Originally posted on January 7, 2019.
The 26th it was time to head to Bloomington-Normal for the State Farm Classic basketball tournament. What a tournament with the best of the best in Illinois. They had 16 team brackets for large school boys, large school girls, small school boys, and small school girls. Geneseo was the 8 seed in the large schools and would play the 9 seed Kenwood. Kenwood was a good team with 3 D1 recruits. Geneseo played them tough but lost so it would be time to regroup and prepare for the next day. So, you might think after lunch it would be time to do something other than watch basketball. Well no, it would be time to watch other teams in the bracket. That’s what we did watching Normal U High and then the Springfield team that Geneseo would eventually play. After a little regrouping and a snack, it would be time to watch Annawan girls play in the small girls’ bracket. Wow, this game would be much slower after watching several large schools’ girls’ games. They ended up losing as did the Annawan boys earlier in the day. Of the other games, I watched the Peoria Richwoods and Springfield Central teams impressed me.
Now it is Day 2 of the tournament and no game until 2:00 in the afternoon. Geneseo played Normal U High and Geneseo was looking more like the team everyone was used to seeing. I would say it was a good win. Next up would be Richwoods and Kenwood. I felt Richwoods would win and they did but not without a challenge late in the game by Kenwood. It was a fun game to watch. Then time to watch Rock Island they surprised me the day before. They have a solid team with 10 players contributing to their win. This game though they were off to a slow start, but down the stretch were able to pull it out. After supper Jeff, Esther and I decided to go watch the Rock Island Boys play. They looked good and Jamir Price and the point guard Jordan Rice were impressive.
Day 3 of the tournament and there will be two games. First up for Geneseo would be Springfield Central. It was a good game and happy to say Geneseo got the win, so they would be playing in the consolation championship game against Normal Community. We watched most of the 2nd half of their game and it was intense. Normal Community was playing their crosstown rival Normal West. So now there is a four-hour break, so it is time for an ice cream break at Oberweis Dairy and then to watch the Rock Island boys’ team. They won and will play in the championship the next day. It was time for the matchup between Geneseo and Normal Community. It sure didn’t go the way Geneseo would like. Normal Community had some talented 3-point shooters who didn’t miss even if they were being guarded. So, the team was 2-2 in the tournament maybe not what they wanted but they are talented and played some talented teams. I’m glad I was able to go watch Josie and her team play. They are a good team and fun to watch.
The next morning it was time to head to Nashville. I would be visiting friends and former coworkers as well as take in you guessed it some more sports. So, the Titans were playing the Colts on Sunday Night Football. It is a game that matters whoever wins is in the playoffs. I got a ticket in the 300 level 4th row and it was a good seat. Great weather for a game too 52◦ F and a slight chance of rain after halftime. Marcus Mariota would not play which seemed to make it hard for the Titan’s to get anything going offensively. Jay’on Brown had a pick 6 WooHoo! Unfortunately, that wouldn’t be enough to take a win. It did rain but wasn’t bad with the warm temperature. I had gone to previous games when I lived in Nashville and the atmosphere has changed for the better. The crowd was into the game and we stood most of the game. Titan Up!
The next day would be more visiting and then off to the Vanderbilt Men’s Basketball game. It was great seeing some of the people I used to work within guest services. Vanderbilt is doing well this year and this game would show it. They were much improved from the last few years and won without any issues. I then went to several grocery stores that are not in the Peoria or Quad Cities area to get some things I miss. I didn’t go anywhere that night for New Year’s Eve, I felt with all that I did why not relax.
The next day I went downtown to Bailey’s to watch the Outback Bowl. Go Hawks! Such a fun time especially when the Hawks win! Hard to believe a win with negative yards but I will take it.
