I do enjoy exploring new
college towns and arenas, there is one town and arena in particular that I look
forward to playing in every year. Simply put, Boston.
Although I moved around a bunch as
a kid, (5 houses, 4 states, 3 years—and no, I’m not in a military family) I
spent the most recent eleven years of my life just North of Boston. Boston and
Massachusetts are my home and luckily Northeastern is in our conference. Every
year I have the joy of traveling back to the best city in the US for a few
days.
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| I don't even like coffee but I was back in New England so I had to, right? |
There is
more to the trip than just going back home to Boston. My senior year in high school
I was the beat writer for the Northeastern basketball team for a local sports
blog. That meant many nights at Matthews Arena interviewing the likes of Bill
Coen, Jonathan Lee and Joel Smith. I even went to Richmond to cover them in the
CAA Tournament before they eventually bowed out to eventual champion VCU. It
was a great experience covering the team and going to Richmond. I will never
forget how welcoming Northeastern was of me despite being a high school student.
Therefore
in addition to making a trip to my home city every season I get to go back to Matthews and
see a few familiar faces including their SID, Matt McDonald, and co-writer, Joshua
Kummins.
I am
blessed to have many supporters so it's been great to have different family and
friends attend the games in Boston the past two years. I sure help fill the
place with purple! At least My family isn’t in the Philadelphia area because of
all the players and coaches that call the Philly area home and use up all the tickets!
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| Seeing friends and family at the game is a huge plus! |
Last year
we had a lot of free time in Boston so I was able to play the role of tour guide. A few
of us ate at Legal Sea Foods the night that we arrived in town and on game day
myself and Graduate Assistant, Kevin Albright, did some exploring. We took the
subway to Fenway Park, got ourselves a tour (of the eventual World Series
champion’s park!—had to throw that in) and then ate burritos at a local Mexican
joint that is one of my all-time favorite restaurants in Boston. It’s called El
Pelon, if you’re ever in the city give it a try, you won’t regret it.
Traveling
to Boston this year was extra special. My family moved to Colorado this summer
when I left to head back to JMU in August. When we flew into Boston last week,
it was my first time back in the Bay State since moving. It was a little weird
being there without it being “home” but nonetheless it was great to be back. The only thing
that was missing was seeing my parents at the game but they’ve been great
supporters of the team having been to the Winthrop, Richmond, Sam Houston
State, Stephen F. Austin and William & Mary (home) games.
Kevin and I
didn’t have much time to do touristy things in the city this year but we
did walk around the city to a few shops and saw the site of the marathon
bombings which was
a very eerie feeling.
Although I
am a big fan of any kind of change in life, switching conferences would mean no
more trips to Boston or Northeastern, something I’m not sure I want to lose.
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