"The documents where I have the chapters saved got mixed up, so now you can enjoy the correct chapter again. My apologies. đ "
The lights of the United Center turned on one by one as the stadium staff finished the final preparations for the approaching night in the heart of Chicago. Outside, in the streets surrounding the sports complex, an endless line of buses bearing the logos of four of the most accomplished programs in all of NCAA history began to parade slowly toward the loading zones reserved for each delegation.
The first to arrive was the Kansas Jayhawks' bus, with its characteristic navy blue color standing out against the gray concrete of the city. The players got off in an orderly line under the watchful eye of their coach Bill Self, who walked at the front with his university jacket buttoned up to the neck to protect himself from the biting cold that whipped the Windy City at this time of the year.
Minutes later, the Duke contingent arrived, immediately identifiable by the royal blue of their warm-up uniforms and by the imposing presence of Coach Mike Krzyzewski, who waved his hand to the few photographers already waiting outside the stadium with the hope of capturing the arrival of the most prestigious programs in the country.
The third bus to arrive belonged to the temporary hosts of the event, the Michigan State Spartans, whose coach Tom Izzo got off with his characteristic contagious energy, giving a couple of pats on the back to his assistant while observing the surroundings of the stadium in which his team had the opportunity to make history that very night.
Finally, completing the quartet of historic programs, the Kentucky Wildcats' bus parked in the designated zone, with the team's crest shining under the artificial lights of the parking lot.
Aaron was among the first to descend, immediately feeling the freezing night air of Chicago hit against his face as he adjusted his headphones around his neck and carried his sports bag over his shoulder. At his side, Julius got off observing the facade of the imposing venue with an expression that mixed amazement and nervousness.
"This sure is different from playing in Rupp Arena," Julius commented, observing the surroundings of the stadium with a look that he rarely let show in front of his teammates.
"It's just another court, brother," Aaron responded calmly, although internally he could not help but feel the symbolic weight of the place they were about to enter, knowing perfectly well the amount of legends from both college and professional basketball who had left their mark upon that very hardwood.
Coach Calipari approached the group, giving quick instructions to the stadium security staff before turning toward his players with a serious expression.
"We are going straight to the locker room, I don't want unnecessary distractions before the game," he ordered with firmness, heading toward the side entrance reserved for the visiting teams while the rest of the coaching staff organized the group into an orderly line.
Inside the complex, the hallways already bustled with the activity typical of an event of this magnitude. ESPN staff carrying broadcast equipment crossed from one side to another, while State Farm Champions Classic volunteers distributed credentials and maps of the venue to the different coaching staffs that were arriving.
In the main broadcast booth, installed in a suite with a privileged view toward the entire court, Tom Hart and Jon Sundvold finished adjusting their headphones while a producer indicated to them that few minutes remained before the signal went live to millions of homes across the entire country.
"Good evening and welcome to a new edition of the State Farm Champions Classic, the event that gathers four of the most historic programs in all of college basketball in a single memorable night," Tom Hart began with his characteristic energetic tone, while the main cameras made a panoramic sweep across the entire United Center, capturing the expectant atmosphere of the more than twenty thousand spectators who already occupied their seats.
"That's right, Tom, and tonight promises to be absolutely spectacular," Jon Sundvold added, adjusting his glasses while consulting his notes. "We have a doubleheader that is going to keep us glued to the screen during the next four hours. First we will see the Duke Blue Devils face the Kansas Jayhawks in what promises to be a duel of generational talent, and in the second slot of the night we will have the matchup we are all waiting for: the Kentucky Wildcats against the Michigan State Spartans."
"And speaking precisely about that second game, Jon, we cannot fail to mention the factor that has captured the attention of the entire college basketball landscape in these first weeks of competition," Tom Hart continued, while on the screen a photograph of Aaron appeared in full action during his debut against Asheville. "The rookie Aaron Reed arrived at Kentucky with an enormous expectation upon his shoulders, but so far he has exceeded it by far, securing a triple-double in his premiere match with the Wildcats' jersey."
"It's completely true, Tom," Sundvold coincided with seriousness. "What makes Reed so special is not only his privileged physique of seven feet in stature, but the intelligence with which he reads the game from the pivot position. Tonight he is going to face a considerably different challenge from the one he had in his first two games of the season. Michigan State counts on a much more solid and experienced interior defense, led by Adreian Payne, who is going to put to the test for the first time in this season Reed's capacity to deal with a potential professional-level pivot."
"And not only that, Jon, but the atmosphere in this venue is going to be completely different from what he experienced in Rupp Arena," Tom Hart added, pointing with his hand toward the stands that continued filling with fans dressed in the colors of the four programs present. "Here he doesn't have the absolute advantage of playing at home in front of fans who only support his team. The United Center tonight is going to be divided, and that adds an additional layer of pressure for a player who is barely disputing his third game at the college level."
While the analysts continued breaking down the tactical details of the matchups scheduled for that night, more than eleven hundred kilometers away, in a modest apartment in New York, a small family gathering prepared to tune into the event they had marked on the calendar for weeks.
Queens, New York
"Paola hurry up, the game is about to start," Melissa called from the living room, arranging the cushions of the sofa while holding the remote control in her hand, trying to find the correct channel on which ESPN would broadcast the Champions Classic.
"I'm coming, I'm coming," Paola's voice responded from the kitchen, where she finished preparing a bowl with popcorn alongside HĂ©ctor, who was in charge of serving the drinks in a couple of tall glasses filled with ice.
