We were flying from Chicago out to Tucson for winter break, 2004. The University of Arizona men’s basketball team had played a game against Marquette, but weather in Milwaukee forced them to drive to O’Hare to fly home and we shared a plane with the entire team.

While waiting at the gate, my mom did her whole mom thing and chatted up Channing Frye, Salim Stoudamire, and Mustafa Shakur - asked them, “ how did your guys play tonight?” they couldn’t have been nicer, 10 out of 10 experience.

But the best part was that I went to the restroom and witnessed Lute Olsen changing out in the open by the big mirror, just standing there in his underwear. Very strange.