Jose is Famous!

Today, my parents had extra tickets to the Civil War basketball game, and they invited Jose and I. It turned out to be Jose's best day ever!

We got there a little bit early, and decided to walk around the arena. We made it about 15 feet before we saw a booth for 7 Feathers Casino. They had a drawing to win a few free nights, plus golf, dinner, and spa certificates. My mom and I are suckers for free stuff. So we stopped to enter and got free duck beads. They also had a plinko station where you could win other prizes. A few minutes later, we were the proud owners of foam fingers.

We kept going around the stadium, made a stop at a Duck Store or two, and ended up at another drawing for organic fruits and veggies delivered to your work. Of course, an entry. Plus, a free backpack!

Our next stop was the customer service desk. Jose wanted a free poster (or two), and some cards, and my mom just wanted to chit chat with the nice people there. She convinced Jose to sign up for one of the contests they hold during timeouts.

Then, my dad bought us a pretzel and a diet pepsi. It was amazing, and also free. (This makes me sound cheap. I know. I just love free stuff!)

Midway through the first quarter, Jose says, "Wow, of course!" I look up, and his name is on the screen as the contestant for the Outback 3 point shootout. We went to check into customer service. I was way more nervous than he was, but tried to give him a pep talk. Jose said, "Thanks, Chip Kelly!" Then he got a free shirt!

They took us down to the court, and I immediately felt like a midget. Seriously, basketball players are tall! So are security guards. The promo guy made chit chat with Jose while we waited for the 12 minute time out. I was trying not to pass out from nervousness for him. The promo guy also tried to give him a pep talk that pretty much said everyone is horrible at this so don't feel bad.

They took Jose on the court and introduced him and the security guy let me climb over the cheerleaders to take pictures. He airballed the first one and I might have blacked out for a second, but to his credit you don't get a practice shot.

Immediately, he swished the 2nd shot, and the crowd got excited. The student section started yelling for him, and the cheerleaders started heckling the rebounders to get him the ball faster. 30 seconds flew by, and Jose made 6. That shattered the previous record of.... 3. He needed 5 to win a gift card, and they just let him keep shooting until his time was up.

After he was done, we headed back to our seats. Students were yelling congrats at him, the male cheerleaders were impressed with his shot, and even the guys at customer service didn't believe that he made 6 at first. It was like being with a celebrity the rest of the day as random people came up to him to chit chat and congratulate him.

Best part, besides the fact that my husband is awesome and is a better 3 point shooter than any other contestant at a duck game ever? He won us a $45 gift card to Outback and free Bloomin Onions for our entire section.