Arizona State, Section 22, Here I Come
Today was the renewal deadline for Arizona State football season tickets.
Here is the very short story … I graduated from ASU in 1990 and after graduation attended most home games as a working sportswriter until 1999 when I made the decision to leave the air-conditioned sanctum of the press box for the hard metal benches in the stands where my parents had been since 1994, my sister’s sophomore year in the Sun Devil Marching Band.
I missed one home game in 1999 and didn’t miss another until Hurricane Katrina forced the Louisiana State-Arizona State game to be moved to Tempe from Baton Rouge. We had tickets to Tiger Stadium and had re-booked our vacation for Washington, DC house before the game was moved. My wife would not allow me to re-re-book the trip.
Everything is scheduled around Sun Devil football, much to my wife’s chagrin, up to and including our wedding. I told her she could have the wedding on the day of a home game but neither my parents nor I would be attending the nuptials. That went over huge.
I’ve been through the Larry Marmie error (pun intended) and the Bruce Snyder era and the squib kick in the Rose Bowl that shouldn’t have been. I’ve sat through Dirk Koetter and his amazing technocolor ego and am somewhat looking forward to life under Dennis Erickson, assuming we’re not under probation in three years’ time.
Part of the fun of Saturdays in Tempe died when the College Street Deli closed, but we’ve managed to find other hangouts. I have to admit, though, a falafel on the run falls far short of watching a game over a couple of BLTs.
If you happen to be near Tempe this fall for one of ASU’s eight - count’ em, eight! - home games, there are far worse ways to spend a few hours. Just make sure to wear a gold shirt and join the crowd. In other words, don’t stand out like my wife (grudgingly in maroon) and daughter (eternally in black.)
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Jon - Serious question here.
Do you attribute your superior blog writing to your experience as a sportswriter? I ask because your style is so seamless it’s maddening.
Much appreciated and well timed, Jeff … I watch the blog rank fluctuate on the side and wonder if by ignoring the rules I’ve pissed off the three readers I had.
Serious answer: I can’t explain it. I didn’t start to evolve as a writer until around 1989 when I took a great creative writing class at ASU. And woe be to the student who dared use casual language such as “Bob threw a party.” Hosted, yes. Staged, yes. But threw? Never!
Where the sportswriting helps is the deadline aspect - my first draft usually is the best as I’m not used to having time for retakes.
Makes sense. I’m guessing you’re able to pound out two posts to my one. I’m getting better though. Thanks