weird scenes inside the jungle.

What a great win for the women's team tonight! They beat Valpo, with whom we entered the evening tied for second place. And they had the tie-breaker on us, I think. But with the win, IUPUI now holds sole possession of second place.

The game was nearly as expected. Bot theams fought tooth and nail to the bitter end.

This year's conference tournament is going to be a dandy.

But tonight's game was earmarked by other weirdness. I handle PA announcing and music during the game. That means all timeouts, etc. go through me. As a relatively standard thing, I have a few sound effects locked and loaded for specific moments in the game, including the off-chance an opposing team's player will foul out at a crucial moment. I had two such occurences this evening. I busted out a new sound for the first one -- a "disappointed" horn from The Price Is Right (you'd know it if you heard it), followed by music used in the Apple "Switch" TV ads a few years ago.

Then a second player fouled out. Rather than to my standard Law & Order "gavel" (doink doink!) followed by Hit The Road Jack, I opted for the Final Jeopardy "think" music.

Ed Holdaway, the SID, gave me a hard time because I used it on him once during a game (something I was cautioned to never do again....when we have scoreboard malfunctions). Next thing I know, I see one of the officials at the scorer's table, looking at me. He says, "Are you in charge of the musci?" He was rather stern and direct.

"Yeah," I replied.

"I'd really rather not hear the Jeopardy music right now. I want you to turn it off," he said.

I paused. He glared. I gave in and turned it off. But I must admit I was seriously having a Whisky Tango Foxtrot moment.

I laughed as I potted down the music and looked at Ed, who had what can only be described as a shocked and comical look on his face.

"Wow!" I said. "He must've had a bad Final Jeopardy moment or something."

I don't know if a ref has that jurisdiction. It's the first time a ref has ever directed me to not play something. Given that I don't care enough to risk getting a technical foul for the home team, I didn't argue it.

But seriously, what the hell, man?

He only got weirder, too.

Valpo called a full timeout. Our cheerleaders ran onto the floor to do a routine. He shouted -- shouted! -- them off the floor. They were just as stunned as we were.

"Wow, what a tyrant!" I overheard an unidentified voice exclaim. Dude was out of control.

Those are two things I have never seen happen before. Ever. I have never had an altercation with an official. I've never seen an official yell at cheerleaders....at CHEERLEADERS!!!

I broke tradition at the conclusion of the game to commemorate the bizarre closing moments. Rather than play the crowd out with my signature song (David Letterman theme), I played.....wait for it....

The Twilight Zone.

I have no earthly idea what to make of tonight.

It was the weirdest thing I've ever seen when I've worked a game.

tulsapalooza.

a little something i threw together.
Originally uploaded by IndyOtto.

In two weeks, I'll be just about completely geared up to hit the road for Tulsa. I'm excited.

We've got a couple more women's home games before the tournament. I'm already getting into my melancholy mode about it. I love the basketball season.

After reviewing some tape from a game I did a couple years ago compared to last weekend's games, I'd like to think I've improved as an announcer.

I also think a great crowd makes my job pretty easy. Nevertheless, I'd like to think I've gotten better over the past two seasons. In fact, I feel like I've turned a corner; especially this season. Why? I'm not sure, really. Perhaps I loosened up a bit and learned how to roll with it a little better. Perhaps I have gotten better at being "fun" with it.

Who knows. Either way, it's been a great season in so many ways. After a rough year last year, it's great to see the women's team playing so well. I look forward to seeing them do great things in Tulsa.

Speaking of Tulsa, here's what you can expect from me:
* Updates to IUPUIJags.com. Being a hired gun takes some pressure off the SIDs to handle other duties.
* Courtside blogging. I hope to make it fun and unique and give people a different take on the games.
* Video blogging. I report. You decide. :-p

I hope you all can make the trip to Tulsa. It's going to be a great ride.

mid-con champs!!!!!!!!!

IUPUI defeated Centenary College tonight, 65-49. With that win, the Jags are the MID-CONTINENT CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS!!!

They have just locked up the #1 seed in the conference championship tournament.

Woo hoo!!!!!!!

one noisy jungle.

jungle boogie.
Originally uploaded by IndyOtto.

For those of you who weren't there, this is just the starting lineups from the game. As loud as the crowd was (caused me to over-modulate and "blow" the speakers), they were even louder at the end. There's a link to the video. But first, a few things you should know:

* That's more of a FIVE-head than a forehead! My head is gargantuan.
* Watch Kevvy panic! It was so loud in the place, I over-modulated and temporarily blew the speakers....twice.
* Not only a member...but also a client. It is not a bald spot!

In my opinion, this was not my best effort of the season. I lost the sound because, as the crowd got louder, I tried to keep getting louder. It's never been so loud in the place, so I never anticipated losing sound. Once that happened, I had to scramble a bit to make sure it didn't happen again...and I sort of rushed through things. I'm sort of mad at myself for getting rattled by the equipment malfunction.

So, this is a C effort on my part....C- for the equipment; an A+ for the crowd, though.

Without further adieu...

Jungle Boogie!

P.S. - Can you tell what music I was using?

jags win! jags beat oral roberts!

the jungle is jacked up!
Originally uploaded by IndyOtto.

The Jungle brought this one home tonight.

I've been a part of this program for five seasons now. And I've watched a lot of great games. On Thursday, we beat Valpo in what was considered a coming-of-age game for us.

It was the biggest game in the history of the program, in many ways.

No way did I think you could top that effort from both the players and the fans.

