Tradition and Jayhawk basketball

Last night was the reason I love college basketball. The Jayhawks were down by 18 points to West Virginia. KU tied the score with 7 seconds to play and won in overtime. I loved it not because it was just a close game, but because these youngsters made free throws to tie the score under pressure to protect a world-class string of victories at Allen Field House, as well as, clinch another Big Twelve Conference victory-number 11, that is 11 in a row. It was thrilling. The commentators noted it was the best game in college basketball that they had ever seen. 

I sympathize with West Virginia. They played hard, however, the winning tradition at Allen Field House, and beware of the Phog as the locals say, was too much too overcome for the Virginia team. Winning traditions are a mountain of confidence for KU players. They expect to win, and when things get tough and rough as they did last night, tradition becomes another member of a team. last night, KU just deposited another year of winning tradition to the bank of tradition to be withdrawn in another game when they need it.

I believe it works for families too. Tradition is grounding. I am going to spend part of this day contemplating what traditions my family has. The photo above is me at Seaport village in San Diego waiting by the ramparts for Helen and Kelly to finish shopping. I have done this many times. It is a tradition.