Orange You Glad Basketball’s On – 5:00 Fridays

It’s that time again when the whole country raises a big hoopla for hoops. Tis the season for underdogs and rivalries, tears and jeers. For a couple of weeks we forget about reality and engross ourselves in the war on the hardwood. I sit back and await a good Cinderella story, and not just because I can appreciate a nice pair of shoes. NCAA fever has befallen, and this year even Bird and Deal filled out brackets (sans the gambling bit, natch).

I too filled out a bracket. I have a super special scientific methodology that involves cities I like, mascots that are cute, color combinations that are nice instead of nauseating, and my relation to alums (which means I always pick Gonzaga for my old friend Tony). I pepper my bracket with underdogs too, and I never pick Duke to win. You could write a thesis on my methodology. Never mind that I’m currently ranked last in my pool. It’s early yet.

I’ve never been much of a sports fan (or an athlete), but Mac Daddy breathes basketball so I perch on the couch next to him while he cheers on Wisconsin. I’d join in on the cheering, but my alma mater hasn’t had a tournament hoops showing since the days of Ralph Sampson. I use this as a time to catch up on my reading and think about starting new hobbies, like knitting. What?! Is it so funny so funny that I want to knit?!

The other thing that makes watching sports palatable fun are the drinking and noshing. What a great excuse to down some nachos and sip a cocktail. While beer is the perfect football nectar, I think basketball calls for something festively colorful to welcome the warm temps that March ushers in. And it just so happens that I love the color orange. Think about it; it’s the most overlooked color. Mac Daddy and I had a bathroom painted bright orange once. The painter said it would only cost us a hundred bucks to repaint it. We loved the color and sent him on his way.

So today my 5:00 Fridays is an ode to basketball (with a nod to the orange in my school colors).

Orange You Glad Basketball’s On

1 ounce Cointreau

1 ounce ginger vodka

1 ounce orange juice

Splash 7 Up

1 Meyer lemon

Simple syrup

Grab a cocktail shaker. Fill ‘er up with ice. Pour Cointreau, vodka, and orange juice into shaker. Shake. Shake some more. One more shake for good measure. Strain into a martini glass. Muddle the juice of a Meyer lemon with simple syrup. Pour in lemon/simple syrup mixture. Top with an ever so slight tish of 7 Up. No garnish today; just enjoy the color.

I was going to insert a fun basketball cheer here, but they all sounded really stupid. I just couldn’t subject you to the likes of this.