Last weekend we visited Providence to watch a basketball game. Notre Dame was playing Providence College in their only meeting this season. Neither team has had a stellar season, but that really didn't matter to me. It was a Notre Dame game, and that's my school--my team. 
My team did not disappoint. Taking the lead early in the game with one of their famous three-pointers, the Irish never gave up the lead. Providence came close a few times, but never was able to pull ahead, and finally the Irish came out on top with a 19-point win.
We were warned before the game that the arena would be filled mostly with Providence fans, but I saw a few other people wearing leprechaun sweatshirts. My daughter painted the "ND" logo on her dad's and brother's faces, and "Go Fight Win" on her own.
Our seats were up in the very top, but we didn't miss a second of the game. And every time Luke Harangody made a basket, my first-grader Luke held up his homemade "LUKE!" sign. He's a little disappointed that the TV cameras didn't spot him. But while the sign may have failed in the mission of attracting a camera, I consider it a complete success. First-graders get bored during basketball games. The sign gave him something to do. I'd get his attention every time Harangody or Luke Zeller had the ball, so he could get his sign ready. If not for that sign, we'd have been dealing with a bored, whiny little boy for most of the game.
Luke still has his "lucky sign" and today we'll hang it up in his room. He made sure we knew that next time he sees the Irish play, he wants a sweatshirt.
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