R. Murrow

    by lorin on Mon Apr 07, 2008 at 09:06:49 PM PDT

  • DH and I are Mizzou alums (0 / 0)

    suffice to say, the atmosphere in our house this morning is glum.

    by Laura on Tue Apr 08, 2008 at 04:33:52 AM PDT

    • I'm not sure what they put on the KU/MU diplomas (0 / 0)

      But it seems to make alumni physically unable to cheer for the other team in any circumstance. Since DH and I are both KU grads, I understand.

      by happy clam on Tue Apr 08, 2008 at 08:54:57 AM PDT

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    • i have mizzou ties (0 / 0)

      My husband's late dad was a journalism professor there for many years. He died too young in the 1990s from lupus,but would have gagged at the state of a lot of political journalism now. My husband grew up in Columbia, Missouri from the age of about 4.

      by chun yang on Tue Apr 08, 2008 at 04:34:36 PM PDT

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  • Oh my- overtime on a school night (0 / 0)

    It was crazy, amazing, nerve-wracking, Jayhawk Joy!

    by happy clam on Tue Apr 08, 2008 at 05:27:53 AM PDT

  • KU--husband's alma mater (0 / 0)

    We lived in Kansas City for 5 1/2 years.  Hubby went to KU med center grad school and I went to UMKC law school.

    We are not huge sports fans but we watched last night so hubby could cheer on the jayhawks!  An amazing game.

    I felt bad for Memphis though since I never went to KU.

    by janetle on Tue Apr 08, 2008 at 08:35:03 AM PDT

  • Go Buckeyes! (0 / 0)

    DH and I are OSU Buckeye fans (football mostly) and when I was pregnant with DS, DH visited his sister in Columbus and came home with a Buckeye onesie. I knit the little dude a Buckeye hat for his January arrival. DH is always on the lookout for all things scarlet and grey for him. Last fall we worked with DS on saying Touchdown. And he did it. Football Saturdays were something special that he and Daddy shared. Now, he gets sooo excited about football. Loves his "football Jersey". He went through a phase one week where all he wanted to wear was his Jeresy. I washed it countless times.

    DS is only 2 and he already loves the Buckeyes. Ok, he loved them b/c Daddy loves them. We already have a new baby hat for BabyPear packed in my hospital bag. :) What can I say but. We're total dorks about it.

    Jen in NJ

    by littlepear on Tue Apr 08, 2008 at 11:23:02 AM PDT

Permalink | 32 comments