"A Game at Allen Fieldhouse" - Life in Lawerence KS

I grew up in an age of loyalty. Sports fans loved their players, and the players loved them back. You had your teams, and you were committed to them, through thick and thin. The players shared the same commitment, and stayed on the same team their entire career, giving much needed order & balance to the universe.

By the time we moved to Lawerence, Kansas, I had become pretty disenchanted with professional sports in general. 'Love of the Game' had been replaced by love of the money. The concept of team effort and discipline had become a distant after-thought to self-centered, overgrown egos and bling.

Living in a university town will change your perspective on sports.

There are fewer programs with more history and tradition than Kansas Basketball. Roy Williams was coach when we arrived. He ran a clean program. You never had any recruiting violations, or players having run-ins with the law. Players graduated, many with honors. The town loved their team, and the team loved 'em back by their level of play.

I've attended a number of sporting venues in my life. A day game at Wrigley Field would certainly make my Top Five list, especially whenever Harry Caray would sing "Take Me out to the Ballgame" during the 7th inning stretch.

But the Top Spot would easily go to a KU basketball game at Allen Fieldhouse. Dedicated in 1955, the Fieldhouse was named after Dr. Forrest C. "Phog" Allen, who coached the men's basketball team for nearly 40 years. It's official crowd capacity is 16,300, of which 7,000 is dedicated to insanely screaming college students.

From the singing of the National Anthem, the treasured school alma mater "Crimson & Blue," and the Rock Chalk Jayhawk chant, the crowd begins to warm up. But when it's tip-off time, and the balls in play, grab your ear plugs, cuz' the Fieldhouse ROCKS! The decibel levels rival any heavy metal band on tour.

My first game was against Indiana, and the hopes that Bobby Knight would toss a few chairs. No such luck, but we totally kicked their butts!

We gained a whole new appreciation for collegiate sports back then, and an undying love for KU Basketball!

"ROCK CHALK, JAYHAWK - GO KU!"