That night Celeste and I went to the Predators game. This would be my first game inside Bridgestone arena. Two years ago, I went downtown and watched several games outside which was a great time and atmosphere. I was interested to see what the atmosphere would be like inside since I had heard it was amazing. Our seats were in the 300 level which was great, and I could see everything. The chants were funny once I figured some of them out. It was interesting how sometimes you could tell what was said and then other times you had to hear it a few times to pick it out. The Tim McGraw “I like it I love it” song after the scores were great. How cool that 3 of the 4 goals were right below me and easy to see. The only thing I didn’t like was the cool breeze blowing on me. I never have liked a breeze hitting my face. Otherwise, I was comfortable. I would go again but not regularly because of the breeze.
So, I made it back for a day and then it was time to go watch Josie’s basketball game at Sterling. Yep still watching those sports. Sadly, the girls lost after leading most of the game, but I think Sterling might want to watch out when they come to Geneseo.
With only two days of break left I hit the marathon of sports days. Russell had wrestling invite in Geneseo. I got there just in time for his first match, unfortunately, he got pinned. The thing about wrestling is there is lots of downtime. So, I visited and worked on the blog. The next match Russell pinned his opponent. Yeah! He then had to wrestle another Geneseo kid who he said was good. If Russell wins, he would be going for 5th place. It didn’t go that way as Russell was pinned. It was good to be able to cheer for Russell at his meet.
Next up would be to watch Josie’s team play Pleasant Valley in the Iowa-Illinois shoot out. The girls looked good most of the first half but then Pleasant Valley picked it up. I’m still glad I was there to watch the game. I then stayed to watch Rock Island play North Scott, this game was much slower paced. Rock Island would end up winning. Iowa won the challenge with a 4-3 edge in the games.
Other than watching Josie’s games and Russell’s wrestling none of the other sports were planned until a few days before I went down to Nashville. Many people would make comments on Facebook and snap chat posts about seeing all those sports and they were only seeing the 3 in Nashville. I am thankful that we had a full two weeks of break to watch all these sports, and travel to Nashville to visit.
So, it has been a while and plenty of adventure. I moved back to Illinois and I’m back in the
classroom so that has been taking lots of my time. My goal in 2019 is to get back on track with
the blog as well as working out.
I will start with my Christmas break adventure. Who knew it would become an adventure with
sports, but that is what happened.
School was dismissed at 2:00 on Friday the 21st. I then went to Geneseo for the pink out game
to watch my niece Josie play. Geneseo
won the game against Monmouth-Roseville.
They raised $5185 for cancer awareness.
Christmas Eve and Christmas were nice as always and it was great not
having to try and get time off and be concerned about the weather for
travel. The 26th it was time to head to Bloomington-Normal for the State Farm Classic basketball tournament. What a tournament with the best of the best in Illinois. They had 16 team brackets for large school boys, large school girls, small school boys, and small school girls. Geneseo was the 8 seed in the large schools and would play the 9 seed Kenwood. Kenwood was a good team with 3 D1 recruits. Geneseo played them tough but lost so it would be time to regroup and prepare for the next day. So, you might think after lunch it would be time to do something other than watch basketball. Well no, it would be time to watch other teams in the bracket. That’s what we did watching Normal U High and then the Springfield team that Geneseo would eventually play. After a little regrouping and a snack, it would be time to watch Annawan girls play in the small girls’ bracket. Wow, this game would be much slower after watching several large schools’ girls’ games. They ended up losing as did the Annawan boys earlier in the day. Of the other games, I watched the Peoria Richwoods and Springfield Central teams impressed me.
Now it is Day 2 of the tournament and no game until 2:00 in the afternoon. Geneseo played Normal U High and Geneseo was looking more like the team everyone was used to seeing. I would say it was a good win. Next up would be Richwoods and Kenwood. I felt Richwoods would win and they did but not without a challenge late in the game by Kenwood. It was a fun game to watch. Then time to watch Rock Island they surprised me the day before. They have a solid team with 10 players contributing to their win. This game though they were off to a slow start, but down the stretch were able to pull it out. After supper Jeff, Esther and I decided to go watch the Rock Island Boys play. They looked good and Jamir Price and the point guard Jordan Rice were impressive.
