After waiting around for what seemed forever to interview the Longhorns after their loss to Memphis, I returned to the Reliant Stadium floor to retrieve all my notes and work-related stuff and I saw a number of people up on the basketball court shooting baskets. Shea Guinn, the man in charge of Reliant Park, had some friends and fellow employees up on the elevated court shooting around.

I couldn't resist. I play basketball with my 17-year-old son almost everyday, but we play on a concrete court at the schoolyard. And the chance to play on a bonafide bigtime wooden court was just too much for me to resist. So I hopped up on the court, grabbed a ball, bounced it between my legs a couple of times to get used to it and then sank a shot from just inside the top of the key.
Wow! It felt great.
I had been asking the players at the Regional how the shooting background was and they said the black curtains on both ends made it nice. I agree... the shooting background was good. The floor had a good feel to it and Shea explained to me again about why they had to elevate it so everyone in the lower stands could see the action. Guinn also told me that they went ahead and bought this wooden court they'll put it in storage then use it again when the Sweet 16 comes back in 2010 and then for the Final Four in 2011.

I was halfway paying attention between shots, but more than anything else I was enjoying stroking one shot after another and no they didn't even make me take off my dress shoes. After less than 10 minutes, I had to get going to get my story done, but shooting around in a necktie was never more enjoyable.

It was tough to see Texas get hammered on the court, but getting to shoot around on the Sweet 16 court afterwards was "priceless." It didn't show up on the newscast but that was the highlight of my day!!