The good old days returned on Saturday night

It’s not very often the Superfan decides to go ahead and take a change from rallying the troops of Pete’s Posse to write something up for my favorite student newspaper in the universe. Key word: often. But I will let you know: It will be very, very often now. And while I am lamenting at the exploitation and bastardization of the mentally challenged in that piece of elitist Pharaisical obscenity 37 million weeaboos call American Idol, I speak of other, more tolerable happenings.

I love the Big Brown Music Machine. Their alumni band played at the men’s basketball game against UC Riverside on Saturday, January 20. It’s nostalgia at its best. When Long Beach State had its football team (a privilege taken away from us over a decade and a half ago), the BBMM was playing crisp, clean 70’s style tunes with a sound that typified the university back in the day.

Now they have become the BBMM Alumni Band, and last year I bought one of their CDs, which is in my possession, and on my iPod. Anyway, I can’t believe my luck in the men’s team picking up John Masi. The winningest head coach in UCR basketball is now with us. Naturally, the Beach guys wanted to indirectly show their gratitude. Maybe their AD is having second thoughts about dismissing him. While their female counterparts are playing like Riverside, the guys are playing more like “Weeabooside.”

As the BBMM played “Jesus Christ Superstar,” I’m sitting next to parents, boosters, and yet more alumni, mixed with future 49er parents, boosters and alumni. One old alumnus was impressed, even in awe, by the UCR men’s shootaround. I concurred, nodding my head.
But back to Masi. He comes to the Beach with 462 wins, more than the top 4 winningest coaches at LBSU combined. Ouch. Should have second thoughts, should have had second thoughts…

The early going saw some early tenacity from UCR. Naturally, the home favorite wanted to set the tempo early. So, Long Beach City transfer Kejuan Johnson wanted to up the ante. I can see my fellow Superfans watching from my favorite section, Section 111.

The best teams are a bit rusty early, and then finish off businesslike afterwards. And the best of the best play like they haven’t missed a beat. At first, the 49ers were playing like the former, but then it turned to the latter as the game went along. The BBMMAB went with playing with one of their swing numbers. I seemed to be more interested in whether or not the Beach would cover the spread by halftime.

(The morning spread was the Beach by 18.5, the biggest of the spreads on the P-T.)

The pace was blistering. The guys, led by senior leadership, were shooting treys at will, with your usual high-percentage shots, like College Hoops 2K7 or March Madness 08. Add a last-second buzzer-beater, and the crowd was now realizing why this was “Weeabooside” and not Riverside. The Fountain Valley High School Stompers were doing their mix of jazz and funk, called “junk,” and now I was wondering, “How big are they going to stretch this?”

They stretched it all right- by 21 at the half. Spread covered for now. I expressed my gratitude to the UCR folks who came tonight.

By the second half, the Long Beach State guys were playing like an offshoot of the Harlem Globetrotters. It was now becoming a fun affair for the Beach, and especially the fans. It was also apparent that the players listened to the warning from the coach at the morning run-through, not to overlook the Highlanders. The BBMM Alumni Band played “Gonna Fly Now,” aware of the outcome that would be no longer in doubt.

The stands were trembling, as the Walter Pyramid became the epicenter of the action. I was wondering why Vonn Webb didn’t send in Riverside Community College. (They are the state’s #3-ranked team in the junior college rankings as this is going to press and blog.)

With the 2nd half halfway over, the lead stretched to 40. The Highlanders valiantly tried to stop the bleeding, but they were stuck in a hole they would never get out of. This game would be over in a hurry, because it was painfully clear (at least for the visitors) that there were huge discrepancies in skill level. UCR was no UCLA. I played a music video in my head playing AC/DC as the rout was on. “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap.”

Long Beach State played like Long Beach State that night. Now I was thinking, are they going to crack 100 yet? Well, they were going to be one point short. The crowd disapproved the Highlanders sitting on the ball, as they left in gleeful approval, the kids auditioning in “The 49er Myd-Nite Apprentice.” Thank the turduckens Simon Cowell was nowhere to be seen.