Basketball Party

Good Wednesday morning!

The Gallery Pics are from the basketball game last night. The final game of our middle school career. We played a good, hard game, but in the end, the other team won. The team that won was a class act. Our team was a class act. The other team's coach was extremely professional. Our coach was extremely professional. I was proud of all the girls involved... on both sides. (That being said, I was really, really hoping we would win. Heavy sigh! And I don't care what you say. I am NOT living vicariously through my daughter. Well... maybe just a little.)

ANNOUNCEMENT! ANNOUNCEMENT! ANNOUNCEMENT! - It's a LONG post today. However, everything is labeled, so pick and choose what interests you.

RANDOMNESS - Fun fact for you... Basketball is my favorite spectator sport. The games are exciting, fast and just because you're down by 10 goals at halftime, it doesn't mean the game is over. (In football, if you're behind 10 touchdowns at halftime, most of the stadium starts emptying out.)

I don't watch a lot of March Madness now, but I ALWAYS make sure I watch at least part of the last game and the final song when they show all the clips.

I always cry when I see a player tear up and hang his head in disappointment. I always cry when the winning team starts taking turns cutting pieces of the net. I always cry when I see the teammates hug each other, rub each other's heads or jump in each other's arms (whether from defeat or joy).

And if a member of the winning team walks over and hugs a member from the losing team, forget about it! I usually have to take my "Austin is in College, Josh is Driving and Roxie is a Teenager" meds and call it a night.

It's as emotional for me as the Christmas Hallmark commercials and the Mother's Day Show Regis and Kelly have each year.

There's no point to the above. That's why it's called "Randomness." Read on, please.

Wednesday Wisdom - Guess what our quotes are about today. Just guess...

"We can't win at home. We can't win on the road. As general manager, I just can't figure out where else to play." Pat Williams, Orlando Magic general manager, on his team's 7-27 record in 1992.

"There are really only two plays: Romeo and Juliet, and put the darn ball in the basket." Abe Lemons

"Fans never fall asleep at our games because they're afraid they might get hit by a pass." George Raveling

"Kids are great. That's one of the best things about our business, all the kids you get to meet. It's a shame they have to grow up to be regular people and come to the games and call you names." Charles Barkley (This is my favorite... and not just because it came from an Alabama boy!)

Basketball Party

I looked around and found some of these ideas on various websites. It would be a great party for a basketball lovin' son or daughter.

Invitations

Make your own basketball party invitations to look like basketball tickets. Copy some authentic tickets and then add your party details. Write 'Admit One' on both sides of the tickets.

The wording of your basketball party invitations can say the following:

Are you ready to come have a ball with us? Please join us at center court as we celebrate (your child's name) _th (age of your child) season in what proves to be an exciting home opener!

Arena: (your address)

Tip-Off: (time)

Post game reception to follow. RSVP to coaches (parents' names). Please dribble up court for what we hope to be a Slam-Dunking good time!

Other Ideas

1. Encourage your party guests to wear their favorite team jerseys.

2. It's ideal that you have a basketball hoop outside. If not, try to borrow one for a day or two. Hang a sign "Welcome to Bartow Arena" (or use the arena name of your favorite team) outside your front door.

3. If you have any basketball memorabilia, display it in the party room to set the mood. Hang basketball posters, jerseys, hats and other basketball-related items.

4. Place basketballs all over the party room to use for later games.

5. Play "Jock Jams" or other sports-themed music during the basketball birthday party to add excitement and basketball game atmosphere.

Party Favors

Balls
Whistles
Basketball Key Chains
Hats
Tattoos
Mesh bags

Basketball Birthday Party Games

Loony Locker Room: Before the party, fill a large box with clothing items you can find in lost-and-found (the funnier the better, big clothing items, too).

At the basketball birthday party, explain to the group that somebody got into the locker room and stole all the players' street clothes. Since the players can't wear their jerseys on the street, they have to find suitable clothes in a lost-and-found box.

Have the kids stand in a circle. Play the party music and get the kids to pass the box. When the music stops, the person holding the box must take an item from the box and put it on as fast as possible. Play continues in the same manner until all the items are gone. Take a group picture at the end of this basketball party game.

Training Camp: Everyone needs to get in shape before the season. This basketball birthday party activity allows the kids to do just that. Start the game with jumping jacks, push-ups, crunches and some sprinting drills. Then move to passing the ball around, dribbling it around the cones and shooting it in the net. Be sure to have some stopwatches and whistles handy.

