The Best $5.00 You Can Spend

By Carey Meitzler

No offense to the fast food establishments, the arcades, or the video rental stores.  They just don't compare.

Compare to what ?  High school athletics in the Deep South, particularly football on a Friday night. Please

hear me out.

The next time you drop an Abe Lincoln (a.k.a. $5.00 dollar bill) across the counter for one of the above try

this instead:

Step 1:  Recoil the extension of the hand one time and restock the Abe in your wallet or purse.

Step 2: Check this web site or your favorite paper (Rob Sigler in The Picayune Item is a good choice)

for a schedule of the Tide's next game.

Step 3: Mark your calendar and let nothing short of illness, work, church, or emergency change your schedule.

Step 4: Drive to Tide Stadium (also known as Picayune Memorial High School Stadium) and get there early if

you can.

Step 5: When you arrive at the gate, take out that $5.00 and hand it over and then thank the person for giving

you a ticket in return to attend what is by far the best entertainment anywhere. 

I call this next list the TERMS of the Engagement (Game).

Togetherness:  The event (game) could one of the biggest gatherings you might attend in this community where everyone

can find at least one thing to agree upon: "Root root root for the home team..."

Exercise:   Climbing up and down those concrete steps is better for your health than flicking the clicker from channel

to channel on the tube. The line at the drive thru or the counter line doesn't burn very many calories. (Been there,

done that too often)

Rewards:   If a young person like a football player, a band member, a Pride dancer, a cheerleader, whomever, puts in

hour upon hour to prepare for their moment in the spotlight, show 'em your appreciation by being there and applauding

their effort; not the result, the effort.

Mingling:   Just go to the game to see someone who you might not see during the week. It's a great place to visit and

get caught up from the past week's activities.

Spirit: 2 bits, 4 bits, 6 bits a dollar, you can stand up and holler, if you don't want to, it's your dollars (I kinda like that one).

Bottom line is where else can you jump up and down, scream positive encouragement, high five everyone around you whether

you know 'em or not. 

Bonus: If you've never heard Jerry Cumberland's Maroon Tide play the Fight Song, the Horse (what a classic with all that

drummin'), the Hey (the Tubas...), and so forth, you must.  If you are from Picayune and you don't get a few goose bumps

every time you heard the fight song, well.....never mind.   At halftime, the Pride of the Tide is always a treat (I wish I could

have a seat on the home side to see the Band and Pride, but duty calls).  And in most cases the opponent will bring their band. 

So why is the fat, ugly (talk about a face made for radio) guy taking the time to write this point of view.  Simple. What we have in

front of us at PMHS can be special, very special.  After football season, there is basketball, then soccer, and before you know

it will be fast pitch softball and baseball.  There are other extracurricular (thank Bill Gates for spell check on that word) activities

as well that bode equal importance.  Equal because they involve young people.  Again the best $5.00 you can spend anywhere. 

PACK THE HOUSE (Stadium)

If you were at Picayune this past Friday, I tip my hat to you for showing up.  Coach Dodd Lee told me in our post game interview

that it took "someone special to sit through that one" referring to the weather for the Picayune and Meridian game.  I agree.

I know that lots of you couldn't make it due to the weather and the reality of what sickness the air and moisture might dish out.

Understood.  Let's hope we have great weather this Friday at Picayune as they host the Brandon Bulldogs.  If you can come out,

I am sure you will enjoy it. Let's apply the old adage "try it, you'll like it" here.  If you can honestly tell me you didn't enjoy the atmosphere,

I rest my case. Otherwise, we hope to see you Friday. Bring your radio, your pompoms, your stadium seat, favorite cushion, or

just show up and get you a soda and some nachos.  Nachos taste better at the stadium. Heck, waiting in line and mingling is half the fun.

May God Bless You and Keep You.