March Madness Musings

Dale is the rabid BYU fan in our house. I am the more cautious, mostly guilty-by-association BYU fan in this house. Yet I'm the one who predicted BYU would make it to the Sweet 16 this year, confident they could win at least two games in the playoffs before they characteristically dashed my heart out, which is why I have kept myself aloof from cheering for them wholeheartedly for lo, these many years.

Dale predicted BYU would lose to Wisconsin, yet they beat them in an upset Saturday night 91-89 - number 6 seed took out number 3 seed. Ironic on two fronts: the rankings, and little Miss Sports Rookie - who still picks teams by completely irrelevant characteristics - pickin' 'em to win.

So we're watching the game, and I'm stitching, and at some point in the first half, I notice this kid on BYU with a headband. He instantly arrested my attention. He had a big grin on his face; maybe that was it. But the grin looked like a full-body grin, if you know what I mean. This kid knows how to grin with all of him. "Who's that?" I wondered.

As the game continued, I found myself watching Headband if he was playing. I couldn't tell you why he fascinated me, but fascinate me, he did. He played with what looked like an effortless, indefatigable energy, but that wasn't all.

There was something about this kid...

Headband is out for a while, but when he's back in, he's all in. Like... All. In. It's more than the boundless energy with a seemingly inexhaustible source - it's an intensity I can't quite put my finger on.

He's a catalyst. He executes well; rarely makes mistakes; in fact, he often fixes mistakes. It's more than intensity - there's an intention to his playing as well. The thing I learned when I couldn't move at all - Be. Here. Now. - this kid has it - in spades. He is 100% in this game.

And then the grin. In all this energy and intensity and intention and ignition - there's this... what am I seeing?

Near the end of the game, when Headband is still making things happen, the sports commentators start talking about him: number 15 - Richie Saunders - grandfather is the inventor of tater tots. Hysterical detail much?

They start talking about some of what I'm seeing - what a great athlete he is - what a great human he is. Then they talk about his dad taking him to the church at 5:00 every morning to shoot baskets, because as early as age 12, he knew he wanted to play basketball for BYU some day.

And, dweeb that I am, it was at that point my eyes started to leak, just a bit.

Because that's the other thing I see when I watch Richie Saunders play basketball that I couldn't quite put my finger on - joy. Richie Saunders plays basketball with unapologetic, full-throated joy. He is literally living his dream - and the way he's living it is different - because he knows it.

I was overjoyed to see BYU win, which is uncharacteristic of me, the cautious girl being courted by the unreliable suitor that is BYU. Of course, I was delighted in part because I got points in my brackets for the win. But I'm mostly excited I get to watch Richie Saunders play some more. I'm glad I know who he is, and have seen what he brings to the table. Seeing someone do something they're good at - that they love - that they’ve earned with hard work - with that level of authenticity and commitment - is a beautiful thing. It's what passion looks like - and we need more of that in this world.

Though I am torn. If BYU continues to win, I will lose points going forward.