::: dahlbergcentral.com ::: i don't need to pee pee, i just need to rock

Despite the rather lackluster season this year (and the ongoing Clarett/NCAA saga), it's hard to live in Columbus and not get excited about the traditional last game of the season. Folks around here call it The Game, in tones that let you hear the capital letters (and it's pronounced Thee Game, not Thuh Game, just so you know this one's Most Important.) Doesn't matter how badly overmatched we might be, or the small likelihood that we'll even manage to make a dent in the Big Ten's number one team -- The Game is, quite simply, the most central event in Ohio State's year.

So you make plans. You tailgate. You gather for parties. You find a good place to watch The Game. You dress up in scarlet and grey and buckeye necklaces, you listen to the Best Damn Band in the Land, you sing all the words you can remember to "I Wanna Go Back to Ohio State." and "We Don't Give a Damn for the Whole State of Michigan" and "Hang On Sloopy". You cheer (and maybe tear up a little) when the last sousaphone player of the year dots the "i" in Script Ohio. You wear your somewhat naughty (and definitely unapproved) anti-Michigan t-shirt. You yell at the refs; you swear that ABC has it in for the Bucks; you scream "Oh-Aitch!" at the top of your lungs and wait for someone across the room to answer back with "Eye-Oh!"

Then, when it's all over, whether they win or lose, you do, in fact, go out and buy a keg of booze, and drink to old Ohio 'till you wobble in your shoes.

Ah, Michigan Week. How I love you.

posted by Gus at 10:24 AM | |