'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the gym

The games had just ended, beneath the rim;

The title was hung on the wall with great care,

In hope that more soon would hang there;

The players and fans had left me behind,

On their way to their homes with Christmas in mind;

And me with my broom and bleachers to sweep,

Figured a quick nap wouldn't risk my keep.

When in through the gym doors there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from my hideout to see what was the matter;

Out to the balcony I flew like a flash,

Tripped over my feet and fell with a crash;

When, what to my wondering eyes would appear,

But a miniature sleigh, and six players from yesteryear.

With a little old driver, full of such glee,

I knew right away it must be coach Jimmy V.

More rapid than eagles his players they came,

And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;

"Now, Pistol Pete! Now, Wilt the Stilt! You too, Len Bias!

On, Rickey Berry! On, Ben Wilson! On Hank Gathers! You gotta help
fly us!

To the center of the court! so we can play some ball!

Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,

When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,

So to the jump circle, the coursers they flew,

The sleigh, the players, and coach Jimmy V. too;

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the floor,

Their sneakers a screeching and digging for more;

Wilt was a captain and drew up his team,

Of Bias and Wilson, they still had their dreams;

Pistol took Hank and then he chose Berry,

A Christmas Eve game was never so merry.

Jimmy V. was the coach, still firey and taught,

And I was happy when I saw him and the memories he brought;

A wink of his eye brought more memories back,

To the glory of yesterday... and "Go Pack!"... "Go Pack!;"

Once a young a coach, a game that couldn't be won;

the buzzer sounded, his winning crowd
surrounded;

As he ran to hug someone...just hug anyone;

The teams spoke not a word, but went straight to their game,

No one was a loser, no one was to blame;

The game was soon over, just after it began,

The players stood tall, each man to man;

Coach Jimmy V. motioned, as if wanting to say,

"Some take the game with them, some the game takes away;"

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,

And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.

But I heard him exclaim, as he drove out of sight,

"HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOOD-NIGHT!"