Slight Detour: Sweet Sweet Sunday

How sweet it is!

What else can be said about a Sunday in Seattle when the team we love so well achieved a major milestone in their journey to the Final Four. Happiness reigned supreme, especially during the final moments of a phenomenal game for Gonzaga.

All the coaching, talent, skill, teamwork, heart, passion and focus of a long-sought-after goal played out like a well-oiled machine on that Key Arena floor yesterday. As the final seconds ticked off on the clock, the essence of an elusive dream achieved brought out the smiles, hugs and deep felt joy.

The ZAGS are going to the Sweet Sixteen! News came that the Lady Zags are doing the same. Twas definitely a good day to be a ZAG, whether members of the ZAG Nation were sitting in their living rooms, gathered in pubs or standing in the stands at Key Arena with tears in their eyes and smiles on their faces.

Mission accomplished thus far. Where they go from here-----we don't know. We know they'll be in Houston playing another game against UCLA and if they win that one----Duke. And, who knows, maybe even the Final Four.

For now, sweetness and pride and joy. It's been a great run, and this team and its coaches have done it all with class and with the support of countless admiring fans. Neat story.

Other neat stories yesterday. We started our day with a wonderful gathering right across the highway from where the Seattle Seahawks practice. Denny's Restaurant served as the meeting place for cousins Mary, Patti, Sue and other family members.

We visited for a couple of hours over breakfast and promised to get together in a few months again for the annual cousins' reunion.

After watching some TV games, we headed off to the NCAA venue. During food time at the nearby Armory, I spotted a Northern Iowa fan with a neat visor----yellow with purple fake hair. Had to get a photo of that combination.

Turns out Dale and his wife Nancy are the proud grandparents of Northern Iowa standout and senior Seth Tuttle. We had a nice visit, mentioning, of course, the Iowa-Idaho confusion. Dale and Nancy had driven to Seattle for the game and had planned to turn around and head to Syracuse, New York, if their team won.

Sadly for them, that was not to be, as a scrappy Louisville with their intense legendary coach took the win. Rick Pitino definitely puts on a show on the sidelines while coaching. And, for a lot in the crowd, his style is very entertaining. To say he's a "showman" would be an understatement.

A great day of basketball ended on a really high note as we stood with goosebumps and a few more tears welling up while the Louisville pep band played "My Old Kentucky Home." Passion and nostalgia doesn't get any more pure than that.

Many thanks to Annie for thinking we might want to attend this segment of the tournament way back in October. Stars definitely lined up from start to finish, and we so appreciate the opportunity to witness firsthand the remarkable spectacle of March Madness and the ultimate SWEETNESS of having our ZAGS move on in the Dance.

Life is good when you love the ZAGS, especially when you get to experience all the positives that go along with that infatuation.

Gary Bell has always been my favorite ZAG, and it was neat to see him run over after the game to hug former ZAG standout and announcer Matt Santangelo and announcer Tom Hudson.