The thing about the Wake Forest Demon Deacons is that they are Winston-Salem's go-to team. This is not to say that every person who lives, or has lived, in W-S is a fan of Wake - but I would argue that most are. And if it is not one's favorite college team - then the Deacs probably rank in one's top two. Pretty much everyone I know from my W-S days has attended a Wake football or basketball game. Most attended some type of sports camp, or show, or did research at the Reynolds library. Once, when Wake basketball players Rodney Rogers and Randolph Childress walked into my lunchroom cafeteria at West Forsyth High School, I remember the entire place totally freaking out - like screaming and stuff. It was a big deal, for sure.So ever since Wake Forest moved to Winston-Salem in 1956 - my Dad, who grew up in Winston, has always pulled for the Deacs. . . voraciously. As my parents were having all three of us kids in the 70s, my Dad worked two jobs and built our house by himself. But, shortly after they had me in 1977 - my parents were at a point financially where they could afford season tickets to all of the home basketball and football games at Wake Forest. We have had them ever since, and it is the only life I have ever known. Still to this day, some of my best and most cherished memories take place in the old Winston-Salem Memorial Coliseum. The place was tiny, and smelled awful. In addition, Wake Forest basketball and football were just terrible. They just got destroyed by every team they played. So playing in a crappy arena sort of made sense.
But we loved the Deacs. My family sat in the corner - and my brother, sister, and I could lean over and slap hands with all of the players as they ran in and out of the locker room (Mugsy Bogues actually had to jump to reach our hands, but he always made the effort for us). But the Memorial coliseum had the BEST pizza I have ever eaten. I can not tell you what was on it, but it was amazing. They tore down the old coliseum sometime around 1989, to make room for the new LJVM Coliseum - a more modern, spacious, and amazing arena for college basketball.
I am bringing all of this up now, because the basketball deacs are having another stellar year. They will play at Virginia Tech tonight, in hopes of further sealing a high seed in the NCAA tournament - the first round of which (and will happen for the rest of his life) will be played on Avery's birthday. Now my whole family follows the Deacs. We all cheer for them, and it makes my dad really happy. Noah has been to basketball and football games, and has loved it. Like my childhood, he doesn't care much for the actual games, but his Grandparents and cousins are all there - so he gets to run around and have fun. Avery will get the experience next season. And it is great, because it is family time for us. And it brings us together. So Go Deacs!
Comments