My cousin, a proud and very lucky MU Alum, has FLOOR tickets to the Men's Basketball games. I've been SO lucky to have been able to borrow them one time; however, when Scott offered the tickets for Wednesday's game, I just couldn't accept. However, Nic could. Nic, Ray, Dick and Tim were scheduled to have a boys night out. Then on Monday I received a text from my dad. My cousin Scott apparently knows Buzz Williams. That's COACH Buzz Williams for you non-MU fans and Coach was going to stop by and say hi to Nic during the game. No fair! I had to find a way to go to this game....Well, then coach decided he wanted us to sit in his seats, "on the bench". Well, this solved that problem, because I could now go to the game. Along with a few other people. Things kind of snowball with the Schroeder family and the last text I received on Wednesday said Nic was going into the locker room after the game. WTH!!
So, we get to the game and our seats are right under the basketball hoop. Sometimes I couldn't see because a Ref was in my way, a media person, a basketball was being thrown at me or I was watching the jumbotron, because we were often on it! Before the game started, Coach walked up to Nic, shook his hand and mine and said to Nic, "Nice to meet you, I want to talk to you after the game." Amazing! We could hear everything Coach yelled to the team, "6 bad possessions in a row, 6 bad possessions in a row." "Goodness Gracious" and "That's horseshit". You could hear the team yelling at each other, "secret" "secret" whatever that means and "I lost my contact" (my favorite)! We got free t-shirts, water and cookies.
So by now, I think this is the greatest game ever. Until Coach comes up to us after the game and says, "Follow "Bruce" (the incredibly large security guard)". We were silent as "Bruce" lead us down the tunnel, through some back corridor or white concrete and through a door...A door I will never forget. An amazing door that still makes my heart pound. The door to the MU BASKETBALL LOCKER ROOM! AHHHHHH. Coach says to Mary Ann and I, you might feel more comfortable waiting in my office. So, we listen to Coach give his post-game talk to the guys and I snap pictures with my camera behind my back (Seriously, I felt like I was in a sacred place...I didn't know if I could take pictures! (so what do I do...I post them on the Internet! :) It was SO COOL to listen to Buzz Williams talk to the players after the game. And to hear their responses. Again, you just don't understand! I've idolized the MU Basketball team forever. I went to school with them, but always geeked out when I saw one in the library or walking to class. I DIED when I saw Travis Diener at Murphy's and then a few months later with DW at SummerFest. They are celebrities to me! Another man in a suit came up to us and said, "You can go in there; it's not like they are naked or anything!" I laughed and told him that coach told us to stay here, so I was going to stay here. He laughed and pushed us through to the ACTUAL LOCKER ROOM PART!! I was not breathing now....Then coach looks at Nic and says, "OK, Nic, tell the team anything you want about the game, except only tell us how good we played, how you are our number one fan!" Nic looked at the guys and said, "Hi". This WHOLE night was just WAY out of Nic's comfort level. They all laughed and coach said he wanted Nic to tell them what he was going through. To tell them about his struggles and what he was dealing with. Nic walked out of my sight and said, "I was diagnosed with a brain tumor" and he got all choked up and walked out of the locker room. Coach was shouting after him and I went after him. I took his hand, walked him back to the locker room and told him I wasn't going to let go or leave his side again. I held onto his hand harder than I ever had. We entered the locker room again and Coach said it was OK and Nic didn't have to say anything. He said, come on guys, let's show Nic what we do when we care about someone, let's pray for Nic. And the entire basketball team stood up and gathered around Nic. They all put a hand on him and Coach started a prayer. The most amazing prayer. He prayed for Nic's diagnosis and what he was facing. He prayed for Nic's doctor's to be focused and to treat him well. He prayed for Nic's energy when he was up and restful sleep when he slept. He prayed for Nic's wife to have courage. He prayed for Nic to understand how many people he's touched in his lifetime and to understand the impact he's had on 26 guys in a locker room. He prayed that whatever happens we remain strong. He prayed and we all prayed with him. Then he had each player introduce himself to Nic. They started saying their names...I'm still not breathing...and shaking Nic's hand. THen one guy, gosh I wish I remembered who it was, said, "I'm not going to shake your hand, I want a hug". Oh it was SO neat. Then another player (I feel like I like to keep his name anonymous) told Nic that he was so thankful that Nic shared his story with them because he was going through some personal things too and he would use it as strength. It really moved him. And there we were...Dana, Nic and the MARQUETTE MEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM, hugging, crying and praying. Then coach took a million pictures with us. We all put our hands in the middle and on the count of three, "Nic".
As we were leaving, Coach's wife introduced herself and hugged me. I kind of walked behind her into Coach's office. I told him how I was a huge fan, but what he just did was amazing and I couldn't thank him enough. I told him how much it meant and how real this team is (They are! Every one of them was so down to earth. They enjoyed it and I believe that. No one rolled their eyes or got antsy to get to the showers. The were actively participating...PLEASE NBA, don't ruin my MU Team!!) Coach looked me in the eyes, hugged me and said, "let's go to Media" I laughed, "No, you've done enough. We are going to head home." He kept offering, let's go meet the Media. Let's have the press conference. I told him thank you, again, and good luck with the rest of the season. I enjoyed my final moments in the locker room and walked out. Shaking, not breathing and feeling so incredibly lucky.It's been SO great telling this story today. It's been so nice to think about the amazing night and not doctors, pills, tumors or death. Scott, I can't pay you back. I can never thank Scott, Buzz Williams, or the entire MU Basketball team enough. But what I can do is pay it forward. When I hear that someone is going through a rough time, I'll pay all this love and generosity forward.
That and this season I'll cheer a little louder...RING OUT A'HOYA!!
I don't know if my video worked...if it did, enjoy! If it didn't...awwww crap!
