Bright red and blue and green signs scattered over the walls welcome the visiting team and encourage the home team. The opposing coaches meet on the sidelines near midcourt, shake hands and turn to watch warmups. Managers rush around, setting up water bottles and straightening towels. Scorekeepers bend over their books, inking in the lineups. Statisticians check their pencil points.
Assistant coaches adjust their ties.
Timers and announcers wait. The teams line up by their coaches and the crowd unites on its feet, singing the National Anthem. The starters are announced. Funny, but this is when some of those smiling, happy fans disappear. Somehow, the tipoff gives them a license to be rude, obnoxious and immature.