get gus to the gig

i'm a moderate sports fan.  i used to be nutso about sports when i was a kid.  i read the backs of baseball cards, knew all kinds of football stats, kept track of nba happenings, and was a whiz when filling out my ncaa hoops bracket.  i guess my life has caught up with me.  i'm not sure who starts for my beloved st. louis cardinals, haven't the foggiest idea about who leads the nfl in any category, am routinely surprised when i learn that somebody was traded in the nba 3 months ago, and don't have the slightest clue as to who will advance in my bracket.  i know way more about the coaches than i do the players (pitino, ol' roy, coach k, billy self, boeheim, etc.)

i follow hometown hero harrison barnes, whom i first met when he was a 5th grade kid in my neighborhood.  he is now the shining star for the unc tarheels and a future nba lottery pick.  i know about brandon knight, sullinger, kyrie, selby, and a bunch of other guys from his high school affiliations. i cheer for those guys too.  for the first time in quite a while, i've got a dog in the fight.

the madness of march is heightened by the play-by-play icon gus johnson.  he infuses true fan excitement into his calls. i was pumped up when isaiah thomas cleared out and hit a buzzer-beating jumper for washington a week ago, and i could give a shit about that game.  gus gave an intoxicating call to the final play in the pac-10 championship.  he is personally invested in each matchup he is anchoring.  i heard someone say that they should have gus stationed in the studio headquarters for the tourney, giving him the mic for any/all games that are coming down to the wire.  check out this fantastic site, where a montage of trademark calls are assembled.  sheer genius.

we need guys like gus coming out to creative music shows. playing at a cool venue is even better when the audience is actively listening.  hoops and hollers are welcomed during an exciting solo, both from the crowd and the players.  a sense of excitement really enhances the playing and artistry. somehow it has become taboo to express any emotions while observing a musical act.  forget that - instead, be a part of the creative process!!!  the performers need to allow the audience to interact, and the audience needs to feed the performers this incomparable energy.

one of my favorite gigs was about ten years ago in northfield, mn.  my band real time workshop played a cool show at a club called "the center of the universe".  seating was at a premium, with only a few comfy couches available and no elevated stage.  we set up right in the middle of the room and had about 200 people scattered on the floor, encircling the band.  it was a magical setup, and we played bigger than our musical britches.

applaud.  cheer.  whistle.  it feels good - i promise.

oh yeah - my final four!   unc, uconn, louisville & byu.