With the school year almost over, I still can't get one thing off of my mind: basketball.
It's not because the NBA playoffs are currently being played.
It is because the UB men's basketball team had such an amazing season, advancing into the second round of the Mid-American Conference playoffs.
This season for the team was nothing short of remarkable. The Bulls gave us something to look forward to, be proud of, and most importantly, cheer about.
From Andrew Atman to Darwin Young, every player was crucial to the team, whether it was because he put points on the board or cheered for his teammates from the bench.
So why does a player who has been on the team for the past three years, receive the least amount of love when he steps out onto the court?
No, Mark Bortz is not the star player of the team. He does not post as many points as Turner Battle, bring down as many rebounds as Yassin Idbihi, or hit as many threes as Calvin Cage.
His largest contributions to the team won't be found in any box score.
Yes, winning is amazing and winning is the reason so many students actually went to games near the end of the season, but winning isn't everything.
Call me weird if you want, but I have always been a fan of the team player over the star player.
I am a female Yankee fan. Therefore, you are most likely going to jump to the conclusion that I own a jersey with the number two on it.
The only Yankee jersey you will find in my closet is number 33. My favorite Yankee isn't the best looking or the best all-around player, but the one who loved to wear his pinstripes considering he idolized those before him. Actually, he's not even a Yankee anymore. But no matter what anyone does, they will never be able to say that David Wells wasn't proud to be dressed in blue and white and that he didn't love every second on the mound at Yankee Stadium.
Actually, I do own a jersey with the number two on it. To be honest, I own four jerseys with the number two on them, but you won't find Jeter written on the back of any of them. Try Couch, Tim Couch. Yes, the number one draft pick in 1999 that has yet to prove he was worthy of being the number one pick in even a pee-wee league draft. And yes, the player probably voted "Most Likely to be off the Browns Roster Before the End of the Month."
But I'm still a fan of the man that has said time and time again that he will do whatever he can to stay in the city that rocks. To stay in the stadium full of loud, ferocious barking. To stay a Cleveland Brown.
What exactly does this have to do with Mark Bortz?
As many Mighty Maniacs can say, I have proudly dressed in my blue and white, headed to Alumni Arena, and stood in the shaking bleachers, game after game. However, unlike many of those who stand with me on those gut-wrenching nights, I've spent those games watching the team as a whole, not just the five men on the court. I challenge each of you to do the same. Heck, I will even offer up my tape of the Northern Illinois University game.
During that game alone, Bortz's contribution to the team is clear.
While his name may not be blared through the speakers, he pumps up his fellow teammates and the crowd by going chest to chest with the starters, just as he does every game.
As the game begins, even though he starts on the bench, Bortz makes an effort to applaud valiant efforts by his teammates, react to outlandish calls by the refs, and add to the noise created by the fans.
On the court, he does what he can to contribute his 110 percent to the team, even though the crowd loves to boo him. It seems as if the minute Bortz has his hands on the ball, the "Sea of Blue" turns into a monster of sorts, hissing and yelling to divert Bortz from taking a shot. Disgruntled fans even manage to jeer after he completes shots and slams down dunks.
In the Northern Illinois game, he made three impressive dunks within a five-minute period. The first barely received recognition by the crowd. After dunk No. 2, Bortz borrowed the Hulkster's infamous ear-cup and received a rousing round of applause. By the third dunk, the crowd finally got the idea that cheering for number 42 is acceptable, no matter what the drunken fool next to you says.
The team went on to win the NIU game, their first home MAC playoff game, 90-73. Fans stormed the court after Cage triumphantly chucked the ball into the air at the sound of the final buzzer.
Fans treated the team as gods, with Coach Reggie Witherspoon as Zeus. Countless fans went up and congratulated Bortz on a job well done, yet they were the ones who had no reservations when booing him earlier in the night.
So, my point in writing this: Don't be afraid to cheer for a player who isn't the star of the team because every member of the team is equally important.
Next year, not only do I expect to see more fans consistently filling the stands of Alumni Arena, but I hope to hear fans being more consistent in the way they cheer for their beloved Bulls, being just as proud of all the players for their efforts as the players are to wear their blue and white.