Day 3 of the tournament and there will be two games. First up for Geneseo would be Springfield Central. It was a good game and happy to say Geneseo got the win, so they would be playing in the consolation championship game against Normal Community. We watched most of the 2nd half of their game and it was intense. Normal Community was playing their crosstown rival Normal West. So now there is a four-hour break, so it is time for an ice cream break at Oberweis Dairy and then to watch the Rock Island boys’ team. They won and will play in the championship the next day. It was time for the matchup between Geneseo and Normal Community. It sure didn’t go the way Geneseo would like. Normal Community had some talented 3-point shooters who didn’t miss even if they were being guarded. So, the team was 2-2 in the tournament maybe not what they wanted but they are talented and played some talented teams. I’m glad I was able to go watch Josie and her team play. They are a good team and fun to watch.
The next morning it was time to head to Nashville. I would be visiting friends and former coworkers as well as take in you guessed it some more sports. So, the Titans were playing the Colts on Sunday Night Football. It is a game that matters whoever wins is in the playoffs. I got a ticket in the 300 level 4th row and it was a good seat. Great weather for a game too 52◦ F and a slight chance of rain after halftime. Marcus Mariota would not play which seemed to make it hard for the Titan’s to get anything going offensively. Jay’on Brown had a pick 6 WooHoo! Unfortunately, that wouldn’t be enough to take a win. It did rain but wasn’t bad with the warm temperature. I had gone to previous games when I lived in Nashville and the atmosphere has changed for the better. The crowd was into the game and we stood most of the game. Titan Up!
The next day would be more visiting and then off to the Vanderbilt Men’s Basketball game. It was great seeing some of the people I used to work within guest services. Vanderbilt is doing well this year and this game would show it. They were much improved from the last few years and won without any issues. I then went to several grocery stores that are not in the Peoria or Quad Cities area to get some things I miss. I didn’t go anywhere that night for New Year’s Eve, I felt with all that I did why not relax.
The next day I went downtown to Bailey’s to watch the Outback Bowl. Go Hawks! Such a fun time especially when the Hawks win! Hard to believe a win with negative yards but I will take it.
That night Celeste and I went to the Predators game. This would be my first game inside Bridgestone arena. Two years ago, I went downtown and watched several games outside which was a great time and atmosphere. I was interested to see what the atmosphere would be like inside since I had heard it was amazing. Our seats were in the 300 level which was great, and I could see everything. The chants were funny once I figured some of them out. It was interesting how sometimes you could tell what was said and then other times you had to hear it a few times to pick it out. The Tim McGraw “I like it I love it” song after the scores were great. How cool that 3 of the 4 goals were right below me and easy to see. The only thing I didn’t like was the cool breeze blowing on me. I never have liked a breeze hitting my face. Otherwise, I was comfortable. I would go again but not regularly because of the breeze.
So, I made it back for a day and then it was time to go watch Josie’s basketball game at Sterling. Yep still watching those sports. Sadly, the girls lost after leading most of the game, but I think Sterling might want to watch out when they come to Geneseo.
With only two days of break left I hit the marathon of sports days. Russell had wrestling invite in Geneseo. I got there just in time for his first match, unfortunately, he got pinned. The thing about wrestling is there is lots of downtime. So, I visited and worked on the blog. The next match Russell pinned his opponent. Yeah! He then had to wrestle another Geneseo kid who he said was good. If Russell wins, he would be going for 5th place. It didn’t go that way as Russell was pinned. It was good to be able to cheer for Russell at his meet.
Next up would be to watch Josie’s team play Pleasant Valley in the Iowa-Illinois shoot out. The girls looked good most of the first half but then Pleasant Valley picked it up. I’m still glad I was there to watch the game. I then stayed to watch Rock Island play North Scott, this game was much slower paced. Rock Island would end up winning. Iowa won the challenge with a 4-3 edge in the games.
Other than watching Josie’s games and Russell’s wrestling none of the other sports were planned until a few days before I went down to Nashville. Many people would make comments on Facebook and snap chat posts about seeing all those sports and they were only seeing the 3 in Nashville. I am thankful that we had a full two weeks of break to watch all these sports, and travel to Nashville to visit.
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