Seated on the rug next to the sofa, little MĂa babbled happily while nibbling the ear of a plush toy shaped like a basketball, a gift that Aaron himself had brought her before departing for Kentucky.
"It's almost time for your cousin to come out, princess," Melissa told her with sweetness, leaning down to settle her on her lap while waiting for the rest of the family to join in the living room of the apartment.
Paola finally entered carrying the bowl of popcorn, followed closely by HĂ©ctor, who carried the glasses with care not to spill a single drop upon the small living room rug.
"I cannot believe he is already playing against Michigan State on a stage like this," Paola commented while settling onto the sofa, leaving the bowl on the coffee table. "Just a few months ago we watched him play in the gym at Christ the King and now he is on national television again."
"I always knew he had something special," Melissa responded with a proud smile, her eyes shining slightly upon recalling all the years of sacrifice that had led her son to this moment. "Since he was little he had that look of determination that is rarely seen in children his age."
"Well, I still haven't gotten used to seeing him on television," HĂ©ctor intervened, sitting next to Paola while passing the remote control to Melissa so she could keep the game tuned in. "The last time I saw him play on the neighborhood courts he was barely a teenager who was just starting to stand out among the other boys."
"That was a long time ago, HĂ©ctor," Paola laughed, giving a soft bump on the arm to her partner. "Now he measures seven feet and is about to play against one of the best programs in the country."
On the television screen, the ESPN cameras continued showing the pre-game images of the first encounter of the night, with the analysts debating about Duke's possibilities against Kansas, while in the background fans could be seen filling the stands of the United Center more and more.
"By the way, I sent a message to Hannah to let her know that we were already about to start watching the game," Melissa commented suddenly, without pulling her sight away from the screen while better arranging MĂa on her lap.
"And what did she tell you?" Paola asked with curiosity, turning slightly on the sofa to pay more attention to her friend.
"That she is buried in physiology exams and that she doesn't know if she is going to be able to watch it live," Melissa responded with a tinge of resignation in her voice. "She told me she will try to check the result later, when she finishes studying."
"Poor girl, she must be exhausted with everything that university demands," HĂ©ctor commented while taking a sip of his drink.
"The truth is that according to what Aaron told me the last time we spoke on the phone, lately they haven't been talking much," Melissa added with a lower tone, almost as if she did not want her own words to have too much weight in the conversation. "Between his practices and her exams, it seems they have barely had time to coincide these days."
"Those are normal things when both are so busy," Paola said trying to lighten the atmosphere, although a small wrinkle of worry formed on her forehead. "They'll get past it as soon as the semester ends."
"I hope so," Melissa murmured, letting her eyes rest again upon the television screen, where the analysts continued with their forecasts about the game that was about to begin. "Aaron is not one to talk much about his feelings, but he seemed a bit distant when he mentioned it."
"Aa... Aa," MĂa suddenly babbled, pointing with her small hand toward the television screen as if she recognized the name she had heard her mother and her aunt repeat so many times at home.
"Yes, my love, your cousin Aaron is going to come out there," Melissa responded amid laughs, leaving aside for a moment the previous conversation while caressing the little girl's hair and consulting her phone, hoping for some sign from her son before the game officially began.
To her surprise, a notification appeared on the screen of her cell phone barely a few seconds later, showing a recent message that Aaron had sent her from the stadium locker rooms.
Aaron: We are already at the United Center, in a couple of hours we play Aaron: Take good care of yourselves and enjoy the first game
Melissa could not help but smile upon reading the message, showing it immediately to her friend, who also smiled upon seeing the attached photograph that Aaron had sent, showing the interior of the visiting locker room with the Wildcats' logo painted on one of the main walls.
"Look at that, he is already settled in the locker room," Paola commented, approaching to see better the screen of her friend's phone. "The boy looks calm, not a single bit of nerves."
"That's how my son is, I have never seen him nervous for a game in my entire life," Melissa responded with a certain nostalgia in her voice, recalling all the times she had accompanied her son from the stands of much more modest courts during his high school stage.
"Let him know we wish him luck and that we are keeping an eye on the game," HĂ©ctor said, raising his glass in a symbolic gesture of support toward the television screen, as if Aaron could see him from the distance.
Melissa quickly typed a brief response on her phone, making sure to transmit to her son all the affection and unconditional support they felt from the distance, before storing the device and centering all her attention on the television screen.
Back in Chicago, inside the hallways of the United Center, Aaron finished checking his phone before storing it in his locker, feeling a particular warmth upon reading his mother's response, knowing that no matter the distance separating them, his family would always be present supporting him in each step of his sports career.
"Ready for this?" Julius asked, finishing adjusting the laces of his sneakers while observing Aaron with a confident smile on his face.
"More ready than ever," Aaron responded, closing the door of his locker with determination, knowing perfectly well that the challenge approaching would be different from everything he had faced up to that moment in his short but promising college career.
Through the hallway loudspeakers, the voice of the stadium staff could be heard announcing that the first encounter of the night was about to begin, giving official start to an evening that promised to remain engraved in the memory of all the college basketball fans present in the majestic United Center.
Authors thought
What did you think of today's chapter? Give me your opinions and thoughts.
For football fans, check out my other fanfic, *The Golden Standard*, and discover the story of Wyatt Sterling.Â
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