Another season of Hoosier 'fanatics'

It goes without saying that 90 percent of Hoosier sports fans didn't pull out the cream and crimson threads until Friday night. After the thousands had regained consciousness after falling into IU sports hibernation last March, they stumbled to their pantries, grabbed the closest can of split pea soup, and headed out for another night of Midnight Madness mayhem.\nAll too often, basketball buffs put on the blinders to what some call social atrocities, but what I like to call "fan-antics." And now, after the sleep has been wiped from our eyes and the dust from the bottoms of Bloomington dresser drawers has settled, another season of competitive Hoosier fan feuding has fallen upon us. \nBeginning with the night's three-point shot contest, the fans were up and at 'em with one obvious leader being the slightly hairy guy with chest follicles popping forth from his aged basketball jersey with highly fashionable sweat stains. There was also the shirtless contestant in nothing but red shorts and body paint topped off with a white bow-tie and some random piece of cloth tied to his leg. \nA word of advice for said ridiculous fan: Never again.\nWith about 9:17 before the start of the season, two groups of guys pulled out the signature "Let's get on our cell phones, stand up and point across the gym" move, followed by the effective block of three high school girls (of course in their best weekend attire) who, in keeping everyone from seeing the court, snapped that ever-important picture clearly meant for their homemade senior year scrapbooks. Then, moments later, the girl on the end realized she had blinked, resulting in a replay of the picture to inevitably be wedged between their prom and senior photos.\nUpon announcing the men's and women's teams for the evening, the familiar boos resounded in the west wing from a group of old high school rivals of Perry Meridian. As Ryan Tapak took to the court, the "player"-haters discussed the possibilities of how the junior landed a spot on the team. The Tapak-haters were kicked into a frenzy again when he was a no-show in the slam dunk contest. "Are we not gonna get a Tapak here?" one fan asked. "How is this right?!"\nFor me, the highlight of the night came while the lonely man one row up slurped on his red Icee, and with 5:13 left on the clock, the six-year-old behind me belted out a high-pitched squeal of "You suck!" meant for the male cheerleader, who, not seconds before, nearly lost his pants doing a back flip at half court.\nAs the night rolled on, and as the gym's sound system coordinator consistently aggravated the attendees with replay after replay of Evanescence, it became evident that this season, like all others, can't go on without its die-hard fans. Whether critics or true loyal fans (many devoted and sane participants were, in fact, present), the players needed the cheers from the stands Friday night just as much as they'll need them throughout the rest of the season. So, while we pray the Hoosiers don't fall back into their sullen slumbers or take any unwarranted naps before March 8 and April 5, let's hope the fans, too, can withstand any premature narcoleptic tendencies.