Revisting the past... Oklahoma State Basketball

This season of Oklahoma State basketball has been quite depressing... Painfully bad basketball and under performance across the board... Fred Gulley leaving... it can only go up from here, right? O, wait, Reger Dowell is leaving too? Well... crap. That's exactly the thought process I had. It has really reached levels that I didn't think I'd see. Being bad is bearable, but being bad + no hope for the future + a coach locked in for 10 years... well that's definitely not bearable.

So instead of looking at the current situation and wallowing in my misery, I decided to take a look back at the good ole days of oSu basketball and my personal memories in GIA...



1995 - oSu vs. Kansas

First memorable GIA experience. I remember being a young tyke that was excited to go to the game. Byrant Reeves had 33 points and 20 rebounds. I remember it being the loudest experience I've ever had. I couldn't hear my dad talk so we just sat there the whole time engrossed in the game. I don't remember attending any other games previous to my parents buying season tickets when GIA expanded. I know I did attend other games, as my dad tells me stories how I wouldn't even leave my seat to get a snack... I'd send a runner to do it for me. How even in blowouts I refused to leave early and was insulted at the thought that anyone else would want to leave either... This game made me the fanatic I am/was.

Being the young fan, Bryant Reeves was the star I'll never forget. I remember to this day receiving a signed basketball my mom game me for Christmas. That signed basketball is in my office today...




2001 Post plane crash - oSu vs. Missouri

I've never felt more emotion in a building, and not just wanting to win that game... but a the anxiousness of HAVING to win that game. Not just from the players, but the whole crowd. The team did end up beating Missouri, 69-66. That had to win that game, they wouldn't lose that game...


2000 - oSu vs. Cinncinatti
Season opener, high expectations, expanded GIA. This was our second season with basketball tickets. I was super excited, almost giddy. I was with my mom and it was amazing to take in the atmosphere. The season ended up being a bit disappointing(oSu lost in the first round of the NCAA tournament to Kent State), but that game was a W, 69-62.


2004 - oSu vs. Texas - Big 12 Champs!

I was at this game, the tension building the whole time. It was my last game at GIA before becoming a student of the school I'd loved since birth. Then a steal and an ally-oop. This gave us a share of the Big 12 title and we won it outright the next game against Texas A&M. I wanted to rush that floor, but from the top I didn't have a way down... but I eventually did get to rush the floor...

2007 - 3OT win vs. Texas & Kevin Durant

This will probably go down in the books as the craziest game I've ever been to, and I don't know that it'll ever be topped. From Byron Eaton's crazy shot to the performances from KD and Mario Boggan... This was my most memorable court rush moment... We saw KD at his best, but oSu brought their best and was able to outlast the Longhorns finally in the 3rd OT. This was Mario Boggins signature moment, who would have ever guessed his meltdown that lead to the falling apart of this team...

2010 - Beating #1 Kansas
Sadly this is one of the only recent signature moments. GIA has lost it's luster with the failings of Sean Sutton and Travis Ford. But on this day, GIA felt a little bit like the old GIA. Got to rush the court in this one too, but no longer being a student meant I got to enjoy seeing my brother and his friends in one of their student moments...

None GIA memorable moment - beating St Joes
I remember standing in front of the TV, seeing the guy miss that shot and then running around the house... This excitement was only capped when later that evening I learned we'd lucked into some tickets to go to the Final Four!



There are so many more, but I've already spent too much time looking back... And while I watched highlights from the glory days, something I thought would be uplifting turned sour. The anger and sadness I had about the current state of basketball being played at GIA is overwhelming... To see the past only reminds how great we had it... And then a thought crosses my mind... why am I paying for this? Something I never thought I'd hear myself say. I'm paying $815 for 17 games(only 10 being watchable), spending countless hours planning and executing the plan... when I could pay $815 for 30+ games, better seats and see one of the best teams in the NBA. A team I've grown to love and be passionate about. A passion that almost matches the passion I had during the oSu heyday... ALMOST. Then I think, maybe I'll keep my oSu tickets... not to watch the games, but to get me POSSE points for football priority... wait, did that really just happen??

So... if you don't see me at oSu basketball games anymore, know that it's not because I lost my passion. Know that's it's not because I'm any less of a fan... it's just I've lost the hope... and when you lose hope in a situation, sometimes a financial assessment is made...