Years ago, I graduated from the University of Michigan.  As a result, I cheer for the Wolverines in all sports.  Last night, it was basketball, as Michigan played the University of Houston in the NCAA Tournament.

The game started at a late hour (sometime around 9 o’clock) and we watched the first half.  Now, I’m not a basketball aficionado, but I was unimpressed.  Unimpressed by both teams.  Unimpressed for the entire 20 minutes of uninspired play.  The half ended with the score tied at something like 19-19 or something pitiful like that and all of my family had started to fall asleep.

So I left the television during halftime and sometime thereafter I checked the score on my phone.  Michigan trailed by a point or two.  I carried on with my life.  I checked again a little later.  Michigan continued to trail by a few points.  It continued in this fashion again and again and again.

The clock continued to click.  I continued to grow more and more tired.  I continued to check.  Michigan continued to trail.

My phone said that Michigan was down by two points with three seconds left.  It was thirty minutes to midnight.  I was tired.  I did not have it left in me.  No energy remained to watch my team lose.  No energy left to watch another season end with a loss.  It was too late for that kind of sadness.  I was just too tired.

I checked my phone one last time and Michigan had… WON!  By a single point.  What?  How?  I clicked on the video and saw an amazing play.  A long distance three point shot, as the buzzer sounded.  I had missed an incredible finish and was watching the result that took place just minutes ago.

Was I disappointed in myself?  A tad.  Was I tired?  Yep, a lot.  Was I just plain old?  Certainly.  Old enough to have seen too many sad endings.  Old enough to not want that feeling again.  Old enough to forgive myself for not wanting any more sadness.  Old enough to forgive myself for missing a great play as it happened.  Old enough to drift off with a smile on my face.

The good guys had won and that’s all that mattered.