O-U-T: One player starts this game by shooting the ball from anywhere on the court. If the ball goes in, the other players have to score from the same place. (Have a draw to determine shooting order.) Kids that make the shot are safe. Those players who miss get an "O." If they get "O," "U" and "T," they are out of the game.

If the first player doesn't make his or her first shot, the second player takes over the lead position. The last player remaining wins the game.

Chase the Dog: For this basketball birthday party game, you'll need bandannas and basketballs for all the players.

Each player has to tuck in a bandanna into his or her back pocket (to resemble a tail). On the command "Go!" all the players must start dribbling the ball. While staying in the designated area and continuing the dribble, the kids must try to grab the other players' bandannas. Whoever looses his or her "tail" is out of the game. The last person left standing (top dog) is the winner.

Nothing But Net: Mark the free throw line with a masking tape. The purpose of the game is to make as many free throws as possible in 30 seconds. Whoever makes the most baskets, wins the game.

Space Jam: Let your basketball birthday party guests watch Space Jam (or other basketball show) to unwind at the end of the party. They can do this while waiting for their rides.

Food and Drink

Basketball Cake: Prepare and mix batter according to package directions. Grease a 2- or 3-quart oven-proof bowl and pour in batter.

Bake a little longer than the recommended baking time. Flip the cake onto a large platter. Now you have a basketball cake. Sprinkle platter with yellow-tinted coconut to form the basketball court.

Prepare orange food coloring (or combination of red and yellow coloring) to white frosting to achieve the desired color. Frost the basketball cake. Add black frosting or licorice for "basketball lines". You can write a "Happy Birthday" message if you choose to.

Basketball Birthday Party Food Ideas

Hotdogs
Nachos
Giant Pretzels
Popcorn
Power Bars
Ice Cream

Basketball Birthday Party Drink Ideas

Sideline Smoothies: Put 1 1/2 cups orange juice, 1/2 banana, 1/2 cup vanilla yogurt, 1 cup ice in a blender. Blend well and serve. You can also serve Power Drinks like Gatorade, Powerade, etc.

NOTE - You can use any of the ideas you like, but you can also attend a local high school or college game for minimal cost. You can plan on eating cake and "party food" before or after the game.

Devotion

A certain man and his two sons had been looking forward to going to a basketball game for a long time. They drove most of Saturday to get to their destination to see their favorite two teams play.

They rushed to check into a motel. In a hurry, they made it to the game just before tip-off. The problem was they were still standing in line outside. But that really did not bother them. They knew they were going to see the majority of the game. What they did not know was all the seats were filling up while they stood outside. In fact, just before they came to the ticket window, the sales person put up a sign: "Sorry, no more tickets. Sell out."

They could not believe their eyes. This man and his sons had traveled most of the day to get there. This was supposed to be the "highlight" of their vacation. The man rushed to the window. He pleaded for three tickets. But all the lady at the window could say was, "I am sorry. We are sold out." When he tried to explain to the lady how important the game was to him and his two sons, and how far they had driven to be there, the lady said, "Remember, if you want to be assured of a ticket to an important game, you need to make sure you have a ticket ahead of time." The man knew she was right.

There are some events in life that are so important we should make sure we have whatever it takes to get in the door.

Jesus told three parables about having the proper tickets. One was about some maidens who were not allowed to attend a wedding party because they had neglected to prepare their lamps with oil (Matthew 25:1-12). Lighted lamps were their tickets.

Another guest was put out of a wedding party because he had either refused or neglected to wear the wedding garment that was furnished him when he came to the party (Matthew 22:11-14). That special garment was his ticket.

Then Jesus told of a group of people who refused to come to their king's party because they had other priorities (Luke 14:15-24).

Those who did not value the "ticket" or the invitation they had received never enjoyed the blessing of feasting with the Lord.

Do we realize the value of a ticket? Do we realize how blessed and fortunate we are to be able to freely attend church each and every Sunday AND Wednesday evening? Do we take that opportunity for granted?

Each time we say no to attending church, are we throwing a valuable ticket away. A ticket which would allow us to worship God in His house with other believers.

It's an important ticket, and no matter how old we are, we don't need to take it for granted!

Have a lovely Wednesday. I have to tell you my Blog Linkage for tomorrow's post is very, very good. I'm not bragging or anything (because basically it's all about great stuff other people wrote), but it is good nonetheless.

Take care, and I'll talk to you tomorrow.

Sincerely,

The Enchanting Belinda