She Has Confidence

"I told you, it's because I know basketball!"

That was my mother's reply when my sister wondered out loud how it could be that my 89-year-old mother usually wins our family bracket game.

According to family lore, my mom was quite the high school athlete. She played softball and basketball and apparently performed well in both sports. 

She's been picking winners for the men's and women's bracket for several years. Yes, she watches some college games on weekends, but there's no way she watches enough to do as well as she does.

 "I told you, it's because I know basketball!"

My mom is not an unhappy person, but she can be pessimistic. My sister and I often refer to her as Eeyore. She is not exuberant. Her humor is dry. Honestly, I'm pretty much the same way. Even so, there is one place I remember her smiling, and smiling big. 

Years ago, I took her to one of the NCAA Women's tournament games in College Park, MD. We were there to see the Lady Terps play the Tigers of Princeton. We got there plenty early so we could settle into our seats for all the pregame festivities. I took a picture of Mom to send to my sister, Jeen. 

Jeen's reply was quick. Oh my god, she's smiling! Women's basketball makes her smile.

When I woke up this morning, I was tied with my mom and brother for 1st place in the family bracket pool. 

I enjoyed my moment, but with St. John's loss to Arkansas, I dropped to 2nd place. 

My mom? Yeah, she's in 1st place because she knows basketball.