I was wrong.

We worried about a letdown.

Nothing to worry about.

The team was pumped, but most importantly, the fans and students were even more pumped.

I hope they're partying into the wee hours because they deserve it for all their efforts tonight.

It was the loudest, rowdiest, best college crowd I have ever seen in person.

Typically, I'm the loudest voice in the place because I have the luxury of being the guy holding a mic. Tonight, I gave up trying to top the fans. I couldn't. Every time I tried I nearly blew out the system. That's never happened before.

The fans, the team, the cheerleaders, the dancers, the crew, the coaches all brought this one home tonight.

It's not a game you'll find on ESPN Classic 10 years from now, but it is a game that should be a turning point for this program.

No matter what, the fans and the team can take this away tonight: Nobody -- and I mean NOBODY -- in the conference came into the Jungle and left with a W.

The Jags are undefeated at home in the conference.

Indiana won't come and play us.

Purdue? Purdon't! They won't come and play us.

Butler Bulldogs? A bunch of puppies. They won't come and play us.

They all say it's because our gym isn't up to their standards. I think it's because they're all scared to death of losing to this little school in downtown Indianapolis.

And they should be.

Thanks, fans. You made my job tough tonight.

Please keep it up.

Go Jags!

tulsa time.

david barlow in the jungle.
Originally uploaded by IndyOtto.

Call it impulse. Call it being a fan. Either way, I broke down and decided to go to Tulsa, Oklahoma for the Mid-Continent Conference Basketball Championships.

I went two years ago when they were in Kansas City. We lost a heart-breaker in the championships, but it was a great experience. I loved it and vowed I'd go again. That's why I'm going back.

The winner of the tournament goes on to The Big Dance, of course. All the more reason to go, eh?

What: Mid-Con Basketball Championships
When: March 4-8
Where: John Q. Hammons Arena, Tulsa, Oklahoma

I'll be there, I'll be blogging about it all. You'll be hearing from me in Tulsa.

Go Jags!

jags win! jags beat valpo!!

the jungle is packed.
Originally uploaded by IndyOtto.

At last! The Jaguars beat The Jumpin Jesuits Valparaiso tonight 75-67. The first time we've ever beat them at home!

WOO HOO!!!!!

This is my fifth season as the Jags' PA announcer and this was, without a doubt, the loudest, most energized crowd I've ever seen at a home game. This game had the atmosphere of a playoff-type game.

It was a must-win, in my opinion, for IUPUI to inch one small step closer to a top seed in the tournament.

Thanks to all my dear friends who came out tonight. I was so jacked up coming into this game I nearly g'd myself out during the starting lineups. I was pretty fired up.

I never get nervous about what I have to do at a game, but I was kinda nervous tonight. I knew it was a big game and I didn't want to screw it up.

The visiting team's official score keeper sits next to me at the game. She's a little, older woman from Valparaiso. She's nice, quiet and unassuming. After I did the starting lineups -- complete with music and a buttload of hootin' and yellin' -- she gave me a dap.

As much as I love beating Valpo, I always treat the opposing team with respect. They like me because I don't go out of my way to screw up their names or other bush league nonsense. It was nice that she appreciated my snappin'n intro.

And we won the game. It was all worth it.

And now I'm tired.

Nice work, Jungle. You all were the Sixth Man tonight!

IUPUI Jaguars

my worst fear realized.

david barlow in the jungle.
Originally uploaded by IndyOtto.

I suppose it was bound to happen. Today was the day.

It all started out rather simply. As I always do ahead of a doubleheader, I completed all my set-ups and rehearsed the scripts and names for both games.

By the time I gathered all my wares, showered and got out the door, it was going on 3:10 p.m.; later than i like to be for a 4:30 starting time. My procrastination would ultimately get the best of me.

I pulled away from the house, noticing something was not right at all about the way my car was handling. It felt like somebody was pulling it backwards or something; just running slowly and "rumbly."

I didn't even make it down the block. I got out and inspected. Sure enough.....a flat tire. And by "flat" I mean the thing was nearly entirely off its rim.

I didn't panic, necessarily, but i knew the situation was dire. And the unthinkable -- the one thing I always feared might happened -- happened.

I was going to miss a game.

I've been doing IUPUI games for five years, basketball and soccer, and have never missed a game. Until today. I had no choice. Fortunately, I made arrangements with the previous PA announcer (who's still heavily involved with IUPUI) to work the game for me. Knowing I was handing it over to a guy who knows what to do was a big relief.

So I didn't roll into The Jungle until well into the second half of the women's game.

It was sort of weird, but in a good way, to see the game from the other side of it. I've never watched the Jags at home from any vantage point other than the scorers table. So -- rather than internalize the situation, pout, grumble, and obsess over it -- I simply enjoyed the moment. I really did. I walked around and watched the game from different places. I sat with the band (who gave me a wonderful greeting, I must say). I have to admit I sort of liked being a spectator.

But I really did miss calling the game. You have no idea how much fun this is for me.

I took over the reins for the men's game and was, to be honest, still a bit rattled by losing my timing. I get like Rain Man at this. I have a routine for the games. My routine was severely altered today, so my performance took an early hit.

I'd like to think I righted the ship enough to where nobody noticed, but I made a few early blunders. The good part, though, is the dancers and cheerleaders were not affected by it.

The really good part is both the men's and women's teams won. What does that mean? They're both still in first place.

Go Jags.

And on yeah....I'll never miss another home game again.

Ever.