Sports and Other Stuff
Fans, follow the 'Four G's'
Jason Thompson

As a high school student almost 20 years ago (ouch - that hurt to even say), my most memorable memories came from going to rivalry games.

They're the ones you think about from the minute you get up that day until tipoff or kickoff. Ones you wish you could just skip school for and play right away.

I spent many a night in the late 80s at Catholic, watching the Crusaders take on Dolphins, Patriots and Royals, with some lasting memories (if you played football at GBHS in 1988, my apologies for the flashback).

It is only because the Dolphins had one last week - and have two in as many days next week - that I suggest to my GBHS friends these four rules to maximize your fun at these passion-filled games. You can call them the 'Get, Go, Get, Go' rules or G4 - take your pick.

All of them are pretty selfexplanatory and don't take much effort. As the commercial goes 'even a caveman can do it.'

Rule 1 Get In - Obviously, you'd rather watch one of these games inside the facility, instead of from the lobby or the parking lot. So a nominal fee is required. An hour of working at Sidelines or any other local establishment or doing chores around the house if you're not of working age should do the trick.

Rule 2 Go Crazy - With the exception of some sports like tennis or golf, a fan can scream, jump up and down and holler for their team of choice, with the case here being the Blue and Gold.

As long as you don't use profanity or threaten the opposition, you'll get to stay for the duration of the contest.

Rule 3 Get In Your Car - Pretty self explanatory. Don't be loitering.

Rule 4 Go Home - Again, pretty simple.

Now I know, as much as many a parent may love rule 4, going straight home for a bunch of high schoolers directly after a game on a Friday or Saturday is a tall order. Rule 4 is intended to keep young fans from doing silly stuff like fighting with each other after a game.

One thing I can say, as someone who's been on both sides of the Catholic-GBHS rivalry, the extracurriculars have died down, which is certainly a good thing.

As far as GBHS and Navarre is concerned, I wish that was the case.

There was an incident in the GBHS parking lot after Friday night's GBHS-Navarre basketball game. As for who started it and who's fault it was, I don't know and frankly, I don't care.

The saying is as old as time itself - it's just a game.

Is it really worth showing how tough a person you are by starting something with someone from the other school? Is a mark on your permanent record really worth it? I tend to doubt it.

Now, I haven't run these rules by the administrations of Gulf Breeze, Navarre and Catholic High Schools. But, considering I've known members of the GBHS and Navarre administrations for 10 years - and Catholic's for close to 20 - I'm pretty sure they'd agree with me.

So go out and root, root, root from the home team - just know where the line is when you do it.