Gainesville Rock City

Palm Coast Observer
Opinion

This Saturday, I, along with my family and friends, headed west to watch the Florida Gators basketball team host Mississippi State in an SEC showdown.

I love college hoops. I think there is so much more energy in college basketball compared to the NBA. Not to mention, NBA players rarely play defense.

We sat pretty high up, but there really is no bad seat in the O-Dome.

The game was pretty close through the first half and well into the second, but the Gators began to pull away with less than 10 minutes to go.

Florida eventually won, 69-57, and improved to 17-4 this season. It was a great game. The atmosphere on Florida’s campus is always awesome.

After the game, we went out for some dinner at The Swamp — yes, that’s the name of the restaurant. We were waiting to get seated outside when two Gators basketball players, Mike Rosario and Erving Walker, walked up.

Of course, my mom wanted a picture with them. I took it for her. And I couldn’t resist, so I asked for one, too.

They were extremely nice and had no problem taking the picture. They happened to sit right next to us.

I didn’t go to a school with big-time athletics programs. I know for most students at UF, this is a daily occurrence. But it’s neat to see players who could soon be playing professional sports in a matter of months or years walk around campus like every other student.

Go Gators.

District jinx?
Apparently, luck of the Irish hasn’t been very true for me lately. Since covering Flagler County sports, there has been a jinx when I attend district championship games for Flagler County high school teams.

Every district championship I’ve been to, the team has lost. Last season, I watched the Matanzas boys basketball team lose in a close game. Flagler Palm Coast girls basketball lost to DeLand in the district championship. Then, Lady Bulldogs softball lost a crazy district championship to DeLand.

So far this season, I’ve seen the FPC girls soccer team as well as the boys soccer team lose to Spruce Creek in district championships.

Hopefully things can change Saturday night when the FPC girls basketball team plays in the district championship.

I apoligize to all the teams for my bad luck. I’m hoping the tide turns Saturday and for the future!