I'm in.

The Cincinnati Bearcats officially became my college basketball team in 2000. Up until 1995, I was an OSU hoops fan. And then I dated both teams. OSU was the old high school girlfriend and Cincinnati was the new chick at college. I decided to be true to the Cats in the new millennium. It had a little something to do with school pride and a larger something to do with the fact that UC was the number 1 team in the country.

Despite my greed fueled flip flop, I have stayed true to the Cats and I am now committed. They are my team, despite the horror of the 2006-07 - and any subsequent garbage pails of seasons that may follow. I attended the OSU-Cincy game this season and wanted nothing more than the Bearcats to stomp the scarlet and gray. I cheered with venom. It was a waste of time. I left the game at halftime, cursing my hometown of Columbus.

I picked up Ohio State’s progress late in the season, long after the Bearcats had become unwatchable. I viewed with passive interest. But the intrigue grew. And then the Buckeyes rose from the dead to dispatch Xavier. And then the Buckeyes were getting run out of the gym by Tennessee. But they rose again and erased a 20-point deficit. I was yelling at the end. I had turned. I thought about the Memphis game the next 40 hours. My palms were sweaty before the game and the victory tasted sweet.

So here we are. I am riding shotgun on the OSU bandwagon. They are not my team, though I will borrow them for the weekend. I may even refer to them as ‘we’ at some point. In fact, I am sure I will. And be there no doubt, I feel a little dirty. But what’s a little dirt when you can emotionally submerge yourself in sport?

I guess I should want an OSU-FLA rematch. And I would like to beat the Gators. But only because I despise Noah and Hofford. The most perfect, foolish and arrogant basketball villains alive. WWE could not do better. However, I do not, for any second, believe a win over Florida will ease the pain, or serve as revenge, for 41-14.

41-14 was a singular failure that will never be forgiven. Or forgotten.

In the meantime, I am going to enjoy the Ohio State basketball party. Even though I invited myself and all the guests know it. Fortunately, the good times are rolling so nobody cares. I hope we win.