LIT Up!

Wow...It's the only way to describe the Luther Invitational Tournament of basketball. The setting is really unparalleled. The gymnasium at Luther is more of a cathedral of sport. The first time I stepped in there was on Wednesday, the calm before the storm.

With no ruckus crowd, I was immediately taken by the championship banners posted on the vaulted ceiling, remembering the titans of the years past. The most notable, the 1984 Lions banner, celebrating their amazing win. It was quiet on this day, almost too quiet.

Thursday I was back in the very same place, but it seemed like a world away. The utter chaos that I witnessed was that of true passion and pure sport. The teams raced up and down the court like greased lightning, trading shot for shot, mere inches from the crowd. There were literally people jammed into this arena of purism as if they were on the last bus headed towards a resort in Mexico. It seemed like a feeding frenzy as the cheering never stopped, nor did the action on the court. I've been to some remarkable sporting events in my time, but this is something to see.

I now know the appeal of LIT. This cathedral of sport has taken the essence of the game back to its purest form for both athlete and spectator, and I am certainly drinking the coolaid from this religion's chalice.