My weekend was spent largely at Thompson-Boling Arena (TBA) where I attended three sporting events.
On Friday night, I ate at Ye Olde Steak House with my parents and our friends RLP and SPP. It had been too long since we had seen them. In fact, we were celebrating my father’s birthday. It’s in September.
We learned that the restaurant’s cheese supplier (it is known for its cheese and crackers) is going out of business and the servers have been instructed to ask if the customer wants the product as they are running low and need not waste any. Fortunately, they still had woodshed potatoes. I had them substituted for a salad. This is the plate I got. No, I did not eat them all.
After the game, I met ANDR and PCR at TBA to watch the Tennessee volleyball team play 12th ranked Florida. I told my mother my destination and her initial comment was “Chan, that’s where the gays are.” Seriously. Later in the very short conversation on the topic, she asked, “Do they wear bathing suits?” No mom, but it might be an idea worth suggesting.
On this night the Lady Vols needed no help in increasing attendance. I arrived to find a line out the door. The 1097 fans were the most all season and the fourth-largest crowd in UT volleyball history. Among those in attendance were Tennessee basketball players Scotty Hopson and Philip Jurick There were no physical tickets left. In fact, one guy was scalping tickets. Yes, in a huge arena, he was attempting to scalp tickets that have a $3 face value.
They broke out all the stops for the big crowd. Sharon Bible sang the national anthem. Fort Loudon Middle School’s Trash Can Band performed at halftime, held at each game after the second set. The 18 member unit was impressive and far and away the best halftime entertainment of the season. They were very good but that is also an indictment against the typical halftime fare.
ANDR, PCR, and I sat in Section 103 as we always do. This is directly behind the visiting team’s bench. If you want to sit with us, feel free. That information probably would have been more useful several weeks ago since the home schedule ended this weekend.
Despite the big crowd, the Lady Vols lost in straight sets, 23-25, 17-25, 23-25. The Lady Vols were leading 22-20 in the first set when Florida called a timeout. Florida rallied and used the momentum to establish a lead in the second set. It was over from there. The loss snapped a nine game winning streak. Florida is the best team I have seen this season. I must note that we were better looking. They had better cheerleaders. They brought none.
For some reason, there are always a number of candidates for the most annoying fan at these games. There are the usual suspects: the unnecessary and over eager cheerleaders and the publicity staff (who added dancing to Sugarhill Gang's “The Apache (Jump On It)” at this game). I had assumed that the aforementioned scalper would win the award hands down. Then, there was this guy. He stood directly in our line of sight for seconds for no apparent reason as plenty of good seats were still available.
In the most important news of the night, PCR has recruited a friend named Brandon for my church league basketball team. We need a guard and after our one-point loss in the championship game (see the November 11th edition of "In Eckleburg's Eyes" for details), you knew an offseason transaction was forthcoming.
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