..........how 'bout them Huskies?

Hi everyone. I took the pep band to the basketball game last night. It was a home game aganist Starmount. We saw a couple of great ballgames! Our girls' team won and the boys' team lost in the last minute of the fourth quarter. Starmount has a great team. What makes them great? The mens' basketball coaches at Appalachian State University discovered some outstanding high school age basketball players in Puerto Rico, brought them to Yadkin County, NC and found them some homes to live in until they finished high school. After graduation, these guys will be expected to play for ASU. There are three of these guys and they are outstanding players. One of them is 6'-9". If the ball gets to him in the paint, he will score. Our men did a great job of keeping the ball from him; but we just could not hold-off the fight for all four quarters. So, is it ethical in high school athletics to have players recruited like this? That's a good question. I'm sure this is a great opportunity for the Puerto Rican kids; and it is all legal in the eyes of the NCHSAA. Again, I just wonder if this is really ethical in high school sports; and will other schools try to get in line for some of the "out-of-towners" for themselves. I don't really care one way or the other. The pep band played great last night! We had about 30ish kids there, and we had a good time. I did have to tell one Starmount "parent of a cheerleader" to go back to her seat. I have not had a pep band at the games in a couple of years. I automatically had the band jump to their feet and play during the break at the end of the first quarter, not knowing that the time between quarters is cherished and closely guarded "Ra-Ra" times. You know, cheerleader quality performance time. When we started to play, the Starmount cheerleaders gave me the open-mouthed, hands on the hips look; and the "mom in question" quickly headed toward me. Our cheeleading sponsor came over and apologized to me for not letting me know of this time-honored tradition at the games. The mom butted-in our conversation to express her view. I looked at the mom and said, "Look lady, relax! Go back to your seat before you say something that you will regret! I made a mistake and it's over!" With a stunned look (the one you get when a teacher actually takes up for himself), she went back to her seat, crossed her legs, made several comments and shut her mouth. That was the result I was looking for. The gentleman that I am; I went straight over to the Starmount Cheerleading Squad and apologized. They appreciated the gesture and accepted my apology. They were a very well-mannered and respectful group. It was nice to see young people behave in such a respectful way. At any rate, congratulations to the Starmount men for another win! You guys played a great game, and the pep band enjoyed playing when your coaches called timeouts (ha, ha on not being able to hear yourself think). I got several dirty looks from the coaches during the timeouts. We're all just part of the "Train of Payne" around here!!!