Trares
For one parent, it was electric. For the other, crushing disappointment.
And Anthony was just happy to be part of it.
In what has become a Trares family tradition, we packed up for a President’s Day trip, taking advantage of a long weekend to get out and have a little fun. We chose one of our favorite places: Columbus, Ohio.
Despite a slight delay from the Great Winter Storm of 2024 (seriously, it had been 50 degrees the day before!), we hit the road on Saturday destined for the Buckeye State. Our itinerary was a blend of vacation classics and new experiences.
Of course, there would be pool time in the hotel, pizza at our favorite Columbus restaurant and a reservation with the best brunch place we’ve ever been to. Anthony’s one request was a visit to LEGOLAND Discovery Center, a LEGO-lovers paradise where the afternoon was filled with activities, games, short rides and a hands-on LEGO station where he could build and then test his own race car.
But we had discovered a unique opportunity that we had to take advantage of. In the weeks leading up the trip, I learned that the Ohio State basketball team would be hosting … Purdue, my wife’s alma mater. It’s no secret that I’m a tried-and-true Buckeye nut, even if their hoops team leaves much to be desired this year. A quick check on tickets, and we had three seats for Sunday afternoon.
This was Anthony’s first basketball game and my first trip Ohio State home game. With Purdue boasting one of the most dominant teams in the country this year, my wife was confident in a victory. We were all excited.
Packing into Schottenstein Center on Ohio State’s campus with tons of other scarlet-and-gray-clad fans, all three of us were taking it in. Anthony picked up a pair of pom-poms to shake during the game. A helpful usher let us know that if we went to guest services, Anthony could get a certificate commemorating his first Ohio State game.
We took our seats in the upper deck, where we were surrounded by a hefty share of Boilermakers. Sensing Buckeye malaise and seeing just a short drive from Indiana, seemingly thousands of Purdue fans had made the trek to root on their teams. And I understand —I just wanted to have fun; I was expecting an easy Purdue victory.
But a funny thing happened. The Buckeyes, just days after firing their coach, came out sluggish but quickly picked up the energy. The crowd got into it. Anthony got into it.
He loved the spectacle of it all — the thumping music, the video boards imploring fans to get loud, the mascots dancing around. When the band broke into “Hang On Sloopy” — Ohio State’s unofficial anthem — he made the O-H-I-O sign with his arms.
We cheered with every made shot, as my wife rolled her eyes incredulously. Things got tense at the end, but when the final buzzer went off, Ohio State had won. Anthony and I stood up and yelled at the top of our lungs as fans on the lower levels stormed the court.
It was a great day, the kind of family memory I hope Anthony holds on to for the rest of his life. I still remember the games I went to with my dad, and those small moments cheering together stand out way more than whatever the score ended up being.
So no matter whose team won, it was a victory for the whole Trares family.
That’s a victory we can all be excited about.
Ryan Trares is a senior reporter and columnist for the Daily Journal. Send comments to [email protected].
