I live in a house divided.
My house isn’t divided by politics, personal beliefs or even religion. No, my house is divided by something much more trying. My house is divided by collegian affiliation. I’m an alumni of the University of Arizona, my wife choose a more northern institution of higher learning. Usually the rivalry is friendly but heated between us and Sunday afternoon was no different. Sunday we attended the first annual Alumni Classic charity basketball game at the US Airways Center. As usual we both were decked out in our school’s colors ready for a battle. Unfortunately our battles weren’t only of the college rivalry kind this Sunday afternoon. We had argued about various different topics and both had become quite stressed on our way to the game. Whether it was the sweltering late August Arizona heat or my stubbornness that caused it I’m not sure but I do know what ended it. My wife made a very symbolic gesture. As she sat in the passenger seat of my car wearing her “I heart Sun Devils” shirt, that my University of Arizona degree paid for, she took off her Sun Devils hat and traded it for my Wildcats hat. As she sat there silently in my hat, emblazoned with its red, white and blue “A”, I asked her what the point was. Apparently my UofA degree hadn’t given me an education in the matters of the heart. As she sat silently, there were no more words, nothing more to argue about. Then, I realized, her point was there was no reason to fight because, we are on the same team. The 400 Wildcat and Sun Devil fans in attendance came together to support a good cause and have a fun afternoon. While the scoreboard read a 78-60 win for the Sun Devils, the real winners were the students who will participate in the after-school programs in south Phoenix the money raised at the game will benefit.
The event may have seemed small to some of those in attendance but that was OK with event organizers, former Sun Devil basketball player Lester Neal and his wife former Wildcat basketball player Apryl.