Zag-o-mania

Lasean Driggs takes Holy Communion to my mother---and to a lot of other folks who are housebound in rural settings. I truly believe that Lasean comes close to sainthood because she believes in her faith one hundred percent and lives it out doing good works for others. Would we all be such an example!

Catholicism does not have a monopoly on Lasean's deep-held beliefs. She also practices Zag-o-mania, and because of that, she and my mother have plenty to discuss during her weekly visits to the Colburn farm. Last time she came, Lasean, a retired elementary teacher, told Mother she wanted a sweatshirt to wear for the upcoming games. It was not to be any Gonzaga sweatshirt; it had to say "ZAGS."

With her infinite Gonzaga wisdom, Mother advised Lasean to go to the Gonzaga bookstore in Spokane, where she could find a wide array of shirts, hats, and even Zag Nut candy bars. Mother hasn't been to the Zags bookstore, but she knows where her hat and her sweatshirt were purchased. And, if someone were to stop by the bookstore and pick her up some more Bulldog stuff, Mother would happily accept.

Today's match-up at Santa Clara marks the Zags 25th game, so there's wearing of the red-white-and blue to be done. I'm wearing my crimson and white sweatshirt with its silk-screened "Gonzaga" and the gray Bulldog with its red spiked collar on the front. For blue, I've chosen a turtle neck. Mother will be wearing her wine-colored sweatshirt with its blue and white "Gonzaga" embroidered into the shirt. I can't remember what color her hat is, but she'll probably save that for game time, like Bill does.

One night, when he was staying in a Moscow motel for a tree gathering and the Zags were playing seven miles away in Pullman, Bill forgot to wear his hat while watching the game on TV. The Zags lost. Since that time, all of us adhere to the clearly-understood rule that you'd better have your uniform on when the game starts.

Last week when the Zags were facing Stanford which had just upset UCLA, I even put on my sweatshirt first thing that day. I figured they needed all the help they could get. It worked. Gonzaga upset Stanford in a double overtime thriller.

Granted, wearing the uniform hasn't worked every time. That's because the Zags are a young team this year, and they've gone through some hard knocks and some learning. They seem to be getting their act together now, and on any given night, any member of the team may be shining or picking up the gaps.

They've got some workhorses, like Sean Mallon and David Pendergraft, who always shine during the tough moments, and they've got some young players who, when their game is on, play brilliantly. Senior Derek Raivio is touted as their leader, but when he's having a bad night, that doesn't always spell good stuff for the Zags. When he knocks down those three-pointers, though, and keeps dumping those free throws at a 96 percent rate, he's something else.

Bill loves it when they put the 7-footer Foster in at the end of blow-out games. Mother loves it when they win but doesn't like people to call her to talk about the game when they lose. The Zags influence stretches far beyond the basketball court. The other day during our frequent BG or AG (before game or after game) telephone commentary, Mother said, "I wonder how many other old ladies there are out there who love them like I do."

"I think a lot," I told her. Kids, high schoolers, sports freaks in general, little ol' ladies and folks all over the hinterland love that team, and as Mother said, "Win or lose, I'll still watch them." She knows the players all by name. She knows all their individual strengths and weaknesses. She could go one-on-one with my son, the sportswriter, discussing their team and individual statistics. What better winter therapy could there be for an 85-year-old or any of us, for that matter!

So, today I know she'll once again wear that sweatshirt and live for the moment when she can flip the channel---this time to ESPN2----at 9 o'clock. We'll be properly dressed and watching here at the Lovestead. And, off in Sagle, Lasean will be doing the same, only this time wearing her brand-new ZAGS sweatshirt.

GO ZAGS!!